For me it all started back in the first series of the reboot, I think it was the episode called "The Doctor Dances" where he said "For once everybody lives."
And he's been striving for that scenario again ever since, but after losing so many people he finally just snapped (The Waters of Mars) and told the Universe to take its rules and shove them where the sun doesn't shine.
As Alamos corrected, it was the one with the nanogenes, the two-parter. But I
do like that title because that was the running gag in that episode XD
However, I see your point now - The beginning of the Christmas Special reminded me that the Doctor always wants to save the Universe, but now he's "accepted" that "the Universe doesn't care." (or did until he met Clara.)
...But that doesn't excuse them from having plot holes the size of Canada in them. Like I said earlier, Moffat is producing nonsensical crap. That's what I'm mostly pissed off at him for.
I understand the Christmas Specials are meant to be lighthearted and fun, but what sets this one aside is that we have a new Companion coming into play here, which, now we know, the rest of the season teeters on.
and i also bet the tempo-spacial anomaly that is Clara Oswin Oswald is caused by the doctor in some uncertain point in the future.
As Berty said, Moffat might go in that direction, but just why...? Hasn't he learned yet?
The point is: Even if the Christmas Specials aren't meant to be taken seriously and they're fun for the whole family, they should at least be relevant to the plot, ESPECIALLY if you're introducing a Companion to it.