This festive season, friends of Den of Geek have laid further troubles on our already tired minds.

What did you think of Doctor Who?

Oh it was really good, they said.

No, he was the Doctor.

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What?

So are you looking forward to the Christmas one then?

It got a bit too nerdy last year.

Still, its not like people didnt warn us about the whole friendship thing.

Do our friends have a point?

Is it likely thatLast Christmaswill also require nerd-like focus?

Possibly, but wed suspect not.

There are two reasons forThe Time Of The Doctors relative complexity.

All you needed to watchThe Time Of The Doctoragain immediately was an internet connection and a computer.

Youd be forgiven for thinking the Christmas Specials would go in a similar direction.

Maybe the budget was spent.

In hindsight, another single 75 minute episode might well have been more suitable than a two-parter anyway.

Previously, Christmas Specials were more accommodating to their situation.

As a result, the specials tended to err towards superficial entertainment.

Anyway, its not like the previous entries were depth-free.

As a first of its kind,The Christmas Invasionstands out slightly.

First they came for present day London, and we said nothing.

Then they came for Victorian London, and we complained because surely someone would write this down?

Then they came for hyper-real fairy tale parameters, and we said Bill Bailey was underused.

He was, though.

Last Christmasseems likely to continue (and possibly finish) Claras adventures.

Given everything shes been through, theres scope for an in-depth examination of her time on board on TARDIS.

Things could get intricate.

Imagine, for whatever reason,The End Of Timeneeded to be an hour long.

These episodes are anomalous in many ways, and mostly theDoctor WhoChristmas specials have been consistent in their approach.

Besides, Series 8 saw the series becoming character-driven, with the plots still carried over being simple ones.

So, have a Merry Christmas, get some more booze, and stand down from Wikipedia duty.