By, Heather Maloney
Speechless is the best way to describe the feeling after watching this year’s Christmas Episode. After months without “Doctor Who”, and after such a heartbreaking companion exit in “The Angles Take Manhattan”, fans were not quite sure how the story would continue. Steven Moffat did not disappoint. “The Snowman” is a breathtakingly beautiful and intimate story about a man finding his way after unfathomable loss and takes the viewers on a magical journey which ends with even more questions than it began with.
Spoiler Alert: Please do not read on if you have not yet watched “The Snowmen”
The whole ambiance of the episode harkened back to classic “Doctor Who”. Beginning with the new opening sequence and continuing with the new TARDIS interior, this was a darker Doctor. The Doctor’s face now once again is included in the opening sequence while it also incorporates a new and updated take on the classic theme. In addition, the TARDIS interior is a mix of the 5th Doctor’s TARDIS, the 8th Doctor’s TARDIS and new modern influences.
Viewers join the story with the Doctor defeated and refusing to help the universe any longer. For all of the help the Doctor has provided, everyone he loves is now gone. He finds solace in Victorian England and is joined by his friends Madame Vastra, Jenny Flint and Strax. They do not agree with his self imposed isolation, however have agreed to help him. He has hidden his TARDIS at the end of invisible staircase on the top of a cloud.
Who exactly is Clara Oswald Oswin? When the Doctor first meets Clara she is the ‘soufflé girl’ in “Asylum of the Daleks”. How could she be in Victorian England, when she has already died as a Dalek? Her persistence pays off when The Doctor comes out of hiding to investigate the snow which seems to be reflecting human memories and thoughts. How can she be here and how can she have died again? While mainly the Doctor has been the focus of many enigmas, it is extremely refreshing to not know who a companion is. How can she be in two places and die twice?
“The Snowman” is visually stunning while maintaining a personal story of self discovery. Matt Smith and Jenna Louis Coleman’s chemistry is unmistakable and their performances are unforgettable. Steven Moffat’s story is a reminder of why he is one of the greatest “Doctor Who” writers and shows how much of a fan he truly is. Saul Metzstein’s directing beautifully transports the viewer back into the Doctor’s world while keeping them on the edge of their seat.
The unanswered questions developed in “The Snowmen” promises to open up a whole new chapter for “Doctor Who”. How can he find Clara? From the coming soon trailer, the second half of series seven will be an amazing ride.
The Geek Port 