The Giggle

The Giggle was an absolute joy to watch, from its sinister beginning in an old British toyshop, to a spectacular and unexpected finale.

Russell T. Davies had mischievously warned that there would be a controversial ending to this episode but, no spoilers, I found it the most satisfying of conclusions.

Davies is the master of playing with one's emotions and there were a few moments where I had to hold back the old water works!

Neil Patrick Harris plays The Toymaker, a villainous character last seen way back in 1966. He has a blast in the role; the musical sequence, accompanied by The Spice Girls' "Spice Up Your Life", is television gold, mixing humour with bloodchilling horror.

Speaking of horror, those who suffer from Pupaphobia (a fear of puppets) will be hiding from behind the settee in at least one scene.

As with the preceeding specials, Tennant and Tate are absolutely fantastic. Tennant's 14th is definitely one of my all-time favourite Doctors. The additional years since last playing the role, have given Tennant even more gravitas. He's brilliant.

So, another perfect 10. Welcome to another Golden Age of Doctor Who. I've been watching since 1973 and the show still feels fresh and exciting. The countdown to Christmas Day has begun.

The Giggle combines both elements of the other 60th anniversary specials for a fun large scale adventure with some more disturbing moments interspersed throughout. It's nice to see Doctor Who be angry again as it's so ready to critique the hatred that's rife in the modern world and only made worse by technological advancements.

It's also a regeneration episode like no other, doing something new and exciting, confirming that this new era of Who won't be empty nostalgia. Tennant's run as the 14th Doctor has been brief but still a gift and this episode still finds the time to make his final moments sink in, giving him a send off that makes the return absolutely worth it.

David Tennant and Catherine Tate continue to be an all time great duo here with the episode giving them plenty of moments that are funny and sincere. Neil Patrick Harris' Toymaker is a top tier villain purely because of the delightful villainy the character is imbued with. Ncuti Gatwa really couldn't have made a better first impression than what he does with the limited screen time.

Chanya Button directs the episode with an energy that's easily able to match Tennant's mobility. There's a lot of impressive stuff done with the Toymaker's reality distorting games that constantly keeps the episode on its toes, helped by some snappy editing and it certainly has one of the most thrilling games of catch ever put to screen.

The Giggle rounds out the 60th anniversary specials on a high note bringing back a very special foe from a time long ago. The Giggle was the centre of the marketing for a very good reason, it had no right to be good and delivered something that was equal parts epically camp and horrifically dark. The budget was clearly spent here and it just delivers every step of the way.

Controversial? Oh undoubtedly so, but Russell and company is having a blast, trippy hypnogogic visuals, gorgeous music, outstanding direction, hilarious writing and a fantastical dance sequence. Yes, you heard me right.

Tennant is on top form as is nearly everyone else in this story but christ alive Neil Patrick Harris absolutely steals the show as the Toymaker, having the time of his life in a role he easily makes his own while standing toe to toe with the iconic Michael Gough. Ncuti Gatwa makes his debut here and all I can is, the future of Who is in safe hands, he makes a fantastic impression, one I can't wait to see more of this Christmas.

The Giggle not only delivers a satisfying end to what could have been a gigantic disappointment, Russell brought Who back to top form and he had no right to do so... but can someone please tell 15 to put on some trousers already.

This episode opens in 1925 as a man goes into a toy shop and buys a ventriloquist's dummy; it is to be used as a prop in John Logie Baird's first ever experimental television broadcast. Back in the present UNIT pick up The Doctor and Donna; they tell him that something is causing everybody to believe that they are right, and violently react to those with other opinions. UNIT are only unaffected due to a special device. It soon becomes apparent that the events are linked to that broadcast nearly one hundred years ago. The man who sold the toy was the Celestial Toymaker, a menace that the Doctor hadn't crossed paths with for fifty seven years. It looks like it is the end for this Doctor and the much heralded arrival of the next doctor... without going into details the regeneration doesn't go as anybody expects.

I really enjoyed this episode; as much as I enjoyed the previous one. It is very different though; that concentrated on the characters of The Doctor and Donna while this involves a cornucopia returning of characters. The highlights were the return of the Toymaker and the arrival of a new Doctor. Neil Patrick Harris is really great as the former and Ncuti Gatwa impresses as the latter even though he arrives fairly late in the episode I suspect he will turn out to be a great Doctor. Of course that needs good stories, on the strength of the past three stories I think he might get them. As expected David Tennant and Catherine Tate were great; it was a real treat to have them back for these three specials. Overall an impressive episode that, with the previous two specials, makes me think the series has found its feet again.

Finally the doctor is back with someone in charge who knows how to write the doctor. The three 60th anniversary as a whole have been breathtaking. That Star Beast manages to re-introduce doctor 10/14 and Donna Noble without been too convoluted and tells a fun story. The Blue Yonder whilst been the weakest of the 3 specials is still better than the whole run of the 13th Doctor's. It allowed for the Doctor and Donna to bond again.

Then we get to the Giggle. From Star to finish, it sizzles , fizzles and bubbles off the screen. Then you get to the best bit but I won't say anything about that. SPOILERS My only gripe is this wasn't shown at the cinema, like the 50th was. It would look great on the big screen.