Title: The Return of Doctor Mysterio
year: 2016
[May contain spoilers for Doctor Who Season 9.]
It seems like ages since the last Doctor Who episode; well, it was exactly 12 months or 24 years ago if you were on Darillium. And like last year's episode, which was set in outer space, or the year before that, which was set in the North Pole, or the year before that, which was set in Trenzalore, this year's special was also set outside of London. In fact, there hasn't been a London Christmas since the 11th Doctor met old Clara in Victorian London. I guess London is no longer the most dangerous place during Christmas (but don't visit Star City or Central City during May just yet).
Despite the stupid looking teaser with the cheesy superhero rescue scene, this was yet another good Doctor Who Christmas Special though it doesn't really involve much or any festive stuff. Say what you will about Moffat's era of Doctor Who (and a lot has been said especially since the departure of Rory and Amy) but this guy knows how to write a good and fun stand-alone Christmas episode. I have enjoyed all the Christmas episodes in his era (including the Sherlock special from last year) and this was no exception. The Return of Doctor Mysterio is set in New York and packed with superhero references sprinkled with some belated Pokémon Go jokes. It was interesting to see the Doctor in an superhero-themed episode since Doctor Who has always been a show about a superhero with its own supervillians, mythos, sidekicks, and moral codes. I needed some adjustments and did some double-takes when the Doctor is juxtaposed against a traditional cinematic superhero in an explicit and true American superhero setting.
The bigger surprise, other than the fact that this special was actually pretty good, is that the main supporting character was played by Justin Chatwin, the actor who infamously portrayed Goku in the terrible Dragonball Evolution movie. That movie was so badly written, so badly cast, so badly acted, so badly directed that it not only flamed out all hopes of any future live action Dragonball films but also ruined the careers of any actor or actress that was in it. Emmy Rossum could have been remembered as the beautiful and talented film star with a heavenly voice but now, probably unfairly, she will forever be known to some as a failed Bulma. And Chow Yun Fat... I had to lobotomize any memory of him as Roshi in order to enjoy again his awesomeness in God of Gamblers. And Chatwin maybe the worse of them all!
Actually this is beside the point because I have come here not to bury Justin Chatwin but to praise him. And I say this without a hint of sarcasm. He was great in this episode as the superhero, Ghost, and his alter-ego, Grant. Sure he was campy at times but no more so than Christopher Reeves's Superman, he was raspy at times but no more so than Christian Bale's Batman, he was awkward at times but no more so than Tobey Maguire's Spiderman. He had the right mix of awkward charm and deliberate arrogance that makes a hero multidimensional. And Grant's devotion towards Lucy could have come off as tiresome and his "nice guy act" irritating if it weren't so naturally and innocently portrayed by Chatwin. He was just simply adorably "mild-mannered". In fact, I didn't even realize that he was Chatwin until I went on IMDb to find the person playing Grant. And needless to say, I was shocked. I was so shocked that this review for the Doctor Who Christmas Special had turned into a glowing review for Chatwin. I was so shocked that I could begin to see some of Goku's traits in Chatwin's Grant: the boyish innocence, the devotion to his kids, the playful relationship with his elders, and the cocky confidence once he turned Super Saiyan. I was so shocked that I could see and want to see Chatwin play an adult Goku. And there is no greater shock nor praise than that.
Okay but back to Doctor Who. Keep an open mind about this episode. It may seem like a pastiche of superhero cliches with a Futurama villain and it may well have been just that but it was enjoyable and fun nevertheless. Maybe it's due to no expectation or something since I don't know what to expect anymore when you can go from great episodes like Doctor springing a trap in "Heaven Sent" to the weak execution of Clara in the convoluted and disappointing "Hell Bent". That finale had so much potential. First, she should have died long ago in that Christmas episode; it would have been a great and emotional departure for her if we found her woke up as an old lady estranged from the Doctor weeping with some tears of joy and some of saudade as she completes her last adventure with him. Second, what is the point of her dying and not dying? And I am saying this as the rare fan who doesn't hate Clara. I didn't totally hate the last finale either but just wish it could have fulfilled some of its hype and promise. But I digress.
Anyways, back to this Christmas Special again. Go watch it. It is good (well, except for the part about the "24 years". It's not like the Tardis is a time machine or anything). This special is more enjoyable than some of the blockbuster superhero movies that came out this year. The new season won't start until April. Hope you don't get trapped on Darillium till then; unless, of course, you are seeing the famous singing towers with your significant other who is about to die.
Be Happy!
No comments:
Post a Comment