Doctor Who - The Giggle

And so the 60th anniversary special ends with some fan service as several references are made to previous doctors as he takes on the Toymaker, an entity from another universe that he incarnated with his salt ritual at the edge of the Universe in the previous episode.

Warning! Spoilers ahead!

This episode continues from the cliffhanger of the previous where the world has gone mad in modern day. A back story shows Charlie, assistant to the television inventor, John Logie Baird, in a toy shop buying a ventriloquist's dummy so that it may be used as part of an experiment to televise for the first time in Baird's apartment. During this time the dummy is used to record a laugh in an arpaggio, a melodic palindrome that is burned into every display ever created and over time causes a subtle neurological brain spike in every human. This is not realized until present day when the latest satellite goes into orbit from South Korea reaching the last bit of Humans and allowing for everyone to be "connected' via display even if through a cell phone. As a result, a widespread lunacy reaches out to all of Humankind in synchronous fashion. Curiously, anyone who has traveled int he Tardis is immune from the message.

The Doctor then goes back in time to the original broadcast to find where the puppet came from. It is here he meets the Toymaker and recognizes him form his youth when he took the Tardis to a place outside the Universe met and beat the Toymaker at his own game. The Toymaker, now with access to the known universe, is bent on revenge and torturing humanity for his own entertainment. The Toymaker tricks him and Donna into entering his game and making them playthings in his realm until the Doctor challenges him to a game. However the Doctor loses but declares that although he lost this game, they are now actually tied and must play a final game to determine who wins. The Toymaker then goes to modern day to continue his torture.

In modern day, the Toymaker decides to up the stakes and takes control of the Galvanic Beam which he uses to kill the Doctor. It is here that the Doctor begins his regeneration, setting the stage for the next incarnation. Surprisingly the regeneration does not go as usual and a often fabled bi-generation for the first time in the history of the Timelords occurs, where the 15th doctor is now in existence alongside the 10th. Both doctors then challenge the Toymaker to a game which he must accept and in the final game of "catch," the Doctors prevail.

After the Toymaker is defeated, he is placed into his toybox and held inside a unit vault surrounded by salt. The 15th doctor performs a "bonk" maneuver on the Tardis to create two exclaiming that he must win a prize for winning the game.

Respect to Bernard Cribbins

Mr. Bernard Cribbins passed away a couple weeks after filming the 2nd episode the 60th anniversary special and it was apparent the final happy scene where the Doctor had found his family and happiness was meant to include him. His character was well played and his presence in the episodes of the past were always heart warming. He will be missed.

Trivia from this episode

• Plane Crash flight F665 - Boston to Heathrow
• Zeedex, an invention of the Vlinx that calms the brain spike
• KOSAT 5 satellite launched by South Korea, 36,000 km above - completing the link in a long chain that broadcasts the madness signal
• Archangel Network - was the main network as referenced in episode 12 of the third series of new doctor who with Martha Smith. It contained a stealth signal that caused mankind to trust the master.
• What are UNIT Gold protocol and green shoot protocols?
• Sabalom Glitz- from the show/series with the 6rh incarnation of the Doctor, lived until he was 101
• zingo - gave Shirley a ride home, unknown what it is
• The Tardis was held in Suite 17 in Unit
• bi-generation - has never happened before, a new regeneration can form leaving the old one in place.
• petrolink shatterfry compensator - device inside the Tardis
• hyperdynes - device in side the Tardis
• Stooky Bill televised October 2, 1925 at 22 Frith Street, Soho, W1D 4RF. A historical reference, however the televised date was actually used in 1924. The following is actual footage of the video. Note the vertical lines as opposed to horizontal lines used in more modern TV's.

Characters of interest

Doctor Who - incarnation oft he 10th doctor. Finally ends up happy and not alone and lonely.

Companion Mel Bush - originally appeared with the 6th and 7th doctors. Appears again and belts out a nice melody

Companion Donna Noble - cleverly recognizes the melody as part of the melodic palindrome tormenting the human race

John Logie Baird - the scottish inventor and electrical engineer that invented the televsion.

Kate Lethbridge-Stewart - Lead of UNIT. A familiar face from previous seasons.

The Toymaker - brilliantly played by Neil Patrick Harris, he is an elemental force beyond the rules of the universe. Located in a hollow beneath the Under Universe. The archrival and villain in this episode. Extremely powerful, has defeated everyone including the master in a game other than the doctor.

Answered questions

Why did the Doctor come back with the 10th doctor's face to find Donna?
To likely find a "home" for therapy.

Remaining unanswered questions...

• Who is the boss from the 1st episode of the 60th anniversary special that the Meep mentioned?
• Who is the one player the toymaker dares not challenge? is it the boss?
• What legions are coming that the Toymaker refers to?
• In a familiar scene we see a woman's hand take hold of the tooth that contained the master (it was a ring in previous Doctor who episodes). This certainly suggests we'll see the master again. Will it be this season? There seems to be a lot of questions this time around in terms of potential villains. Will this mean Daleks and Cybermen again? 
• Was the question of Mavity vs Gravity ever addressed or was the scene with Sir Isaac Newton just for comedic relief?
• Will the Vlinx be relevant this upcoming season? We've seen species such as the Ood introduced in a seemingly minor role only to become more important in later episodes, could this be a sly introduction?
  
  

The 10th Doctor finds happiness

There are a lot of mixed emotions as the memory of his final episode before he regenerated was among the saddest in the show. It also marked a changing of the guard and left him and us with a very tragic story, as is usual when the Doctor regenerates. This time however, it is a happy ending for all and seems all the more satisfying with the return of Russel T. Davies.

Analysis

I made every opinion supreme. That's the game of the 21st century. They shout, and they type and they cancel. Now everybody wins... And everybody loses.

This episode provides brilliant commentary on the current state of the world, and really in the nick of time as there are several wars ongoing and with the democratic politics of several western nations on the bring of collapse. It also allows for the passing of the torch as well as pays tribute to the past Doctor Who with several references and stars from previous eras.  It allows for history to be explored with references to historical figures, objects and inventions. It also allows for the introduction of the new Doctor with the use of a bi-generation, which likely will ruffle some feathers as he obliquely, probably tongue in cheek, has a question of bisexuality. Regardless there is a new era of Doctor Who and we are all the better for it.