Site Menu

December 25th, 2011 153 comments

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

The Christmas Special – What Did You Think?

What Did You Think Of The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe?

Now that 2011 Doctor Who Christmas special, The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe is over what did you think of it? Was it the best of worst yet.



Adverts/Affiliates

153 comments

  • george

    December 29th, 2011 - 9:14pm

    also, I’ve loved all the producers and writers of doctor who because they’ve all brought something new and different to the role and the feel of the stories, like pip and jane baker it felt more child-like, Philip Hinchcliffe made doctor who gothic, JN-T brought alot of variety and different things to doctor who over his years and RTD brought a refreshed and new feel to doctor who that was entertaining and easy to watch. But I think RTD’s episodes were great but the plot was always very shallow, SM plot is always full of twists and turns and there so much to his stories and so much to think about because his writing is really clever. Sometimes there confusing but still very entertaining to watch. So, yes and no I would like RTD to come back because he did a great job and produced good stories, but I think SM has brought something different to the series which I think is great, the whole of last series was fantastic! Series 5 was light and dark towards the end, series 6 was a lot darker and deep, so bring on series 7! Steven Moffat, thank you!

    • Admiral Icktheus

      December 29th, 2011 - 11:56pm

      I agree. Moffat ticks all the right boxes.Good chatacter development (mostly), amazing writing for The Doctor, a classic feel to the show, great story arcs which we WILL get answers too and he knows exactly who to choose to write an episode…mostly and best of all NO ROSE!!!!!!! (mostly)

    • tardisfan101 (dwfan101) (torchwoodfan101)

      December 30th, 2011 - 3:07pm

      I have to agree SM is probably the best writer for DW yet. Series 5 FANTASTIC, Series 6, well lets face it AWESOME! Steven, Thank you for your eps.

    • Admiral Icktheus

      December 30th, 2011 - 8:29pm

      Plus since Moffat took over the clasic series has been referenced a lot.

  • The Whofan101

    December 29th, 2011 - 3:56pm

    I believe that this episode is a mixed bag. Some liked, some hated. I was one of the haters, as the script, casting and effects were poor. However, I don’t think that Steven Moffat should be fired and bring back RTD, because Moffat has done well (maybe not so much this year, with TIA/DOTM and AGMGTW being his best) in previous years. RTD has also written some bad ones (Boom Town, New Earth, Planet of the Dead, Love and Monsters, etc) so you can’t really think that he would be best to return. What I think should be done is that Steven should write less episodes (with last year written 7 stories, and this year 6), and think better about casting. Don’ pick the most famous people for the part because in the end it might not be worth it, such as Bill Bailey in this story

  • Clocky

    December 29th, 2011 - 2:04am

    Borrrring!!!!! and the music just sends me to sleep.

    • McGann is the Doctor.

      December 29th, 2011 - 4:48pm

      The music was less than great, as was the overall episode itself.

      But you have to remember, Steve nMoffat’s new to this whole “Christmas-Special” thing. And he was very sick whenever he wrote this one, which explains why the previous special was way better, and this one is quite impossibly daft. 😛

    • Admiral Icktheus

      December 30th, 2011 - 8:50am

      The music was fairly good in my opinion. It just seemed louder though.

  • andrew mclaren

    December 28th, 2011 - 9:42pm

    Steven Moffat should seriously stick to Sherlock…Dr who needs the likes of Russell T Davis back at the helm…im sorry to say this but the days of Dr who are most definitely numbered if Moffat continues with this boring and mixed up dross!!!

    The show, as it stands now, is a former shadow of what it used to be….God i miss Chris eccelstone, David Tennant and John Simm!!!!!

    • McGann is the Doctor.

      December 29th, 2011 - 4:50pm

      John Simm was crazy as the master, barely watchable, Russel T wrote the part knowing that John Simm mwould be playing it,

      and gotta say it was aweful in 2007, and better in 2009 but still, the Master is supposed to be deadly-cunning and genius, not a crazy cannibal barabrian man ! :O

    • McGann is the Doctor.

      December 29th, 2011 - 4:56pm

      BTW, I know everyone ahs a right to their opinion ofcourse, I’m only stating mine.

      While I do prefer the current series over the DT as the Doctor + RTD as the Head Producer years (I just find that era to pale in comparison with the 80s/70s and 2010-current Series) I do think the christmas special wasn’t what it could have been. 🙄

      And I imagine it will give Dr Who a bad public image till the 7th Series comes along and improves on it, but that won’t be for a while yet. ❗

    • Fox Mulder

      January 2nd, 2012 - 8:27am

      Johnn Simm was the best master ever with the exception of Eric from the doctor who movie in 1996

  • I am the doctor

    December 28th, 2011 - 6:27pm

    I thought that it wasn’t to bad

    1) even if time lords can survive for longer periods of time than humans he wouldn’t have survived for that long and he was shouting and stuff which would have made him breath.

    2) it was so obvious that they filmed it on the wires ( the start)

    3) only time machines can fly through the vortex. And correct me if I’m wrong but to the best of my knowledge a lancaster bomber is NOT a time machine

    4) where was the rest of the lancasters crew

    5) How come the TARDIS just HAPPENED to be in the village that the Doctor landed in

    6) how come the doctor was fine but he made a huge crater.

    But saying all that it was quite a good episode and I love the way that the Doctor is a different man ( not literally) when he is around children.

    • Admiral Icktheus

      December 28th, 2011 - 9:36pm

      I agree with you what you said about the Doctor being different. Matt seems to portay him differently and slightly darker when with the Ponds yet when with others he’s completely different and as people say Matt can play the Doctor as a 9 year old and a 900 year old. That’s why he’s such an amazing Doctor!

    • I am the doctor

      December 29th, 2011 - 9:19am

      Yeah I agree he is my favourite Doctor

    • McGann is the Doctor.

      December 29th, 2011 - 4:40pm

      I was amazed that we got see another side to him, he wanted to be someone else for a while.

      That’s not to say I don’t liek him the way he was before that ! He’s always great,

    • TardisCreation

      December 31st, 2011 - 11:21pm

      I can answer some of these questions for you, I am the doctor.

      1) Maybe the TARDIS did one of those things were it makes the travellers of it breath in space like in The Runaway Bride.

      2)Yeah,true….

      3)I can’t answer this one.

      4)Reg and his mate were lost, the others were proberly killed or went in another direction from Reg.

      5)Like in Voyage of the Damned, when a spaceship explodes, the TARDIS goes to the nearest place of gravity, which was where Madge was.

      6)The suit was healing the Doctor, which is proberly why the Doctor wasn’t hurt.

  • Whofan#1

    December 28th, 2011 - 5:38pm

    It was ok but it was draft but I perfur last years christmas special

    • McGann is the Doctor.

      December 29th, 2011 - 4:46pm

      I must admit, this one did seem alot less, shall we say, “big” , or alot less, “big-scale” ? I can’t quite graps the right term for it.

  • SpeedyK9

    December 28th, 2011 - 4:56pm

    I think it was only an ok ep, not good enough for xmas. I think it was better than last years which was to long.

    • Admiral Icktheus

      December 28th, 2011 - 5:18pm

      I think last years was the best Christmas special of them all. This would probably be second, third or fourth in my list

  • 11matt

    December 28th, 2011 - 8:45am

    there were no evil monsters and story was a bit boring and confusing at some points

  • JimJim

    December 28th, 2011 - 8:15am

    Slow and rather lacklustre,lots was made of the guest appearances in this episode Bailey,Weir,Armstrong etal, but all were very underused in a rather pedestrian script. I think the whole Christmas theme is starting to get a bit tired, I for one would much rather see the season finale broadcast on xmas day, the last scene at Amy’s house would have had far more punch at the end of this episode. I,m rather afraid for the 50th Anniversary turning into a confused emotional mess and long to be proved wrong.

  • fish

    December 27th, 2011 - 10:48pm

    russel t needs to come back and give this series the kick up the backside it needs. recent episodes (well the last 2 series really) seem not to accomplish anything. nothing really happens and theyre somewhat underwhelming and lacklustre. this special is definately the culmination of this downward spiral…

  • outnumbered

    December 27th, 2011 - 8:31pm

    i really liked it but i did not like it. i mean the monsters were bad and i mean really bad the acting was good. but please fire moffat. his storys are so confusing. i really dont like river song and hate that she his amy and rorys child. the monsters have all ways been bad since moffat came to the show. so doctor who is going down the bad road

  • Steve Maude

    December 27th, 2011 - 8:28pm

    In one word disappointing. Acting, direction and production values all discharged with the usual polish and all wasted on an uncommonly poor story.

    The characters were one dimensional and the plot development just plain obvious. Masses of time wasted on fantastic exploding space ships that were not essential to the plot and wonderful bedroom sets that look like they cost a fortune but did little to enhance the story.

    The misuse of Bill Bailey was as shameful as the nod to Androzani Major was shameless and both were ruefully unexplored.

    Last year we knew how the story was going to work out but there were any number of ways to get there. This year it was pretty clear to anyone who had read the Radio Times and watched the first five minutes of the show.

    The problem is that the show has gone in the wrong direction and left unchecked we could be easily heading back to the bad old days Pip and Jane baker.

    The actors are fine, the production values are excellent. However it will need some more Girls in Fireplaces and fewer unexplained magic boxes if the show is going to be around to celebrate it’s 50th anniversary in 2013.

    The audience is older and more sophisticated than it has been before, one simply can not throw this kind of lack luster effort out and expect to get away with it in 2011.

  • jedi jim

    December 27th, 2011 - 7:36pm

    Besides being the WORST EPISODE (let alone Christmas special!) EVER!!! Moffat owes C.S.Lewis a major apology!!

    • Fox Mulder

      January 2nd, 2012 - 8:30am

      That’s true he does.

  • Tick Tock goes the Clock

    December 27th, 2011 - 3:55pm

    It was good but extremely dull in places.Not that impressed

  • Commander Strax

    December 27th, 2011 - 1:22pm

    it was the best xmas spical ever. It had everything in it,including a great scene with the ponds.
    Such a smame it came 4th in the viewing figures.eastenders was rubbish!

    • Commander Strax

      December 27th, 2011 - 1:23pm

      and WHY NO S7 TRAILER?!

    • Admiral Icktheus

      December 28th, 2011 - 9:50am

      They haven’t filmed anything yet for series 7. There should have been a caption saying “The Doctor will return…Autumn 2012”

    • Anonymous

      December 28th, 2011 - 2:34pm

      We Want Series 7 Trailer!

    • Admiral Icktheus

      December 28th, 2011 - 3:54pm

      The earliest we’ll get one will be in July probably.

    • jedi jim

      December 28th, 2011 - 9:17pm

      If there IS a series 7! Moffat keeps this up the Beeb’ll pull the plug again!!

  • Charlie the Wonder Horse

    December 27th, 2011 - 10:32am

    Too sentimental. I know that the Christmas specials are meant to be light-hearted romps but seriously?! With the kid going through a box into a winter wonderland, I was half-expecting some sort of homage to The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe but it just went badly wrong in the second half. Trees with star souls? A lost bomber guided home to a safe landing by a mystical light? And the kids looked nothing like each other or their parents! Terrible!

  • Dean Pickersgill

    December 27th, 2011 - 9:54am

    I was embarrassed. Been a fan since S01E01, and I’ve seen every episode ever made. Doesn’t make me unique, I know, but it does qualify my opinion, which I can assure you is less than favourable. Smith makes the Doctor appear like an imbecile, completely reliant on his ‘companions’ to save the day. The steam-punk additions to the Tardis (a very important character pretty much missing from this “special”) such as a clutch-and-brake oil tank and a pre-electronic typewriter make it look childish, serve no purpose and detract from the notion that this is a state of the art Time distortion device. Enemies and villans have become completely un-threatening. In aeons past it would take four or five people to tackle a Dalek – nowadays it seems they’re easily foiled by kind words and the offer of an oil-bath. Amy Pond is a pointless companion – did anyone notice her missing from this years special? Two minutes at the end really convinced me she was essential to the plot. I can’t find any redeeming factor in this Christmas edition OR any post-Tennant episodes. When I was a kid Doctor Who would have me diving behind the sofa. It’s more likely to send todays kids to sleep on it.

    • Nigel M

      December 27th, 2011 - 10:25am

      I didn’t like either of Moffat’s xmas’ specials, this one felt rushed to say the least. I agree the interior of the Tardis looks like someone took all the leftovers from the BBC props department and stuck them together.

      As for the program itself, I do appreciate that it’s a matter of personal opinion. Mine is simple, that Doctor Who is supposed to be serious science fiction and not “dumbed-down” to give the inevitable happy ending just because it’s christmas. You didn’t see that approach in Eastenders did you ?

      I don’t think Moffat is that bad, he’s written some very good stories and I actually liked the last series more than the previous one. I do think they need to vet the scripts better to pick up holes in basic logic, as several people (including myself) have pointed out on this page.

    • Ther Moffat Paradox

      December 27th, 2011 - 3:35pm

      Yes the REAL Doctor Who was when kids asked to watch it ONLY if it didn’t frighten them seeing someone being swallowed up by a sofa made of living plastic created by the Nestine Consciousness as Roger Delgado’s Master looked malevolently on.

      Now its too often a cringing cross between slapstic Carry On Films (with over the top LOUD music)and Lost.

      And the people who have creative control today CLAIM to be fans.

      Turn down the volume and jazz up the stories (its supposed to be a suspenseful drama)to be worthy of the true potential of the Doctor Who universe is what is expected.

      Oh and if you want to do a GOOD story arc over a series then see the original Dalek Master Plan or the Dominion War in Star Trek Deep Space 9.

      I’ll take back the last paragraph if Steven Moffat effectively silences us with relevations and amazing plot developments in series 7 that also make sense of everything from series 5-6 but I remain to be convinced that just isn’t expecting pigs to fly.

  • nytro

    December 27th, 2011 - 8:25am

    Without doubt the worst ever Dr Who episode, and definitely the worst docotor EVER!!. I have been watching Dr Who from the start but this episode was total rubbish I had to shut off. I Understand that it’s all individual perspective; however Matt Smith is ruining the whole persona of the doctor. The sooner he goes the better

  • Paul

    December 26th, 2011 - 11:25pm

    Absolutely gutted… I was looking forward to this all day; I’ve seen a few episodes with the new doctor and haven’t been very impressed so far. And after that Christmas special abomination, I feel compelled to talk.

    I’m left totally stunned and shocked by what I saw, how & why has this happened? The people who worked & wrote on Dr Who in the Tennant days must have the head-in-their hands in disbelief, all their work making the show a number 1 hit is being ruined – the whole Dr Who Franchise could be in shatters with this new writer & team at the helm, it’s quite worrying.

    I do like the new Dr, it’s everything else that annoys me, for instance, the start of the show you see the Doctor flying through the vacuum of Space, breathing and climbs in a space suit, he then somehow cuts through the planets atmosphere, survives the sub zero temperatures (again without any air) then falls 70,000 feet at 150mph towards the ground and lands it. WTF !! I was left with my mouth open for 10 minutes. I still can’t believe it now! I wonder if the people at the BBC are concerned, or even worried for the shows future.

    I was grateful for not having to endure Amy & Rory for the whole episode which was a bonus. But I still heard that same stupid backing music every time the so called action scenes picked up. If I hear it once more, I will literally vomit in my hands and throw-it at the screen.

    And for those so called Dr Who fans that enjoyed the show well… they must be complete morons, I’ll go as far as to say their traitors, and not Doctor Who fans at all! They’re Simple people. They’re things you Can and Can’t do in the realms of Doctor who… so if you can’t grasp the concept then keep quiet. We’re trying to save Doctor Who here! Your positive feedback isn’t helping matters! Shame on you. Any devoted Dr Who follower knows how bad the Christmas Special was.

    I feel so much better now I have that off my chest.

  • dw2005

    December 26th, 2011 - 11:23pm

    I think that doctor who should go back to what it used to be in 1963-2009 Since 2010, it’s just gone downhill. It has nothing to do with matt smith or any other actors, it’s steven moffat!

  • McGann is the Doctor.

    December 26th, 2011 - 8:42pm

    Harry’s funny review ! :

    I had my doubts about this years special, but it wasn’t really as bad as it could have been 😆 I mean, the acting was sometimes wobbly, but the Doctor was played very well by Matt Smith, that was great, the story was exccellent as was the ending. ❗

    The only bad thing about the story was really, how uneasy it made you feel at first, the family (a mad widow, a rather dorky son, and the mean girl) tended to make me feel VERY uneasy, very embarrased to watch. But it got very good as it progressed, I enjoyed it alot ! 😀

  • The Tardis

    December 26th, 2011 - 6:58pm

    I mean it was the best yet.

    • george

      December 29th, 2011 - 8:52pm

      there’s no need for most people to be like that, moffat has worked hard on all this episodes and although I do agree the last episode was only average in my opinion but it was something a bit different, ie. we haven’t had pure wooden monsters, box of magical things, big spaceship truck things and a forests life force being saved like that. I think the plane in the time vortex was a bit much as it is impossible and was a bad effect, as was the star things. But the first 20 minutes and the last 10 were great, but the middle 30 minutes was a bit boring, even though there was some great moments. I do wish Mr moffat wouldn’t keep using these silly ‘because your a mum’ and the bond between father and son’ (from Night Terrors), it just seems like a quick way out of things. I was a good stand-alone episode which could, in the middle, have a more of a ‘sense of direction’ to it and how madge drove that thing I will never know! I hope series 7 won’t have so many story arcs but know steven moffat it will be great!

      I would give it 7/10.

  • The Tardis

    December 26th, 2011 - 5:05pm

    I theink that it was a good christmas specil I like it when the Doctor had the spacehelmit on the wongway round and at the end when Amy Pond had a waterpistel when the Doctor came

    Lets hope that season 7 is better

    • McGann is the Doctor.

      December 26th, 2011 - 8:38pm

      Series 7 is still in the workings, it will be awhile yet before the Doctor returns t oour screens, but they are getting into the wirting and production soon ! 😀

    • Admiral Icktheus

      December 26th, 2011 - 9:29pm

      Moffat has already begun writing episode 1. Filming begins in mid Febrauy 😀

    • Commander Strax

      December 27th, 2011 - 1:28pm

      In the brill book he said hes done 1 and doing 2

    • The Tardis

      December 27th, 2011 - 7:32pm

      I like Doctor Who because Iv’e go all of the classic series and the New Series of it

      and I like Matt Smiths Doctor because Matt Smiths Doctor is (Breleynet) if thats how you spell it.

  • sheepinafez

    December 26th, 2011 - 3:19pm

    i loved it i think the forest with those 2 wooden people would make a great character building set but i think its pretty sad that the doctor didnt save the forest and it was sold for profit whats up with that :/

    • doctorwhofan27

      December 26th, 2011 - 8:48pm

      but all life from the forest survived.

    • sheepinafez

      December 29th, 2011 - 12:06pm

      but it was still sold for profit

  • tim

    December 26th, 2011 - 2:05pm

    It was the worst dr who, are they going to paint the policebox green in 2012 ?

    • Anonymous

      December 29th, 2011 - 2:36pm

      Think So

    • TardisCreation

      December 31st, 2011 - 11:33pm

      LOL NO!!! THEN IT WOULDN”T BE A POLICE BOX!!! IT’S ALL LIES!!!!!

  • Harold Saxon

    December 26th, 2011 - 12:22pm

    thought it was good but not the best not as good as last years but still good,it was moving at times and had a nice ending,matt smith and claire skinner were excellent.

  • PandoricaOwner(New Name Later..)

    December 26th, 2011 - 11:52am

    Dissapointing , really it was basically eco ”monsters” , I thought monsters/aliens were mainly suppost to be evil in someway and tbh I thought there shuold of been some sort of cliffhanger e.g a silent looking at the doctor with the ponds through a glass window or something…Anyway it was a good day I only got octor Who wise The enemies of the 3rd doctor set and a bump-n-go cybermat:D! = Episode 2/10

  • king of the whoniverse

    December 26th, 2011 - 11:20am

    rubbish just like last year.BRING DAVIS BACK GIVE MORFATT THE SAC

    • Admiral Icktheus

      December 26th, 2011 - 12:06pm

      No. Moffat has taken the show back to it’s original roots and he’s doing well with it! I’ve only disliked one or two of his episodes since he joined last year.

    • Andrew Hall

      December 26th, 2011 - 7:48pm

      How can you say Moff has taken the show back to its roots? Cant remember Hartnell/Troughton era ever having stories or story arcs that were so hard to follow as they have been under Moff. Missing RTD!

    • Admiral Icktheus

      December 27th, 2011 - 9:41am

      yeah I can see what you’re saying but the show has a slightly more classic feel now.

  • King of the weevils

    December 26th, 2011 - 11:17am

    I think the reason I wasn’t so keen on the story was because I thought there should have been an extra 10-15 minutes. I am gonna watch it again and should hopefully enjoy it a little more this time. I think might like it more actually, it’ll most likely grow on me each time I watch it.

    • Admiral Icktheus

      December 26th, 2011 - 12:49pm

      Oh my old usename was posted. Sorry about that 🙂

  • gary

    December 26th, 2011 - 9:33am

    I think it was a great Christmassy story and was a great story with a nice ending for everyone! Best Christmas Ever!!

Twitter

Facebook