I've never been so appalled by the general public as I am looking at the DWM ranking of Capaldi stories. Shocking.
Anyway, this is just great. Alex Kingston has more chemistry with Capaldi here than she did in four whole years with Smith. I also think this is one of Moffat's most underrated scripts: it has dozens of brilliant lines, and some scenes with far more emotional heft than they have any right to. Nardole is brilliant. Grey Davies... well, isn't, but he's still perfect casting for something like this—and when Capaldi enters the Tardis and sings its praises like he's never seen it before, it's just perfection. One of my favourite Christmas specials, easily. I have watched this over and over again. It's just wonderful. But the next one is even better.