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 title 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
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Plot
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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, Wolverine, Silver Surfer, Superman and the Flash. His duvet depicts Captain America and Iron Man, among others.
 * Grant Gordon's name is alliterative. Alliteration was frequently used by Marvel's Stan Lee when naming superheroes; such as Peter Parker, Bruce Banner, Stephen Strange, amongst others.
 * 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 identites, 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.
 * There are also two similarities to the Sci Fi comedy Futurama. Firstly, the rows of brains in jars are reminiscent of the head museum, which features several characters only as heads in jars of fluid. Secondly, the episode The Day The Earth Stood Stupid revolves around the Earth being invaded by a race of alien brains.

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.
 * 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.
 * Matt Lucas is the first comedian 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.
 * Keoki's "Pass It On" plays in the scene where the Doctor catches up with teenaged Grant in high school.
 * This is the only television story, alongside The Keeper of Traken if one discounts Nyssa's appearance, where the Doctor travels only with a male companion through the entire story. One could count Closing Time where the Doctor travels with Craig Owens for the whole story, however Amy Pond, Rory Williams and River Song are all seen.

Production errors
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Ratings
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Filming locations
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Continuity

 * 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)
 * 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 a Time Lord rule: "Never interfere in the affairs of other people or planets". 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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