The Return of Doctor Mysterio

Context

The Return of Doctor Mysterio has a very unusual place in modern Doctor Who. It was the only episode released in 2016, arriving as a Christmas Special after a long break following Series 9. Because of this, expectations were extremely high. For almost a full year there was no new televised Doctor Who, so this episode was not just a bonus holiday story. It had to represent the show for an entire year on its own.

Behind the scenes, the episode was clearly designed as a playful experiment. Steven Moffat chose to focus on a superhero-style story, inspired by classic Superman ideas such as secret identities, comic book visuals, and accidental origins. At the time, superhero media was very popular, so the idea probably seemed appealing. However, this creative choice caused problems, especially when paired with its Christmas release slot.

Doctor Who Christmas specials usually have a clear purpose. They are meant to feel warm, emotional, and full of festive spirit while still telling an exciting story. The Return of Doctor Mysterio instead feels like a genre parody that simply happens to be released at Christmas. Since it was the only episode of the year, this mismatch between what fans expected and what they got became very noticeable.

Synopsis

The Doctor investigates an alien group called the Harmony Shoal, who survive by stealing and using human brains. They secretly invade Earth by taking over human bodies and blending into society. During these events, a young man named Grant is accidentally exposed to alien energy, which gives him superpowers and turns him into a masked hero known as “The Ghost,” who protects New York City.

At the same time, the Doctor reconnects with Lucy Fletcher, a woman he met years earlier whose memory he altered to protect her. Lucy is now a journalist and lives next door to Grant, though neither knows the other’s secret. This sets up a romantic subplot built around superhero clichés like hidden identities and emotional misunderstandings.

The Harmony Shoal eventually attempt to carry out their plan to harvest human brains on a large scale. The Doctor and Grant work together to stop them, defeating the aliens without much difficulty. In the final moments, the Doctor restores Lucy’s memories but chooses to quietly leave her life again, ending the story on a bittersweet note.

Review

The biggest issue with The Return of Doctor Mysterio is that it does not seem to know what it wants to be. It is mainly a generic superhero episode, while the Christmas elements feel secondary and underdeveloped. Although Doctor Who often mixes genres, this episode leans so strongly into superhero stereotypes that it barely feels connected to the show’s usual identity, especially when compared to other Christmas specials.

The Christmas themes are very poorly expressed. Festive visuals like decorations and winter settings are present, but they have little meaning or emotional impact. Unlike stronger Christmas episodes that explore ideas such as hope, family, or kindness, this story could easily be shown at any other time of year. Because of this, it lacks the emotional warmth normally expected from a holiday special.

This problem is made worse by how safe the story feels. The superhero plot follows familiar ideas with no real twists or surprises. Because it barely connects to Christmas, the episode would have worked much better in the middle of a regular series, where a lighter and more experimental story would feel more appropriate. As the only episode of 2016, however, it feels forgettable and unsatisfying.

The villains are another weak point. The Harmony Shoal look interesting visually, especially with their glowing brains and body-swapping concept. Unfortunately, they are extremely bland. They have no strong personalities, no memorable dialogue, and no real sense of threat. They exist only to move the plot forward, making them one of the least engaging alien groups of the era.

Despite all this, the episode is not entirely bad. Peter Capaldi is genuinely funny throughout and clearly enjoys playing against the superhero tropes. His sharp humor and strange energy help lift several scenes that would otherwise fall flat. The character dynamics, especially between the Doctor, Grant, and Lucy, are what truly hold the episode together. The Doctor’s quiet sadness and decision to stay emotionally distant from Lucy feels very true to his character and adds some much needed depth.

In the end, The Return of Doctor Mysterio is not a failure, but it is a major disappointment given its context. As a simple superhero parody, it works well enough. As a Christmas Special and as the only Doctor Who episode of 2016, it does not deliver what it should. Strong performances and character moments cannot fully make up for weak Christmas themes, uninteresting villains, and a story that feels misplaced.

18 dec. 2025

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