As seems to be the style for Doctor Who these days, Stephen Moffat has penned a whimsical (and utterly pointless) prequel to this year’s Christmas Special. The clip serves to reinforce – for those Whovians who’ve been living under a rock since Amy Pond left the show – that The Doctor is still reeling from her loss.

However, you won’t see Matt Smith in this prequel. It’s largely set in the detective agency of Silurian sleuth Madame Vastra, and is a rather tedious scene between Vastra and a Scotland Yard detective. Basically, it’s all a set up: the Victorian detective can accept her explanations about Sontarans, prehistoric lizard races and mysteries involving Egyptian curses, but he chokes when Madame Vastra reveals that she’s in love…with a woman.

I’m not normally critical of Doctor Who’s bias toward homosexual characters, normally it’s a good thing to introduce kids to. But as the punchline for a ridiculous comedy scene? Nope, joke fell flat Mr Moffat. Sorry. Seriously, it’s a human and a reptile woman. I’m giving myself headaches trying to work out how those two would get jiggy.

There’s one positive though: the beautiful line from Vastra to her lover about The Doctor’s heartache:

Heartbreak is a burden to us all. Pity the man with two.

Watch the prequel here and let us know what you think of it. Are you still excited for the Doctor Who Christmas Special?