Halfway Out of the Dark...

Actually, the key-line was 'Don't make my mistakes.' But you can't have that as a title. Or something between that and 'How did boredom even get invented?' (well, I guess not being in the possession of a TARDIS comes quite handy to do this).

Anyway. These 6o minutes has to prove the biggest Moffat critics that there is a reason for that guy having that job. Come on, just compare what RTD used to give us around this time of year... and he even got away with it.

But first things first, here are a few other reviews by The Guardian, SFX and The Telegraph. And after writing this 'review' (if it's one) someone should check whether Lawrence Miles is all right.

So, comparing 'A Christmas Carol' to any other Christmas episode we had so far, the biggest difference was the plot. This year, it wasn't about the end of the universe, planet earth or London, but about 4oo3 people trapped in a crashing space-ship and Kazran being the only one being able to save them. The problem is, he doesn't feel like it. But the Doctor wouldn't be the Doctor if he didn't try to do something about this, a la good old Charles Dickens. Still, after testing a chimney's general chimney-ness (another unforgettable entrance of the 11th Doctor), being let down by the psychic paper which refuses to refer to the Doctor as a 'mature and responsible adult', almost comparing himself to Mary Poppins, breaking a sonic-screwdriver (again!), rescuing and taming a flying shark, making a match between Kazran and Abigail, proving to be bad with card-tricks, and not to forget about marrying Marilyn Monroe, the Doctor finally manages to save the day. And the outcome is one of Moffat's other 'must-sees'.

Maybe its biggest plus point is that the audience doesn't need to be a Whovian to understand what is going on (*cough* not like last year *cough*) but luckily, Moffat didn't forget about us while writing it. I guess, the Doctor appearing in a fez and a Tom Baker scarf are among other things those bits which are exclusively aimed at us. So are Amy and Rory's 'costumes'... Furthermore, there are a few great one-liners and almost even more lovable situations the Doctor get himself into. I just loved the 'Kazran, it's this or go to your room and design a new kind of screwdriver. Don't make my mistakes.'-bit or his instruction to young Kazran about how to kiss Abigail 'Try and be all nervous and rubbish and a bit shaky... Make it part of the plan!'

My biggest fear was that Moffat's adaptation of Dicken's story might turn out to be some sort of a Christmassy musical, especially after a few teasers saying that Katherine Jenkins, who did a great job BTW, is singing two times within 6o minutes. But really everything was just on spot. I mean even the fact of Kazran not letting Abigail out of her ice-y coffin for Christmas in the beginning makes sense in the end. Or that the machine doesn't react to Kazran as the Doctor changed him too much, or how Kazran finally releases Abigail because of his younger self. Besides, when Kazran decides to do that after all, and she finally comes out of her 'ice-box', that was one of those rare Doctor Who-moments that I had some sort of a tear in my eyes.*

Oh, and before I forget it. Fans seem to be a bit in two minds about the Doctor saving or not saving Abigail. In my humble opinion I think he did save her. Because, although that is not exactly what he says to Amy in the closing scene, he still acts a bit fibishly (and I know that's not a proper word). As if he didn't want to tell her something for being afraid of revealing one of his habits. I mean, saving her wouldn't have been a requirement for saving those 4oo3 people on that space-ship. Additionally, the following 'Halfway out of the dark.' sounds way too optimistic... almost as if it was a reference to Kazran's own life.

EDIT: And yes, I know what official sources say. But think about it. If Kazran lost his love on that day it wouldn't be 'Half way out of the dark' for him and Kazran is the only one to whom the Doctor can refer to. Additionally, Moffat is certainly not keen on spoiling his xmas episode by not giving it a 'proper' ending.
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*The other time was, when Wilf said good bye to the Doctor in Journey's End - 'But every night, Doctor, when it gets dark, and the stars come out, I'll look up on her behalf. I'll look up at the sky, and think of you.' that was the tear-jerker.