Dr Who 60th Anniversary Specials — The Giggle — A Review

9th December, 2023: the Intro.

Right … I have a potato, in the oven!

A baking potato.

A big, baking potato!

Which … is possibly not something you want to know about!

At any rate … ?

If you’re a Dr Who fan, you’ll be interested to hear that an animated version of the William Hartnell story, The Celestial Toymaker, is due to be released in January 2024.

You’ll also know that today is 9th December: that “The Giggle”, the last of the Dr Who 60th anniversary specials, is to air on BBC1, at 18:30.

I’m looking forward to that.

I’ll be watching it.

Then post the rest of this review on 10th December.

I’ll let you know what the spud’s like … 

~≈👽≈~

10th December, 2023: “The Giggle”.

“The Giggle” opens with the by now traditional Whoniverse ident … 

Then shifts … to the murky streets of Soho, in London, in the 1920s: where Charles Banerjee (Charlie de Melo) is in a local toyshop called The Emporium … where the shop’s owner and Toymaker (Neil Patrick Harris) sells Mr Banerjee a puppet called Stooky Bill.

A puppet that Mr Banerjee’s boss — inventor, John Logie Baird (John Mackay) — is very interested in owning.

Baird’s created a little something that urgently needs testing … with something that won’t get killed by strong lights.

~≈👽≈~

Post titles?

Post titles, we see the 14th Doctor (David Tennant) on the streets of modern London.

Where people are rioting in the streets.

The Doctor manages to stop one of the rioters from being run-over in front of him: and finds that the unnamed pedestrian is convinced that;

• The road is his: he has sole right of way.
• He is convinced he and only he, are right about anything … 
• So is everyone else …

The Doctor finds out that this all started two days ago.

It’s only then that the cavalry arrives.

In the form of two choppers from UNIT.

Something planned by an old enemy … is having an effect … 

~≈👽≈~

Now … what did I make of “The Giggle”: of the last of these 60th anniversary specials?

I think we have a lot to unpack.

Let’s get the sad thing out of the way, first, shall we?

Wilf … 

We didn’t get to see Wilf, the Bernard Cribbins character, in this episode.

The body-double used for the episode was cleverly hidden: and the character written out — or, at least, written into a place of safety — early on, in the episode.

Regrettably?   The late Bernard Cribbins was too frail to film anything for this episode: only having the strength to film his scene for “Wild Blue Yonder”.

It’s something I find very understandable — Bernard was ninety-three, after all — but also saddening.

The man was much loved, and will be much missed.

~≈👽≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?

“The Giggle”, itself?

Tells us the story of a returning Toymaker, a returning enemy who’s back to;

• Introduce chaos into the universe.
• Conquer the Earth: after hiding the laughter of the title in the people of Earth’s tv screens.
• And — inevitably? — beat the Doctor: after being defeated by the Doctor’s first incarnation, back in 1966.

It has to be said, Neil Patrick Harris’ performance is intense, madder than a box of monkeys on acid … and absolutely riveting!

And complete with a faux German accent that sounds both menacing … and like it wants to join the cast of ’Allo, ’Allo.

It’s a superb performance.

As are those of both Tennant and Tate.

And those of the supporting cast!

Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart as as good as ever, Ruth Maddely, as Sheila, does a good job, and the returning Bonnie Langford … ?

The returning Bonnie Langford, as Mel Bush, is something to behold.

Back in the proverbial day?

Back in the day, I felt Mel Bush — Langford’s character — was … underused.

Or possibly badly used.

She spent most of her run with the Sixth and Seventh Doctors either pontificating about carrot juice, or screaming her head off.

It’s not the sort of behaviour I’d expect from a character that’s supposed to be a computer programmer.

At least, not a programmer like the ones I’ve met.

My point is that Mel wasn’t well used in the classic series.

She was a 1970s-era screamer in the 1980s era of the show.

So having Bonnie return as the character, doing something technical … and — by explaining what an arpeggio is — making a useful contribution to the plot?

I think she did more in these few minutes, than she did in the entire classic series.

All that, and finding out how she got home?

Was both welcome, and worth watching.

~≈👽≈~

Let’s talk about that plot, shall we?

And the writing that Russell T. Davies did for it.

I will happily admit to not being a writer.

I’m just a hobbyist blogger: who — despite some fifteen years experience, and a nearby copy of New Hart’s  Rules — still only has half an idea where apostrophes are supposed to go.

I still, with those years, and that reference material, couldn’t tell you the difference between a verb, and adverb, between an adverb and an adjective.

With that, minimal, experience, and that confused knowledge?

I couldn’t write an episode of TV — or a short story — if you paid me!

So?

I can only look at something like “The Giggle” and be aware something like that is beyond me.

A bad TV episode would be beyond me: “The Giggle” is definitely not a bad episode.

Far from it.

In terms of pacing, and action?   As far as I can understand how these things are done?

I’ve come away feeling impressed by what I’ve seen.

My only concern?

Are the things I can understand.

And even then, it’s a not necessarily a bad thing: merely my own understanding of (possible) tools, my own, limited, understanding of the creative process involved in writing this episode.

I think I’ve spotted some stock elements — some reused elements — and thought I’d highlight them.

The reason I mention it?

Is that — to me — they seem an obvious thing to have spotted.

I blog: you’ve possibly noticed the Daily Teasers, the daily quizzes I’ve posted over the years.

And, after all this time?   I’ve got a touch formulaic with them.

Most of the Teasers, by now, consist of an intro.

Then move to tell you:

• Who took part in yesterday’s quiz, 
• What the scores were,
• Today’s questions
• And what yesterday’s questions and answers were.

The variation in those posts … ?

Lays in making each days questions as different as possible: and making each days introduction as different as possible.

I try not to reuse questions: but try to make them different, where possible.

So?

I think can spot repetition, or re-use.

And?

I can’t help but notice some reuse.

The small one?

We know that the Toymaker has defeated and captured the Master: trapping him in a gold tooth.

A gold tooth that is snatched away by a mysterious hand at the end of the episode: a scene copied from “The Last of the Time Lords”, where the ring that’s the only remains of the Master is taken away by an unknown hand.

I’m convinced that tooth will be used to revive the Master.

And, whilst it’s not exactly the same?

I think I’ve spotted the big re-use.

The regeneration scene, the bi-generation scene — where Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor and Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor split apart like an amoeba — sees Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor retiring to Earth to stay with Donna.

Much as the cloned Meta-crisis Doctor stayed on an alternative Earth, at the end of “Journey’s End”.

It’s — I firmly believe — repetition.

Am I saying it’s a bad thing?

No.

It’s Russell T. Davies using a couple of familiar plot devices to write a very entertaining story, quickly: and set up stories for later.

~≈👽≈~

As a side issue?   Or possibly issues?

Part of the “The Giggle” shows the Toymaker giving Donna a puppet show: telling her about the companions between when she left the Tenth Doctor, and joined the Fourteenth.

There’s also a later scene: where the two Doctors discuss their shared lives.

Personally?

I felt those were both well done, and are aimed at both younger, and new, watchers: telling them there’s more of the Whoniverse — old and new — to explore.

I also noticed the Fifteenth’s mention of Mavic Chen: the human villain of “The Daleks’ Masterplan”.

I’m assuming that’s a coincidental mention, a bit of colour to remind older fans that this is the same show.

But I’m wondering if there’s a possibly release — in animated or complete form — of the missing show, due?

I don’t know: but it would be nice to find out.

~≈👽≈~

But back to my main thread?   A thread where I was talking of stories?

First things first, was “The Giggle” a good story?

Yes, it was.

We saw an entertaining story: one that reintroduces an old foe, ties off some very loose threads, and sees an old version of the show’s central character retired in a way that means he can be called upon later.

And introduces a new version of that character.

There’s possibly points there.

First?   Let’s talk about the now retired Fourteenth Doctor.

I know there’s been talk of a potential UNIT based spin-off.

So I’m assuming that — if Tennant’s second, Earth bound, version of the Doctor is needed — he can be used for that.

I am concerned that the character could overshadow any spin-off he’s in.

But — and presumably to avoid that overshadowing — I’m also aware the Doctor’s appearances in The Sarah Jane Adventures, and in Class, were kept to a minimum.

Secondly?

I couldn’t not mention the Fifteenth Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa … 

I’ve seen this 60th Anniversary episode.

And the trailer for “The Church on Ruby Road”.

It strikes me Ncuti’s performance is ever-so-slightly cheeky … and very charming.

I think we could well be in for an interesting time.

“The Giggle”.

★★★★⁺

~≈👽≈~

At any rate, this … ?

Is where I’ll love you and leave you.

Except for telling you a couple of things.

Firstly?

I’ll be watching “Goldilocks”, the next episode of of For All Mankind series four, tomorrow: on 11th December, 2023.   I’ll have my written and video reviews posted — hopefully! — by Tuesday, 12th December.

I’ll be watching “The Church on Ruby Road” on Christmas Day: and hopefully have my written and video reviews of that, released on Boxing Day.

Hopefully, I’ll see you then.

Until then?

In the words of Number 6?

“Be seeing you!”