Doctor Who: Ranking The Christmas Specials

This is an extremely controversial pick - of this I am very aware. Commonly considered amongst the worst episodes of Capaldi's run, I put to you that The Return Of Doctor Mysterio is not only great, but also one of the greatest Christmas specials in all of Who.

The criticism most commonly levelled at it is that the superhero genre just doesn't fit the show. In my humble opinion, there is no genre that isn't suited to the show, and that is one of the things that makes it special, not to mention how major a factor this is in the show's continued longevity. The show has touched on almost every genre imaginable, from psychological horror to bank heist, space-western to ghost story, period drama to murder mystery and everything in between. You see my point?

This episode simultaneously embraces and pays tribute to the rich history and culture of comic books whilst also prodding playfully at the some of the sillier aspects of the genre. The supporting cast of Grant and Lucy are walking tropes but they are beyond charming, and Nardole provides an entirely new type of companion for The Doctor - something that would go on to really work in Series 10. Harmony Shoal, after being subtly included as secondary antagonists in the previous episode (which happens to also be the previous entry on this list), step up as the supervillains this time, with an evil plot straight out of the pages of a comic.

This is also one of the funniest episodes of the show ever penned, as we get to see Twelve settle into his laid back and shaggy haired final form. This story is great fun, especially for those that are more familiar with the superhero genre, and at the end of the day, is that not what these festive specials are for.