This episode is bursting at the seams, and I’m not sure how well it really holds together. The titular giggle is only a factor in the story for the first act, and is almost dropped entirely when the Doctor and Donna get to UNIT. From that point on, the special races from scene to scene, barely stopping to catch its breath.

And dammit, it works, largely on the strength of the performances. Everyone is at their best, from David Tennant, to Catherine Tate, to Jemma Redgrave, to Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker. Tennant sells the Doctor’s absolute dread of the Toymaker before the episode has really earned it, and just as ably sells the Doctor’s weariness as the episode essentially hits a reset button on the era that started back in 2005. The eventual bi-generation, and the fourteenth Doctor earning his “retirement,” feel well-deserved. On top of all of that, Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor seems fully-formed right from the jump.

All in all, it’s very fun, and very watchable. As a stray observation, I noticed the line about how UNIT’s computers are running Triad on this rewatch.

Overall, I think the 2023 Tennant/Tate specials were a big success. They served up three distinct “flavours” of Doctor Who - madcap romp, existential horror, and epic final battle, and it did it well. I don’t know how well it plays to new viewers, but they were certainly a good way to “wrap up” the 2005 reboot era, and start the new one.

I only rewatched this a few days ago, though not for the first time. It’s still a giddy romp that doesn’t stop for any sort of logical objections — not even those of its own narrative.

It’s the story of David Tennant being melancholy and worried, Catherine Tate tries to pull him out of his funk. Neil Patrick Harris is wacky but menacing, and did he just slam Jemma Redgrave into a wall?! But hey, Ncuti Gatwa appears and is a sheer delight. Stuff seems to happen, and things are said to that effect, but the above is really the narrative.

It looks absolutely gorgeous as it rushes by fast enough that you needn’t worry about internal mechanics like cause and effect, plot or even coherence. The cast alone can hypnotise anyone, and the Toymaker’s powers allow the effects department to fill over the gaps with shiny spectacles. And it’s all entirely passable as a segue from Tennant to Gatwa.

Because this isn’t really an episode of Doctor Who as much as it’s a ✨SPECIAL✨ with the sole point of finally(?), really(?) sunsetting David Tennant and passing the torch to the next Doctor. Everything before that — clever quips, Hollywood stars and all — it can’t, shouldn’t and certainly doesn’t have the same meaningfulness as Doctors 14 and 15 pushing out of each other. The morale is Gatwa’s salute to Tennant, “Kid, I love you — but get out”.

There were fires and explosions and houses folding up, and a satellite being shot out of the sky, and there was even a hint of a point about people being opinionated assholes, but while that didn’t go anywhere, ooh! A giant ray cannon! But come on, “The five Doctors” wasn’t exactly coherent either, was it? And this is all a series of exhausting whiplash magic tricks, which is probably why the Toymaker was the obvious choice for a villain.

To avoid confusion, I absolutely adore this pure-fluff, shallow firework of a ✨SPECIAL✨ in honor of the rebi-generation. A complete tonal reversal after “Wild blue yonder”, exactly like I prefer Doctor Who. Now let’s hope RTD has a more elaborate and well thought out arc for season 1 —