Doctor Who: The Giggle

[vivdunstan]

Jotting down some quick thoughts about this while they’re fresh in my mind.

Overall I liked it a lot, and most out of the three new specials. I rated it 9/10 on Gallifrey Base. Loved the Toymaker new version, and Neil Patrick Harris was gobbling up the role. Loved the creepy dolls. The UNIT stuff was really just a big set for things to happen on. But Mel! So nice to see her again, even if of course I knew she was coming. Disappointed by the far too long game of catch, which was too simplistic a game, and stretched far, far too long on screen. Still as disappointed by the bi-generation idea as when I first heard it rumoured many months ago. I think it’s especially problematic with the first male black Doctor on screen. It’s a gift to racists who can use it to question his validity. I loved seeing Ncuti Gatwa. And using his own Scots-Rwandan accent. Though it’s hard to judge him on screen alongside David Tennant. I’m most excited about seeing him as his own Doctor. And I just wasn’t wowed by the family scene in the garden. Sorry, not a fan of the bi-generation at all. But yes, in other respects enjoyed a lot, and really looking forward to the Fifteenth Doctor’s era.

Comments

[a_cubed]

RTD seems to have great difficulty letting go of Ten's Dr (I did read that he wanted him for Nine, but for some reason that wouldn't work and he went the Eccleston instead who could then only do one season and opened the door for Tennant) given the human alternate in the parallel dimension with Rose. I hadn't heard any rumours of the bi-generation thing, so it was as much of a surprise as Ten's return at the end of Power of the Doctor (I'm not as avidly anti-spoiler as Martin, but not living in the UK and not actually seeking them out, I often miss things, though I did know of Gatwa's arrival and expected to see him at the end of PotD). It does raise continuity questions, but there's a reason the original reference book for DW was called the Dis-continuity guide. I did like the call back to the Mister Saxon revival with the ring that they did with the tooth.

[vivdunstan]

I’m active on the Gallifrey Base fan forum and also haunt the spoilers section there. So usually know an awful lot in advance. The only episode I knew next to nothing about was the middle one. For the others I had pretty comprehensive knowledge. Generally though this info isn’t widely known in the UK unless people go looking for it online.

Martin still didn’t know we had a regeneration due last night though. I am relieved how much he managed to stay spoiler free, and that I kept lids on. Even if the pressure was getting tougher late last week!