I liked that! But I didn't love it!

The opening sequence feels incredibly Moffat quips and all, but I appreciate that these somewhat died down once we got into the meat of the story after the opening sequence.

Performances round the board were amazing, but Gatwa puts in one of his best yet! I really love his take on The Doctor, and I really love how Moffat writes for him specifically. The scene where he acts like an awful person to manipulate Joy was amazing. I love when Doctors have a mean, manipulative edge to them.

Joy herself was good but I think a little underdeveloped. I wish we had gotten more time with her, and because we didn't, I didn't feel as attached as the story wanted when she sacrificed herself.

The long way round scene was perfect.... Or would have been if it didn't leave me feeling like Anita was more developed than Joy.

Still, I absolutely adore seeing other sides to this Doctor that we haven't seen before in Season 40.

The setting of a time hotel rules, and I really love how the story utilised its internal logic and rules. Moffat has always excelled at this within episodes!

The ending itself... I have mixed feelings. As I said, the sacrifice didn't feel earned emotionally to me really. And the Bethlehem reveal genuinely made me laugh at how earnest it was. Just felt silly to me.

Still, what a fun episode overall! Definitely in the upper middle of Christmas specials for me.