Thinking more about the Tom-Tom joke, I think one of the disappointments I've had with the "Paternoster Gang" is that I want them to be exciting (lizard) lady detectives having adventures in Victorian London, but in reality they are the comedy side-kicks. Strax, in particular obviously, but even Vastra and Jenny mostly exist to feed plot exposition to the Doctor and provide grist for jokes about up-tight Victorian men fainting all the time.

Even so, I'm not sure that entirely explains my lack of love for The Crimson Horror.

I think there is more to dislike in Revelation, but also more to admire...