 The episode received mostly positive reviews . Dan Martin of The Guardian called it " actually the best Christmas Special since ' The Christmas Invasion ' " and the first to be " actually scary " , with " everything we like " about Doctor Who and Christmas . He praised Coleman 's introduction as <unk> and the gang of <unk> , Jenny , and <unk> . IGN 's Matt <unk> gave " The <unk> " a score of 9 @.@ 4 out of 10 , describing it as " a <unk> , <unk> <unk> in storytelling " which " refreshingly " lacked traditional Christmas references " in favour of some sparkling dialogue , gorgeous set design and fascinating characterisation " . While he felt that Grant and <unk> were <unk> , he was very positive towards Coleman 's " unpredictable " <unk> . Radio Times reviewer Patrick <unk> was pleased with the return of the Great Intelligence despite an inconsistency in the timeline he found , and praised the " lovely images " and direction of the special , though he felt the variation of the theme music " lacks the menace " of the original . While he was positive towards <unk> , he was " <unk> by her death " as it was " plainly silly " that she did not look injured . 
