The Krampus has arrived – and Salzburg will never be the same again.

As with the previous episode, listening to this at precisely the wrong time of year (mid June as opposed to the story’s setting of early December) doesn’t negate the power of the tale that John Dorney tells, and it’s a strong contender for the best Christmas Doctor Who story (a title held for many years by The Chimes of Midnight). There’s an increased emphasis on Liv and Helen (as the cover suggests), and the way in which many of the apparently disparate strands from the first part are drawn together is very well done, with some misdirection that pays off.

All of my comments in the previous review with regard to the acting and sound design apply equally here, and there’s some very clever casting involved with one particular thread. I’m hoping that some of the loose(ish) ends that remain will play into future releases, although I’m always wary of any creatures in the Doctor Who universe who have the power to play fast and loose with reality.

Verdict: A strong conclusion to a different sort of Christmas story. 9/10

Paul Simpson

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