Doctor Who: Ranking The Christmas Specials

Nestled in the middle of Series 7, The Snowmen is often overlooked, but that's not to say it's without merit. This episode introduced us to Clara (for the second time) and promptly killed her (for the second time).

This Victorian version of Clara was originally meant to be the version that ended up travelling with the Doctor, but Moffat chickened out - a shame, as a companion that broke the mold might have given the show the breath of fresh air it desperately needed at this point. Still, this Clara is a joy whist she's on screen, and also seems to have more chemistry with Eleven than actual Clara, which is odd given it's not as if the actors changed.

The plot itself is nothing to write home about, but the reintroduction of another Classic Who baddie in the Great Intelligence is more than welcome and Richard E. Grant shines as Doctor Simeon, even if this is at the sad expense of a criminally wasted Sir Ian McKellen.

This strong supporting cast is rounded out with the proper introduction of The Paternoster Gang after their brief appearance in A Good Man Goes To War, softening the transition away from the much loved Ponds. Clara also goes some way to making this an easy transition, quickly breaking Eleven out of his post-trauma mopey phase (Moffat clearly learned from RTD's mistakes with Rose).