Man, that was an emotional ending. Didn't expect that from the first episode.

Cons: I got lost in the first 15 minutes, I don't think there was enough exposition to tell what was going on, I'll have to listen to it again. I also wasn't that big of a fan of the Zygon plot, though it does make sense story wise, so just a minor nitpick.

Pros: The whole last 30 mins or so of Lucie finding out the secret and their farewell was very emotional. I know Lucie is back for the finale, so not sure how that will happen, but if this was the end of her story I would be satisfied. Not sure if I'd prefer this to The Girl Who Never Was, or not.

Recommended!

This was an absolute masterpiece. Every Auntie Pat story thus far has been a banger, and this is the perfect bow to put upon this trilogy. It's full of emotion, pathos, and tragedy. I can hardly blame Lucie for leaving the Doctor at this point. All the secrets, the baggage from Orbis, the recent events of the s3 finale... it was inevitable. It was part Eastenders Christmas Special, part It's A Wonderful Life...ish. The Zynog is an interesting concept but isn't exactly the standout of the story, the real emotional core of the story is Pat-Hagoth, Lucie, and the Doctor. The drunk santa is fun, too.

This was an exquisite opening to Season 4 and I hope all stories remain this strong.