I still think Victorian Clara would have been much more interesting than a modern Clara. Back to back modern fay companions got boring quickly. Victorian Clara would have been perfect to break that mold. It would have been so much more interesting
I don't think the "one word test" is about whether Clara is lying or not. That's just some fancy misdirection by Vastra. It's about what word she chooses, out of thousands of possible words. It's meant to reveal her priorities, her psychology, etc. Sort of like a Rorschach test. Sure, it's bunk and stupid and only serves to let her say "pond", but I don't think it's dumb for the same reasons you do.
I still think the word should have been children. ‘Pond’ was ok and pulled at the heat strings. But apart from the connection to Amy and Rory (which Clara didn’t know about) I don’t see how that informs the Doctor of the danger. Where as if she said ‘children’ not only would it have linked to 11th’s second episode where Amy says he only interferes if he sees a child cry, but would connect more to the danger. As Victorian Clara was worried about the kids in her care. But that’s just my opinion. I still loved this episode. The paternoster Gang are some of my fav side characters in Doctor who.
This was a great Christmas special. Too bad Victorian Clara didn't get more of a chance to travel with the Doctor before she died, I know it needed to happen for the plot to move forward with the Impossible Girl story arc, but she was the best version of Clara to intertact with the 11th Doctor. She had the right amount of smarts, sass and beauty to entice and intrigue him to come out of his melancholoy state. I even like how she was flirtatious with him, and I'm not one who normally likes Doctor/ Companion romantic relationships, but these two play well off each other. The setting is fitting for a Christmas special and I like pretty much like all the characters and how they interact with each other in the story. And the Tardis on top of the clouds is one best images in the modern era of Who. I'll happily replay this holiday classic every Christmas season and wish I was up in the clouds over London with the both of them. Thanks for the video!
I consider this to be one of the best of the 11th Doctor era. To me, everything works, except - yes, the "one word" bit. Grant is SO creepy evil! And my God, Jenna Coleman is gorgeous. The TARDIS in the sky - brilliant. The memory worm and Strax is great fun. The Snowmen themselves are terrific, not at all Sil-lee (bulls?) I also think the Ice Nanny works fine. "Sherlock" taking on the GI is inspired. And I even find Grant's Puppet-version act to be hysterically acceptable. I remember being shocked when Clara was grabbed and taken over the edge. Also, the new TARDIS interior was incredible. Great ep. And great review!
I didn't notice when I watched it the first time, but Simmon does have parallels to Amy with the alien imaginary friend thing. It's an interesting look into what could potentially have happened to Amy if she had been unfortunate enough to encounter an evil alien when she was a little girl.
One thing I liked about Victorian Clara was that she said "It's smaller on the outside", a subversion of the classic line virtually every companion says upon seeing the Tardis's inside.
I remember really enjoying this episode. Seeing a new side of the Doctor consumed by his heartbreak and depression and then Clara strolling in and just breathing the light back into his world. It has it's faults yes. It is not perfect but I love the vibe of it. Victorian London is always a perfect setting for Christmas because of A Christmas Carols so it retains that Christmassy feel throughout. I like the 11/Clara era. I know a lot of people don't like it and love to hate on it but I Like those two as a pairing. It's a fun and bouncy dynamic. It feels fresh and full of new energy. A solid episode. Not perfect but not hideous. Just comfortingly pleasant. Sometimes I don't always want something spectacular and crazy. It's Christmas day. I have eaten my body weight is chocolate and turkey and those of us over 18 have probably been drinking since 10am (I was only 14 when this ep aired so no booze for me) I don't want to use my brain on Christmas day. I just wanna sit like an upturned turtle in my tacky jumper and fuzzy socks and just enjoy what's on the telly and not move for an hour or two and this episode is designed for that.
The memory worm scene also acts as a covert Chekhov’s Gun, setting up within what appears to be a self-contained comedic scene as a key part of the climax.
