News & Interviews for Doctor Who: The Snowmen (Christmas Special)

Critic Reviews for Doctor Who The Snowmen (Christmas Special)

All Critics (7) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (0)

This reveal is the best Christmas present the show could ever give me. That the rest of "The Snowmen" is so good and so much fun is just a very welcome bonus.

Nov 16, 2018 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…

Alasdair Wilkins

AV Club

Top Critic

It's not quite as action-packed as previous specials but...this festive instalment of the sci-fi series will give the post-dinner snoozers a much-needed boost.

Nov 16, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

Catherine Gee

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Top Critic

It's the connections to the past and the inescapable set-up for the future that are the real meat of the episode.

Aug 14, 2013 | Full Review…

Steven Cooper

Slant Magazine

Top Critic

The world always needs the Doctor, but perhaps never more than on Christmas day.

Aug 14, 2013 | Full Review…

Mary McNamara

Los Angeles Times

Top Critic

It's a Christmas miracle - the best Doctor Who festive episode yet.

Nov 16, 2018 | Rating: 9.4/10 | Full Review…

Matt Risley

IGN Movies

It's Christmastime, which means we were treated to a Doctor Who Christmas special! And after the rather down-beat ending to Season 9, The Husbands of River Song is a cheerful and at times heart-ful counterpoint.

Jan 5, 2016 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Kathleen Wiedel

TV Fanatic

The Snowmen makes the Christmas Special feel fresh again.

Aug 14, 2013 | Full Review…

Jonathon Carley

What Culture

View All Critic Reviews (7)

Audience Reviews for Doctor Who: The Snowmen (Christmas Special)

• May 22, 2019

  Interesting the huge difference between the 'critics' reviews of this season and the 'audience' reviews. Sadly I have to err on the side of the audience. As many have said, I was looking forward to this series - one of Doctor Who's strengths is being able to totally reinvent itself every now and then. Sadly, I still have no idea whether Jodie will make a good Doctor or not, as the writing as been consistently poor throughout the series. The plots lack imagination and flair. There is little of the magic and sense of wonder that has permeated previous runs. The acting is sub-standard, (with the exception of Bradley Walsh) the pacing is all over the place and the endings are so rushed that they frequently undermine the stories. Even leaving you thinking it is the first part of a two part episode...but no...that's it...nothing. Dare I say..it's also been a little boring?? I get that it's a whole new team producing this, and they need time to find their feet - but a WHOLE series with little to remember it by? Not good enough really. I live in hope that with the extensive break between series, the next series will be a lot, lot better.
  

  Matt N
• Mar 31, 2019

  I came to this with an open mind. Missy was a great Master, but Jodi is a terrible Doctor. Worse is the SJW bull being shoveled in every episode. They take great pain to make sure the one white guy is seen as useless and cowering at every turn. Even worse than that the episodes are poorly written, trite garbage. They don't do subtle at all, and so it feels like Misandrist propaganda rather than a fun sci fi escape. By all means make the next doctor a woman too if you like, but pick someone suited for the role, and give us better writing, if you must throw in sjw make it more subtle. Otherwise I will continue skipping doctor who the same way I skip ST Discovery and "new" Star Wars. All of which suffer from many of the same problems.
  Roy M
• Jan 23, 2019

  bit cheesy at the end, but this clara is much more enjoyable than the one we got later, more past companions please.
  Mark K
• Dec 31, 2018

  I don't know how I feel about the snow men but over all i enjoyed the special!
  
• Dec 31, 2018

  Easily one of the best Christmas Episodes. There's a strong plot, good acting from all involved and is generally enjoyable. I would have preferred it if we had kept this version of Clara rather than the one we got. The only negative is the horrible Merchandise Gang...
  Daniel C
• Dec 11, 2018

  Great introduction to Clara
  connor m
• May 01, 2017

  Stunning piece of drama that allows Matt Smith to show off a much different range than is the norm. Simplicity works for this episode.
  Chris L
• Apr 12, 2014

  The Snowmen is a perfectly typical episode of Doctor Who. It just so happens to be a Christmas Special, so it's held to a bit of a higher standard. In some sections, it feels just like its going through the motions. But then again, this episode also boasts Clara's first return. So when it all shakes out, this is perfectly acceptable, but nothing exceptional. 7/10
  Seth S
• Mar 14, 2014

  Ah, the 2012 Christmas Special. This Special saw the second meeting of Jenna Coleman's character Clara Oswald. We first saw her in the Series 7 Premiere as Oswin Oswald, now here and later on in Series 7 after this as a modern day Clara Oswald who joins the Eleventh Doctor in his final episodes as his companion. This was a really solid Special with a brilliant guest roles by Richard E. Grant and Ian McKellan who voiced the Great Intelligence.
  

  Daniel D
• Feb 03, 2014

  Cool premise and a few twists make up a entertaing, solid Doctor Who Special. Not the best I've seen but still good.
  Nate Q

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