‘Doctor Who: The Giggle’ Review

In this week’s jam-packed special of Doctor Who, the giggle of a mysterious puppet is driving the human race insane. When the Doctor (David Tennant) discovers the return of the terrifying Toymaker (Neil Patrick Harris), he faces a fight he can never win.

Spoilers ahead.

THE GIGGLE IS GREAT ON SO MANY LEVELS!

Russell T Davies continues to raise the quality level of Doctor Who, something considered very low by both general audiences and fans of the show for several years. This new era of the show continues to build promise, and I am hoping general audiences feel the same and continue to watch the show with Ncuti’s first season when it arrives next year.

It is evident that the budget has been invested in full force into the final special The Giggle. Whilst the long corridor appeared to consist of repetitive, Volume-esque constructions, this week’s special, directed by Burn Burn Burn auteur Chanya Button sees a stark difference in VFX quality as well as the overall production quality we got a true glimpse of during The Star Beast. London in chaos, elements of the Toymaker and the introduction of UNIT’s high-tech facility all show just how far this show has come and the production team should be incredibly proud of the level of detail they’ve provided for the special’s many locations.

Murray Gold’s score is once again so good, with the creepy themes and palindrome which prominently feature in the episode being incredibly effective music. Another thing I loved was the subtle teases and inclusion of the Fifteenth Doctor’s theme, heavily western-themed and one I can’t wait to hear more of.

Something else we’ve all known to love is showrunner Russell T Davies’ reluctance to include subtle social commentaries throughout his story, have nothing to fear – with the chaotic opening act of the episode dropping hints at past real-world situations, aiming at clueless politicians, online addicts and plenty of other archetypes which can be laughed at. The introduction of the Zeedeck brings plenty of parallels to the COVID vaccines and the worldwide conspiracy around the use of medicine. Iconic news reader Trinity Wells returns to the show, now with her own Fox News-esque show calling out the reliability of the bands.

ENTER THE TOYMAKER.

Neil Patrick Harris is absolutely wonderful as The Toymaker, stepping into the role as if it’s always been his. The ease with which he can slip into character is mesmerising, showing off his talent by varying his demeanour as well as his outfits and accents throughout the special. His scene chemistry with Tennant goes incredibly hard and is easily one of the highlights of the episode. I hoped his portrayal of the villain would mirror his time playing Count Olaf in Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, and I was not disappointed one bit – so so good.

Having the seeds planted when the pair arrive at the emporium, with Donna pointing out The Doctor is staggering along, upset he never tells the story of his companions. It was great to see this picked up, having the Toymaker put on a show describing the demise of Amy, Clara, Bill and the Flux. I also love in the follow-up scene, which we seemingly get a tease for the show’s next big villain.

Similar to last week’s special, it was great to be watching the episode’s creepier scenes unfold. The scenes within the Toymaker’s realm with the puppet of Charles Banerjee interacting with The Doctor, lead to an even scarier puppet with David Tennant’s face digitally replacing the head. The Stooky family as they Mission Impossible their way from the ceiling of Donna’s room was just as creepy, slowly lowering from the roof – giving me endless goosebumps just thinking about it.

Whilst discussing Donna, I want to say what a joy it has been to see Catherine Tate embodying Donna Noble once again. Her character, just like herself is full of life, and excitement and will always be a unique companion thanks to the meta-crisis as well as the core relationship between herself and The Doctor.

Having The Toymaker reveal himself to UNIT with the use of Spice Girls’ “Spice Up Your Life” was certainly an entertaining choice from RTD, bringing back the iconic needle drops that he does so well, and something which Chibnall nabbed for The Master dancing along to Rasputin last year.

WHAT A UNIT!

UNIT looks absolutely terrific for the duration of the special. From the Vlinx, the new city-centre location to looking like a very-prepared organisation or new spin-off materials… Some of my favourite set design originates within the glossy, new central London UNIT location – the Whoniverse’s very own Avengers Tower. I could spend hours discussing another returning face, Ruth Madeley’s scientific advisor Shirley Bingham who in her own right deserves a spin-off title.

Omitted from my initial preview of the episode was the special’s inclusion of Melanie Bush (played by Bonnie Langford). It is revealed that at some point between her appearance in last year’s centenary special Power of the Doctor and the events of The Giggle, Kate recruited her to come and work with UNIT. A very gracious touch, bringing yet another face from the show’s past into the present. We know Mel, as well as UNIT, will be back- and I appreciate this opens the door for more former companions to have new roles within the future of the Whoniverse – Martha Jones next, please?

Though I have no clue who he is, some lovely internet research clarified that Melanie mentions a Sabalom Blitz – a character from both the Classic show and numerous Big Finish audio adventures – nice to see even more connections to the show’s last 60 years of storytelling.

THE NEW DOCTOR

In a twist, The Toymaker decides to face the next Doctor for their third game, killing the Fourteenth Doctor and initiating a new concept to the Whoniverse, bi-generation. It was insane to watch and we are in for a treat with Ncuti Gatwa – we are in good hands, folks. I am so excited, especially after seeing him face-to-face with Tennant. An old Gallifreyan myth is RTD causing mayhem online and I cannot wait! It’s a shame the plot has been online for quite some time, but seeing it unfold onscreen worked so much better than it sounded in words.

His first set piece is a game of catch because of course it is! The most exciting thing about the Doctor’s first moments is the tease of the Master’s return, perfectly mirroring the end of Last of the Time Lords with his ring being picked up by Miss Trefusis to eventually resurrect him. This time around, it is the Toymaker’s golden tooth (which features The Master trapped inside) which is taken. With the Toymakers “legions” on the way, could this be someone we know is showing up in Ncuti’s Season 1? Perhaps Indira Varma or Jinxx Monsoon’s characters – who knows!

Fourteenth’s story continues following the events of The Giggle, with The Doctor finally slowing down and giving him a family in the Nobles. I can’t tell you how important this is for the character, and whilst I know people online are going to hate it – they should realise the Time Lord finally gets a happy ending, whilst also being able to continue on his adventures. “I’ve never been happier in my life” meant so much to hear – what a line that is! It also opens the door for Tennant to return to the show, something I know for a fact people want more of, and trust me it will happen!

The future of Doctor Who has never looked brighter!

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Giggle is easily the best of the three specials, marking an end for the show’s revival era and introducing new concepts as we embark on a new adventure with Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor. Neil Patrick-Harris in a one-off performance as The Toymaker was unforgettable, providing some great opposition for The Doctor and solidifying his status as a character actor. Roll on Christmas!

Doctor Who: The Giggle is now available to watch on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Disney+ worldwide. Check out a trailer for this year’s festive special, The Church on Ruby Road below: