Last Christmas (TV story): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Story
{{Infobox Story SMW
|name            = {{StoryTitle}}
|image          = Last Christmas Riding in Santa Claus's Sleigh.jpg
|image          = Last Christmas Riding in Santa Claus's Sleigh.jpg
|series          = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
|special        = [[Christmas Special]] 2014
|season number  = [[Series 9 (Doctor Who)|9]]
|story number    = 253
|story number    = 252
|doctor          = Twelfth Doctor
|doctor          = Twelfth Doctor
|companions      = [[Clara Oswald|Clara]]
|companions      = [[Clara Oswald|Clara]]
|featuring      = [[Santa Claus]]
|featuring      = Santa
|enemy          = [[Dream crab]]s
|featuring2      = Danny Pink
|enemy          = [[Kantrofarri]]
|setting        = [[North Pole]]
|setting        = [[North Pole]]
|writer          = [[Steven Moffat]]
|writer          = Steven Moffat
|director        = [[Paul Wilmshurst]]
|director        = [[Paul Wilmshurst]]
|producer        = [[Paul Frift]]
|producer        = [[Paul Frift]]
|broadcast date  = [[25 December (releases)|25 December]] [[2014 (releases)|2014]]
|dwe            = Last Christmas (DWE episode)
|network        = [[BBC One]]
|broadcast date  = 25 December 2014
|network        = BBC One
|format          = 1x60 minute special
|format          = 1x60 minute special
|production code = 5.X
|series          = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
|prev            = Death in Heaven (TV story)
|prev            = Death in Heaven (TV story)
|next            = TBA
|next            = The Magician's Apprentice (TV story)
|series2        = [[Christmas special]]s
|series2        = [[Christmas special]]s
|prev2          = The Time of the Doctor (TV story)
|prev2          = The Time of the Doctor (TV story)
|next2          = TBA
|next2          = The Husbands of River Song (TV story)
|made prev      = In the Forest of the Night (TV story)
|made prev      = In the Forest of the Night (TV story)
|made next      = TBA
|made next      = Under the Lake (TV story)
|trailer        = Doctor Who Christmas Special 2014 Official TV Trailer - BBC One
|trailer        = Doctor Who Christmas Special 2014 Official TV Trailer - BBC One
|trailer2        = Last Christmas Trailer - Doctor Who - BBC  
|trailer2        = Last Christmas Trailer - Doctor Who - BBC  
|clip            = The world exclusive preview of the Doctor Who Christmas Special.
|clip            = Santa Claus Makes An EXPLOSIVE Entrance! - Last Christmas - Doctor Who - BBC
|clip2          = Last Christmas Preview - Doctor Who - BBC
|clip2          = The Doctor's Sleigh Ride - Last Christmas - Doctor Who - BBC
|clip3          =  
|clip3          = "All Of Time And All Of Space..." - Last Christmas - Doctor Who - BBC
|bts            = Last Christmas - Doctor Who Extra - BBC Christmas 2014
|bts            = Last Christmas - Doctor Who Extra - BBC Christmas 2014
|bts2            = DOCTOR WHO Christmas Special Insider The Doctor vs. Santa - BBC America
|bts2            = DOCTOR WHO Christmas Special Insider The Doctor vs. Santa - BBC America
|bts3            = DOCTOR WHO Christmas Special Insider Behind The Effects, Part 2 'Dream Crabs' - BBC America
|bts3            = DOCTOR WHO Christmas Special Insider Behind The Effects, Part 2 'Dream Crabs' - BBC America
}}
|thwr=100
'''''Last Christmas''''' was the [[2014 (releases)|2014]] ''[[Doctor Who]]'' [[Christmas special]]. It was the 813th episode of the series and the first full Christmas special with [[Peter Capaldi]] as the [[Twelfth Doctor]]. It brought back [[Nick Frost]] as [[Santa Claus]], who was last seen at the end of ''[[Death in Heaven (TV story)|Death in Heaven]]''.
}}{{dab page|Last Christmas}}
'''''Last Christmas''''' was the 2014 [[Christmas Special]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. It was the show's tenth Christmas special since its revival and the first of four Christmas specials starring [[Peter Capaldi]] as the Doctor.
 
It guest-starred [[Nick Frost]] as a [[dream]] manifestation of [[Santa Claus]], previously seen at the end of ''[[Death in Heaven (TV story)|Death in Heaven]]'' as a lead-in to this story.


Casting-wise, it was notable for featuring the first on-screen appearance of [[Michael Troughton]], son of [[Second Doctor]] actor [[Patrick Troughton]]. It also allowed recurring actor [[Dan Starkey]], best known for portraying various [[Sontaran]] characters, to appear with minimal make-up as an elf.
This story dealt with repairing the bond between the Doctor and Clara after they parted ways under the belief that the other had a better life waiting for them instead of continuing their adventures. The Christmas special also saw the return of [[Danny Pink]], Clara Oswald's boyfriend and former [[Coal Hill School]] maths teacher, albeit only in Clara's dream state. It also dealt with Clara finally moving on from her grief.


The Christmas special saw the return of [[Danny Pink]], Clara Oswald's boyfriend and former [[Coal Hill School]] Maths teacher — albeit only in Clara's dream state.
Casting-wise, it was notable for featuring the first on-screen ''Doctor Who'' appearance of [[Michael Troughton]], son of [[Second Doctor]] actor [[Patrick Troughton]] and brother of [[David Troughton]], who had previously made several of his own guest appearances on the series. It also sees [[Dan Starkey]], who previously portrayed the [[Sontaran]] [[Strax]] in numerous stories, now in a small part of the [[Elf]] [[Ian (Last Christmas)|Ian]].


== Synopsis ==
== Synopsis ==
The Doctor and Clara face their Last Christmas. Trapped on an Arctic base and under attack from terrifying creatures, who are you going to call? Santa Claus!
[[Clara Oswald]] is in for one [[Christmas Eve]] that she's never going to forget. Reunited with the [[Twelfth Doctor]], she faces what could possibly be her last [[Christmas]].
 
Something sinister lurks in an arctic base at the [[North Pole]], and it's beyond even the most terrible, nightmarish creatures the Doctor has faced before. Who ya gonna call? [[Santa Claus]]!


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
On a frosty night before [[Christmas]], [[Clara Oswald]] awakens to the sound of an object crashing on her rooftop. Putting on her dressing gown, she leaves her room to investigate and discovers [[Santa Claus]], his elves [[Ian (Last_Christmas)|Ian]] and [[Wolf (Last Christmas)|Wolf]], reindeer and sleigh upon her roof, having crashed after an accident. Ian quickly informs Santa that they've been sighted. They attempt to pass themselves off as ordinary people, but after Clara sees the reindeer flying loose in the sky, they reveal their true identities. Clara though, tries to deny his existence as a fairytale when she is spotted, Santa questions if she still believes in fairy-tales, before being interrupted by the Doctor who, upon arguing that no-one loves tangerines, takes her into the TARDIS. Once inside, he questions her on her belief of Santa, to which she answers that she still does as he whisks her away.
On a frosty night before [[Christmas]], [[Clara Oswald]] awakens to the sound of an object crashing on her rooftop. Putting on her dressing gown, she leaves her room to investigate and discovers [[Santa Claus]], his elves [[Ian (Last Christmas)|Ian]] and [[Wolf (Last Christmas)|Wolf]], reindeer and sleigh upon her roof, having crashed after an accident. Ian quickly informs Santa that they've been sighted. They weakly attempt to pass themselves off as ordinary people, but after Clara sees the reindeer flying loose in the sky, they reveal their true identities. One elf points out the beard Santa grew to hide his identity has been public for some time.
 
Clara tries to deny his existence as a fairytale, having always believed her parents had given her presents instead of him, which the elves laugh at. Santa even lists items Clara wanted at Christmas; everything Clara wanted was actually practical items, instead of other items for hobbies and such. Santa questions if she still believes in fairy-tales, as [[the Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] materialises. The elves are surprised to have been upstaged; it's not very often that happens. The Doctor emerges, telling a stunned Clara that he's back; he then orders her to remain absolutely silent and go into the TARDIS right away. She obeys.
 
The Doctor leans in close to Santa and states that he knows what is going on, and what is at stake. Santa questions if he truly does, and tells him that before the night is through, the Doctor will be glad for his help. The Doctor departs by wishing Santa a "Happy Easter" and tells him that no-one likes his [[tangerine]]s. The elves laugh, having previously said the same thing to Santa, but weren't believed.
 
Inside the TARDIS, Clara comments on how much she had missed it, as the Doctor takes off. He tells Clara that she should trust nothing and be critical towards everything, concluding that the most important question is if she truly believes in Santa Claus. She answers that right now, she does, believing Father Christmas brought the Doctor back as a gift.
 
At a base in the [[North Pole]], a group of scientists are tracking [[Shona McCullough|Shona]] as she enters an [[Infirmary (Last Christmas)|infirmary]]. One of the scientists called Ashley tells Shona not to think about "them" and to concentrate on something else. She enters the infirmary and begins dancing to Slade's "[[Merry Xmas Everybody]]" which appears to take her mind off the victims. She reaches the end of the infirmary, by which point the Doctor and Clara appear. Shona initially mistakes them for ghosts, calling the Doctor a skeleton man.
 
As Clara wonders what's happened to the victims, they wake up and begin moving. Shona warns them not to think about what they can see, mumbling the song to herself, and the Doctor [[deduce]]s that the creatures attached to the victim's faces are both deaf and blind, but they use telepathy to keep a constant image of themselves in someone's memory, allowing them to 'see'. In an attempt to save Clara, the Doctor insults Danny, succeeding in flooding her mind with emotion. As the victims close in, the scientists appear with guns ready to attack, and then several crab-like creatures appear from the ceiling and attack the group.
 
[[File:Rudolph (Last Christmas).jpg|thumb|Santa arrives to save the day.]]
Suddenly a wall blasts off and an army of toys march in. Everyone looks out the hole to see Santa riding Rudolph, and dismounting. The reindeer is humourously calmed by Santa, using a car fob. Santa demands an answer as to what is happening; he doesn't want any trouble on his property. To everyone's surprise, Santa is able to order the victims back to bed. Everyone heads into a different room to avoid waking them again. Shona wonders who Santa is, to which the Doctor sarcastically states to take a guess, listing the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. Santa tells the Doctor that an invasion has begun. Clara wonders if it's an invasion of elves, angering them; they retort that she's one to talk as she's almost as short as them.
 
Santa presents a captured creature, which the Doctor recognises as a Kantrofarri or "[[dream crab]]". Santa's existence is questioned by everyone, especially Shona, whom he angers, but he encourages them to focus on the dream crabs as Earth may have just seen its last Christmas depending on how many are there. The Doctor encourages Ashley to [[deduce]] what they are and what they do; he then explains that they are dying and most likely asleep. He points to the TARDIS, explaining that reality and fantasy are difficult to tell apart because both are ridiculous. He and Clara then admit to each other that they lied - he about finding Gallifrey, she about Danny returning from the [[Nethersphere]] - so the other could move on with their lives to be happy.
 
The Doctor asks Ashley to show him [[CCTV]] footage of the other crew members arriving on the base. The footage shows the four crew members discovering the creatures, buried in the snow. The footage then shows one of the creatures coming down from the ceiling, which sends the camera static. The Doctor explains that when a dream crab attacks someone, it places them in a telepathically induced dream state. Whilst the victim is "dreaming", the crab drills into the victim's head and eats away at their brain. And if you are thinking about a dream crab, one is most likely coming for you. Albert compares the creatures to [[facehugger]]s, confusing the Doctor; after Albert explains that he means the horror movie ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]'', a miffed Doctor explains that it's really offensive and must be why real aliens keep invading Earth.
 
[[File:Clara dreams of Danny (LC).jpg|thumb|Clara's dream Christmas with [[Danny Pink|Danny]].]]
Clara goes to check on the captured crab, only to find it missing from the container. It begins to stalk her, at which point Clara tries thinking of maths [[equation]]s and then of Danny to stop it. Unfortunately, it breaks through the table she's hiding under, putting her into a dream state. Clara finds herself at her house on Christmas day with Danny; when Clara is confused by his outfit, Danny jokes he's "Father Easter". The Doctor and the group arrive at Clara's side, where the Doctor tries to work out a way to remove the crab without killing Clara. Ashley states the only way to remove the crab would be to kill Clara. He refuses to do so, asking Santa (who can't be targeted by the crabs) to bring one to place on his head.
 
In Clara's dream, night has fallen and she's snuggled up to Danny on a couch facing their Christmas tree. Hearing someone at the door, Clara goes and answers. It's the Doctor, who informs her that everything she's seeing is not real; annoyed, Clara lets him and introduces dream Danny. The Doctor greets him, earning a military holiday greeting in return; something the real Danny would do to annoy him. Clara knows it's not real, but wanted to spend more time with Danny; however, in a few minutes, the dream crab will have burrowed too deep into her head to be removed. The dream Danny explains that while he ''did'' die, it was to save Clara; the rest of the world got lucky. He encourages Clara to move on but to mourn him for five minutes a day. The Doctor and Clara awaken, causing the crabs to fall off and disintegrate; "Carnivore's hazard; food has teeth, too."
 
Despite waking up, Clara complains of a pain on the right side of her head. Shona compares it to the "ice cream pain" and confirms she has the same pain. The Doctor then works out that they are in fact still in a dream, having been attacked when they arrived. With some help from Santa — who is revealed to be a manifestation of everyone's brains telling them something is wrong — the group are able to wake up. They escape the infirmary, barely evading the victims. The Doctor bids farewell to the group as Clara goes after him; the Doctor explains that unless the group is stupid enough to let the dream crabs out, they should be fine. He also explains he can't keep constant watch, stating that there are other dangerous things on the planet.
 
Clara notes they ''both'' saw Santa on her rooftop, meaning they're ''still'' dreaming. They return to the base where the Doctor questions the scientists on why they only have four base manuals for a crew of eight people. They perform the [[Helman-Ziegler test]], resulting in each person reading off the first word of page [[12 (number)|12]]; "Very, very, very, dead". It's another sign that they're still dreaming; worse, it means the danger has increased, given three "very"s. Taking them to the CCTV monitors, the Doctor reminds them of the patients, which he reveals are dream constructs of what's coming to kill them. The victims awaken and transport themselves through the CCTV, killing Albert in the process. The group travel outside and try to work out a way to escape, of which the Doctor suggests using the TARDIS to escape. Clara notes it isn't the real TARDIS, and as they head towards the TARDIS, dream constructs of themselves appear. Worse, the constructs have multiplied; "logic of a nightmare" the Doctor notes.
 
[[File:Clara remains in the dream (LC).jpg|left|thumb|Clara doesn't want to wake up.]]
The Doctor tells everybody to use their imagination to get themselves home, and so they all dream of Santa, who appears in his sleigh and rescues the group. Having been rescued by Santa, the memories of the group's real lives start coming back to them, meaning that they're waking up in the real world. Shona suggests that they exchange phone numbers so they can meet up once they awaken, but the Doctor states that it's unlikely that they will remember anything that's happened in the dream. One by one, everyone except Clara awakens, who wants to stay in the dream world forever.


At a base in the [[North Pole]], a group of scientists are tracking [[Shona McCullough|Shona]] as she enters an [[infirmary]]. One of the scientist called Ashley tells Shona not to think about "them" and to concentrate on something else. She enters the infirmary, and begins dancing to Wizzard's "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" which appears to take her mind off the victims. She reaches the end of the infirmary, by which point the Doctor and Clara appear. As Clara wonders what's happened to the victims, they wake up and begin moving. Shona warns them not to think about what they can see, and the Doctor deduces that the creatures attached to the victim's faces are both deaf and blind, but they use telepathy to keep a constant image of themselves in someone's memory, allowing them to 'see'. As the victims close in, the scientists appear with guns ready to attack, and then several crab-like creatures appear from the ceiling and attack the group. They're then seemingly saved by Santa, who is able to send the victims back to bed. He then bring in a captured creature, which the Doctor recognises as a Kantrofarri or "dream crab".
The Doctor travels to Clara's house and is successful in removing the crab from her face with [[the Doctor's sonic screwdriver|his sonic screwdriver]], but finds 62 years have passed for her since they said goodbye in the coffee shop after Danny's death; this places Clara at age 89. In Clara's living room, the Doctor brings in Christmas hats, believing that anything seems funny if the hats are worn. They discuss her life since they last met. She travelled, but never married despite numerous admirers; she does admit that there was [[Twelfth Doctor|one other man]] besides Danny she liked; "but it wouldn't work out; he was impossible." They pull a cracker together, with the Doctor helping the elderly Clara do so. He apologises for not returning for her sooner, wishing that he had. From the doorway, Santa again appears and asks if he really does wish for that. They are surprised this is yet another crab-induced dream. Santa whispers; "Wakey-wakey!!"


''More to be added...''
The Doctor awakens for real this time and he travels to Clara's house, removing the crab from her face again to reveal that she is still young; humorously, the Doctor can't tell whether Clara is young or not. Realising what could have been, the Doctor invites Clara to resume her travels in the TARDIS with him. She happily agrees and he whisks her away, still in her nightie. As they dematerialise, a tangerine sits on the window sill and there is a faint hint of sleigh bells...


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
Line 61: Line 95:
* [[Shona McCullough|Shona]] - [[Faye Marsay]]
* [[Shona McCullough|Shona]] - [[Faye Marsay]]
* [[Ashley Carter|Ashley]] - [[Natalie Gumede]]
* [[Ashley Carter|Ashley]] - [[Natalie Gumede]]
* [[Fiona Bellows|Bellows]] - [[Maureen Beattie]]
* [[Rona Bellows|Bellows]] - [[Maureen Beattie]]
* [[Albert Smithe|Professor Albert]] - [[Michael Troughton]]
* [[Albert Smithe|Professor Albert]] - [[Michael Troughton]]
=== Uncredited cast ===
* [[Dream crab|Sleeper]] - [[Jon Davey]]<ref>http://www.jondavey.com/acting.php</ref>


== Crew ==
== Crew ==
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|2ndAD=James DeHaviland
|2ndAD=James DeHaviland
|3rdAD=Danielle Richards
|3rdAD=Danielle Richards
|AD=Gareth Jones
|AD=Gareth Jones (assistant director)
|AD2=Chris Thomas
|AD2=Chris Thomas (assistant director)
|Runner=
|Runner=
|Runner2=
|Runner2=
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|LocationScout=
|LocationScout=
|AssistantLocationManager=
|AssistantLocationManager=
|UnitManager=Nick Clark
|UnitManager=Nick Clark (crew)
|AssistantUnitManager=
|AssistantUnitManager=
|ProductionManager=Steffan Morris
|ProductionManager=Steffan Morris
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|ProductionManagerAsst=
|ProductionManagerAsst=
|ProductionManagementAsst=
|ProductionManagementAsst=
|ProductionAssistant=Matthew Jones
|ProductionAssistant=Matthew Jones (production assistant)
|ProductionScriptSecretary=
|ProductionScriptSecretary=
|ProductionSecretary=
|ProductionSecretary=
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|Gaffer=Mark Keeling
|Gaffer=Mark Keeling
|BestBoy=Francis Sparey
|BestBoy=Francis Sparey
|Electrician=Andrew Williams
|Electrician=Andrew Williams (electrician)
|Electrician2=Grant Armstrong
|Electrician2=Grant Armstrong
|Electrician3=Rick Tombs
|Electrician3=Rick Tombs
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|StandbyScenicArtist=
|StandbyScenicArtist=
|StorePerson=
|StorePerson=
|ChiefPropsMaster=
|ChiefPropMaster=
|PropsMaster=Paul Smith
|PropMaster=Paul Smith (prop master)
|PropertyMaster=
|PropertyMaster=
|AssistantPropsMaster=
|AssistantPropMaster=
|DressingChargehand=
|DressingChargehand=
|PropsChargehand=Kyle Belmont
|PropsChargehand=Kyle Belmont
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|WithThanksTo2=
|WithThanksTo2=
|SpecialThanks=
|SpecialThanks=
|ConductedAndOrchestratedBy=Ben Foster
|MusicConductedAndOrchestratedBy=Ben Foster
|Vocals=
|Vocals=
|CounterTenor=
|CounterTenor=
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|CostumeDesigner=Howard Burden
|CostumeDesigner=Howard Burden
|Make-upDesigner=Claire Pritchard-Jones
|Make-upDesigner=Claire Pritchard-Jones
|VisualEffects= Milk VFX{{!}}Milk
|VisualEffects= Milk VFX
|VisualEffects2= BBC Wales VFX
|VisualEffects2= BBC Wales VFX
|SpecialEffects=Real SFX
|SpecialEffects=Real SFX
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}}
}}


== References ==
=== Uncredited crew ===
* The Doctor exclaims that "nobody likes the [[tangerine]]s." Santa is visibly offended.
{{uncred list
* The song ''[[Merry Xmas Everybody]]'' by "Slade" is played in the background in the [[North Pole]] military station to distract Shona from thinking about the [[Dream crab|dream crabs]], where she dances to it.
|MilkVFX cite = <ref name="Milk VFX">{{cite web|url=http://www.milk-vfx.com/project/doctor-who-christmas-special-2014/|title=Doctor Who Christmas Special 2014: Last Christmas|website name=Milk VFX|accessdate=18 October 2018}}</ref>
* Professor Albert compares the dream crabs to the [[facehugger]]s from the 1979 sci-fi/horror movie ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]''. The Doctor has not heard of the facehuggers, nor the film, and is visibly appalled that a horror movie is named ''Alien'', commenting, "No wonder everyone keeps invading you!"
 
|VFXProducer=Louise Hastings
|VFXSupervisor=Salvador Zalvidea
|2DSupervisor=Pedro Andrade
|CGSupervisor=Darren Byford
|VFXCoOrdinator=Mariangela Suma
|VFXEditor=Mark Bright
|ModellingSupervisor=Sam Lucas
|RiggingSupervisor=Neil Roche
|MatchmoveSupervisor=Amy Felce
|AnimationLead=David Bennett
|FXSupervisor=James Reid
|DMPSupervisor=Simon Wicker
 
|Modeller=Jason Brown
|Modeller2=Stefan Brown
|Modeller3=Marc O'Kane
|Rigger=Will Pyor
|Tracker=David Jones (visual effects)
|Tracker2=Gavin Platt
|Tracker3=Dan Horne
|Tracker4=Sonia Wakefield-Ioannou
|FXTD=Howard Margolius
|FXTD2=Muzaffer Korkut
|FXTD3=Dominic Carus
|FXTD4=Nick Webber
|LightingTD=Tavis Roberts<!--sic-->
|LightingTD2=Jamie Stewart
|ReindeerGroomLookdev=Dom Alderson
|MattePainter=Christoph Unger
|Compositor=Aurore de Blois
|Compositor2=Jorge Oliva
|Compositor3=Alvaro Cajal
|Compositor4=Frederic Heymans
|Compositor5=James Moxon
|Compositor6=Theajo Nagarajan
|JuniorCompositor=Alex Balme
|JuniorCompositor2=Peter Dudley
|JuniorCompositor3=Elisa Simoncelli
|JuniorCompositor4=Kenn Kalvik
|RotoPrep=Tomi George
|RotoPrep2=Chris West
|RotoPrep3=Jay Murray
}}
 
== Worldbuilding ==
* The Doctor mentions the [[Helman-Ziegler test]].
 
=== Food and drinks ===
* Santa is visibly offended when both his elves, and later the Doctor, tell him that no one likes [[tangerine]]s.
 
=== Culture from the real world ===
* Shona dances to the song "[[Merry Xmas Everybody]]" by Slade to distract herself from thinking about the [[dream crab]]s while she is in the infirmary on the North Pole base.
* Santa uses a [[RoboSapien]].
* Professor Albert compares the dream crabs to the [[facehugger]] version of the title creature from the 1979 sci-fi/horror movie ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]''. The Doctor has heard of neither the facehuggers nor the film, and is visibly appalled that a horror movie is named ''Alien''.
* The Doctor tells Clara not to get too attached to the people at the arctic base because it "isn't [[Facebook]]."
* The Doctor tells Clara not to get too attached to the people at the arctic base because it "isn't [[Facebook]]."
* When the Doctor leaves Santa on the roof-top, he mockingly tells Santa, "Happy [[Easter]]".
* When Ashley asks who Santa is, the Doctor asks her who she thinks he is and gives the "[[tooth fairy]]" and "[[Easter Bunny]]" as possible examples.
* Santa mentions ''[[My Little Pony]]'' when proving to Shona that he is real.
* Santa mentions ''[[My Little Pony]]'' when proving to Shona that he is real.
* In Shona's Christmas Day Itinerary are referenced the movies ''[[Alien]]'', ''[[The Thing from Another World]]'' and ''[[Miracle on 34th Street]]'', along with "''[[Game of Thrones|Thrones]]''". The first three films are very clearly sources for the episode (the facehuggers, a group of scientists trapped in an isolated Arctic base, and a man who believes he is Santa, respectively).
* In Shona's Christmas Day itinerary, the films ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]'', ''[[The Thing from Another World]]'' and ''[[Miracle on 34th Street]]'' are named, along with "''[[Game of Thrones|Thrones]]''". The first three films are very clearly sources for aspects of the shared dream state (the facehuggers, a group of scientists trapped in an isolated Arctic base by a deadly alien creature, and a man who believes he is Santa, respectively).
 
=== People ===
* Shona seemingly forgives a person called [[Dave (Last Christmas)|Dave]].


== Story notes ==
== Story notes ==
* This episode saw a one-off modification to the [[title sequence]]. The clockfaces the TARDIS flies through are blue and icy, and the TARDIS is covered in snow. The names of the lead actors dissolve into particles, and the closing time vortex has flying snowflakes.
* This episode saw a one-off modification to the [[title sequence]]. The clock faces the TARDIS flies through are blue and icy, and the TARDIS is covered in snow, which both dissipate. The names of the lead actors dissolve into snowy particles, and the subsequent time vortex has flying snowflakes.
** For the first time for this title sequence, more than two people are credited. Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman's names appear normally, then Nick Frost's name appears between the Doctor Who logo and the episode title credit.
* This is the third consecutive [[Christmas special]] to feature [[Dan Starkey]]. He had previously appeared in his recurring [[Sontaran]] role, [[Strax]], in ''[[The Snowmen (TV story)|The Snowmen]]'', then as both [[Commander]] [[Skarr]] and his unnamed subordinate in ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]''. He appears as an [[elf]] named [[Ian (Last Christmas)|Ian]] in this special.
* This is the third consecutive [[Christmas special]] to feature [[Jenna Coleman]] as [[Clara Oswald]], with this number making her the [[companion]] actor with the most appearances on Christmas. [[Karen Gillan]]'s cameo in ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'' as a hallucination of '''former''' companion, [[Amy Pond]], could arguably be called a third appearance, albeit not a full one.
* This is also the third consecutive [[Christmas special]] to feature Jenna Coleman. She previously appeared as a version of [[Clara Oswald]] in ''[[The Snowmen (TV story)|The Snowmen]]'', then as the original Clara in ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'' and ''Last Christmas''. Clara is the first companion to appear in three consecutive Christmas specials.
** This is also the third consecutive Christmas special to feature [[Dan Starkey]]. He had previously appeared in his recurring [[Sontaran]] role, [[Strax]], in [[TV]]: ''[[The Snowmen (TV story)|The Snowmen]]'', then as [[Commander]] [[Skarr]] and his unnamed subordinate in ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]''.
* Steven Moffat, Jenna Coleman and Peter Capaldi later confirmed that Coleman was initially going to leave the series with this episode, but last-minute lobbying by Capaldi and Moffat convinced her to stay on for one more series. According to Moffat, the decision was made rather late in the process, perhaps as late as the readthrough, resulting in an eleventh-hour revision to the ending. The character of Shona was floated as a possible replacement, but a fully developed character wasn't worked out.<ref>The Steven Moffat Interview: Part 3 | [[Doctor Who: The Fan Show]]</ref>
* Jenna Coleman allegedly had a "change of heart" on whether she wanted to stay on ''Doctor Who'' and is going to appear in the ninth series. This change required the Christmas special to be rewritten; "When it came to Clara, they had to tear them up and start again," the source said. "In the original draft of the script, she became an old woman who then died with the Doctor at her side. But after they were rewritten, she will now be seen returning to the Tardis, hand in hand with the Doctor."<ref>http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-11-28/is-jenna-coleman-coming-back-for-another-series-of-doctor-who?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook</ref> That source said she would appear in the first half of the series, however a newer source confirm her for the full series 9.<ref>http://www.cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/jenna-coleman-confirmed-to-return-for-all-of-season-9</ref>
* To keep the appearance of Danny Pink a surprise, Samuel Anderson was uncredited in ''Radio Times'' and on the BBC website.
* The announcement 'The Doctor and Clara will return in - ''The Magician's Apprentice''' appears at the end of this episode. The title of the [[Series 9 (Doctor Who)|series 9]] premiere was confirmed by [[Steven Moffat]] a week prior to this special's broadcast. <ref>http://www.kasterborous.com/2014/12/series-9-episode-title-revealed/</ref> Shona likened the Doctor to a magician several times during the episode, and Santa made a passing mention of the very same nature.
* Steven Moffat almost put [[K9 Mark IV]] in the episode, but decided against it.<ref>http://blogtorwho.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/doctor-whos-steven-moffat-wanted-k9-for.html?m=1</ref>
* To keep the appearance of Danny Pink a surprise, Samuel Anderson was uncredited in ''Radio Times'' and on the BBC website.  
* The events of this episode seem to retroactively reveal that the mid-credits scene at the end of ''[[Death in Heaven (TV story)|Death in Heaven]]'' takes place after the Doctor has been caught by his dream crab, though the ultimate shot implying that Santa really exists casts some doubt onto this interpretation.


=== Ratings ===
=== Ratings ===
9.63 million overnight)
* 8.28 million ([[DWM 483]])


=== Production errors ===
=== Production errors ===
''to be added''
{{Discontinuity}}
* When the Doctor accidentally antagonises Clara about what Danny Pink may be up to, she slaps the right-hand side of his face, yet he clutches the left side.
* Shona's hair changes style and length throughout the episode, even within the space of a few minutes. The production team intended for her changing hair to be a clue to the dream, but sometimes her hair changes within the same 'dream'.
* The CGI shots of Big Ben are extraordinarily out of scale, portraying Big Ben as tiny or the sleigh and its occupants as massive.
 
=== Myths ===
* The Series 8 finale and possibly more of the season was a dream. ''This is due to the Doctor waking up on what appears to be the same volcanic planet seen within Clara's induced dream state in [[TV]]: ''[[Dark Water (TV story)|Dark Water]]'', coupled with the fantastical afterlife-related plotline of the two-parter and the fact the Doctor's dream is seemingly underway by the time Santa appears in the mid-credits sequence of [[TV]]: ''[[Death in Heaven (TV story)|Death in Heaven]]''.''
* Clara and the Doctor are still dreaming as the episode ends. ''This is left ambiguous due to the presence of one of Santa's tangerines at the end. However it should be noted that Santa Claus ''does'' exist within the televised Whoniverse per [[TV]]: ''[[A Christmas Carol (TV story)|A Christmas Carol]]''.''


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* The Doctor is likened to a magician because of his appearance. He previously noted this about himself in [[TV]]: ''[[Time Heist (TV story)|Time Heist]]''.
* This is the second time the Doctor has an adventure which is almost entirely a dream. ([[TV]]: ''[[Amy's Choice (TV story)|Amy's Choice]]'')
* Clara lets it slip that [[Danny Pink]] is still dead, something she'd withheld from the Doctor in [[TV]]: ''[[Death in Heaven (TV story)|Death in Heaven]]''. Danny appears in a crab-induced dream she's later in, in a [[Santa]] suit and slightly taller.
* Shona and Santa both liken the Doctor to a magician because of his appearance. He previously noted this about himself, ([[TV]]: ''[[Time Heist (TV story)|Time Heist]]'') as did Clara. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Caretaker (TV story)|The Caretaker]]'')
** In response, the Doctor is forced to admit that he didn't find [[Gallifrey]], as he had claimed in the same episode.
* Both Clara and the Doctor reveal to each other that they previously lied to each other on their last meeting to stop the other from worrying: Clara lets it slip that [[Danny Pink]] is still dead, something she had withheld from the Doctor, and the Doctor admits that he didn't find [[Gallifrey]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Death in Heaven (TV story)|Death in Heaven]]'')
* During his dream of elderly Clara, the Doctor helps her pull a cracker. Clara had previously done the same for the elderly [[Eleventh Doctor]] in [[TV]]: ''[[The Time of the Doctor]]''.
* The Doctor, in Clara's dream, tells Clara that Danny died saving the world, but Danny clarifies that he died saving Clara. ([[TV]]: ''[[Death in Heaven (TV story)|Death in Heaven]]'') Danny’s statement is also similar to [[Missy]] stating that The Doctor saved her while saving Gallifrey.
* At the end of the episode, a nightie-clad Clara leaves in the TARDIS in the dead of night. [[Amy Pond]]'s travels with the Doctor began in similar fashion at the end of [[TV]]: ''[[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|The Eleventh Hour]]''.
* During the dream, the Doctor helps an elderly Clara pull a cracker. Clara had very similarly done the same for the elderly [[Eleventh Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'')
* Clara is wearing a nightie for the entire episode. Amy wore one (without a dressing-gown on top, though) in her first trip in the TARDIS in [[TV]]: ''[[The Beast Below (TV story)|The Beast Below]]''.
* When the Doctor returns to the base after realising how he missed the obvious, he tells the others not to salute. He has previously been against saluting. ([[TV]]: ''[[Death in Heaven (TV story)|Death in Heaven]]'')
* The Doctor has Clara concentrate on doing sums to distract her from the crabs, something she later does when trying to avoid the escaped crab in the lab. The [[Third Doctor]] used the same technique - albeit with simpler sums - to force [[Jo Jones|Jo Grant]] to focus on something except the brainstorm being experienced by [[Axos]] in [[TV]]: ''[[The Claws of Axos (TV story)|The Claws of Axos]]''.
* The Doctor has Clara concentrate on doing sums to distract her from the crabs, something she later does again when trying to avoid the escaped crab in the lab. The [[Third Doctor]] used the same technique to force [[Jo Grant]] to ignore [[Axos]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Claws of Axos (TV story)|The Claws of Axos]]'')
* Slade's ''Merry Xmas Everybody'', which Shona is listening and dancing to in order to distract herself from the crabs, was playing in the garage where [[Mickey Smith|Mickey]] worked when the newly-regenerated [[Tenth Doctor]] crashed back into the [[Powell Estate]] in [[TV]]: ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]''. It was also playing at [[Donna Noble]]'s first wedding reception in ''[[The Runaway Bride (TV story)|The Runaway Bride]],'' and was on the radio in ''[[Turn Left (TV story)|Turn Left]]'' and ''[[The Power of Three (TV story)|The Power of Three]].''
* Santa mocks the Doctor, saying he would explain the complicated situation by telling them "it's dreamy-weamy". The Doctor used some expressions like "timey-wimey", ([[TV]]: ''[[Blink (TV story)|Blink]]'') "spacey-wacey" ([[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor's Wife (TV story)|The Doctor's Wife]]'') and "humany-wumany". ([[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe (TV story)|The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe]]'')
* The Doctor states that all the people affected by the [[dream crab]]s could very well be from different times and places, as [[time travel]] is possible within dreams. [[Madame Vastra]] once told Clara something similar when explaining the [[psychic]] [[conference call]] in [[TV]]: ''[[The Name of the Doctor]]'': when Clara asked how they were communicating across time, Vastra stated that time travel was possible in dreams. Indeed the Doctor himself at least could've been at a different place in time - he certainly seems to have been on another planet when he wakes up.
* When the Doctor questions how Santa can have all those presents in his bag, Santa claims that it's "bigger on the inside", to the Doctor's annoyance. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'')
* The [[First Doctor]] previously met [[Santa Claus]] in [[COMIC]]: ''[[A Christmas Story (comic story)|A Christmas Story]]'', though [[COMIC]]: ''[[The Land of Happy Endings]]'' insinuated that the encounter was all in his head. The [[Second Doctor]] also prevented him from inadvertently tearing the fabric of space in [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Man Who (Nearly) Killed Christmas]]''. In [[TV]]: ''[[A Christmas Carol (TV story)|A Christmas Carol]]'', the [[Eleventh Doctor]] showed a child in [[Sardicktown]] a photograph of himself with Santa Claus and [[Albert Einstein]], and claimed that Santa's ''real'' name was Jeff.
* Clara hugs the Doctor, which initially makes him uncomfortable. The Doctor previously told her that he doesn't like hugging. ([[TV]]: ''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]'', ''[[Listen (TV story)|Listen]]'', ''[[Death in Heaven (TV story)|Death in Heaven]]'')
* When [[Rudolph (Last Christmas)|Rudolph]] acts up Santa uses a remote key to "park" him, which calms him down and turns his red nose off. The [[Tenth Doctor]] previously used his [[TARDIS key]] to lock his [[TARDIS]] like a car. ([[TV]]: ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'') [[Madame Vastra|Vastra]] also locked her carriage in a similar fashion with a device kept on her hat. ([[TV]]: ''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]'')
* During the final dream state, the elderly Clara tells the Doctor that she learned to fly a plane in the years since her last meeting with him. During their first meeting, the [[Eleventh Doctor]] asked her if she could fly a plane, and Clara told him that she couldn't. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Bells of Saint John (TV story)|The Bells of Saint John]]'')
* The Doctor states that all the people affected by the [[dream crab]]s could very well be from different times and places, as [[time travel]] is possible within dreams. [[Madame Vastra]] once told Clara something similar when explaining the [[psychic]] [[conference call]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Name of the Doctor (TV story)|The Name of the Doctor]]'')
* The [[First Doctor]] previously met [[Santa Claus]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[A Christmas Story (comic story)|A Christmas Story]]'') though it was later implied that the encounter was all in his head. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Land of Happy Endings (comic story)|The Land of Happy Endings]]'') The [[Second Doctor]] also prevented him from inadvertently tearing the fabric of space. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Man Who (Nearly) Killed Christmas (short story)|The Man Who (Nearly) Killed Christmas]]'') The [[Eleventh Doctor]] showed a child in [[Sardicktown]] a photograph of himself with Santa Claus and [[Albert Einstein]], and claimed that Santa's real name was "Jeff". ([[TV]]: ''[[A Christmas Carol (TV story)|A Christmas Carol]]'')
* [[Toshiko Sato]] previously referred to the film ''Alien'', ([[TV]]: ''[[Greeks Bearing Gifts (TV story)|Greeks Bearing Gifts]]'') as did [[Izzy Sinclair]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Fire and Brimstone (comic story)|Fire and Brimstone]]'') and [[Jason Kane]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Birthright (audio story)|Birthright]]'')
** Despite the Twelfth Doctor seemingly not knowing that a film called ''Alien'' existed, the [[Tenth Doctor]] had previously recommended the film to [[Cassie Rice|Cassy]] and [[Jimmy Stalkingwolf|Jimmy]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Dreamland (TV story)|Dreamland]]'')
** Despite even those instances, multiple accounts showed the Doctor interacting with the [[Xenomorph]]s as a ''real'' species. ([[TV]]: ''[[Mindwarp (TV story)|Mindwarp]]'', ''[[Dalek (TV story)|Dalek]]'', et al.)


== Home video releases ==
== Home video releases ==
=== DVD releases ===
=== DVD & Blu-ray releases ===
''to be added''
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
File:Last Christmas DVD.jpg|''Last Christmas'' DVD cover
File:Complete 9th Series UK Cover.jpg|The Complete [[Series 9 (Doctor Who 2005)|Series Nine]]
</gallery>
 
* ''Last Christmas'' was released as a standalone DVD and Blu-Ray in in region 1/A on [[17 February (releases)|17 February]] [[2015 (releases)|2015]], in region 2/B on [[26 January (releases)|26 January]] 2015 and in region 4/B on [[28 January (releases)|28 January]] 2015. It included a behind-the-scenes featurette.
* It was later also released as part of the Complete Ninth Series DVD and Blu-ray boxsets in region 1/A on [[5 April (releases)|5 April]] [[2016 (releases)|2016]], in region 2/B on [[7 March (releases)|7 March]] 2016 and in region 4/B on [[9 March (releases)|9 March]] 2016.
 
=== Digital releases ===
* The episode was released to buy in HD or SD on Amazon Instant Video.
* The episode was released on Google Play and iTunes in HD or SD, complete with various features including ''Earth Conquest, '' a trailer, Steven Moffat interview and behind the scenes featurette.
* In the United Kingdom, this story is available on [[BBC iPlayer]] as part of Series 8.


=== Blu-ray releases ===
== External links ==
''to be added''
* Transcript of '''''[http://www.chakoteya.net/DoctorWho/34-13.html Last Christmas]''''' at [http://www.chakoteya.net Chrissie's Transcripts Site]
* {{locguide|xmas2014|Last Christmas}}


== References ==
== Footnotes ==
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[[Category:Series 9 (Doctor Who) stories]]
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[[Category:Stories set at Christmas]]
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[[Category:Stories set in the Arctic]]
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[[Category:Stories set in the 21st century]]
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[[Category:Stories set in London]]
[[Category:Stories set in London]]
[[Category:Stories with unique variations of the Doctor Who opening titles]]
[[Category:Television stories set in dreams]]
[[Category:Television stories that use Murray Gold's 5th main theme]]
[[Category:2014 television stories]]
[[Category:Doctor Who Christmas specials]]
[[Category:Stories set at Christmas]]
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[[he:חג מולד אחרון (סיפור טלוויזיה)]]
[[pt:Last Christmas]]

Latest revision as of 00:35, 22 October 2024

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You may wish to consult Last Christmas for other, similarly-named pages.

Last Christmas was the 2014 Christmas Special of Doctor Who. It was the show's tenth Christmas special since its revival and the first of four Christmas specials starring Peter Capaldi as the Doctor.

It guest-starred Nick Frost as a dream manifestation of Santa Claus, previously seen at the end of Death in Heaven as a lead-in to this story.

This story dealt with repairing the bond between the Doctor and Clara after they parted ways under the belief that the other had a better life waiting for them instead of continuing their adventures. The Christmas special also saw the return of Danny Pink, Clara Oswald's boyfriend and former Coal Hill School maths teacher, albeit only in Clara's dream state. It also dealt with Clara finally moving on from her grief.

Casting-wise, it was notable for featuring the first on-screen Doctor Who appearance of Michael Troughton, son of Second Doctor actor Patrick Troughton and brother of David Troughton, who had previously made several of his own guest appearances on the series. It also sees Dan Starkey, who previously portrayed the Sontaran Strax in numerous stories, now in a small part of the Elf Ian.

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

Clara Oswald is in for one Christmas Eve that she's never going to forget. Reunited with the Twelfth Doctor, she faces what could possibly be her last Christmas.

Something sinister lurks in an arctic base at the North Pole, and it's beyond even the most terrible, nightmarish creatures the Doctor has faced before. Who ya gonna call? Santa Claus!

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

On a frosty night before Christmas, Clara Oswald awakens to the sound of an object crashing on her rooftop. Putting on her dressing gown, she leaves her room to investigate and discovers Santa Claus, his elves Ian and Wolf, reindeer and sleigh upon her roof, having crashed after an accident. Ian quickly informs Santa that they've been sighted. They weakly attempt to pass themselves off as ordinary people, but after Clara sees the reindeer flying loose in the sky, they reveal their true identities. One elf points out the beard Santa grew to hide his identity has been public for some time.

Clara tries to deny his existence as a fairytale, having always believed her parents had given her presents instead of him, which the elves laugh at. Santa even lists items Clara wanted at Christmas; everything Clara wanted was actually practical items, instead of other items for hobbies and such. Santa questions if she still believes in fairy-tales, as the TARDIS materialises. The elves are surprised to have been upstaged; it's not very often that happens. The Doctor emerges, telling a stunned Clara that he's back; he then orders her to remain absolutely silent and go into the TARDIS right away. She obeys.

The Doctor leans in close to Santa and states that he knows what is going on, and what is at stake. Santa questions if he truly does, and tells him that before the night is through, the Doctor will be glad for his help. The Doctor departs by wishing Santa a "Happy Easter" and tells him that no-one likes his tangerines. The elves laugh, having previously said the same thing to Santa, but weren't believed.

Inside the TARDIS, Clara comments on how much she had missed it, as the Doctor takes off. He tells Clara that she should trust nothing and be critical towards everything, concluding that the most important question is if she truly believes in Santa Claus. She answers that right now, she does, believing Father Christmas brought the Doctor back as a gift.

At a base in the North Pole, a group of scientists are tracking Shona as she enters an infirmary. One of the scientists called Ashley tells Shona not to think about "them" and to concentrate on something else. She enters the infirmary and begins dancing to Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody" which appears to take her mind off the victims. She reaches the end of the infirmary, by which point the Doctor and Clara appear. Shona initially mistakes them for ghosts, calling the Doctor a skeleton man.

As Clara wonders what's happened to the victims, they wake up and begin moving. Shona warns them not to think about what they can see, mumbling the song to herself, and the Doctor deduces that the creatures attached to the victim's faces are both deaf and blind, but they use telepathy to keep a constant image of themselves in someone's memory, allowing them to 'see'. In an attempt to save Clara, the Doctor insults Danny, succeeding in flooding her mind with emotion. As the victims close in, the scientists appear with guns ready to attack, and then several crab-like creatures appear from the ceiling and attack the group.

Santa arrives to save the day.

Suddenly a wall blasts off and an army of toys march in. Everyone looks out the hole to see Santa riding Rudolph, and dismounting. The reindeer is humourously calmed by Santa, using a car fob. Santa demands an answer as to what is happening; he doesn't want any trouble on his property. To everyone's surprise, Santa is able to order the victims back to bed. Everyone heads into a different room to avoid waking them again. Shona wonders who Santa is, to which the Doctor sarcastically states to take a guess, listing the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. Santa tells the Doctor that an invasion has begun. Clara wonders if it's an invasion of elves, angering them; they retort that she's one to talk as she's almost as short as them.

Santa presents a captured creature, which the Doctor recognises as a Kantrofarri or "dream crab". Santa's existence is questioned by everyone, especially Shona, whom he angers, but he encourages them to focus on the dream crabs as Earth may have just seen its last Christmas depending on how many are there. The Doctor encourages Ashley to deduce what they are and what they do; he then explains that they are dying and most likely asleep. He points to the TARDIS, explaining that reality and fantasy are difficult to tell apart because both are ridiculous. He and Clara then admit to each other that they lied - he about finding Gallifrey, she about Danny returning from the Nethersphere - so the other could move on with their lives to be happy.

The Doctor asks Ashley to show him CCTV footage of the other crew members arriving on the base. The footage shows the four crew members discovering the creatures, buried in the snow. The footage then shows one of the creatures coming down from the ceiling, which sends the camera static. The Doctor explains that when a dream crab attacks someone, it places them in a telepathically induced dream state. Whilst the victim is "dreaming", the crab drills into the victim's head and eats away at their brain. And if you are thinking about a dream crab, one is most likely coming for you. Albert compares the creatures to facehuggers, confusing the Doctor; after Albert explains that he means the horror movie Alien, a miffed Doctor explains that it's really offensive and must be why real aliens keep invading Earth.

Clara's dream Christmas with Danny.

Clara goes to check on the captured crab, only to find it missing from the container. It begins to stalk her, at which point Clara tries thinking of maths equations and then of Danny to stop it. Unfortunately, it breaks through the table she's hiding under, putting her into a dream state. Clara finds herself at her house on Christmas day with Danny; when Clara is confused by his outfit, Danny jokes he's "Father Easter". The Doctor and the group arrive at Clara's side, where the Doctor tries to work out a way to remove the crab without killing Clara. Ashley states the only way to remove the crab would be to kill Clara. He refuses to do so, asking Santa (who can't be targeted by the crabs) to bring one to place on his head.

In Clara's dream, night has fallen and she's snuggled up to Danny on a couch facing their Christmas tree. Hearing someone at the door, Clara goes and answers. It's the Doctor, who informs her that everything she's seeing is not real; annoyed, Clara lets him and introduces dream Danny. The Doctor greets him, earning a military holiday greeting in return; something the real Danny would do to annoy him. Clara knows it's not real, but wanted to spend more time with Danny; however, in a few minutes, the dream crab will have burrowed too deep into her head to be removed. The dream Danny explains that while he did die, it was to save Clara; the rest of the world got lucky. He encourages Clara to move on but to mourn him for five minutes a day. The Doctor and Clara awaken, causing the crabs to fall off and disintegrate; "Carnivore's hazard; food has teeth, too."

Despite waking up, Clara complains of a pain on the right side of her head. Shona compares it to the "ice cream pain" and confirms she has the same pain. The Doctor then works out that they are in fact still in a dream, having been attacked when they arrived. With some help from Santa — who is revealed to be a manifestation of everyone's brains telling them something is wrong — the group are able to wake up. They escape the infirmary, barely evading the victims. The Doctor bids farewell to the group as Clara goes after him; the Doctor explains that unless the group is stupid enough to let the dream crabs out, they should be fine. He also explains he can't keep constant watch, stating that there are other dangerous things on the planet.

Clara notes they both saw Santa on her rooftop, meaning they're still dreaming. They return to the base where the Doctor questions the scientists on why they only have four base manuals for a crew of eight people. They perform the Helman-Ziegler test, resulting in each person reading off the first word of page 12; "Very, very, very, dead". It's another sign that they're still dreaming; worse, it means the danger has increased, given three "very"s. Taking them to the CCTV monitors, the Doctor reminds them of the patients, which he reveals are dream constructs of what's coming to kill them. The victims awaken and transport themselves through the CCTV, killing Albert in the process. The group travel outside and try to work out a way to escape, of which the Doctor suggests using the TARDIS to escape. Clara notes it isn't the real TARDIS, and as they head towards the TARDIS, dream constructs of themselves appear. Worse, the constructs have multiplied; "logic of a nightmare" the Doctor notes.

Clara doesn't want to wake up.

The Doctor tells everybody to use their imagination to get themselves home, and so they all dream of Santa, who appears in his sleigh and rescues the group. Having been rescued by Santa, the memories of the group's real lives start coming back to them, meaning that they're waking up in the real world. Shona suggests that they exchange phone numbers so they can meet up once they awaken, but the Doctor states that it's unlikely that they will remember anything that's happened in the dream. One by one, everyone except Clara awakens, who wants to stay in the dream world forever.

The Doctor travels to Clara's house and is successful in removing the crab from her face with his sonic screwdriver, but finds 62 years have passed for her since they said goodbye in the coffee shop after Danny's death; this places Clara at age 89. In Clara's living room, the Doctor brings in Christmas hats, believing that anything seems funny if the hats are worn. They discuss her life since they last met. She travelled, but never married despite numerous admirers; she does admit that there was one other man besides Danny she liked; "but it wouldn't work out; he was impossible." They pull a cracker together, with the Doctor helping the elderly Clara do so. He apologises for not returning for her sooner, wishing that he had. From the doorway, Santa again appears and asks if he really does wish for that. They are surprised this is yet another crab-induced dream. Santa whispers; "Wakey-wakey!!"

The Doctor awakens for real this time and he travels to Clara's house, removing the crab from her face again to reveal that she is still young; humorously, the Doctor can't tell whether Clara is young or not. Realising what could have been, the Doctor invites Clara to resume her travels in the TARDIS with him. She happily agrees and he whisks her away, still in her nightie. As they dematerialise, a tangerine sits on the window sill and there is a faint hint of sleigh bells...

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Uncredited cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

General production staff

Script department

Camera and lighting department

Art department

Costume department

Make-up and prosthetics

Movement

Casting

General post-production staff

Special and visual effects

Sound



Not every person who worked on this adventure was credited. The absence of a credit for a position doesn't necessarily mean the job wasn't required. The information above is based solely on observations of the actual end credits of the episodes as broadcast, and does not relay information from IMDB or other sources.


Uncredited crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Food and drinks[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Santa is visibly offended when both his elves, and later the Doctor, tell him that no one likes tangerines.

Culture from the real world[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Shona dances to the song "Merry Xmas Everybody" by Slade to distract herself from thinking about the dream crabs while she is in the infirmary on the North Pole base.
  • Santa uses a RoboSapien.
  • Professor Albert compares the dream crabs to the facehugger version of the title creature from the 1979 sci-fi/horror movie Alien. The Doctor has heard of neither the facehuggers nor the film, and is visibly appalled that a horror movie is named Alien.
  • The Doctor tells Clara not to get too attached to the people at the arctic base because it "isn't Facebook."
  • When the Doctor leaves Santa on the roof-top, he mockingly tells Santa, "Happy Easter".
  • When Ashley asks who Santa is, the Doctor asks her who she thinks he is and gives the "tooth fairy" and "Easter Bunny" as possible examples.
  • Santa mentions My Little Pony when proving to Shona that he is real.
  • In Shona's Christmas Day itinerary, the films Alien, The Thing from Another World and Miracle on 34th Street are named, along with "Thrones". The first three films are very clearly sources for aspects of the shared dream state (the facehuggers, a group of scientists trapped in an isolated Arctic base by a deadly alien creature, and a man who believes he is Santa, respectively).

People[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Shona seemingly forgives a person called Dave.

Story notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • This episode saw a one-off modification to the title sequence. The clock faces the TARDIS flies through are blue and icy, and the TARDIS is covered in snow, which both dissipate. The names of the lead actors dissolve into snowy particles, and the subsequent time vortex has flying snowflakes.
  • This is the third consecutive Christmas special to feature Dan Starkey. He had previously appeared in his recurring Sontaran role, Strax, in The Snowmen, then as both Commander Skarr and his unnamed subordinate in The Time of the Doctor. He appears as an elf named Ian in this special.
  • This is also the third consecutive Christmas special to feature Jenna Coleman. She previously appeared as a version of Clara Oswald in The Snowmen, then as the original Clara in The Time of the Doctor and Last Christmas. Clara is the first companion to appear in three consecutive Christmas specials.
  • Steven Moffat, Jenna Coleman and Peter Capaldi later confirmed that Coleman was initially going to leave the series with this episode, but last-minute lobbying by Capaldi and Moffat convinced her to stay on for one more series. According to Moffat, the decision was made rather late in the process, perhaps as late as the readthrough, resulting in an eleventh-hour revision to the ending. The character of Shona was floated as a possible replacement, but a fully developed character wasn't worked out.[3]
  • To keep the appearance of Danny Pink a surprise, Samuel Anderson was uncredited in Radio Times and on the BBC website.
  • Steven Moffat almost put K9 Mark IV in the episode, but decided against it.[4]
  • The events of this episode seem to retroactively reveal that the mid-credits scene at the end of Death in Heaven takes place after the Doctor has been caught by his dream crab, though the ultimate shot implying that Santa really exists casts some doubt onto this interpretation.

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

Production errors[[edit] | [edit source]]

If you'd like to talk about narrative problems with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.
  • When the Doctor accidentally antagonises Clara about what Danny Pink may be up to, she slaps the right-hand side of his face, yet he clutches the left side.
  • Shona's hair changes style and length throughout the episode, even within the space of a few minutes. The production team intended for her changing hair to be a clue to the dream, but sometimes her hair changes within the same 'dream'.
  • The CGI shots of Big Ben are extraordinarily out of scale, portraying Big Ben as tiny or the sleigh and its occupants as massive.

Myths[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Series 8 finale and possibly more of the season was a dream. This is due to the Doctor waking up on what appears to be the same volcanic planet seen within Clara's induced dream state in TV: Dark Water, coupled with the fantastical afterlife-related plotline of the two-parter and the fact the Doctor's dream is seemingly underway by the time Santa appears in the mid-credits sequence of TV: Death in Heaven.
  • Clara and the Doctor are still dreaming as the episode ends. This is left ambiguous due to the presence of one of Santa's tangerines at the end. However it should be noted that Santa Claus does exist within the televised Whoniverse per TV: A Christmas Carol.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Home video releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

DVD & Blu-ray releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Last Christmas was released as a standalone DVD and Blu-Ray in in region 1/A on 17 February 2015, in region 2/B on 26 January 2015 and in region 4/B on 28 January 2015. It included a behind-the-scenes featurette.
  • It was later also released as part of the Complete Ninth Series DVD and Blu-ray boxsets in region 1/A on 5 April 2016, in region 2/B on 7 March 2016 and in region 4/B on 9 March 2016.

Digital releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The episode was released to buy in HD or SD on Amazon Instant Video.
  • The episode was released on Google Play and iTunes in HD or SD, complete with various features including Earth Conquest, a trailer, Steven Moffat interview and behind the scenes featurette.
  • In the United Kingdom, this story is available on BBC iPlayer as part of Series 8.

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ http://www.jondavey.com/acting.php
  2. ↑ Doctor Who Christmas Special 2014: Last Christmas. Milk VFX. Retrieved on 18 October 2018.
  3. ↑ The Steven Moffat Interview: Part 3 | Doctor Who: The Fan Show
  4. ↑ http://blogtorwho.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/doctor-whos-steven-moffat-wanted-k9-for.html?m=1
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