Doctor Who: Last Christmas

'Last Christmas' finds the Doctor and Clara, now more acquainted than previously, facing their final holiday season together. The story unfolds in a remote Arctic research facility, hidden beneath the frozen tundra, home to a group of scientists conducting experiments in extreme isolation. As Christmas approaches, a sense of unease starts to spread amongst the researchers, which is partly alleviated by their sudden encounter with Santa Claus. This benevolent figure, embodying the Christmas spirit, seems to possess an aura of kindness and generosity, providing them with gifts and festive cheer. The Doctor, ever the observant being, can't help but notice the peculiarity surrounding the seemingly magical appearances of this 'gift-giving' individual. Clara, ever the skeptic, shares a certain unease in the face of this unexpected turn of events, but the children within the facility are more than happy to receive his gifts and are even more convinced by his genuine smile and kind words. On the other hand, Clara begins to see an underlying sinister motive from the Doctor's skepticism about Santa's appearance, fearing her companion may be overthinking things. It starts to become apparent that the Arctic base is under attack by an unseen, monstrous horde and the scientists, caught in the midst of this chaos, are desperate for a way out. It is revealed that their base is not as secluded as initially assumed, as it has been overrun by seemingly invincible 'shoggoth' creatures. These bizarre creatures, resembling amorphous, pulsing masses, are drawn towards anything resembling festive or joyous. The notion that the creatures find joy in terror and despair is a bleak but plausible explanation for the Christmas-themed gifts given by 'Santa', which ultimately reveals the creature as an impostor. However, Clara and the Doctor soon come to the realization that their perceptions of 'Santa' might not be entirely wrong. Beneath a veneer of benevolence, the Santa Claus figure has his own agenda, with an unsettling ulterior motive. He is a trickster from the 'Dreaming', a realm which blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, with an affinity towards the emotions of hope and despair - feelings most deeply felt at the holiday season. The creatures he encountered within their reality are, in truth, the 'Shoggoths', manifestations born from the collective fears and despairs within humanity's psyche. It soon dawns on Clara and the Doctor that their base is trapped in a time loop, and events from previous Christmases, each filled with hopes and despair, have manifested into these terrifying creatures, with only the most desperate human souls succumbing to the Shoggoths. As a result, the time loop must be broken to free the scientists from this Christmas Hell. Through the understanding of this peculiar time loop, Clara and the Doctor realize that the seemingly benevolent 'Santa' has a more sinister intention: he aims to break the hold of the time loop to free trapped souls within, yet at a heavy cost – their sanity and happiness would be destroyed, as the horrors and suffering experienced in the Shoggoth's world leave a lasting impact on the human mind. To prevent the Shoggoths from breaking the loop and freeing the captives of Christmas, Clara and the Doctor concoct a bold plan. The Doctor's keen understanding of temporal mechanics, combined with Clara's emotional understanding of human psychology, form the foundation for a daring rescue. They must trick the Shoggoth creatures by feigning that humans are indeed content within their Christmas reality, thus keeping their hopes and sanity in place. Ultimately, Clara decides to sacrifice her own time with the Doctor by stepping in the creature's path, forcing the Shoggoth back and saving the day - a bold sacrifice, demonstrating the strong bond and connection she has developed with her Doctor. The research facility, along with the trapped souls within, is freed from their Christmas Hell, and the cycle begins anew – with hope renewed and despair pushed aside, Christmas will become a true joyous occasion once more. As a result, 'Last Christmas' serves as a poignant reminder that the spirit of Christmas, though a cherished experience for many, brings forth a multitude of emotions, both good and bad. And for Clara, at least, this story will serve as the final Christmas she'll share with the one person whose love and companionship has come to mean the most in her life.