# Doctor Who: The Return of Doctor Mysterio **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 25, 2016, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610 "2016-12-25T18:36:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610/21 "2016-12-27T06:14:04Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > There was no other episode this year. This is the first since last year’s Christmas episode. Oh. Well. That’s what I get for not watching them when they first come out. I always seem to end up seeing a bunch of episodes at the year-end build-up to the Christmas special. So Clara and “Me” are just out there flying around in their own Tardis and we have no idea what they’re doing yet? And how could they go a whole year without any new Who episodes? ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610/22 "2016-12-27T08:28:51Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > But in the coming soon preview… that new companion just looks cringingly awful. I really hope this is a case of previews always lie. Heh. I had the opposite reaction, that she seemed refreshingly cheery and uncomplicated, a throwback to companions like Ace after years of The Most Important Something In The Wherever plot cogs dressed up as characters. Nice to see Matt Lucas still in there, too. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610/23 "2016-12-27T10:19:36Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > So Clara and “Me” are just out there flying around in their own Tardis and we have no idea what they’re doing yet? We’ll probably never revisit them. Much like Jenny the Doctor’s Daughter, their likely more interesting adventures aren’t in the BBC’s plans. > [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > And how could they go a whole year without any new Who episodes? Good question. I think Moffat is getting a bit tired of it. The first half of this year he was dedicated to making _Sherlock_, the second to _Doctor Who_, and they each will be shown early 2017. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610/24 "2016-12-27T16:50:55Z")
Overall, I generally liked the special and got a few good laughs out of it. My only problem is that the run time was too short to introduce and then resolve so many new story elements: a superhero origin story, the superhero and his ‘mild-mannered’ alter ego, the intrepid reporter and her backstory as a single mother, the evil brains, their fiendish master plan – it’s a whole lot for one hour. While I liked Grant/the Ghost and Lucy, their story was rushed. This is actually something that could have been better if it had been expanded to a two parter. It needed some time to develop. At least with last year’s story, there was a considerable amount of backstory built up between the Doctor and River, so it was more of a capper to a long-term story, rather than just a one off. I liked Nardole more than I thought I would. I barely remembered him from last year’s special and thought it was pretty random that they were bringing him back in a companion capacity. But although he didn’t have much to do, I liked his perspective on the Doctor. I’m even glad that he will apparently be coming back next year. And as for the “Next Time” trailer, I was a little disappointed with the new companion’s line “My name is Bill…I serve chips.” That instantly seemed too much like the story arc for every other new series companion girl so far (Rose, Martha, Donna, Amy and Clara) – a fiesty young woman working/living a life below her potential, who meets the Doctor and discovers “unexpected” resourcefulness, courage, willpower…meh. Been there, done that. When the trailer promised something new and different, I was hoping for something a little more than just a non-caucasian, which is the most superficial change they could have made. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610/25 "2016-12-27T18:05:17Z")
It would actually be interesting if she were actually useless and the Doctor were to dump her. Much like Ecclestone’s Doctor did with the boy in his series. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610/26 "2016-12-27T18:27:48Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > And as for the “Next Time” trailer, I was a little disappointed with the new companion’s line “My name is Bill…I serve chips.” That instantly seemed too much like the story arc for every other new series companion girl so far (Rose, Martha, Donna, Amy and Clara) – a fiesty young woman working/living a life below her potential, who meets the Doctor and discovers “unexpected” resourcefulness, courage, willpower…meh. Been there, done that. When the trailer promised something new and different, I was hoping for something a little more than just a non-caucasian, which is the most superficial change they could have made. The Master/Missy’s new body. It will only be revealed and resolved at the end of Series 10. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610/27 "2016-12-28T14:26:12Z")
Mr. Huffle feels pain. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610/28 "2016-12-28T14:35:58Z")
Yeah, the latest companion looks a bit mentally disabled, but that would be a change for their usually boring companion selections. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2016, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610/29 "2016-12-29T01:20:34Z")
I liked the bit at the end where the villain asked the Doctor, “You think this is over?” “Yep.” And the sonic screwdriver does it again. Can’t help thinking that if the Doctor ever needs another “army”, as at Demons Run, he knows right where to look first. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2016, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610/30 "2016-12-29T15:43:41Z")
I thought this was a lot of fun. I think the scene where Lucy and the “Ghost” were talking on the phone was especially well shot. Very reminiscent of a comic book (reminds of the comic book movies of the early 2000’s). Nardole was a lot more fun than last time. I’m guessing he won’t be a permanent companion, more of a Jack Harness/Madame Vastra type role. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2016, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610/31 "2016-12-29T17:21:26Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Nardole was a lot more fun than last time. I’m guessing he won’t be a permanent companion, more of a Jack Harness/Madame Vastra type role. It looks, from the season teaser we saw, that he’ll overlap Bill for at least a little while. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2016, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610/32 "2016-12-29T18:21:14Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Nardole was a lot more fun than last time. I’m guessing he won’t be a permanent companion, more of a Jack Harness/Madame Vastra type role. IMDb currently lists him in six of the twelve episodes of the upcoming season (episodes 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, & 9 to be specific). ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2016, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610/33 "2016-12-29T20:52:13Z")
I did like the bit where Nardole basically admitted to joyriding the Tardis around for a while and ruling Constantinople “firmly but wisely”. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2016, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610/34 "2016-12-29T21:12:37Z")
> [@Vicsage](#): > > To answer Femm’s question about why he can’t go back a see her again. River didn’t recognize the Doctor in the last episode together. If he went back to see her in his current form, he would then be recognizable to her in the last episode when they began their 24 year honeymoon. This would be a paradox. Assuming River went to the library right after the honeymoon, there would be no time to squeeze in another meeting. Now why Matt Smith couldn’t visit Amy and Rory after the Angel episode, that I never got. I agree with you and with what Roderick Femm wrote under spoiler tags–the attempts at poignant goodbyes on this show really never make sense, when the characters are able to travel in time without apparent cost. > [@Quartz](#): > > It would actually be interesting if she were actually useless and the Doctor were to dump her. Much like Ecclestone’s Doctor did with the boy in his series. I’ve searched at various times but have never learned the reason that the Eccleston episodes are never rerun on BBC America–does anyone know? (Or maybe they’re constantly shown and I’ve managed to miss every one…!) ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2016, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610/35 "2016-12-29T21:38:37Z")
I don’t know what Quartz is talking about. I don’t recall Eccleston having a boy companion, unless he’s talking about Captain Jack, who was never a companion, nor useless. Eccleston had a fairly major falling out with the producers. Well, more than “fairly” major. He pretty much got canned (by mutual agreement, lol). ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2016, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610/36 "2016-12-29T21:47:27Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I agree with you and with what Roderick Femm wrote under spoiler tags–the attempts at poignant goodbyes on this show really never make sense, when the characters are able to travel in time without apparent cost. I like the show, but Doctor Who and making sense do not exist in the same universe. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2016, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610/37 "2016-12-29T22:01:40Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > I don’t know what Quartz is talking about. I don’t recall Eccleston having a boy companion, unless he’s talking about Captain Jack, who was never a companion, nor useless. [Adam Mitchell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Mitchell_(Doctor_Who)) (he wasn’t around very long) Captain Jack is definitely a companion. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2016, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610/38 "2016-12-29T22:02:23Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > I don’t know what Quartz is talking about. I don’t recall Eccleston having a boy companion, unless he’s talking about Captain Jack, who was never a companion, nor useless. > > Eccleston had a fairly major falling out with the producers. Well, more than “fairly” major. He pretty much got canned (by mutual agreement, lol). Adam was picked up in “Dalek” and ditched an episode later after the end of “The Long Game” for pissing about with the space-time continuum to try and get rich. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610/39 "2016-12-29T22:49:23Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Eccleston had a fairly major falling out with the producers. Well, more than “fairly” major. He pretty much got canned (by mutual agreement, lol). Did he own the rights to that season of episodes? Otherwise, I can’t understand why the BBC wouldn’t show them (since there must be some level of demand). Is the bad blood SO bad that the BBC begrudges Eccleston gleaning a few pounds in residuals (if the episodes were shown)? Just seems odd. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2016, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610/40 "2016-12-30T00:10:29Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I’ve searched at various times but have never learned the reason that the Eccleston episodes are never rerun on BBC America–does anyone know? (Or maybe they’re constantly shown and I’ve managed to miss every one…!) They didn’t run on BBCA when they first ran, they were on Scifi/Syfy, though they have has them on BBCA On Demand (I rewatched them there at one point), so they must have the rights (or had the rights anyway). " (Rose, Martha, Donna, Amy and Clara) – a fiesty young woman working/living a life below her potential, who meets the Doctor and discovers “unexpected” resourcefulness, courage, willpower…meh" Was Martha part of that mold? She was in med school and eventually became an actual doctor, right? Rose & Donna definitely (particularly Rose) but even Clara seemed a different sort, especially once she started teaching. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-return-of-doctor-mysterio/775610.md?page=3)