Doctor Who: All 40 Steven Moffat Episodes Ranked From Worst To Best
31. The Snowmen
A bit of a Christmassy curate's egg this one. Matt Smith and Jenna Coleman’s natural onscreen chemistry together with Moffat’s as per usual dextrously quickfire script is a captivating combination.
The most magical time of the year is replete with a bah humbug Doctor, the welcome return of Vastra, her wife Jenny and the inadvertent comedy stylings of Strax, and as is the festive tradition: ho ho ho! Killer snowmen!
The stunning panoramic shot of Clara ascending the spiral staircase towards the TARDIS in amongst the clouds, with Victorian London below bathed in moonlight, evokes a sense of Guillermo del Toro fantasy and fairytales.
However the title of this special is a bit of a misnomer, really. After devouring a group of men in the pre-credits sequence, the snowmen essentially melt into the background of the story and merely become used for decorative purposes.
Moreover, the overall threat posed by the starry villain duumvirate in a giant talking snow globe Ian McKellen and perma-resting bitch face Richard E. Grant, is more pantomime than nightmare before Christmas.