Doctor Who: Every Christmas Special Ranked From Worst To Best
8. The Snowmen
Tinsel Factor: 8
Star Quality: 6
Laughter Lines: 6
Thrill Meter: 2
Christmas Spirit: 2
Soapy Spoilers: 9
Total Score: 33
The 2012 Christmas special focuses on the Doctor's reaction to losing Amy and Rory and it's not a very festive one. Madam Vastra concedes, “The Doctor doesn't help people. Not anyone, not ever. He stands above this world and doesn't interfere in the affairs of its inhabitants. He is not your salvation, nor your protector.”
At first we think that Victorian Clara will be the Doctor's salvation, after all she said the magic words “Doctor Who?” It all seems to be heading in that direction when he takes her inside his TARDIS in the clouds. But once again tragedy strikes. as Clara is thrown to her death. Even then we are teased by a temporary resurrection. Having just accepted the call to be his companion, we're not expecting her to die again. It's a classic, Steven Moffat sucker punch.
Despite the fact that we have already seen another Clara die in the Dalek asylum, and, in a final twist, a contemporary version shows up at the end, the scenes here are still heartbreaking.
The Doctor is at least re-energised, and ready to travel again, even if this time, instead of setting out to be the saviour of worlds, he is determined to solve the puzzle of the impossible girl. If The Time of the Doctor required a knowledge of the episodes that came before to be fully appreciated, then this one worked best for those who stayed on board to watch series seven B.