So the Doctor absolves him like the egoist that he is as if he gets to decide which deeds are punishable and which ones can be atoned for, worse still he didn't even seek redemption; "I made no confession, you cannot forgive me" he says as tears fall on him "I do not need it." He is evil, has rejoiced in Jack's suffering and torturing his oldest acquaintance simply by manipulating and killing humans but it's who he is, he has loved every minute of his existence since being set free from that dreadfully restrictive Chameleon Arch, he sees no point in pretending otherwise now and denying his very nature. The Doctor urges him to regenerate "I refuse, it is my life to lose and I have chosen", as his life slips away he's aware of the Doctor's embrace but the drumming becomes ever quieter and he welcomes death eagerly.


(Haven't watched Christmas Special thanks to my DVD recorder not working so still avoiding spoilers and therefore wrote this about The Valiant.)