Its good to be back, isnt it?
Or something spikier and sadder like Last Christmas?
Ad content continues below
The answer, perhaps unsurprisingly, is a bit of both.
It makes perfect sense as an approach.
The central emotional throughline the Doctor misses his companion doesnt really require any background knowledge to understand.
The Time Hotel is a fun conceit whose mechanics Moffat is careful to explain and reiterate at regular intervals.
Even the returning villain is just a faceless weapons manufacturer, perhaps the easiest instinctive boo-hiss imaginable.
But too often it goes for the big swing, and over extends itself as a result.
Again, Nicola Coughlan plays it very well.
And then theres the matter of the Doctor.
Ncuti Gatwa is wonderful, of course.
Weve seen the Doctor moping around and missing their departed companion before.
Weve even seen it at Christmas.
The beats all feel very familiar.
And its not like Rubys even dead!
The Doctor can pop in and see her whenever he likes!
Speaking of hand-wringing enough.
Its Christmas, andDoctor Whois on TV, and the episode is good.
Elements of it are even great!
Its lovely to have it back.
Now, if youll excuse me, Im off to pick at the leftovers.
Heres a teaser of whats coming in 2025s new episodes:
