Context
“The Snowmen” arrived at a big transition moment for Doctor Who. It was the first episode without Amy and Rory since “The End of Time Part Two.” Their absence is felt, especially by the Doctor. He is mourning and wandering Victorian London like a kind of sci fi Scrooge, avoiding people and trying not to care anymore. To help fill the gap left by the Ponds, the Paternoster Gang. Vastra, Jenny, and Strax. Steps in as a fun and strange replacement family for him. But the real center of the episode is Clara Oswin Oswald and the mystery that surrounds her from the first moment she appears.
This episode also brings back the Great Intelligence. A classic villain that really deserved to return. Behind the scenes the series was refreshing its look for the post Pond era. A new TARDIS inside, new atmosphere and a new companion dynamic. All this makes the Christmas special feel a bit like a soft restart for the Eleventh Doctor.
Synopsis
In Victorian London, strange snow with telepathic qualities begins forming dangerous Snowmen under the control of the Great Intelligence. The Doctor, closed off and grieving, wants to stay out of it. But when he meets Clara, a barmaid who is also a governess, her curiosity and energy slowly pull him back into the world. As the threat grows, Clara becomes part of the fight. But tragedy strikes and the Doctor discovers that Clara is not an ordinary human at all.
Review
“The Snowmen” is an episode built on mystery, sadness and the idea of starting again. One of its biggest strengths is how honestly it deals with the Doctor’s grief after Amy and Rory. Instead of pretending everything is fine, it shows him closed off and acting like a lonely Scrooge. Matt Smith plays this quieter version of the Doctor very well. The contrast between his dark mood and the beautiful Victorian setting gives the story a very special tone.
The Paternoster Gang adds humor and warmth at the right moments. They become the Doctor’s support team at a time when he refuses to be the hero. They are fun and charming, but they never take away from the emotional heart of the story. That heart is Clara.
Victorian Clara might be one of the best companion introductions in the whole show. She is bright, curious and full of life, and she wins both the audience and the Doctor very quickly. The clever part of her reappearance is how the episode plays with the viewer’s memory. If you remember “Asylum of the Daleks,” the mystery starts as soon as you see her face. If you forgot she was in that episode, then the story reveals the surprise later. This makes the episode rewarding for fans who pay close attention, while still working for people who do not.
And yes, Moffat kills her at the end. Again. It is frustrating but also understandable. He wanted a companion from modern Earth, someone easier for viewers to relate to and easier to write. But personally, Doctor Who feels most alive when it pushes beyond modern Earth companions and explores bigger possibilities. Victorian Clara proves how great a companion from another time could be. Her death feels like a missed chance, even if it sets up the bigger mystery of “the impossible girl.”
The return of the Great Intelligence is a nice gift for classic fans. Its cold and eerie style fits perfectly with the snowy Victorian atmosphere. The best scene in the episode is the conversation between Clara and Vastra, where Clara must answer with single words. It feels sharp, honest and very emotional. As you said, words are lies, lies, lies. Maybe single word reviews really are the future.
Visually, the episode looks fantastic. The snowy London streets, the new TARDIS interior and especially the amazing shot that takes us from outside the police box directly into the TARDIS without a cut. All of it gives the episode a big cinematic feeling. The music is just as strong. Murray Gold’s new themes for Clara, like “Clara in the Snow” and “Whose Enigma,” are beautiful and full of emotion.
Jenna Coleman gives an outstanding performance. She makes Clara charming, brave and easy to connect with. Her final moments are touching and create a powerful cliffhanger that shapes the rest of the season.
Overall, “The Snowmen” is a standout Christmas special. It respects the past, explores sadness in a real way and still builds a new and mysterious path forward for the show. It is full of snow, emotion and a little bit of magic.