Ep 1. The Snowmen

The Doctor is on his own after facing the loss and grief of his recent companions, Amy and Rory, and is not too excited about the idea of finding new ones. In 1892, he finds himself residing in Victorian London, where he is intrigued by stories of Clara, a barmaid at the tavern where he has found himself frequenting.

Clara, however, is not entirely who she appears to be, and the Doctor is quick to notice that there is more to her than meets the eye. She tells him that she has been a governess before, but seems to be hiding something, and so the Doctor invites himself into her life to investigate.

As dark secrets begin to emerge and an army of snowmen starts taking over the city, the Doctor learns that Clara may be more important than he ever could have anticipated. Together, they navigate through the dangerous winter wonderland, where they soon realize that things are not as they seem.

The Snowmen is an intriguing and fast-paced premiere to the seventh series of Doctor Who. This episode focuses on the Doctor coming to terms with the loss of his friends, while also introducing a new companion in Clara. The two characters have great chemistry, and this episode does a fantastic job of setting up their future adventures.

The episode is set during Christmas time in 1892, which leads to a lot of festive visuals and a charming Victorian backdrop. However, this is soon juxtaposed with a sinister side to the season, as an army of snowmen begin to take over the city, bringing a menacing atmosphere to the episode.

One of the highlights of this episode is the villain, Dr. Simeon, played brilliantly by Richard E. Grant. Simeon is a chilling character, with a sinister backstory that ties in with the snowmen. He is a worthy adversary to the Doctor, and his plan to take over the world is full of twists and turns that keep the audience engaged.

The episode also features the return of the Paternoster Gang, comprised of Silurian Madame Vastra, her human wife Jenny, and their Sontaran butler Strax. The trio work with the Doctor to uncover the truth behind the snowmen and to stop Simeon's plan. The Paternoster Gang are fantastic supporting characters, with a great dynamic and humorous moments that provide a nice reprieve from the tension of the episode.

One of the standout scenes of the episode is the introduction of the TARDIS to Clara, as she enters it for the first time. The sequence is filled with wonder and awe, and it sets up the Doctor and Clara's future travels perfectly. The episode also has a touching moment as the Doctor visits Amy and Rory's tombstone, still struggling to come to terms with their loss.

Overall, The Snowmen is a great start to the seventh series of Doctor Who, with a great villain, new companion and returning supporting characters. It blends festive visuals with a menacing atmosphere, and sets up the story arc for the season perfectly. It's a must-watch episode for any Doctor Who fan.