Chatter Box Film

This is a spoiler review for the third special of the Doctor Who 60th anniversary episodes – helmed by showrunner Russell T. Davies.

It’s the final special, with David Tennant and Catherine Tate. See previous reviews here for The Star Beast and Wild Blue Yonder.

The Giggle partially celebrates the invention of John Logie Baird’s televisions by cleverly incorporating this into the plot; with The Toymaker harnessing this powerful platform to reach a population over time.

Neil Patrick Harris was brilliant as the Toymaker and the actor always does well as a showman, just like in another role as Count Olaf, in a Netflix series called A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Parts of The Toymaker’s scenes reminded me of The Master’s; as he goes around antagonizing characters to music, and in a more camp style. The toy shop set scenes also looked fantastic!

There were a few creative, intense and creepy moments; especially with great work from puppeteers on the movements and voice work, as well an interesting way to celebrate the 60th, by presenting callbacks to previous companions as puppets.

Although, It would have been interesting to see more of The Toymaker’s games unfold rather than those quick scenes, and the special coming to an abrupt end by a game of catch, combined with the bi-generation happening.

I’m not really too keen on the bi-generation part either, and I was hoping those rumours were not true, as this seemed ridiculous! The way it happened in the episode came at quite a shock as well. But what is the point of having two Doctors exist like this? I would have preferred for him to finally be ready to go and then regenerate normally into Ncuti’s Doctor.

It’s certainly something different that’s not been done before and Russell T. Davies knew this would likely divide fans, when calling this a “Controversial new mythology“, two days before the release of The Giggle special. I do already like Ncuti’s iteration so far though.

Donna gave a heartwarming monologue to the Doctor about settling down and then this speech becomes slightly redundent when he’s given another TARDIS soon after, by the Fifteenth Doctor, in case he ever wants to run away again.

Could this mean there is a possibility left open for a separate and longer series spin-off, with David Tennant again at some point?

The scenes that followed were very touching and beautiful; when Tennant’s Doctor was able to feel some sense of peace, to relax, and experience a family life once again… something that he lost when Amy, Rory and River were gone.

Murrary Gold has also continued to make incredible soundtracks across all three specials.

Final thoughts

Wild Blue Yonder and The Giggle were definitely the better specials out of the three, which were released and Donna had a satisfying outcome this time.

And I never expected that David Tennant and Catherine Tate were ever going to get their own specials before these announcements happened, so that’s been the best part, seeing them back again, and of course Bernard Cribbins, for that last moment.

The production quality overall for these three specials have also been exceptional!

However, they should have really made these specials much longer; as the first one was rushed and not well-written, the second was slower than the first, yet worked well, with better line exchanges and The Doctor and Donna were able to reconnect on their own.

This third special was more entertaining, yet crammed with so much happening… while also being rushed for Ncuti Gatwa’s introduction.

It does now makes sense, as to why the BBC are calling Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor Who: season one, instead of series 14; because he’s getting near enough a completely fresh start from being bi-generated.

The Master is seemingly being teased for one of Ncuti’s future seasons; to be resurrected from another object like what happened to John Simm’s iteration in series 4. Who picked up the gold tooth? Earlier in the special, Kate Stewart can be seen with red polished nails, it is possibly her.

These specials have left me with plenty of unanswered questions that will likely be addressed in Ncuti’s time as The Doctor.

For now, I’m going to be looking forward to seeing what Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson’s Christmas special will be like.

When is the Doctor Who Christmas special airing?

Doctor Who: The Church on Ruby Road airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 5:55 PM GMT, on December 25.

It will also be releasing on Disney+, outside of the UK and Ireland, on December 25 and time for the US will be 12:55 PM ET/9:55 AM PT. Update: our review for the Christmas special is available to read now.