‘Doctor Who’ Recap: ‘The Giggle’

12/10/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

David Tennant as The Doctor in ‘Doctor Who: The Giggle’ (Photo Courtesy of BBC/Disney.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Third and Final 60th Anniversary Special of ‘Doctor Who’. To revisit the previous special, click here.

For the most part, Doctor Who, is quite the joyous and delightful series. One that celebrates humanity, brings forth beautiful moments and offers up a lot of fun along the way. Courtesy of the wonder of the Doctor. A whimsical character, who is also the reason that this series isn’t joyous all the time. For every few years, fans of this iconic franchise have their heart broken by the Doctor. For the Doctor will face an incredible challenge somewhere during their adventures through time and space. One that wounds them and forces regeneration and that means we have to bid farewell to that iteration of the Doctor, and the wondrous actor that plays our favorite Time Lord, and that is hard.

Because the modern era of the show has given us… some amazing actors in the role of the Doctor, including the man playing the Fourteenth. And their exits have been tearful and traumatic and well, we were once again steeling ourselves for the pain that regeneration brings when new tuned in yesterday. For we all knew the third and final 60th Anniversary Special would feature the end of Fourteen and the birth of Fifteen, and while ‘The Giggle’ did indeed deliver on providing us with a new Doctor, it did so in the most unique way imaginable. One that prompted different ranges of emotions from the audience. But before we dive too deeply into that, we need to discuss what brought about the change in question, and all of that came courtesy of… the Toymaker.

An ancient villain that the Doctor faced off against when he was known as the First Doctor and well, that wish that the Fourteenth Doctor made at the edge of everything, brought the Toymaker to Earth where he drove humanity mad by amplifying the polarization we harbor right now. Which offered up some commentary on the dangers of our own polarization, and brought forth one of the most incredible battles the Doctor has ever taken part in. For the Toymaker was even more unhinged and lurid than the Master, whom he also trapped for a time. To the point where we enjoyed a Spice Girls themed attack on UNIT, and all of that came courtesy of one stunning performance from Neil Patrick Harris, who simply stole every single scene he was in here.

Neil Patrick Harris as ‘The Toymaker’ in ‘Doctor Who: The Giggle’ (Photo Courtesy of BBC/Disney.)

But of course, it was the Toymaker that brought about regeneration, only to have it backfire horribly. For regeneration transformed into bi-generation. Where Fourteen and Fifteen existed in the same space and time as individuals, who then beat the Toymaker at his own game and brought about… a moving and unique path toward tomorrow for the Last of the Time Lords. Because Fifteen’s arrival, and even keel nature finally explained why Fourteen chose an old face. In that, Fourteen chose Ten’s visage to seek out someone that would recognize him, and love him and comfort him. Because he was broken, and badly in need of healing from all of the trauma that was hanging over his two hearts. And by being in two places at once, Fourteen could heal.

He could spend time facing his past and reconciling it and making peace with all of it. So that Fifteen and beyond can be strong again and that gave Fourteen… one happy ending. One where he finally found peace and quiet and a chance to really heal. Which was beautiful to watch to say the least. Not to mention, it was equally as powerful to have a sci-fi series take the time to point out that just forging ahead with trauma, is a terrible idea. One that doesn’t allow for healing to take place and will wear upon one’s soul as the pain grows and takes control, and this is messaging we honestly need to hear in television more often and we need to see more characters take part in healing to really hammer home its importance.

But of course, with Fourteen’s beautiful fate sealed, that means… new adventures await with a Doctor, we are very eager to spend time with. For Ncuti Gatwa’s time in this episode informs us he gets the role and knows how to play it to a tee, and it would seem… Fifteen’s future challenges were established in this Anniversary Special run. After all, the Meep mentioned ‘The Boss’ and how displeased they would be over the Meep’s capture, and we came to learn in this tale, that the Toymaker only feared one being in the universe… ‘The One Who Waits’. And there is a good chance those mentions means the Doctor will cross paths with those individuals, and perhaps a new iteration of the Master as well, since that lunatic is back on the loose. But in the meantime, it will be amazing to get to know this Doctor and learn wondrous lessons from him for years on end, before bracing ourselves for the emotional inevitability that is the changing of the Time Guard. Until next time.

Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor in ‘Doctor Who: The Giggle’ (Photo Courtesy of BBC/Disney.)

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