The Snowmen Grading and Discussion Thread
- Thread starter The Nth Doctor
- Start date
Vastra's lips keep going from pink to green, back to pink.
Why do I get the feeling Clara is going to be very complicated?
Why do I get the feeling Clara is going to be very complicated?
Muuuuch better than last year's!
Best line: "Hello, I'm a lizard woman from the dawn of time, and this is my wife. We're here to save you."
Best line: "Hello, I'm a lizard woman from the dawn of time, and this is my wife. We're here to save you."
Thank you! BBCA's commercial breaks were truly awful. They usually aren't that bad at all. It reminded me of the days when Who was on Skiffy.
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I gave it a Very Good. It was strong for the most part, it had a weak resolution, and an intriguing twist leading into next season. I'm looking forward to the mystery of Clara. The current writers want an explanation for why a Companion was chosen. The last "normal" companion without any reason besides "because" was Martha. While I generally think that's a pretty good reason, the mystery intrigues me so I'm fine with waiting this one out for the explanation. Throughout, the magic of the Doctor was present, so I liked that. I also enjoyed the "shocking Victorian sensibility" gags. The idea of the snow just being a mirror worked decently well. Really, it was just the resolution that fell flat (the fakeout resolution would have been better, imo), although it does follow the rules of the episode.
Following this thread, I take it that the enemy is an old, returning enemy? I wonder if that would have changed the episode at all for me. But, even not knowing that, I appreciated the episode. Quite a fun Christmas episode.
Following this thread, I take it that the enemy is an old, returning enemy? I wonder if that would have changed the episode at all for me. But, even not knowing that, I appreciated the episode. Quite a fun Christmas episode.
I was reminded of Scaroth the Jagaroth in "The City of Death".
BTW, when I first saw those cylinders with the Gallifreyan symbols in that "leaked" photo about the new console, I thought, "hmm...merry-go-round." Then I saw them rotate in the actual episode. "Oy, definitely a merry-go-round." I half expected to hear a carnival organ.
Sincerely,
Bill
I loved, loved, LOVED all the Second Doctor references! For those of you not familiar, that would be:
The crumpled stovepipe hat
The Great Intelligence
The "snowmen"
The London Underground map from '67
and possibly some I've forgotten.
Get ahold of the surviving fragments and descriptions of "The Abominable Snowmen" and, especially, "The Web of Fear" to follow the trail.
The crumpled stovepipe hat
The Great Intelligence
The "snowmen"
The London Underground map from '67
and possibly some I've forgotten.
Get ahold of the surviving fragments and descriptions of "The Abominable Snowmen" and, especially, "The Web of Fear" to follow the trail.
The ending was tolerable, but could have been better. Though it is interesting that its basically a set-up for The Abominable Snowmen and Web of Fear. Such a shame that that story is missing. Heck it seemed like this whole special was mostly setting up other stories.
But this is a story that I really wish could have been longer. Having a more dejected, angry Doctor at the beginning would have made the story so much stronger.
The opening credits and theme could use some tweeking. Maybe less random swirls of color and a stronger bass line.
A little pissed off that we didn't get our hoped for Victorian companion. Poor Clara.
A bit surprised that the Doc didn't go back into sulk mode, having just lost another companion.
More Strax please.
"Automated laser monkeys, scalpel mines, and acid!"
And my, Lady Vastra does seem to enjoy freaking out the hairless apes doesn't she?
Tardis interior was small than I had expected. But I'm fine. Still looked great!
But this is a story that I really wish could have been longer. Having a more dejected, angry Doctor at the beginning would have made the story so much stronger.
The opening credits and theme could use some tweeking. Maybe less random swirls of color and a stronger bass line.
A little pissed off that we didn't get our hoped for Victorian companion. Poor Clara.
A bit surprised that the Doc didn't go back into sulk mode, having just lost another companion.More Strax please.
"Automated laser monkeys, scalpel mines, and acid!"
And my, Lady Vastra does seem to enjoy freaking out the hairless apes doesn't she?
Tardis interior was small than I had expected. But I'm fine. Still looked great!
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Yes, the enemy is the Great Intelligence - the animating mind behind the Yeti. The insinuation of the episode seems to be that this is it's first encounter with the Doctor.
And will spend the next 120 years beneath London re-energizing itself. Though I'm not sure how it ends up in Tibet.
Anyway, I'm off to Gallifrey Base now. Pray for me.
Anyway, I'm off to Gallifrey Base now. Pray for me.
Is there a "Christmas Carol" analogy with Clara?
Future
Past
and now present.
10 bucks says The Doctor will make all Clara's come back alive and meet
internet fanboys explode as THREE Jenna's interact.
Future
Past
and now present.
10 bucks says The Doctor will make all Clara's come back alive and meet
internet fanboys explode as THREE Jenna's interact.
I really enjoyed it. It had more to it than most of the Christmas specials but still felt like a "special" if you know what I mean. Loved Starx.
Jenna Louise-Coleman can act, is attractive, and has a ton of great chemistry with Matt Smith. BEST. COMPANION. EVER. 
In all seriousness, with this episode I picked the third option, jolly good fun, as I liked the episode, but I've already forgotten about the snowmen plot. It seemed like that part of the episode kind of just stopped and they could have developed it a lot better.
This episode was mainly getting to know Clara, and how she and the Doctor work together. I liked seeing Vastra, Jenny and Strax again, but Colemen and Smith carried this episode and did it really really well. I'm really excited about the exploits they will have together and while I wish she was just "normal", I'm not bothered by her "mystery".
Oh, and when the Tardis lit up to show the new control room in all it's glory, I had a flashback in coolness factor to the first episode, Rose. Seeing the new Control Room was great, and this is a lot better than the old chaotic control room from the previous seasons. I really do wish they would explain the change though. I mean I know it's a desktop theme, but why does the Tardis change, and how? Just that entire scene when we see the Tardis again for the first time and everything is lit up and the look on Clara's face is one of my favorite Doctor Who scenes in a long long time. Really looking forward to the back half of the season.
As for the theme song, I was a little disappointed it was the same theme as the previous two seasons but the visuals just changed. I loved the visual change, but I really wish the actual theme was a little more simplistic (Like during the RTD era) than what we've gotten.
In all seriousness, with this episode I picked the third option, jolly good fun, as I liked the episode, but I've already forgotten about the snowmen plot. It seemed like that part of the episode kind of just stopped and they could have developed it a lot better.
This episode was mainly getting to know Clara, and how she and the Doctor work together. I liked seeing Vastra, Jenny and Strax again, but Colemen and Smith carried this episode and did it really really well. I'm really excited about the exploits they will have together and while I wish she was just "normal", I'm not bothered by her "mystery".
Oh, and when the Tardis lit up to show the new control room in all it's glory, I had a flashback in coolness factor to the first episode, Rose. Seeing the new Control Room was great, and this is a lot better than the old chaotic control room from the previous seasons. I really do wish they would explain the change though. I mean I know it's a desktop theme, but why does the Tardis change, and how? Just that entire scene when we see the Tardis again for the first time and everything is lit up and the look on Clara's face is one of my favorite Doctor Who scenes in a long long time. Really looking forward to the back half of the season.
As for the theme song, I was a little disappointed it was the same theme as the previous two seasons but the visuals just changed. I loved the visual change, but I really wish the actual theme was a little more simplistic (Like during the RTD era) than what we've gotten.
I loved it. Of course my expectations were lowered as I didn't much care for the past two X-Mas specials (too much fluff, not enough meat). I also love Clara, she is one of the prettiest women I've ever seen, and the mystery they set up is going to be an interesting one.
Speaking of the mystery, I could have sworn I read a few months ago that they wouldn't really mention the connection between Clara and Oswin in the Christmas special, and yet they brought it up a few times, plus including my favorite scene from 'Asylum' (Oswin saying "Remember" while looking straight into the camera). Then seeing present day Clara pop up outside her grave was the perfect icing on the cake, I was extremely annoyed that they chose to end of the episode there. Annoyed and intrigued, actually.
And I have nothing bad to say about the new console room. I love it, it reminds me of the classic shows room and the room from the tv-movie. It does feel a bit more cramped, but I can't help but feel that's a bit on purpose (whether budgetary reasons, or due to them wanting to homage the old show).
And oh yeah, the plot about the snowmen was decent, but this was more about introducing Clara, which was far more interesting.
Speaking of the mystery, I could have sworn I read a few months ago that they wouldn't really mention the connection between Clara and Oswin in the Christmas special, and yet they brought it up a few times, plus including my favorite scene from 'Asylum' (Oswin saying "Remember" while looking straight into the camera). Then seeing present day Clara pop up outside her grave was the perfect icing on the cake, I was extremely annoyed that they chose to end of the episode there. Annoyed and intrigued, actually.
And I have nothing bad to say about the new console room. I love it, it reminds me of the classic shows room and the room from the tv-movie. It does feel a bit more cramped, but I can't help but feel that's a bit on purpose (whether budgetary reasons, or due to them wanting to homage the old show).
And oh yeah, the plot about the snowmen was decent, but this was more about introducing Clara, which was far more interesting.