“The Return of Doctor Mysterio” – the very title sounded like a recipe for cheesy superhero clichés, and the promotional material did little to dispel that feeling. Doctor Who Christmas specials are often a mixed bag, sometimes overly festive and relying too much on superficial sparkle. Heading into this episode, expectations were definitely tempered. If it wasn’t outright bad, it would already be considered a decent outing.
Surprisingly, this Christmas special proved to be quite watchable. It tapped into the popular superhero genre, which, while perhaps a bit overused, was relevant. There were genuinely unsettling creature aspects woven into the narrative, and commendably, the episode displayed a degree of restraint in several areas. The development of the characters was generally engaging and held interest. Furthermore, Matt Lucas’s presence was well-judged, contributing positively without becoming excessive or irritating, striking a good balance.
However, “Doctor Mysterio” was far from perfect. The potential of the alien threat was squandered; while there were glimpses of sinister concepts, they were not developed in a meaningful way. The overarching invasion plot lacked genuine menace and urgency. The romantic subplot felt rather simplistic and reminiscent of a generic BBC sitcom, which wasn’t necessarily a positive attribute. Additionally, the recurring motif of the Doctor concluding the episode in a state of solitude and darkness felt somewhat predictable, even though Peter Capaldi performs these moments effectively.
Ultimately, “Doctor Mysterio” lands in the territory of being an acceptable Christmas special. It’s plagued by a recurring issue in Doctor Who – a sense of diluted vision, as if the episode’s direction was overly influenced by committee decisions. The fusion of disparate elements doesn’t always harmonize effectively. Nevertheless, when considered in the context of Christmas Day viewing, it likely served its purpose adequately for an audience in a relaxed mood with modest demands.
