The Return of Doctor Mysterio (TV story)

The Return of Doctor Mysterio was the 2016 Doctor Who Christmas special. It was the show's twelfth Christmas special since its revival, and the third full Christmas special with Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor. It saw the return of Nardole from the previous Christmas special, this time as the Doctor's companion.

The following day The Return of Doctor Mysterio was granted a sequel titled Ghost Stories. This story made the Ghost, Lucy and baby Jennifer all companions of the Twelfth Doctor.

Steven Moffat was hugely influenced by the comic books he loved as a child in writing this episode—particularly Superman's Clark Kent, Moffat's favourite superhero, both then and now. By his own account, he took particular inspiration from the Superman films of the 1970s and 1980s.

Though clearly humorous in tone, The Return of Doctor Mysterio explores many common superhero themes, such as the hero's secret identity, his origin story, and a love triangle involving both the hero and the man behind the mask.

Synopsis
One Christmas, young Grant meets a stranger calling himself the Doctor who he names "Doctor Mysterio." However, due to a blunder on Grant's part, he eats part of a device the Doctor needed, gaining superpowers.

After keeping the promise to the Doctor not to use his powers for over 20 years, Grant soon finds that the world has a need for them.

Plot
It is Christmas Eve in late 20th century New York. A young boy named Grant wakes up in his New York late at night to find the Doctor dangling in front of his bedroom window. Grant, believing the Doctor is Santa Claus, lets him in and feeds him cookies. The Doctor hands Grant a red gemstone and the two discuss superhero comics, of which Grant is a fan The Doctor leads Grant to the roof of the apartment, where he reveals a device that he is unable to describe in simpler terms than a "time distortion equaliser thingy". He instructs Grant on how to power up the device, the final touch being the alien gemstone he had given Grant, which grants an individual his desires. However, Grant reveals that he thought the gem was medicine for his cough and ate it. Grant begins to levitate, as the Doctor realizes that Grant's love for superheroes has combined with the power of the gem, giving the young boy superpowers.

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Cast

 * The Doctor - Peter Capaldi
 * Nardole - Matt Lucas
 * Grant - Justin Chatwin
 * Lucy - Charity Wakefield
 * Mr Brock - Tomiwa Edun
 * Dr Sim - Aleksandar Jovanovic
 * Young Grant - Logan Hoffman
 * Teen Grant - Daniel Lorente
 * Reporter - Sandra Teles
 * Operator - Tanroh Ishida
 * Soldier - Vaughn Johseph

Crew
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Pop Culture

 * Young Grant Gordon is a comic book fan, and becomes a superhero in their vein. He owns a Superman comic, and has posters on his wall of superheroes including Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man, Batman, Wolverine, Silver Surfer, Superman and the Flash. His duvet depicts Captain America and Iron Man, among others. He also has an The Defenders poster.
 * Gordon nicknames the Doctor "Doctor Mysterio"; the name appears to be a mix of the Spider-Man villains Doctor Octopus and Mysterio.
 * Grant Gordon's name is alliterative, like Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Lana Lang, and many other Superman characters. Alliteration was even more frequently used by Marvel's Stan Lee when naming superheroes such as Peter Parker, Bruce Banner, and Stephen Strange.
 * Mr. Brock mention Miss Shuster and Miss Siegel.
 * The episode was also heavily influenced by the 1978 film Superman in particular. Both Grant Gordon/The Ghost and Clark Kent/Superman wear glasses to hide their superhero identities, particularly when rescuing a reporter they are close to, and have feelings for, in their everyday life. They then arrange a rooftop interview in which they attempt to reveal their dual identities. Then are also contacted via a specific frequency which only they can hear.

Story notes

 * The name Doctor Mysterio comes from the name in Mexico for Doctor Who, Doctor Misterio, which Steven Moffat and Peter Capaldi encountered when they visited there in the Doctor Who World Tour. Capaldi in particular fell in love with the name, so Moffat decided to use it in an episode title.
 * Matt Lucas is the first comedy writer to play a companion in a television story since James Corden as Craig Owens in Closing Time. The last comedian to play a full-time companion, though, was Catherine Tate as Donna Noble.
 * Daniel Lorente (Teen Grant), Sandra Teles (Reporter), Tanroh Ishida (Operator) and Vaughn Johseph (Soldier) are not credited in Radio Times.
 * This is the first Christmas special since The Snowmen in 2012 to have a coming soon trailer at the end.
 * This story marks the first time two full consecutive television stories have both been broadcast on Christmas Day.
 * This story was the third Christmas special to star Peter Capaldi and the first not to feature any Eleventh Doctor companion since The End of Time.
 * Keoki's "Pass It On" plays in the scene where the Doctor catches up with teenaged Grant in high school.
 * One of the things the Doctor and the young Grant discuss is Spider Man. In Daleks in Manhattan and Evolution of the Daleks, the character of Frank is played by Andrew Garfield who played Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man movies.

Production errors
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Ratings
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Filming locations
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Continuity

 * The Doctor says he often gets an invasion at Christmas. (TV: The Unquiet Dead, The Christmas Invasion, The Runaway Bride, Voyage of the Damned, The Next Doctor, The End of Time, The Snowmen, The Time of the Doctor, Last Christmas)
 * The Doctor's pockets are bigger on the inside.
 * The Doctor attempts to repair a temporal disruption he previously caused in New York. (TV: The Angels Take Manhattan)
 * The Doctor purports himself to be the original example of the title doctor. (TV: A Good Man Goes to War)
 * The Doctor once again shows his lack of knowledge in ages.
 * Nardole joins the Doctor in his travels. When the Doctor first met Nardole, he was River Song's personal assistant. (TV: The Husbands of River Song)
 * Nardole states that the Doctor cut him out of Hydroflax's body. (TV: The Husbands of River Song)
 * Nardole refers to the Time Lord non-interference policy: "Never interfere in the affairs of other people or planets". (TV: Underworld, et al.) This was previously acknowledged by Amy Pond. (TV: The Beast Below)
 * Nardole mentions River's death in the Library. (TV: Forest of the Dead)
 * Nardole mentions that the Twelfth Doctor has been away for twenty-four years. (TV: The Husbands of River Song)

Home video releases
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