Doctor Who: Why Were Some Fans Not Impressed by ‘Mysterio’?
By David Hill
The 2016 Doctor Who Christmas special, ‘The Return of Doctor Mysterio,’ could be called a lot of things… but unimpressive and boring? That is what some fans thought while watching the episode.
We knew that the Doctor Who Christmas special this year would be different. A superhero would be prominently involved, and there would likely be a different feel to the show. Chances are, it would not be the same type of special that we have come to expect.
And it certainly was not. We had a Doctor who was grieving the loss of River. The aliens were the same as in the previous Christmas special, somewhat giving a feel of continuation from last year. And the Doctor and Nardole found themselves in New York City, face to face with a superhero. Different feel, right? And one that a lot of fans greatly enjoyed.
Unfortunately, the Christmas special did not go over well with a significant portion of the fandom, at least on social media. The bolder, flashier adventure was considered boring, with people shutting off the television partway through. Considering that it has been a year since we last saw the Doctor, to shut off the television in the midst of his return is almost inconceivable.
More from Winter is Coming
- For All Mankind finally gives us information in Episode 405, “Goldilocks”
- Watch a stunning VFX breakdown of The Wheel of Time season 2
- Of course Steve Toussaint (Corlys Velaryon) thinks Eve Best (Rhaenys Targaryen) should rule Westeros
- Confirmed: The Last of Us season 2 will air in 2025
- Final season of Star Trek: Discovery will have “a lot of action, a lot of adventure, a lot of fun”
And yet, that is what happened. There were complaints that the special did not feel like it was truly a Doctor Who episode. And certainly, with the different elements, one can understand where that thought would come from.
One does have to wonder if those elements that turned off the audience will continue into Series Ten. If this is to be the feel that the show takes on going forward, then the early returns are not promising.
On the other hand, this is just one special. We do not even have Bill Potts involved yet, as the Doctor is still without his new companion. A lot is going to change when Series Ten truly begins, especially since the specials tend to be their own separate entities.
Next: Review: ‘The Return of Doctor Mysterio’