It’s officially Friday.
No: I’m not going to not have fish and chips.
I’ve got the fish cooking, as I write.
And I’m just about to make the chips!
At any rate … ?
It’s a Friday night, and, once I’ve had dinner?
I’m going to start watching the recently released Classic Dr Who serial, The Celestial Toymaker: and should have my written and video reviews done by Sunday.
I’ll, hopefully, see you then!
6th September, 2024
Part One: the Summary.
Episode 1 of The Celestial Toymaker — “The Celestial Toyroom” — opens with the Doctor, Steven and Dodo (William Hartnell, Peter Purves and Jackie Lane) trapped in the TARDIS.
With the Doctor turned both invisible and intangible by something malevolent, outside the ship.
The Doctor only reappears when the team step out of the Ship: to find themselves in a strange new world.
The Doctor?
Immediately tells Steven and Dodo to not look at the screens floating around.
The things are tools of this creepy new world’s ruler, the Celestial Toymaker (Michael Gough): a powerful entity who plays games with unwary travellers, travellers who are trapped in his world if they lose.
The Toymaker … ? Wants to play a little game with the crew …
~≈👨⚕️≈~
Part Two: Initial Thoughts.
Now …
What did I make of “The Celestial Toyroom”?
Of this opening episode?
There is possibly a lot we can say, here.
But the main thing I’ve spotted is that this first episode is an old fashioned idea.
A variation on … well, I don’t know what the name of the trope is: but it’s one that fuels the modern Escape Room idea.
In order to get out of the room — or back to the TARDIS, in this story’s case — the cast have to solve a series of puzzles.
Steven and Dodo have to beat a pair of clowns at a game of blind-man’s-bluff over an obstacle course: whilst the Doctor tries to beat the Toymaker’s Trilogy puzzle.
It’s something that’s been seen in the classic show, a few times.
We can argue that The Keys of Marinus is a variation on the theme: as are some of the scenes in episodes three and four Death to the Daleks, and in the last episode of The Pyramids of Mars.
As is the Tenth Doctor story, 42: a set of scenes where Martha has to solve puzzles to get through a series of airlocks.
In other words … ?
It’s an old idea … but an old idea that, usually, works well.
We’ll have to see how the story pans out, over the next three episodes.
~≈👨⚕️≈~
Part Three: More Thoughts.
What else caught me … ?
One thing that did, was the look of the episode: one I’m assuming will be replicated in the remaining three.
Much like the animated third episode of The Web of Fear, the company that’s made this version of “The Celestial Toymaker” has used motion capture techniques as a basis for the animation.
With the animated characters styled like carousel horses: the ones on Victorian carousels.
I’m not sure I’m impressed by the design.
In the animators defence?
That funfair look is appropriate to a toy themed story: as is the overall design.
It, and the animation, seem well done.
My only real complaints? Niggles, maybe?
Are comparatively minor.
One?
I don’t like that 3D look: I prefer the flatter, cartoon, look of earlier animated stories.
Two?
Much like the animated third episode of The Web of Fear, the versions of the characters in this, don’t look much like the actors who originally played them: they look like the characters, certainly, but not the actors.
Something I feel other animations get right.
And three?
The climax of this episode sees Steven and Dodo reading a note pinned to a wall, and not taking it with them to the next room.
Something I feel they should have done: so they can refer to it in the next episode.
~≈👨⚕️≈~
Part Four: Last Words.
Over all, then … ?
What did I make of this first episode?
Of “The Celestial Toyroom”?
I have to admit, it was thoroughly enjoyable.
Granted, it’s light.
Granted, I’m not pleased with the character design.
And granted: there’s a flaw at the end of the episode.
But?
“The Celestial Toyroom” makes for a diverting twenty-five minutes worth of entertainment on a quiet Friday night.
Frankly? I’ll be watching the next episode — “The Hall of Dolls” — on Friday, 13th September, and have my written and video reviews up by Saturday, 14th September: I’ll see you then!
“The Celestial Toyroom”★★☆☆
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