Written by Alex Kuhn @magaman28
Doctor Who is back again. What worked? What didn’t work? Before you read this, I will warn you, there are spoilers. If you absolutely want to watch The Giggle, go right ahead. And then come back to this review.
Doctor Who and the Very Good Costar
As previously stated, it remains great to see David Tennant and Catherine Tate back on the screen. Additionally, this episode of the 60th anniversary Doctor Who special was, overall, better than the last two with significant improvements to the writing. However, there are still some glaring misfires that need to be addressed.
Doctor Who Misfires
While Tennant and Tate bring back some of our favorite wibbly wobbly, timey wimey magic, there are other issues. Two particular elements of the episode require analysis: the character of the Toymaker and the plot device of bi-generation.
The Toymaker
American actor Neil Patrick Harris was cast as the villain of the episode, a character called the Toymaker, despite having no previous involvement with or, apparently, knowledge of Doctor Who. He reportedly did not even know that the Doctor was an alien prior to reading the script. One wonders why an American actor unfamiliar with the show would be sought out for the role. Given the series’ recent hyper-focus on LGBTQ inclusion, the question arises as to whether Harris’ status as a prominent gay man had something to do with his casting.
Regarding his actual performance, Harris’ character repeatedly switches between German and American accents throughout the episode for no apparent reason, leaving the audience rather confused.
Bi-Geneneration
Historically, when the Doctor is killed, rather than dying outright, he “regenerates,” taking on a new form. This plot-device began with the very first Doctor, played by William Hartnell, and has allowed the show to continue for six decades with the Doctor being played by a variety of actors over the years.
Well, in this episode, the new concept of bi-generation is introduced. Rather than replacing the 14th Doctor (David Tennant) with a new iteration of himself when he is killed by the Toymaker, the character splits in two. While David Tennant remains, the new Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa, springs out of him. And I kid you not, the unnecessarily lengthy scene shows the two connected and then separating at the crotch. And Doctor Who is supposed to be a family friendly TV show.
Speaking of the new Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa identifies himself as a “queer” actor. Once again, fans are left questioning why the BBC continues to manufacture gay storylines surrounding what is supposed to be a family sci-fi show. Is it just to check some diversity boxes? Or is it more sinister than that?
Frankly, it seems that the BBC is less interested in entertaining their audience, and more interested in giving lectures and checking diversity, equity, and inclusion boxes. Do better, BBC!