Spoilers The Giggle grade and discussion thread

[The Nightmare Doctor]

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The giggle of a mysterious puppet is driving the human race insane. When the Doctor discovers the return of the terrifying Toymaker, he faces a fight he can never win.

At long last, The Celestial Toymaker has triumphantly returned! While the main show hasn't seen him since the eponymous First Doctor serial 57 years ago, there have been multiple attempts to bring him back, the closest to fruition was during the aborted second full season of The Sixth Doctor (which was replaced with The Trial of a Time Lord season).

The Nightmare Fair finally saw the light of day when Big Finish adapted the story as part of the magnificent Lost Stories series with David Bailie taking over the role (since Michael Gough had retired, I think). Bailie went on to reprise the character in a number of wonderful Big Finish stories, particularly a phenomenal face-off against The Seventh Doctor (of course!).

While I don't expect "The Giggle" to make any references to any of what Big Finish has done (or even The Nightmare Fair), I do hope there's some sly acknowledgement to past unseen face-offs between the two adversaries. That's probably my most outlandish hope for the whole episode, even more so than possible other companions and maybe even Doctors (or just Doctor actors...).

 

[Romulan_spy]

Clip:

I am really looking forward to this special. Neil Patrick Harris seems to be really enjoying this role.

 

[Samurai8472]

The 2nd clip

 

[Saul]

Any idea of the running time? Hoping for as long as possible. Has to be over an hour at least. Too optimistic but 90 minutes?

 

[Admiral Qu'irk]

So looking forward to viewer reactions to this one as well... it'll probably get 5~6 million viewers for the overnight tally and, depending on that, up to 8 mil total over the next week. Appreciation Index will undoubtedly be high...

UK Doctor Who Ratings (2023) Accumulator | Doctor Who TV

 

[David cgc]

Any idea of the running time? Hoping for as long as possible. Has to be over an hour at least. Too optimistic but 90 minutes?

I just saw a social media video from RTD on one of the Doctor Who accounts (Facebook Link, Instagram Link, Twitter Link) saying the runtime is 61 minutes and, more importantly, that it's a Big Deal episode, and the BBC will promote the shit out of it and spoil everything possible with clips and interviews and memes and behind-the-scenes stuff beginning when it finishes its first-run at 7:31 PM UK time on the dot, so watch it as close to when it comes out as possible, and avoid the internet if you can't finish it within that hour-and-one-minute.

 

[The Nightmare Doctor]

I just saw a social media video from RTD on one of the Doctor Who accounts (Facebook link, Instagram Link, Twitter Link) saying the runtime is 61 minutes and, more importantly, that it's a Big Deal episode, and the BBC will promote the shit out of it and spoil everything possible with clips and interviews and memes and behind-the-scenes stuff begin when it finishes first-run at 7:31 PM UK time on the dot, so watch it as close to when it comes out as possible, and avoid the internet if you can't finish it within that hour-and-one-minute.

Yeah, that's my worry. I have a busy Saturday so I'm hoping I'll be able to squeeze it in. Otherwise, I may not be able to see it until Sunday evening, which would really suck (woo is me!)

 

[Romulan_spy]

The battle between the 1st Doctor and the Toymaker:

 

[Samurai8472]

I just saw a social media video from RTD on one of the Doctor Who accounts (Facebook Link, Instagram Link, Twitter Link) saying the runtime is 61 minutes and, more importantly, that it's a Big Deal episode, and the BBC will promote the shit out of it and spoil everything possible with clips and interviews and memes and behind-the-scenes stuff beginning when it finishes its first-run at 7:31 PM UK time on the dot, so watch it as close to when it comes out as possible, and avoid the internet if you can't finish it within that hour-and-one-minute.

I hate to be one of those people

but it has to be said

Chris Chibnall never did anything like this >_>

 

[jaime]

I hate to be one of those people

but it has to be said

Chris Chibnall never did anything like this >_>

To be fair, he likely thought social media was finger painting or graffiti or something. You know, like the cool kids do.

 

[The Nightmare Doctor]

Or he saw how much of a menace it could be and didn't want anything to do with it.

See, I can make sweeping assumptions based on nothing, too.

 

[jaime]

Or he saw much of a menace it could be and didn't want anything to do with it.

See, I can make sweeping assumptions based on nothing, too.

I was making a joke
Yeah, I dislike social media too.
But it is the advertising and news medium of our age, so avoiding it in certain jobs or positions is unwise.

 

[Samurai8472]

Here we go!

 

[JoeZhang]

Strong "meet the spinoff cast" energy so far.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

Spoiler

Bi-regeneration...ok.

Hate it. Sorry!

 

[thribs]

I’m disappointed. He didn’t say “challenge accepted” once.
Well that’s one way to keep David Tennant around. Can he still regenerate?

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

I’m disappointed. He didn’t say “challenge accepted” once.
Well that’s one way to keep David Tennant around. Can he still regenerate?

My impression is: Yes. But, maybe before he does he has to unite with Ncuti before he does so 16th can be one United Doctor or something?

 

[Samurai8472]

I'm calling BS on this because I very highly doubt that anyone actually in a position to have seen anything beyond The Star Beast would be foolish or stupid enough to violate NDAs or review embargoes by posting spoilers about what they'd seen on an online message board.

Do you ever get tired of being wrong?



Also it looked like that part where 15 says "You get a prize honey" WAS actually true. Not sure I'm feeling the 15th doctor though

RUMOR


Ncuti Gatwa has been reportedly glimpsed filming scenes with Tennant and Tate, along with someone in a wheelchair and a woman who may be Bonnie Langford. The wheelchair bound companion is speculated to be Ruth Madeley

The following lines were spoken in the 20 seconds of footage the source of the info watched

Ncuti is dressed only in a shirt, trainers, no trousers (!) and carrying an oversize mallet (that he hits one of the Tardis's with)m yes, there are two TARDISES

Ncuti: Hey! Watch this, watch this....stand back, stand back...
Ncuti: (something)
David: What for?
Ncuti: We won the game! You get a prize, honey! And this...(raises mallet over shoulder)...is MINE!
(swings mallet and hits Tardis)

All proved to be a fake hours ago. The fact that they were passing off an artificially blurred photo of Bernard Cribbins and Catherine Tate as being Ruth Madeley and Bonnie Langford was a big clue.

 

[Jim Gamma]

Erm... That was disappointing, way too silly at the end, and total fan service having two Doctors active. Did 14 retire then? Or is there a chance he'll pop up for scenes or eps next season?

 

[thribs]

Is “the one who waits” Rory?