Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The Capaldi era of DW has been an especially dark and morbid one, and DW Christmas specials in general tend to be grim, heart-rending and horrific, so it came as a surprise that this one turned out to be such a comparatively lighthearted (if gruesome) story full of slapstick and corny jokes. Despite the fact that the episode continued the miserable Capaldi-era convention that the Doctor must be continually enthralled and tormented by a swaggering dominatrix, I was enjoying the fact that at least it was a different one this time, since I was good and sick of Clara by the time we were dragged through that last heavy-breathing farewell scene between her and the Doctor. But then the fun hit the wall and we were back in angsty death territory, with River begging the Doctor to extend her waning lifespan. I guess the Doctor's compensation for having to play the straight man to a cadre of saucy female female impersonators is that he gets to play God and have them pray to him. This show has definitely strayed into unhealthy territory. There are kids watching!

Steven Moffat has done the impossible - he's now made me indifferent about DOCTOR WHO . Season 9 was frustrating and disappointing and with a so called Christmas special following on quickly - perhaps too quickly - after it I wasn't expecting much at all , especially who know who appears in the title To be fair Moffat knows what type of story he is writing this time . One thing noticeable about season 9 is that the tone of each story seemed to change from scene to scene creating an absolute mess . Here however he does at least know he's writing a light hearted Christmas romp with tongue in cheek characters and situations . Also to be fair the cast realise what type of fantasy adventure they're appearing in and go with the flow . If nothing else at least Capaldi is consistent and River Song is nowhere as irritating as I expected One truly unfortunate irritation is the incidental music by Murray Gold . It's used to emphasise every single on screen happening and line . Someone makes a gag - the music jumps in to the scene and tells us "Smile . That was a gag" Something vaguely amusing happens - the music jumps in to the scene and says "Smile , that scene was amusing" . One day someone on the production team will open a dictionary and look up the word S-U-B-T-L-E . As it stands once again the DOCTOR WHO Christmas special remains very disposable festive entertainment

9/10 !Fault: moffat needs to stop recycling ideas like those of Douglas Noel Adams.Otherwise, yes get alex Kigston to come back every now and then. After all, River Song is in the middle of it.Great entry! A servant mixes up the Doctor for a Surgeon, (BTW SM it is Christmas, carollers should be welcome - another knock against you)!The Doctor unwittingly helps River with King Hydraflax (familiar name eh SM?)The object - to steal a diamond lodged in his brain (Funny sounds like James Bond). This would kill a mad king.So many twists and turn. The King's head and body can separate as individual components. So River steals the Doctor's TARDIS unknowingly with the Doctor inside.Oh dare. Head and body have to be one so TARDIS cannot take off.The King's body deals with the issue of River's treachery. Heads of a different caliber.TARDIS leaves planet for ship. Nice! Fleming is another husband of River who turns up. So now all action takes place on a ship of cutthroats, nice company for River.When the subjects of Hydraflax turn up, all Hell could break loose. not even an auction can save themFleming is a piece of work. He must be working for the highest bidder.The Doctor reveals himself to river - Hello Sweetie.The Doctor's head would become the new hydraflax if possible.The ship sails into a meteor shower sending it crash landing.The Doctor tries for a rescue. No can do. The TARDIS is his lifeboat with River Song unconscious.The Doctor give the diamond to a worker and yes a new restaurant is build.Ending is a bit soft. The 'romance' of River and the Doctor never seems to end.Guessing that Alex Kingston will turn up.

Moffat really tries too hard sometimes. The first half hour is a comedy and then he tries to introduce some drama and deep mono-/ dialogues which really doesn't mix well. In my opinion, the depth of the story itself suffers a lot when he tries that and actual sci-fi elements get glossed over or ridiculous conclusions. Who turns more and more into a fi-soap and buries the science, which is very sad. I liked that the Doctor had a proper adventure for a change. And yes, that has been neglected a lot lately. It was also great to have a story to River's "goodbye" of Forest of the Dead. Capaldi and Kingston harmonize very well and it was fun watching them together. However, there's again some of Moffat's (by now) famous issues with continuity. In Forest of the Dead, River didn't know she was going to die. She also mention several times that the Doctor gave her HIS screwdriver on Darillium. Now, she knows it's the end and he gave her her own screwdriver as a Christmas present?! As others mentioned before, the way the Doctor defeats the robot-body is just lazy and stupid. I'm not one of the RTD vs SM folks, both of them had SOME great episodes. I think the better mark to hold any of them to would be Sydney Newman, Terry Nation and Robert Holmes.