Recap of ‘The Giggle’ (Spoiler Free):

The third and final of the 60th anniversary Doctor Who specials ‘The Giggle’, written by Russell T Davies, begins in 1923 where a man buys a doll from an eccentric man who runs a toy shop (played by Neil Patrick Harris.) The man then takes the toy to his employer, John Logie Baird, who is working to create the first TV recording. Logie uses the doll successfully, which immediately after catches on fire but not before a strange look appears. Returning to present day, the Doctor and Donna encounter a world gone mad. The Doctor and Donna team up with UNIT, as well as an old friend of the Doctor’s, to face one of the Doctor’s greatest, and oldest, foes yet.

Review of ‘The Giggle’ (Spoiler Free):

The Doctor (David Tennant) and Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) in Doctor Who (Source: Disney+)

Over these three specials Davies has done an incredible job of bringing the old together with the new, and this episode was no exception. Immediately after the sequence with the creepy doll and perhaps creepier toy seller, we’re brought into the familiar world of Tennant’s doctor with UNIT, the Doctor and Donna, and now an old companion Bonnie Langford returned, all fighting together to figure out the latest crises affecting earth. Once we’re introduced to the name of the foe, which is pretty obviously the Toymaker, we’re given a demonstration of the show’s ever teetering balance between danger and absurdity. (Afterall Doctor Who is the series best known for its most dangerous foe to be fitted with a plunger.)

Harris is clearly having a lot of fun as the terrible Toymaker, and Tennant is doing what he does best which means Tennant’s Doctor is largely left to run around scrambling alongside each of our struggling protagonists. It’s the kind of dangerous position that one would expect considering this was always set up to be his last episode before regenerating. For longtime fans, in addition to the wackiness onscreen, there’s nearly as many easter eggs as there are toys. This can perhaps be a bit much for new fans; however, it’s also clearly teasing what’s to come with the next doctor.

Speaking of (and we’re living this in non-spoiler territory, because these episodes were always teased as Tennant’s brief return), but the only disappointment is that Ncuti Gatwa’s introduction as the fifteenth Doctor is a bit overshadowed by the wrap-up of Tennant’s storyline. Though it was heartfelt to see Tennant’s send-off done as it was (a perhaps odd-choice we’ll get into in spoilers territory), it just felt like too much Doctor to really appreciate Gatwa’s incredible entry into the wonderful world of Doctor Who. Even so it was still a delight to have Gatwa join this beloved show, and with the introduction of the Toymaker, and plenty of other teases for future episodes, it looks like he’ll have plenty to do in his time as the Doctor.

Spoiler Discussion of ‘The Giggle’:

The Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) in Doctor Who (Source: Disney+)

This episode was filled with easter eggs upon easter eggs, with the greatest perhaps the return of Langford as companion. Langford played Mel Bush, who was a companion to the Sixth and Seventh Doctors. This means for many fans who have only watched Doctor Who since its return in the 2000s she’s likely new; however, for fans of classic Who this is a delightful throwback. Similarly the Toymaker is one of the Doctor’s oldest foes, dating all the way back to the First Doctor. As such he knows The Doctor’s history, and he was used perfectly to go over the Doctor’s many adventures (and failings), while also teasing future fights including ‘The One Who Waits.’

While these reveals tease up future Doctor Who adventures for Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor, we still have to discuss Tennant’s ending. Though it was incredibly sweet that Tennant was able to return at all, and each of these specials have been delightful, it’s perhaps amusing that yet again Tennant in the form of the Doctor will remain on Earth. (Rose afterall had a similar experience, though with significantly more timey-wimeyness tied in.) Still it was nice to have the characters gather as they did together, talk about their affections for the Doctor, and in their own way give thanks to Tennant and Donna’s time together. That pairing was always a fan favorite, and this special has been a segue for a new generation, and a nice gift to older fans and their love for these characters.

Ncuti Gatwa will return as The Fifteenth Doctor in ‘The Church on Ruby Road’ on December 25, 2023.