Editor’s Note: This article contains spoilers for Doctor Who’s third and final 60th anniversary special, “The Giggle.”

The Big Picture

“The Giggle” serves as a series finale, wrapping up David Tennant’s story as the Fourteenth Doctor and setting the stage for Ncuti Gatwa’s debut as the Fifteenth Doctor. The episode is a blend of terror and humor, showcasing the Doctor’s vulnerability and his love for Earth. It incorporates reunions and references that will please fans of both classic and modern Doctor Who. David Tennant and Catherine Tate deliver outstanding performances, and Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor brings joy and a sense of love to the franchise’s future.

Doctor Who just delivered what equates to a series finale with “The Giggle,” taking fans on one last incredible journey with the Doctor before ushering in a new era of the franchise. As the third and final 60th anniversary special, “The Giggle” carries the weight of bringing David Tennant’s story as the Fourteenth Doctor to an end and kicking off the long-awaited introduction of Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor. With Gatwa’s first full episode as the Doctor coming in a few weeks on Christmas Day, “The Church on Ruby Road” will serve as a soft reboot for Doctor Who.

Doctor Who The show follows the adventures of a Time Lord “The Doctor” who is able to regenerate, and the Doctor’s human friends. The Doctor and companion’s journey through time and space in the TARDIS – a time-traveling ship shaped like a police box – saving the universe with a combination of wit, bravery, and kindness. Release Date March 17, 2006 Main Genre Sci-Fi Rating TV-PG Seasons 14 Studio BBC America Streaming Service(s) Disney+

With that in mind, “The Giggle” really does feel like the end of an era for the franchise that came before it, calling back to both the very first episode and multiple key moments in the Doctor’s life since. More than once during these anniversary specials, Donna (Catherine Tate) has asked the Doctor (Tennant) why this face came back. As she mused in “The Star Beast,” with both of them believing she was dying, it’s clear now that it came back to say goodbye, not to Donna but to the rebooted series itself, with showrunner Russell T. Davies bringing Tennant and Tate — one of the most beloved Doctor/Companion pairs in the franchise — to give the show a proper send off before stepping into what comes next.

Simultaneously a breathtaking ending and a beautiful beginning, “The Giggle,” is Davies at his best. This episode is both terrifying and hilarious. It’s heart-pounding and emotional to watch the Doctor face his oldest adversary while he fights to protect the people of Earth that he can’t help but love despite never being able to say the words. “The Giggle” has something for everyone, with reunions and references that will delight fans of classic Who and just as many for those who’ve only seen the newer iteration. And for those who haven’t seen either, the audience is still given enough information to know exactly why these moments are so emotional.

Russell T. Davies Takes ‘Doctor Who’ Back to Its Roots in “The Giggle”

The episode opens with a flashback to the advent of television, a variation on the real story, with a genuinely ominous performance from Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker. With a creepy puppet, feeding off of John Logie Baird’s desire to entertain the world, the Toymaker sets in motion a very long game for the human race, and a direct challenge for the Doctor back in the present time. Shortly after the events seen at the end of “Wild Blue Yonder,” the Doctor and Donna find themselves in the middle of pure chaos, with every living person thinking that they’re right at the expense of both themselves and everyone around them. Following a lovely reunion with UNIT leader Kate Lethbridge Stewart (Jemma Redgrave), the Doctor and Donna get brought up to speed on what’s happened to humanity in their absence — in short, everyone’s gone mad.

At UNIT HQ, the Doctor is treated to yet another reunion with the return of classic Who companion Melanie “Mel” Bush (Bonnie Langford). For those who don’t know, Mel was one of the sixth and seventh Doctor’s companions, appearing in 20 episodes in the 1980s. She ended her time with the Doctor of her own volition, heading off to have her own adventures among the stars. It’s such a sweet moment, and as a brilliant computer programmer, Mel plays a crucial role in the episode and the goings on at UNIT, setting her up for a recurring role in the new season with the fifteenth Doctor. The team at UNIT has developed a device to keep their brain activity under control, but without it, regular humans are sent into a frenzy that they can’t control. Luckily for Donna and Mel though, their time in the TARDIS naturally protects them.

In addition to weaving a compelling high-stakes narrative for his characters, Davies also takes the opportunity to make some truly remarkable social commentary in this episode. Since its inception, Doctor Who has always been a clever allegory, with stories that bring awareness to issues of race, gender, capitalism, and climate in a way that, for some is hard to swallow, but is always necessary to hear. Davies has woven such commentary into each of these specials so far, laying out clear support for the LGBTQ community (of which he’s also a part). Now, in “The Giggle,” he addresses politics, anti-vaxxers, our dependence on technology, and the simple folly of the human ego. And while the Doctor doesn’t shy away from any of the darkness dwelling in humanity, he also notes that this doesn’t negate our goodness, the desire to be better, and the worthiness of our continued existence.

David Tennant and Catherine Tate Deliver Knockout Performances in “The Giggle”
Image via BBC

“The Giggle” puts the Doctor off balance, striking fear into the near-all-powerful being in a way that he rarely experiences on screen. Tennant delivers another incredible performance, taking the Doctor through the full gamut of emotions. Terrified by turns and filled with unbridled rage fueled by that fear, Tennant imbues the Doctor with unprecedented vulnerability, as he confesses to Donna that he’s truly out of his element this time. Ever the empath, Donna recognizes that the Doctor has pushed down years and years of feelings that he needs to address, urging him once again to take a break. As he fights to keep it together, taking on the burden of the hero once again, Donna helps him realize that he’s not only not alone, but he’s never alone when she’s around.

There’s a reason that Donna and the Doctor are a fan-favorite duo in the franchise, and for the third episode in a row, Tate and Tennant prove that it largely comes down to the way they play off each other. Donna is one of the best companions, because of her incredible integrity and her ability to see straight through the walls the Doctor surrounds himself with. Differentiating Fourteen from Ten, Tennant allows the Doctor to accept that Donna sees him, while in the past he’s always tempted to push other companions away for their own good, now, he lets Donna in. Both Tennant and Tate — and Donna and the Doctor — bring out the best in each other, making each other better.

They don’t do it all alone this time though, and each of the supporting actors in this episode brings the caliber of their performance up to the level it needs to be to hold their own against these two. Harris is, of course, a stand-out as the Toymaker, bouncing seamlessly between accents as he gleefully delights in his twisted games. Well-established as a comedy actor, Harris gives The Toymaker a very natural sense of humor, as the role requires an air of playfulness at its core. However, he gives the Toymaker a level of menacing gravitas underneath, indicating how serious a threat he truly is to everything the Doctor loves and all the rules he holds dear. Harris and Tennant’s chemistry is pure animosity in such a way that brings the audience to the edge of their seats with every interaction.

The Toymaker pushes the Doctor to the brink as he taunts Donna with the fate of the companions who came after her and the Flux, answering the questions left lingering at the end of “Wild Blue Yonder.” Davies immediately chases that emotional climax with one of the most outrageous scenes in the franchise. Backed by the iconic Spice Girls track, “Spice Up Your Life,” the Toymaker turns UNIT HQ into his playground, chaotically dancing around and flaunting his power right in the Doctor’s face. It’s equal parts camp and chaos, with an emotional undertone that grounds a scene that would be completely ridiculous out of context. It’s in all of these moments that it’s clear that “The Giggle” was crafted with such love for Doctor Who and all the wild impossible tales within it. This series is as silly as it is serious, and Davies’ commitment to that is beautifully executed in this episode.

“The Giggle” Welcomes Ncuti Gatwa With Open Arms and Gives David Tennant a Worthy Send-Off

As the Toymaker’s game reaches a fever pitch, the Doctor gives him one final chance to leave humanity alone and take his games back to the stars. He offers the same thing he always offers the Master, a chance to run away together and leave everyone else in peace. But, in true villain fashion, he refuses. Before the Doctor can challenge him to the final game in their best-of-three match, the Toymaker demands to play the next game with the next doctor, shooting Tennant’s Doctor square in the chest with a space laser. As the Doctor begins to regenerate, golden light streams from his hands and face as he prepares to say goodbye. The moment is as tense and emotional as Doctor Who has ever been as Donna and Mel rush to his side, refusing to let him die alone. The funny thing is, he doesn’t actually die at all. For the very first time in Doctor Who, the Doctor experiences bi-regeneration. Instead, of changing his face, the Doctor splits in two, with Gatwa appearing with pure gusto and delight. Together they defeat the Toymaker, but before Fifteen sets off on his next grand adventure, he insists that Fourteen finally rest after thousands of years of running, and that’s exactly what he does.

The Fifteenth Doctor is incredibly charming right from the jump, grinning and relishing his new body. It’s impossible to watch the end of this episode and not be wildly excited about Gatwa’s turn as the Doctor. His Doctor is filled with a sense of joy, and he has a tenderness about him that will win the hearts of fans in an instant as he reaffirms the Doctor’s love for past companions like River Song and Sarah Jane. Imbuing both the past and the future with so much love, Fifteen ushers in a new era of Doctor Who that should have everyone excited about what comes next. The Doctor, who has spent so many years filled with regret and self-loathing, finally gets to take time to heal and learn how to be loved, giving his future self the sense of self-love and vulnerability he’ll need to keep going.

Meanwhile, Donna and the Doctor finally get their own happily ever afters as Fourteen settles in with her family, presumably for the rest of his life. Rather than the tragic heartbreak of their last goodbye — as beautiful as it was — the Doctor finally comes home and gets to be part of her family, while Donna gets an exciting new job at UNIT to spend the rest of her days with everyone she loves. It’s a little bit saccharine, but it plays out with grounded performances from Tennant and Tate who, with tears in their eyes, make it feel entirely earned. This Doctor finally gets to rest as the next boldly goes on saving the rest of the universe.

Rating: 9/10

All three Doctor Who 60th Anniversary specials are now available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S.

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