Who Review: The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe

Two Notes: First, I assume you have seen the episode, so if you haven’t, the following review may contain spoilers. Sorry, but it’s too difficult trying to tell you what I think of a Doctor Who story without giving away plot points. Second, the original title did not use the Oxford comma (“The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe”), but since I am an advocate of the Oxford comma, I insist on using it.

This year’s Christmas special finds the Doctor spending Christmas with the Arwell family. In 1938, Madge helped the Doctor back to the TARDIS after he crash landed on Earth from an exploding spaceship. Three years later, during World War II, Madge receives a telegram saying her husband Reg is missing presumed dead when his plane is lost over the English Channel. She and her children, Cyril and Lily, evacuate London and go to spend Christmas at an old manor house in the country. There they are greeted by the Doctor, calling himself “The Caretaker.” Among the various other-worldly additions to the house, the Doctor has left a large present under the tree. During the night on Christmas Eve, Cyril can’t resist the temptation to open the present. It opens out into a forest on another world. He climbs through, and is led to a tower. The Doctor and Lily follow after him. Then finally Madge goes through the present looking for her children. It turns out that a team from Androzani Major is getting ready to burn the forest using acid rain, and the life force of the forest needs a strong human to help them escape. Luring the children, the Doctor, and finally Madge to the tower, they choose Madge as the one to help them make their way off the planet. Not only does Madge manage to do this, but as their vessel traverses the time vortex, she also unwittingly guides her husband’s plane safely across the English Channel. They all arrive safely at the manor house on Christmas morning, with the life force of the trees now existing safely in space. Madge insists that the Doctor stay for Christmas (no-one should be alone for Christmas), but the Doctor declines. She does, however, persuade him that his friends should not be left thinking he’s dead. So the Doctor returns to Amy and Rory, where it is two years after the events of Season 6. Not only does he learn that River told them he isn’t dead, but also that they’ve been saving him a place at the table in case he should return. Awww!

Okay, so that’s the brief synopsis of the episode. It was a nice, heart-warming Christmas tale, very much in the vein of Steven Moffat’s era. It seems to me one of the hallmarks of Moffat’s take on the show is that the Doctor is not always the hero. He might play the part of the instigator, or the facilitator–the one who gets things going, or encourages those around him–but he’s not necessarily the one who actually solves the problem. In this episode, once they are on the forest planet, the Doctor’s role seems to be only to explain what’s going on. The actual work of rescuing the trees and bringing about the resolution to the crisis is done by the humans, particularly Madge. In previous episodes we’ve seen the supporting cast, or Amy, take the heroic lead. I don’t know if this is intentional in terms of a broad story arc for the Eleventh Doctor, but I’m not sure how I feel about this. The Doctor is supposed to be heroic, and to put his own life on the line for the sake of others. From the classic series right through to David Tennant’s finale, this has been the case. The Tenth Doctor gave his life to release Wilf from the isolation chamber. The Fifth Doctor gave his life for his assistant Peri after their visit to Androzani Minor. I don’t have a problem with the Doctor occasionally being rescued by his assistants, or the Doctor not always being the one to solve the problem. But I think I’m seeing a trend here with the past couple of seasons… and I hope there’s a reason for it beyond “trying something different.” I suppose we’ll see.

Aside from that, it was a good story with great performances (as always), and special effects that would have paid for an entire season of the classic series. But that’s okay, because it’s Doctor Who, and Doctor Who is worth it. The title is, of course, an homage to C.S. Lewis (along with the snow-covered forest), though the “talking” trees were a little more Tolkienesque. Matt Smith gave his now distinctive portrayal of the Doctor, with his quirky, awkward manner that hints at the alien lurking beneath that deceptively humanoid exterior. Smith has really taken ownership of the role, and it shows in how naturally he plays the part. He switches effortlessly from slapstick (falling between the hammocks) to insightful (explaining why Madge shouts at the children).

Steven Moffat has announced that Amy and Rory will be leaving the show during the next season (note–not necessarily at the end), so it’s not surprising that we saw them make an appearance at the close of this story. They needed to be re-introduced so they can get whatever send off is coming to them in the Spring (which is when I presume Season 7 will start). Despite my apprehensions, this story whet my appetite for things to come in the new year. I’m expecting great things of you, Mr. Moffat–don’t let me down!

Did you see this episode of Doctor Who? If so, do you share my feelings about the Doctor’s limelight being stolen by the supporting cast? What did you think of this story?