Here’s a short blog on a Doctor Who episode from the Capaldi years. Have I mentioned that I love Capaldi as Doctor Who? He’s so delightfully grumpy.

The Christmas Special entitled “The Return of Doctor Mysterio” is actually about a man who has a computerized gem stone in his stomach that’s been giving him super powers since he was eight years old. Oh, and it was somewhat the Doctor’s fault. The superhero, known as the “Ghost” has the mild mannered day job of being the nanny for Lucy, someone he’s been in love with since elementary school. Oh! And there are invading aliens taking human bodies in full body snatchers style. The Doctor and the Ghost fight the baddies. Yaddy yaddy.

And yes, this is still a Christmas episode. He becomes a superhero at Christmas so it totally counts.

The part I am focusing on here is Lucy’s job as a reporter. She’s an investigative journalist in the standard Lois Lane format to fit with the storyline. Still, her job as a writer adds little touches to her character. There’s the usual “do anything for the story” that comes with being a journalist in television or in films. Yet, the episode includes subtle parts of being a writer such as the taking little notes, using people watching to one’s advantage, and keeping an eye on other news sources. My favorite scene is how she interrogates the Doctor using a squeaky toy, but puts the torture on hold in order to type up some of her story from that night.

And she learns from the Doctor that when sneaking around you should always pack a snack.