'The Giggle' Review - Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Special
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- Опубликовано: 9 дек 2023
- Here we go, the third and final 60th Anniversary Special is upon us, and we've got BOTH Neil Patrick Harris' Toymaker and Ncuti Gatwa's 15th Doctor to contend with. The stakes are high, and expectations are even higher. Did this episode see the 60th Anniversary off with a bang, or is it going to be a sorrowful slog up to Christmas?
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#DoctorWho #DavidTennant #NcutiGatwa 
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Neil Patrick Harris honestly stole the show in this episode.
Entirely, yes. I had never heard of him prior to the episode, and I was SHOCKED that he was American because his accents in the episodes were *so convincing*
Seriously.
100%
Not wrong
Excellent review. Nice to see such a positive opinion, I agree with all your points. Was it perfect? No, but it WAS the perfect send off for 2005-2023 Doctor Who.
I assumed the reason that the Toymaker mentioned Amy, Clara and Bill and not the other companions was because he was calling out the one's who died (in NuWho anyway), which is why he mentioned The Flux and that people died because of that. Liked most of the episode - as long as the bi-generation doesn't ripple back - but not sold on the DT Doctor still being around. For me it takes away a bit from Ncuti Gatwa being THE Doctor, as though David Tennant is still around in reserve should things not work out the way they want it to...
I'm cool with Fourteen "being around" because ultimately, all the Doctor's incarnations are around (time travel, yo), so it's really not any different. We're just following Fifteen's journey now.
That was a truly remarkable episode. I agree it could have been split over three parts but frankly it gave so many OMG moments it's a bingeable episode in it's own right. Already watched it three times. Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker STOLE THE SHOW! Brilliant! Better than John Simm's arrival as the master! All I can say is 'Well! That's Alright Then!'
The bi-generation I think could only work with Tennant... His original final words of "I don't want to go" suggests he was an incarnation of the doctor that wanted to stay. Him being the Curator... YES! I thought that as soon as I knew he was staying. Very excited about Ncuti
i think theres more to it than that appently rtd behind the scenes said something like this the entire timeline has biregenerated and now are the doctors all back or i think he said this event rippled back into the doctors time steam causing every doctor to biregenerate it was 1 of those 2 lines. would u like any o that?
@@reverse7503 I heard that, it's baffling to be honest.
Kind of makes sense to what Tales of the TARDIS established with those Doctors returning - Seven even told Ace that he "hadn't regenerated" or something like that, so a ripple back where the Doctor split and continued would be interesting, although how it works for the TARDIS - and those Doctors keeping said TARDIS - remains to be seen 😅
@DorothyMcShane perhaps it gives the Big Finish and other non bbc stories of the Doctor more 🤔 meaning? Canonish status?... basically like the star wars extended universe being dubbed star wars legends
I don't want bi-generation to be used too much as I think it makes the Doctor have no stakes. Like I think they're immortal enough having them all split constantly gets rid of the agency of the show
To me I'm interpreting it as Fifteen being pulled back from Fourteen's personal timeline (for whatever reason, beating the Toymaker or something) and in fact Fourteen does retire, process his grief, go through whatever therapy means for him etc. After that, he regenerates (in the usual sense) into Fifteen after fixing himself, then gets pulled back (or pushes himself back) to the Toymaker fight, closing the loop.
Partly I think this is neat and makes sense, and partly it then lines up with Fifteen's "I'm alright because you fiz yourself" line.
Also, as far as RTD's comments about everyone bigenerating, I think that was just him messing about a little, but also gives extended media - Big Finish in particular - full license to mess around with particular incarnations without having to try to fit it into the actual show too much. Tbf I don't follow BF so I don't know how shackled they've been by that before, but that's how I'm reading it until shown otherwise.
I think that is what will eventually happen. There was no need to split the Doctor and have one become the curator since its implied the curator IS the Doctor far off in the future. Even though that's a cleaner option instead of a closed time loop. Maybe 15 came back to ensure 14 got the rest he needed or to ensure he came into existence (an enemy of 15 might travel back to make it that 14 dies? Possibly the Master or Toymaker again). I don't mind bi-generation so long as this is a once off thing due to the Toymakers meddling. I agree with Rich that applying it retroactive is a bit more destructive to canon. Wouldn't be the first time RTD has riled people up with false info.
Im okay with this theory, as well as the one where 14 branches off to eventually become the curator. Both are pretty solid ideas imo.
I also think RTD was just having a bit of fun and even if thats how he views it, I don't think it will have an impact on the show; its not official canon like Rich said, so i'm just ignoring that one 🤣
This is how I saw it too, Ncuti says you fix yourself, he knows David's future as it is his past. Its wibbly wobbly timey wimey because why not.
Also, by that stretch any doctor could help or meet any other doctor through time travel without bi-generation so I suspect that was more of a joke line.
Bring on the next/first series.
For me, it was a 9. The closest to a perfect episode we have had in a while. I especially loved how RTD made deaths mean something again. Even those 2 UNIT soldiers that got turn into balls, got acknowledged and the Doctor was clearly very upset. RTD acknowledged the true scope of the Flux in like 20 seconds, where Chibnall couldnt in a whole season.
The only issue I had with this episode was the pacing. I understand they only had 50 minutes but parts of it were rushed. I just wanted more Time Lord v Toymaker 😂
I don't believe there will be a further reason "why" for the regeneration. I feel the point they were trying to make with this was he did so because The Doctor was tired and needed to leave behind that part of himself.
I thought the bi-regeneration made perfect sense. They kept saying 14 was broken, running on fumes etc. Whatever it is that controls the regeneration, brought his old face back, the incarnation that arguably was the first that had a chance to heal from all he had been through culminating in the Time War, but he never stopped to process it and heal, he was always running for his life and the life of the Universe, piling up more and more trauma until at last there was the existentially damaging experience of the Flux. Finally the guilt and the weight of responsibility caught up with him. The toymaker even presented him with a list of the things that would be weighing on his mind. This has been coming for a long time, remember Jodie's diatribe to her companions in “The Haunting of the Villa Diodati”). So he was given his old face, brought to the spot where he would meet Donna, and then split into two. One part with all the damage and wounds of his wars free at last to rest and heal, and the other free to be “The Doctor” and go on fixing the Universe.
This has to be my favorite introduction of a new Doctor. Instantly likable but also not burdened with the loss of the previous incarnation. There was such positivity and joy around 15’s introduction that I was ready for 14 to bugger off with his happily ever after.
Two things that stood out to me were that this felt like a back door pilot or proof of concept for the UNIT spinoff that we’ve heard a little about. The second was that this felt like the best possible finale for the entire show. I’m happy that it’s not but I don’t think you could wrap up the show any better than this.
With how depressing regenerations usually are, this is easily the most fun and positive! (in stark contrast to 10's departure, in which 10 practically spent is final two episodes setting up the audience to hate 11)
Wouldn't say not burdened, more like have learned to accept, live with and move on 😂
my head cannon on how the bi-regeneration happened is because of being in such close proximity to the Toymakers realility bending abilities. so the theory / mythic ability of a bi-regen is possible just never seen or recorded in Timeload history. So the idea what there, and the use of the Toymakers magic (as it were) making the fantastical a realility. .. and presto. 14th and 15th in the same universe.
The Curator in Big Finish has already been both Baker and… well… Baker! So Tennant’s 14th being the start of this, especially via Big Finish, could be brilliant.
As sad as it was to not get the fam mentioned by the Toymaker, it makes sense contextually because the Toymaker was simply driving home how much has been lost, which Jodie thankfully never lost any of her companions like with Smith and Capaldi.
Chris Chibnall's Broadchurch was brilliant but clearly he was ill suited for the Who universe. The return of Russell Davies brings back the peril, the laughter and the emotions that made Who a favorite. Now it's Ncuti Gatwa's time in the Blue Box. I'm encouraged by his energy and want to see what he can do with pants on. 😂😂
I think people thinking 14th can regenerate is a misunderstanding. He already regenerated. 15th is 14th after he found peace and rest. They're just out of sinc in time. When this doctor dies, he regenerates into 15, who then appears at the moment of bigeneration. Or at least something along those lines. Point is, they aren't regenerating into anyone, as far as we can tell, because they already did
I would have to agree with you on all parts of your review. Neil Patrick Harris was perfectly cast as the Toymaker and Ncuti already looks at home with the role. Thank you Rich for all the excellent, thoughtful reviews you do on Doctor Who, it has inspired my own blog posts which I started recently. :)
This sincerely might just be one of my favourite episodes of the show, period. I’ll have to give it some time before entirely committing to that, but I can at least say that Neil Patrick Harris’s Celestial Toymaker most certainly is a new favourite. He captures everything you want in a Who villain; campy, menacing and ultimately just an absolute riot to watch! That dance sequence was just magnificently silly!
And as for the story itself, I gotta say that twist at the end (I’ll try and stay spoiler-light, but maybe wait to read this next bit if you haven’t seen it), is actually something that really worked for me; despite the controversy in the fandom it’ll no doubt cause. It’s an anniversary, after all, so wrapping everything up in a nice little bow is honestly just a perfect send-off to me; I mean, as the characters literally pointed out, David Tennant’s Doctor has earned his swan-song!
And Ncuti Gatwa… I already know I’m going to love his Doctor. We’ve never really had a Doctor (minus Christopher Eccleston’s 9 I suppose, due to his off-screen regeneration) introduced with such a definitive sense of who they are. And man do I like it. Comforting, vibrant and ultimately radiating fun: yeah, this guy’s gonna be good!
So yeah, safe to say I loved it. As a whole, the 60th anniversary itself was not what I expected but, despite going into this episode with uncertainty on whether it could stick the landing, it gives me an innumerable amount of joy when I say that this gave me everything I wanted and more. Doctor Who is never going to be objectively perfect, but this is pretty damn perfect to me.
Now, let’s bring on Christmas!!!!
14 is the curator! You can just see the tardis turning into a little country cottage inside, complete with 7’s gramophone. driving a little yellow saloon to the museum. Adjusting gallery lighting and music with the sonic. I want to see this show.
What would have made this episode much better for me is if the bigeneration was a completely intentional move on the part of the toymaker. Considering his powers, as well as his enjoyment of the doctor as an adversary, it would have made perfect sense narratively. It was weird to me that in an episode where the villain is basically Jobutupaki with the reality stone, they didn't connect the villain at all to the doctor having a new wacky type of regeneration.
I’m so glad this episode didn’t come out before Everything Everywhere All At Once. It made me so happy to see the dance number because it reminded me of the movie.
I like the idea that not only is David Tenant's "retired" Doctor the one who regenerates into The Curator... but also that the Doctors in the "Memory Tardis" (from the "Tales of the Tardis" interludes) also came from him.
It would be nice to think that when he regenerates, going forward, he revisits the "old faces", and that inspires him to revisit other, past, companions (the ones linked to that face).
Watch him becoming the valyard 😮
Imagine the shock on Yaz's face when her Doctor rocks up at her family's flat.
This was definitely the best of the 3 specials. I believe that this was RTD making a statement with this episode, with everyone thinking they're right, the Doctor was seeming worn out and needing a rest, etc. RTD is taking the Doctor in a new direction and, for those who are unhappy with it, well, their Doctor is hanging out with Donna and family.
Refreshing to see someone with all positives to say; I had a BLAST watching The Giggle and at the end of the day-regardless of canon or mythology-isn’t that the whole point? Loved it so much!
I really enjoyed this episode, I haven't felt this excited post episode in a VERY long time. What an episode, Neil Patrick Harris NEEDS to return if possible, absolutely brilliant portrayal.
6:20 Nice one Rich!
Bi-regeneration in my view, explains Jo Martin's doctor and quite nicely too!
i was waiting for your review so eagerly and you did not disappoint! I totally agree. Perfect episode, story could be stretched but I feel like it could've ended up as a flux sorta thing and kinda wrekt everything. This pacing kept us excited till the very end and was just, Fantastic.
Lewis Hamilton reference gets an up... Wait, sorry wrong channel.
That championship is Lewis'.
I love that you reviewed this with honesty , not everything is going to land for everyone art is subjective . I enjoyed this special and is one my favorites of all the specials keep up the great review work you have made a fan.
So great to see a positive review about actually enjoying the show. Sure, nothing's perfect but it's just great to see someone talking about what gets them excited.
I'm also excited by the new mysterious, chaotic and unexpected turn Doctor Who is taking. I honestly feel that, despite watching the show since the 70s, it can go off in new directions and still take me by surprise.
Let's not forget that we've had regeneration shenanigans before, with K'anpo and Cho-Je co-existing and whatever was going on with The Watcher. Back then regeneration was a much more mysterious process.
I'd like to credit you, just as much as the first EP of the special for rekindling my love of doctor who. After watching it, I just up the title and review in YT, you came up. And goddamn boy you gonna go far. Can't wait to hopefully see you cover upcoming episodes, growing as a channel and just having fun
Love from New Zealand, cheers mate
I don't think this is the last we will see of The Toymaker, he did say something along the lines of "My legions are coming" before he got folded, so im hopeful we see him again, maybe not for a lil while, but maybe at the end of Ncuti's run or something. Genuinely one of my Favourite Villian's i have seen on the show.
You are the first review that I have seen that didn't get bogged down in knit picky minutia, thank you!
The reason the Toymaker skipped 13's companions is that they're all alive and well. He was messing with the Doctor by bringing up all the times he failed to save his companions
I think flux was 13's portion tbh
4:38 The Toymaker is only mentioning female companions who met an unfortunate end because of the exact wording, "The Doctor's life after Donna". Hence why no mention of Rory, or Yaz since she left still intact as a human being.
I think the hand belonged to “The One Who Waits”, which will be revealed to be Jinx Monsoon’s portrayal of the Valeyard. It’s just a theory, but we do know Mel is returning for the story with Jinx in the finale of Season 1/ Series 14/ Season 40. I think the idea that “every doctor has bigenerated” will tie into her origins as the Doctor’s Shadow Self
Russell and the production team describe it as a diverging timeline
One gripe I had with the final game. The Toymaker stated the rules were he played a game with one Doctor (First), he's done another round with that Doctor (14), and he would play the next one with the next Doctor. Nowhere was it said that he would play against 14 AND 15. I mean, 2 on 1 at catch would be nigh impossible to win.
As for the "Bringing Donna up to speed via the medium of puppetry", Yaz et al didn't die, and the point of that bit was to highlight the death and destruction that had followed in The Doctor's wake, post-Donna, despite the Doctor trying to BS away the idea that the companions hadn't fully died...WELL THAT'S ALRIGHT, THEN!
Indeed, I've seen people claim that that scene was a dig at Moffat for killing the companions off, only to not leave them dead. I doubt that since RTD did the exact same thing here with Bigeneration. 14 times we've seen one Doctor disappear to be replaced. But we couldn't let Tennant die again and not give everyone a happy ending. Not that I minded how the Bigeneration played out on screen, although I had reservations reading it. I'm worried about the off-camera side of things rather than narratively. How long until the trigger finger of bringing Tennant back yet again get too itchy? What happens when ratings/views start to drop? What happens when a casting is Jodified (that is to say just unaccepted by a portion of the fanbase no matter what, as with Jodie). People will inevitably ask, when there's a modern-Earth set story why Tennant isn't helping.
In terms of the past Doctors "Bigenerating" thing, I think it's more of a flight of fancy on RTD's part, although it is a nice thing when it comes to explaining how returning Doctor's look older.
The only aspects I thought were lacking were the explanation, when it came and went in one line, of why 14 looked like 10, was that they wanted to come "home" to Donna and the Nobles. It really felt like RTD realised they needed anything to explain it 10 minutes for turning over the script. The other was that this WAS the 10th Doctor. Between the 3 episodes, I think I could on one hand the number of times this felt like a different Doctor to 10. Practically every mannerism and cadence were the same. I'd have certainly changed the look to be no mimic of the 10th's look. And I might have had Tennant go with his natural accent. Anything truly substantive that conveyed the difference. Indeed, it relates back to why he looks like 10. To be the Doctor that Donna knows and "loves", he has to BE 10.
I wish Tennant had said, at the table with the Nobles, that "I didnt think I'd ever want to stay in one place. But now that I'm here, with you, I don't wanna go."
I’m with you. It was an outstanding show and I also agree it is okay to just like things. David Tennant and Neil Patrick Harris were outstanding and from what I saw in the episode, I think the role of The Doctor is safe in Ncuti Gatwa’s hands. I hope the toymaker makes another appearance at some point
But wouldn't he break the "rule" doing that? 14th Prize was to banish the Toymaker. And the Toymaker plays by the rules.
@@lykan2 good point. It was really more about my appreciation of Neil Patrick Harris’ performance. It probably was a one time appearance
RTD can actually fix the timeless child arc right now. The master lied to 13 as usual and Galifrey is fine, he is actually the timeless child, and Jo Martin is a future doctor that can’t remember before 15.
I loved Jo as the doctor and really wanted her to come back. 😊
rtd behind the scenes said something like this the entire timeline has biregenerated and now are the doctors all back or i think he said this event rippled back into the doctors time steam causing every doctor to biregenerate, so if thats the case either the fugitive doctor is from a different time line or maybe the theory people had where she comes between 2 and 3
There is an out for that now. The Toymaker dropped lines of "I made a jigsaw puzzle of your life. Did you like it?" Hence, one could say that bit could be retconned so that the Timeless Child was the Toymaker's doing. Why? Mind GAMES.
It's good to see you always after a hard day at work it's so nice to see when of your videos
I hope bi regeneration brings back the Vale yard we really need to figure out how he came about on Doctor who's previous time line
I’ve been waiting for this since last night, so interesting in hear your thoughts on the episode
Honestly, I hated the Chibnall era, I loved RTD1 and I was sooo excited when they announced his return. Which is why I cannot believe I'm gonna say this. Power of the Doctor was a better anniversary special than this trilogy. I'm not saying it was a better episode. But it celebrated the anniversary more.
I love the idea that 14 becomes the Curator eventually. I'm keeping that in my head until the show tells me otherwise.
I would have liked to have seen more of The Toymaker's dimension, I was a bit disappointed when they went back to 2023 and the UNIT tower. I love the aesthetic of it, tbh I could watch a whole film set in that reality. _Doctor Who and the Toymaker_ full-length film, pretty please? 🎬
This is an amazing way to go forward after the 60th anniversary. Our Old Doctor retries, the New Doctor goes onwards. Now we can have multi-Doctor encounters easier & like the Curator said the old Doctor can revisit his favorites.
I'm also curious the 2 ominous threats we got this season: The Meep's Boss & the Toymaker's "The One Who Waits" comment being maybe Omega, or Valeyard or maybe the Emperor?
I love the episode honestly. Emotionally, everything with the Bigeneration and David’s Doctor getting a happy ending was so heartwarming and perfect to me. BUT. The implications of there being two doctors around WITH TWO TARDISES is a little distressing to me. Its one of those things that is always going to be in the back of my mind because why can’t they solve every problem now. It feels like, especially with the fact 14 is still travelling the universe, that there shouldn’t be any more threats. Double the doctors, double the eternity of dogooding. And thats not getting into RTD’s theory that with 14 splitting apart from 15, now every single previous doctor is retroactively their being and entity. Can you imagine there being 15 different doctors running around across the universe at the same time? It eliminates all stakes. I personally wouldn’t mind if they dive into the lore of the Bigeneration but I don’t ever revisit this again.
I mean, to be fair, we had thirteen at once in the same place to save Gallifrey, even if they were pulled out of their respective timelines to do so. Having them co-exist, but keep to the shadows, at least in my mind, is just an extension of that premise.
Wasn't it always kinda like that?
Like the morbious incarnations, and the various alternative Doctors through expanded media, the Valeyard, etc.
To respond to the two commenters, first of all thank you for sharing your thoughts. I love hearing from other whovians it's great. I think the difference is that while yes, we had fifteen+ doctors across time and space before, the difference was they were only on one timeline at least for the doctor. You have 14 in 1666, while there's an earlier doctor having adventures in the same year, that was still 14's past. What bigeneration means, under RTD's definition not the shared in the episode which I find much more digestible of 15 being essentially plucked from later in the timeline, is that all of these 15+ doctors are essentially unmoored. It makes it so there's no excuse whenever the next big Pandorica/Journey's End time-space apocalypse, that 15 can't grab 14. And that's not including the avengers-sized 13+ other doctors out there under RTD's theory
You know what I'm most interested in? The One Who Waits, the one that apparently attacked the Toymaker. I've got a theory that they're somehow connected with the Doctor pre-Timeless Child, they're trying to find them after they vanished from their home universe/dimension and has been looking ever since. Maybe they attacked because they read Toymaker's mind and knew about the previous conflict they had with the Doctor?
Bi-generation feels like one of those things that works best with people's own personal headcanons. Mine is that because The Doctor went through so much bodily trauma over such a small amount of time (forced regen, de-generation, actual regeneration AND another) it split. Bi-generation probably has happened before in rare cases during the time war but it was never reported on because...there was a war and no-one could report on it.
But knowing that at some point 14 will properly regenerate into 15 makes it work for me. I like to think that 14 becomes the curator from the 50th and regenerates from old-age
Or in my "head canon "
.... the meta crisis after spending so long in a human host learned about human reproduction (cellular division)
And once it was reabsorbed back into the Doctor it heavily influenced his regeneration technique
@@robertespley248 wdym? I'm a little lost in your explanation
Always enjoy these lovely videos ❤️
We did get a reason for the bi-regeneration. The doctor says himself, it’s not possible. It was only possible because of the toymaker. If people don’t want to accept the reason, then that’s a different issue.
I guess Jodies companions didn`t die that`s why the were omitted. Could`ve mentioned Grace dying tough and Yaz being heartbroken.
I was sure you would burn The Giggle. The Bi-regeneration being a "a bit on the nose", or something. I like the episode a lot. I like the idea of the 14th Doctor, the most beloved modern doctor, sticking around. While he may be off the table and not saving the universe every week, they gave him a TARDIS for a reason and it isn't to run to the market, so I do expect that 14 will show up as part of that wider "Whoniverse" sooner than we think.
I like the idea of him being with this best mate, not his companion, his friend. I like that that they made that point that Donna is SPECIAL, that she is the only person who REALLY understands him and most importantly, doesn't see him as a god or a crush - he's an amazing, PTSD suffering friend, who deserves to be loved and accepted as part of the family.
I feel the reason the Toymaker did not cover 13's companions was because none of them died. They all left on their own accord.
The Toymaker wanted to play with the Doctor, get underneath their skin. All of 13's companions are alive and well with no danger, or peril they're in.
Where as 11 and 12s companions died, are dying, or are stuck in a place they cannot return from.
i know this was filmed before the fact the entire bit with Ncuti hitting the tardis line for line was leaked a year and a half in advance. Whoever did it surely spoilt fans as not only we got a confirmation there were two doctors on screen but the fact something happened to the tardis.
In my own head canon, the bigeneration happened because The Toymakers rules of play were in affect.
My head cannon says that the master trying to steal the doctor's life created a fissure in the dna and set this turn of events in motion.
Ah, who’s the “boss” then that Beep the Meep mentioned if he’s not the toy maker? And who’s the one who the toy maker even ran away from? Like the specials left so many questions left open ended. But yeah good show, finally found out what happened to sabilon glitz
in my mind the 15th doctor still comes after the 14th. seemingly he had memories from the doctor essentially doing rehab with donna and seemed to understand what he needed. its almost like a regeneration out of order.
Allons-y was delivered beautifully ❤
The Toymaker skips 13s companions because they all get fairly nice endings, and are all alive
I didnt think of it until afterwards but strange he didn't mention Grace
Love your reactions always!
I think the post Donna companions puppet show were the ones who died, so I guess that's why it jumped to the Flux.
And thank you for mentioning 15 fighting in just his pants! Lols.
I love the theory that 14 eventually becomes The Curator.
Can't wait for Christmas and to see who "The Boss" will be. I kind of hope it will NOT be the Master.
But a 10? I'm impressed! For me, too, of course!
Not often that I disagree with your reviews but this time I do. For forty minutes I thought this was one of the best episodes ever and Neil Patrick Harris was brilliantly demented. 9 or 10 out of 10 stuff. And the last twenty minutes I would struggle to give a 4 out of ten. The defeat of the Toymaker was far too easy (which has been a problem ever since Eccleston - hasty wrap ups of good ideas to fit the story length); the "bigeneration" thing was a Chibnallesque retcon that I could well have done without and the Wile E Coyote/ Roadrunner way of getting a second Tardis was just ludicrous. I'm surprised the hammer didn't have "Acme" written on it. Incidently that second Tardis is what makes me think you are wrong about how soon we will be seeing Tennant again. If fourteen was genuinely "retired" he wouldn't need the Tardis at all. I'd bet that one of the first Disney projects will be series with Tennant/Tate because American networks don't believe you can have too much of something. I'd also bet that while the mechanism was Davies's the idea of having Tennant stick around was straight from Disney whatever Davies might say.
This. Honestly, i can admit i like traditional regeneration so this basically felt like a Chibnall type retcon done for a Moffat type character death being swerved.
That 2021 season Finale metaphor actually hits different. I think maybe the Toymaker should be the primary race director for Formula 1 from 2024 onwards. He knows the rules of the game 😅
I hadn't even thought that he could become the curator. I love that. "A few old favourites" ❤️
I personally disliked the bigeneration. I don't mind the idea of splitting the Dr, but I think if they made him human (meta-crisis esque), or stated he is leftover regeneration energy that will fade away, it would have worked better. I will say, everything up until that point was incredible, NPH was on top form, the regeneration was solid up until the split, and I liked the game of catch to save the world. Gatwa looks amazing as The Doctor, but they way they handled Tennant rubs we the wrong way, it justs feels like RTD not willing to leave well enough alone and let endings stay ended, undoing all of his big decisions for no good reason. Genuinely wouldn't surprise me if Rose was let back into our world or something.
My only note would be is to have a time change in a game of ball... like make exhaustion fall on the doctors (the toymaker doesn't tire) and all adds up for them to lose and then the toymakers makes a speech about how is all powerful all present only to be defeated by the sheer will on the doctor(s)
The toymaker not mentioning 13’s companions makes senses since it doesn’t really fit the theme he was going for about the damage the Doctor caused, I know people do like them but to me it does go to show unfortunately how poorly utilised they were and how little of an impact they really left on the whoniverse in comparison to everyone who came before
Things I loved about this episode
1. Trinity Wells as a conspiracy theorist. That was great and made wonder was Russel poking fun at right wing media?
2. Kate Stewarts paranioa that was cool.
3. Seeing Mel back was great. It's always nice to see companions from the Classic Series comeback.
4. The ending of the Doctor and the way it opens the door for Tennents return.
5. Neal Patrick Harris turn as the Toymaker.
6. The ending of the Toymaker. I like the fact that it leaves the door open for his return.
7. The call back to Glitz, I know he's an obscure character but it was nice to hear what happened to him.
Things I wasnt so crazy about.
1. The fact that the 15th Doctor had no pants on. He should have been given some pants at some point.
2.The Mechanical Robot at Unit. It didn't look great.
3. The Bigots that tried to trash all three episodes.
Overall a solid episode that was enjoyable to watch
I appreciated that Sabalom Glitz' death involved alcohol.
@@tmage23 Given the lifestyle he lived I was surprised he lived to be 104.
This was the best of the three for me! Neil Patrick Harris stole the show, it's why I'd give it a 9.8. The only thing that keeps it from a 10 is a the ending of 14. I love 10/14 so a part of me LOVES his ending of having a family he can go have small adventures with and how it lets him come back for future specials or something, but there is some part of me that wanted his story to end in symmetry. As 10 he didn't want to go, but as 14 I thought him accepting and finally being ready to go would have been beautiful. I thought RTD was setting it up with Donna and Rose's "letting it go" speech at the end of the first special, then with Donna and 15 talking to 14 at the end of the episode I thought he was going to let go and say something like "I'm ready to go".
I enjoyed these series of specials. It has a few loose threads for me… who is “the boss”, is Sacha Dhawan’s master done? (I loved his take on the master). When will 15 get pants? Keep up the good work.
Pants?
@@GrumpyOldGit60 For our Americans out there… Obivously i mean trousers
i'd like to see the 15th doctor,s new tardis have a midnight black hue.
I agree that he will become The Curator
We'd loved to see more of The Doctor and the Toymaker together. Despite that, we're looking forward to see Ncuti Gatwa be the star, he's going to be an awesome Doctor no doubt! 💙💙
One query i have with the episode is that wouldn’t Kate be immune to the giggle like Donna cause shes also been in the tradis at the end of the Power of Doctor ? or am i just misremembering her ever being in it ?
maybe once isn't enough?
I get the same thing, also shaun, Sylvia and Rose (at that point) never went in the TARDIS, and its assumed they’re unaffected
@@dantoothpick They would have been give the bands the unit soldiers put around the arms.
Donna and Mel have travelled for long periods of time in the TARDIS while Kate had only one trip. One trip probably wasn't enough. Plus Mel still wore the band just in case as her travels in the TARDIS ended ages ago.
@@jeremythomaswebb1485but why wasn't Wilf affected? He didn't have an armband
This was genuinely one of the best episodes in years!!! An elemental force being defeated by a game of catch felt a bit cheap though.
That's his whole shtick though just a simple game.
@-sageaegis-292thank you.
You made me go back and watch the 2013 Tony awards opening number... why is the outfit he in at the start nearly identical to what 14 was wearing during the the game of catch in this episode. lol.
The tidiest solution lore wise would be to tie bi-generation to the watchers, somehow.
Dr who had already established the watchers as a sort of appiration of the next regeneration in a timelords lifecycle
Every Showrunner has a big idea, which his successor says, "dude, you can't be serious. I'm not touching this with a bargepole." For instance, nobody ran with the half human thing. RTD appears to have skillfully neutralised the Timeless Child. I doubt that the all Doctors have bigenerated idea will fly any further.
What if what RTD was hinting at with that bi-generation quote is that each specific doctor is still in there somewhere and could potentially be pulled out as their own separate being, which would also kinda explain why 10 was able to re-regenerate in the first place
Looking at the angle of shot, the hand picking the gold tooth up, that person would have been standing in the air?
I did wonder that myself.
Given how sure of himself The 15th Doctor seemed post-regeneration compared to his predecessor, I would have preferred it much more if he’d been a future version of The Doctor who had come back to help his past self defeat The Toymaker, and then, when we first saw him post-regeneration, he’d been a far less confident character who could then develop into the man that we see over the course of the next 2 seasons.
It felt like even more of a missed opportunity, given that Ncuti Gatwa started filming his first season almost a year ago, so I’m sure that he could have shot his scenes in this episode after he’d already shot some of the upcoming episodes and got acclimatised to the part.
I'm guessing the "theme" for the next two series will be about god like beings
Next seasons arc willl probably be the toymakers legion and later introducing the one who waits and the master
I gotta say that I completely agree with your criticism regarding having the Toymaker across all three specials. I thought that this was a brilliant episode and loved NPH as the Toymaker, but the episode still felt a bit short despite it being (just barely) over an hour long. I think it's because the stuff with the Toymaker was over about 50 minutes into the episode, which is about the length of a normal episode of the show.
Anyways, when one of my only criticisms was that the episode felt short, that's how you know it was a damn good episode. I think it's a testament to how perfectly paced the episode was. It was brisk, but without ever feeling *rushed* (in stark contrast to nearly every Chibnall Era episode save a few). All in all, I'm more excited for the future of the show than I have been since Capaldi left.
it's nice to have something fresh. I don't mind the Bi-regeneration so far. However if it does retro actively make it's way into the classic series, not sure i'd like that.
Always appreciate your reviews keep them coming :)
Love the theory that 14th could now become the Curator. Can't wait for Ncuti. Should be amazing. And NPH suits the Toymaker, would love to see him return again but not sure how
So did the toymaker actually make up the timeless child if you listen to his line when playing cards with the doctor
When the 15th Doctor Falls aka regeneration Tennant will come back and go at the same time.
"No Notes" - was that a New Girl reference? 😂
Maybe a nitpick, but I would have preferred the Doctor reacting to the Toymaker showing Clara's story with "I don't know who that is" and the Toymaker responding "That's alright then!" I thought the Doctor had forgotten about Clara...
I think 14 will return in 15 final story to reverse the bi-regeneration and help 15 regenerate
There was no need to bring up 13’s companions because none of them died, unless you count Grace.
1. Why doesn't 15 have any trauma anymore. 2. Why did 13 change clothes?
The fact that you're only an F1 but also apparently an LH fan just made you 100% cooler, Rich
But for real, a pleasure as always to see your thoughts, glad we seem to be on the same page regarding this episode overall :)
I think it would be interesting if the Master in the tooth was John Simm as it could explain how he survived the end of time
Nice review, thank you
Rich I honestly think that the giggle was the best episode since Genesis Of The Daleks, I was buzzing after watching it, total brilliant. RTD has done us proud.
“It is a shame he omitted Jodie’s companions from the mix” - Jodie didn’t have any dead companions.
That's what 14 should've said...
? They were crap
look closely at the final scene as someone picks up the toymaker,s gold tooth.
That was mentioned in this. The gold tooth contains the Master. So it looks like we get another round of The Master.
I prefer the idea that 14's gonna do a good few years of self-care and then eventually catch up to 15 and find himself back in that moment on the other side of it -- 'cause the idea of The Doctor being two people who could eventually live their own lives and grow to be entirely different from each other is... weird to me.
'cause, I guess, thinking of how one consciousness could separate and go in different directions and what that means for the original makes my head hurt :D
But personally I'd kinda like it if that aspect were left up to headcanon so that we can all decide on whichever version of how it works that we like best. The mechanics of the bi-generation itself are fertile ground to explore, but I don't think the mechanics of how the resulting timelines are gonna work really needs more explanation than the little hints that we got.
For a change I pretty much agree with everything you said, one of the best episodes in a long time. I’m happy that the Doctor is in safe, creative, hands once more, plus it’s never looked this good.
I was honestly expecting people to give flack for the Spice Girls part. I'm presently suprised I've not seen that. I also love the fact that seemingly nobody knew the song in universe it made it even better for me.
RTD doesn’t really take a lot of care with how his stories resolve. Or he doesn’t care a lot about how his stories resolve. They often have a “tra la, it’s over” feel about them.
So I hadn't wanted to comment until I had seen all three episodes. Now that I have, I will rate them in the metaphor of food:
The Star Beast: Toad in the Hole. Comfort food that reminded me of the first RTD era. Maybe not the best ingredients though.
Wild Blue Yonder: Madras Curry which lacked a bit of spice to make it sing but tasty and interesting.
The Giggle: a proper Roast dinner down the local carvery with lots of trimmings.
While I have negatives, let's focus on the positives for this comment.
The quality improved with each of the three specials. It's a shame that the highest interest got the weakest episode but hopefully word of mouth will bring Neil Patrick Harris to more eyeballs.
I was pleased that RTD dealt with the Flux and hinted at wider consequences. Having a large chunk of the universe missing should allow for some interesting storytelling.
I also got the sense that the Big Bad hinted throughout the three episodes is also from beyond the universe like the Toymaker. Perhaps something that finally got to chase the Doctor in this universe? If the Timeless Child is to mean something then having something finally follow the Doctor into their current universe would be a good way of getting some value out of a weak concept.
Finally although there are problematic parts to the Bigeneration, from a writing perspective it allows RTD to retire the Time War saga and the damage done to Doctors 8, War, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. This gives Ncuti more freedom to develop his take on the role.
p.s. the elephant in the room re the Bigeneration is that you don't give the first black actor complete ownership of the role. It's gone from handover to feeling a bit hand-held with a white Doctor still existing in the same time/space. I know some black fans weren't entirely happy with that choice.