S8E13: Last Christmas (SPOILERS)

A teaser was shown tonight on Children In Need! Looks interesting. Is there a hint here that Santa is actually evil? I hope so...

That was a great clip! Yes, there was a sinister vibe there. Jolly fellow who lives in semi-seclusion at the North Pole and knows whether you've been naughty or nice??

That was pretty cool,I just hope the rest is just as good or better.

I like the tension between Doc and and Santa,like the Doctor is agitated by his
presence.
Maybe he doesn't like the competition of another iconic figure that all of humanity
loves and cherishes.Like two brothers competing for the same girl.

I guess what I want for Christmas this year is a good Doctor Who Christmas episode
and if at the end Santa gives the Doctor a mysterious gift that ends up helping him
find Galifrey it will be all the better.

The title has been announced as 'Last Christmas' and a promo pic released!

I'm really looking forward to this one! Love the elf swinging the guitar

I have to post the quip that was on a DW news article... "Last Christmas, I gave you two hearts..."

Add the word "Special" to the end of that title and I'm sold.

SeaDevil wrote:

The 2nd Doctor Roberts wrote:

Add the word "Special" to the end of that title and I'm sold.

What Sea said!

What's the significance of the tangerine in England for Christmas?

Is it like coal in the U.S.?

For that matter why do they all wear those funny hats too?

It's a treat often left in the stocking.

I love Christmas specials, but I'm an old fuddy-duddy about all things Christmas anyway. Some of the specials have definitely been better than others, but I still enjoy them.

Were those Silurians rising up on the tables in that one teaser?

It'll be interesting/weird to see Dan Starkey minus all his Sontaran make up

Was hoping not to see Clara in the pic (was going for a cameo but guess not). The Doctor looks too normal / human in that outfit (too laid back).

Brain of Davros wrote:

What's the significance of the tangerine in England for Christmas?

Is it like coal in the U.S.?

For that matter why do they all wear those funny hats too?

Tangerines are apparently a traditional stocking filler because their peak is in December. However, if this is a popular thing here in the UK then this is also the first time even I'm hearing about it. I've never had a tangerine for Christmas, and thank goodness really... It's a bit of a lousy gift IMO.

The only 'Christmas Orange' that I've known of is Christingles, which I'm not sure if you guys do over the pond as well. Usually kids do them in school at Christmas time and then bring them home as a gift/decoration for their parents. Basically it's an orange with a lit candle in the middle to represent Christ as the light of the world, a red ribbon around the orange which represents the blood of Christ, and then four cocktail sticks pushed into the orange around the sides with dried fruits skewered onto them to represent the fruits of the earth and the four seasons. It was started by a German Bishop in the 1700s who was trying to find a way to best symbolise and explain the message of Christmas to children in the church, and I guess the tradition just stuck! But yeah, that's the only Christmas orange that I know of.

As for the funny hats, do you mean these:



You get them in Christmas crackers - not sure if you guys do these either? Here they are explained: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_cracker They're pretty much an integral part of Christmas celebrations here. You can't have Christmas without crackers.



The Doctor, Rose, Mickey and Jackie do some in 'The Christmas Invasion' if you recall!

I hope the title doesn't mean the Wham! song will be in the show...

Scary wrote:

As for the funny hats, do you mean these:
You get them in Christmas crackers - not sure if you guys do these either? Here they are explained: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_cracker They're pretty much an integral part of Christmas celebrations here. You can't have Christmas without crackers.


The Doctor, Rose, Mickey and Jackie do some in 'The Christmas Invasion' if you recall!

Yup, crackers are definitely NOT a thing in the US. I was wondering about the paper crowns as well...LOL! Thanks for clearing that up, Scary

Brain of Davros wrote:

What's the significance of the tangerine in England for Christmas?

Is it like coal in the U.S.?

For that matter why do they all wear those funny hats too?

The story goes......

Bishop Nicholas learned of a poor man with three daughters who had no dowries and hence could not marry. The next night, Nicholas returned and tossed three bags of gold for the daughters' dowries through the chimney which happened to land in the stockings of the three maidens which they had hung to dry in front of the fireplace. The bags of gold turned into balls of gold which are now symbolized by oranges. Bishop Nicholas is often portrayed in pictures wearing the red ceremonial robes and miter (or headdress) and holding the staff of a bishop as well as holding three gold balls, gold coins, or pieces of fruit.

Nicholas lived a long life, died of natural causes, was canonized and made a saint, Saint Nicholas.

True or not - I kinda like it.

"Tangerines are apparently a traditional stocking filler because their peak is in December. However, if this is a popular thing here in the UK then this is also the first time even I'm hearing about it. I've never had a tangerine for Christmas, and thank goodness really... It's a bit of a lousy gift IMO."

LOL Scary I agree.

Thanks for the explanation guys now when I see these things in the future I'll know about the crackers and orange delicacies that you guys are enjoying for Christmas.

I do like the Saint Nick story too.

My family does crackers. My mom gets them in North Spokane... About an hour drive...

Same place I get Jelly Babies and Jammie Dodgers.

Scary wrote:

Funny hat... cute skirt I knew about the Christmas crackers from the British TV shows I've watched over the years, but I never heard of that Christingle thing. It just sounds so very odd to me, but I'm sure there are traditions all over the place that are considered odd to 'outsiders.' An orange with a candle sticking out of the top... then we have hollowed out pumpkins with faces carved into them and candles inside.

Ask the limeys about Boxing Day.

you guys all get coal in your stockings for Christmas, did you forget about the mall, Santa is there every year, and those Santa foot races, what about Mommy kissing Santa Claus, Merry Christmas, you Whovin's and Happy 51 birthday Dr Who

Well, it does say (SPOILERS) up there in the thread title, so maybe this would be a good place to discuss Jenna Coleman staying/not staying (hedging my bets here since the story seems to change day to day). What do we think about this? Personally, I think it's time for her to go. It's not that I dislike her, but it seems that Clara's story has run its course (despite what Santa thinks).

The 2nd Doctor Roberts wrote:

Well, it does say (SPOILERS) up there in the thread title, so maybe this would be a good place to discuss Jenna Coleman staying/not staying (hedging my bets here since the story seems to change day to day). What do we think about this? Personally, I think it's time for her to go. It's not that I dislike her, but it seems that Clara's story has run its course (despite what Santa thinks).

I'm past caring. I've really liked her this series but she keeps leaving and coming back, leaving and coming back. It won't actually mean anything when she does finally go.

The Gene Lantern wrote:

Scary wrote:

As for the funny hats, do you mean these:
You get them in Christmas crackers - not sure if you guys do these either? Here they are explained: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_cracker They're pretty much an integral part of Christmas celebrations here. You can't have Christmas without crackers.


The Doctor, Rose, Mickey and Jackie do some in 'The Christmas Invasion' if you recall!

Yup, crackers are definitely NOT a thing in the US.  I was wondering about the paper crowns as well...LOL! Thanks for clearing that up, Scary

Wow, I suppose it may depend on where you are in the US, or maybe family history.  We have had the my entire life every Christmas. Oh, they are sold in the store I manage, which is a nationwide chain.