The Doctor vs the Toymaker | The Giggle | Doctor Who

[@AgherDeadpan]

I love The Toymaker being insulted by the notion that he would cheat, he took that very personally.

[@Superspy315]

“Shame”

[@SilverPlayer2002]

It’d very interesting as well. He’s a madman and almost omnipotent, but he himself has to follow certain rules, because games can’t have meaning unless there is rules. That’s pretty clever to show the limitations of how much he can interfere with all of reality

[@Profile__1]

​@@SilverPlayer2002Like you said, it totally makes sense. In a way it also ties to that notion of immortals growing bored and apathetic since life loses meaning without death, essentially. So an omnipotent God who can do whatever it wants grows bored and purposeless unless it arbitrarily follows rules of games.

[@wolfelian]

Loved that, both looked at Donna like "The very notion! Honestly we live in a society"

[@hirudinaria]

It's more telling that Donna would even consider that as such a normal occurrence. Like there's no concept of integrity or sportsmanship anymore. "Of course he'll cheat"?? That's the statement of a person with no integrity of their own 😮😮

[@OctoStar20]

I love how offended the Toymaker got when Donna said he would cheat, and even the Doctor defended him. Neil Patrick Harris was the best part of the specials, I hope we see him again soon.

[@yanastase]

The urony to see hul offended when every gamr ge made before was made to make him win

[@user-lb9xw4xf2q]

I'm of two minds, in that I agree the Toymaker is amazing, but then I wonder if he can be brought back in a manner that could be better than the one we already got? The risk is either just doing of repeat of this episode, or something that wouldn't be as good; either case, it would be a letdown. I think it might be safer to treat the Toymaker like The Beast/Satan/Devil - that two-parter with the Devil was excellent, and the villain's reputation remains high despite never appearing again.

[@haddy106]

​@@yanastasehe rigged every game he created, but that was in his domain. Inside our universe, the rules we invented are the only rules he has to follow

[@tracymcardle7395]

I loved the Toymaker❤❤ hope he comes back in the new series

[@spillersoda]

Now I want to see Toymaker challenge someone to a MTG game. The term game can be pretty loose in this day and age

[@RonMotta1972]

I love how the Toymaker’s face just falls as he knows that the Doctor knows his one weakness. “I challenge you to a game.”

[@4mplitude]

I see it more as like activating a sleeper agent, the toymaker pretty much seems to exist for the one purpose of playing a game, so when you ask him to play, it's his nature to say yes

[@Lumibear.]

…and the disgust in his voice when Donna suggests he’d ever cheat!

[@Bluesit32]

Not how I see it. It was what he was waiting for.

[@JJJJJJJJJAAAAAA]

"You jumped the gun a little bit, fidgeting with your cards. We're playing Starcraft 2 dear toymaker..."

[@dm121984]

​@@Lumibear.Indeed. Like, "I'll kill, imprison, and torture for fun, but you dare imply I would ever cheat?! How rude!"

[@Isiliel]

I just adore Donna's "I'm already running!" She knows exactly how this all goes down, every time.

[@brianreaver]

The truest instinct of every companion 😂

[@sharpe227]

@@brianreaver Usain bolt better be a episode just once even as a camo.

[@Mr-Pepel]

She's already used to it

[@WackoMcGoose]

Rule One of traveling with The Doctor: "The Doctor lies." Rule _Two_ of traveling with The Doctor: "You're gonna have to run, a LOT. Every day is leg day in the Tardis."

[@dm121984]

​@brianreaver the true instinct of companions who survive to day 2.

[@Tharries]

"I made a jigsaw out of your history, did you like it?" Such a great way of explaining away the Doctor's contradictory origins.

[@linkjourney422]

@Tharries so do you think this means that the Toymaker with the help of The Master messed around with the Doctor’s origins to make him believe he was The Timeless Child?

[@Blisterdude123]

@@linkjourney422 Could be a handy way to brush aside some Chibnall-era nonsense so RTD can get on with Who properly again.

[@FlourishPorridge]

​@@linkjourney422 Russel has made it clear that he'll be rolling with the Timeless Child for his time on the show. But this line means that other origins for the Doctor aren't off limits for any other writer's stories.

[@Jedi_Spartan]

And another explanation for explaining the absolute absurdity of the state of Doctor Who canon in general...

[@benlowe1701]

​@@linkjourney422 I'm playing around with the idea that the Master and the Doctor Bigenerated from the Timeless Child.

[@GenericName0042]

You know, the Doctor realizing he can invoke "best of three" if he loses is kinda genius. It basically guarantees he survives this round and gets a second chance

[@gm2407]

I like to think he had that as a back up in his mind before he chose the game. Either an easy win or a fall back harder win. Like serving in Tennis, go for the ace, if you fault go again.

[@apersonwhomayormaynotexist9868]

It also makes sense why he chose cuts in that case, but a game of skill later when there was no second chances

[@blackout2189]

Every one I've talked to nodded when Best of Three was announced, showing "yeah, that's a universal rule of one-on-one." Like, no one is going to argue this point. Humans are fun.

[@godofcrap42]

It's almost like he wasn't aiming to win- like the point of that challenge was just to get an answer for what the Toymaker did to Earth. Winning and stopping him early would've just been a convenient bonus

[@Mediados]

He gets 2 chances at defeating the Toymaker with a chance of 50%, which leaves the Toymaker with a 25% chance of victory. Even he is not so big a fool.

[@LordAzimar]

I really hope we don’t have to wait another 57 years to see this guy again. “Turned galaxies into spinning tops, gambled with God and turned him into a jack in the box” BADASS

[@asdasasdas3476]

If they stick to the new condition that The Toymaker set then we'll be seeing him around the time of the 16th doctor

[@Blisterdude123]

I just loved how casually 'cruel' he was. Just listing off some of the Doctor's more ill-fated companions with a smile and a shrug. Truly, wonderfully unpleasant. NPH played a great villain.

[@tsimehcMTG]

If we only knew a Jack who was put into a box. Ultimately, you have to remember that You Are Not Alone.

[@essinfinite3293]

he was defeated by a game of catch mate

[@Samh1913]

@@essinfinite3293 thats just dr who mate

[@captainchaos5705]

I love the Toymaker's barely restrained rage when Tenant invokes best of 3. He knows The Doctor has him beat by his own rules and it frustrates him to no end to be denied his prize

[@reubenmanzo2054]

How is it fair that the Toymaker is denied a prize? After all, the Doctor claimed a prize from the game in 1966.

[@WhoisPersona]

It's a rather genius twist that despite being capable of literally anything the Toymaker is bound by the rules of the game and what's even more frightening is that his powers are not constrained to his dimension as he manipulated reality with ease inside of Unit HQ. The only way to beat him is fair and square.

[@nathandts3401]

Loved the special and happy to ignore the following, but if he doesn't cheat then you can just have a line of UNIT soldiers challenge him to 50/50 games. How many coin flips can he win before UNIT grunt Steve wins and sends him away?

[@abyssalcrisis]

@@nathandts3401 I think the deal is he had already agreed to a game with the Doctor and was thusly bound to finish it. He was just messing with UNIT to draw their attention, knowing how they would react, causing them to all fall into his hands. The only person he really wanted was the Doctor.

[@nathandts3401]

@@abyssalcrisis Wasn't there a line about him not having a choice whether or not to accept a challenge?

[@haddy106]

​@@nathandts3401 best of 3

[@haddy106]

​@@nathandts3401yeah but the person has to know to challenge him. And now the toy maker is sealed away from the universe

[@Xoguran]

"That is someone else's game" did send chills down my spine. What is so terrifying, so mighty, that even the Toymaker didn't want to play with it and ran away?

[@mylesmichel9108]

This serie love foreshadowing, so we'll probably know it soon

[@thisissupposedtobeanonymous]

Is that what the meep was referring to as well? @@mylesmichel9108

[@philipgood5041]

We never did meet the Nightmare Child, did we?

[@jessehammer123]

If it’s someone we’ve seen/heard of before, the betting money’s on one of Fenric, Zagreus, the Beast, Omega, or the Trickster.

[@thisissupposedtobeanonymous]

@@jessehammer123 OH, THE TRICKSTER, DUH! We need him and his exact theme back.

[@DoctorJedi2742]

My favourite part Is how, whilst they play the game, the toymaker drops all the pretences and outrageous accents, he treats the doctor like a true opponent, with an almost chivalric air, yet the exact second he thinks he's victorious, the pantomime is back, only for it to fall away as his triumph is underrmined, superb acting and writing to balance the absurdity with a performance that echoes michael gough. plus congrats to russel on finding the master another seeming impenertrable bind to get out of

[@garyking3389]

I love how at 2:22, when the Toymaker cuts his deck and gets the King, the image on there references the Toymaker's original look from when the Doctor and the Toymaker were against each other in 1966.

[@TheSixthDoctor]

No, that's not his original look at all. That's simply the King of Hearts with NPH's face. The King of Hearts in 1966 was another man he forced to play deadly musical chairs against Steven and Dodo, together with his wife.

[@garyking3389]

@KingLofiOne I see. But you gotta admit: It did remind you of his original look, right? Because that was the first thing I thought of when I saw it.

[@TheSixthDoctor]

@@garyking3389 No, I can detect the difference between a King and a mandarin.

[@enigmagenesis7341]

Sorry, I have to agree with @Kinglofione on this one. It would have been a great idea though.

[@ennayanne]

I thought it was his original look too when I first watched it

[@TheJengshoun2]

This is the doctor who we've been missing, the music, the acting and the sheer amount of pressure we're under as two titans fight with a pack of cards, the respect each of them have for the other when Donna says the toymake will cheat and they both disagree immediately also when the toymaker lists his accomplishments, it sent shivers down my spine.

[@gsofficial]

So uh, can the doctor actually.... do anything?

[@johnmcwick1]

Hey is this available to watch anywhere? I can’t seem to find it at all.

[@FeganFloop]

I love how offended the toymaker is when donna implied he might cheat. He just says "no" and then looks donna up and down judgingly and says "shame" 😂

[@cairosilver2932]

Kind of like accusing an angel of cheating. Not because the toymaker is pure, but because he is bound.

[@PyroDay991]

Did anyone else notice the subtle gratitude the toymaker showed the doctor for explaining he'd never cheat? These nuances are just one of the things that make NPH the perfect toymaker

[@TheWPhilosopher]

Yep. It was perfect. He knows the doctor doesn't like him but the fact he sticks up for him makes him respect the doctor more

[@Nick.t.S]

I’d like a clip of the scene before this part. That was a great scene, how The Doctor tries to compartmentalize all the other losses of his companions followed with The Toymaker dropping his accent to cut through with a cold hard “Well that’s all right then!” You could see Tennant breaking every time. That was fantastic acting.

[@Mediaright]

He didn't exactly "drop" his accent. The idea is he's pretty racist, he appropriated wardrobe in the original back in the old days, so the entire show he's doing exaggerated versions of every accent he can.

[@liamastill6733]

@@MediarightI don't think the idea is that he's racist mate... The toymaker is basically a God

[@ridensroom6957]

The Toymaker is so right. The way people survive in ways they would never have wanted to is not right. It's great to see him call the Doctor out on it.

[@whydyespillyerbeans]

@@liamastill6733no it literally is. RTD said in a BTS or a commentary that because he had racist elements in the original episode, they gave him racist elements in this one. Hence his comment about the weather to the man in the shop at the start and the exaggerated accents. Kinda stupid, but RTD is obsessed with social justice commentary.

[@jimmy2k4o]

I like that he’s a bit racist…. After all he’s a evil villain, I don’t think he’s actually racist but understands earth enough to know what will offend people. He likes offending people. Some people talk as if villains in tv shouldn’t exhibit realistic villainous attitudes.

[@danielsanderson4926]

I think the bi regeneration happens because of what happens at 2:49. The contract for third game is set within the rules of play with the 14th doctor. So when the Toymaker tries to kill 14 with the gun he violates the contract he made with 14. Meaning 14 stays because he is still bound by the rules of play.

[@ShaunakDesaiPiano]

I wish they used this as an explanation rather than “bi generation is a myth”…

[@haddy106]

​@@ShaunakDesaiPianoI think the real reason is a combination of the facts that the Doctor is made of exotic matter since hes from another universe, and that all of the reality manipulation created by the Toymakers Toonforce distorted reality enough for the doctor to bigenerate, which is why the TARDIS is temporarily able to do the same. Hence why its a myth, its only possible when reality is horribly distorted.

[@deadcake4406]

It happened because of the thing the Doctor did with the salt superstition/myth at the edge of the universe in Wild Blue Yonder... the Doctor literally says the Toymaker entered the universe through that game. That caused myths to become real in the Doctor Who universe (this plays into the fact that the series has soft-rebooted going forward. RTD said the series is gonna have outright fantasy elements now. This is the in-universe explanation for that) The amount of people who don't get this is honesty mind-numbing to me

[@Wizardjunior77]

Your making more sense than Rtd on this.

[@apersonwhomayormaynotexist9868]

The explanation that most of the fandom seems to be going with, especially due to what's actually said about it later on is that the doctor has been taking such wear and tear over the years, filled with so much trauma and guilt and pain that's weighing him down, that eventually he just had to get rid of all of it, so since it had nowhere to go, it stayed in him, while a new version of him could go on with all the memories but not the guilt and trauma

[@keegan9911]

By far my most favourite part of the episode. It’s so powerful and just shows travelling with the doctor isn’t always as wonderful as it seems. Plus a nice call back to Moffat’s era.

[@jonaton7910]

1:56 I love how the Toymaker gets visibly upset when the Doctor speaks the truth on how the Toymaker is bound to the rules

[@JMHardinMyTwoLives]

I love Donna at the end. "I'm already running!" She clearly remembers well how it goes with the Doctor. 😂

[@Illustrator2]

1:46 I love this moment where theyre both like "ew, Donna, too far-"

[@Prince__Teclis]

The Toymaker is genuinely offended.

[@elijahlivingston9477]

Shows how much they know each other. True adversaries.

[@haddy106]

​@@elijahlivingston9477true adversaries, having had only met once before

[@lucasparadox6823]

​@haddy106 Actually, the first doctor apparently met him before, according to the original episode at least. But you never know which doctor and when was the first since y'know... Wibbly wobbly, timey wimey....

[@hannahwatermelon]

A bit of an odd thing to notice but an 8 was the perfect card for the writers to choose for the card the doctor reveals, because it’s high enough that you have hope the doctor will win, but still low enough that there is a serious danger that he’ll lose. Even though the consequence after this game isn’t severe, we don’t know that so it adds tension.

[@tomblack6167]

But an 8 on its side is the symbol for infinity, so the doctor actually won.

[@chrisfirewalker7350]

@tomblack6167 Toy Maker: “That’s cheating! Shame.” But yeah, good one. ;)

[@AlexisFloofer]

The game is 50/50 before The Doctor makes his cut, and it remains so after as there are 6 values on either side that the Toymaker could cut with Aces high, or 8s for a draw and reset. It leaves the game perfectly balanced for as long as they possibly can, adding to the tension.

[@bobn19uk]

Donna is the GOAT “I’m already running”

[@dccomicsfan-rl1wl]

She remembers the drill😂

[@cosmichobo4216]

The Toymaker was brilliant in this episode. We were really lucky to have Neil Patrick Harris play this character.

[@ronaldeliascorderocalles]

0:50 That set of teeth looks like how an Ai would draw a mouth. Uncanny Valley at its finest

[@DrMemeTheTherapist]

honestly, I thought the exact same thing

[@dcallaway1]

And a demonstration of what hides under The Toymaker's façade

[@ddemons4730]

Was going to say the same those teeth are abnormal and I didn’t notice that the first time round

[@onedaxster]

"Donna!" "I'm already running!" I love that exchange so much

[@alansmithee419]

I like how they incorporated the Toymaker's more controversial aspects into the character, having him put on mocking French and German accents to parallel the original Chinese presentation of him that's been more frowned upon in recent years. The most obvious issue with it to me was him adding "ge-" to the beginning of random present-tense verbs, which in German is done to past-tense verbs. He mocks people, languages, and cultures as he sees them as nothing more than toys to play with.

[@llewtree3013]

He’s not just doing French and German his English accent is over the top and fake as well but I do think they should have gone more over the top with the English and exaggerate it more

[@MatthewCYN15]

I mean NPH's British accent gives me Michael Gough vibes. He sounds evil enough 😈

[@vittorio-vic-giammona2604]

Or... Or... I know it's unbelievable but... what if the Toymaker's just precisely a powerful and almost omnipotent being from another dimension and just wore that outfit 'cause he liked it or for mere aestethic choice? And what if the Toymaker's simply puts on accents 'cause he don't want the Doctor to cheat again using his voice? As a powerful being, plus from another dimension, it doesn't make sense that he's racist (as it don't make sense the controversy about his past outfit, 'cause... it was not racist and in another dimension). He just mocks humans precisely because he sees them as toys or unworthy opponents, not because he's racist. All this I said answering to your comment, but it's an observation for those who believe the character itself is and was racist.

[@alansmithee419]

@@vittorio-vic-giammona2604 RTD has confirmed it. Also I'm not saying he's racist - he thinks of every entity in the universe as lesser than specifically him, and as a plaything. That's not racism, that's just a god complex. I'm also not saying any of the people who put the toymaker together were racist, just that today it appears problematic to many people. 'Celestial' itself has come to be understood as a derogatory term, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's usage at the time of original broadcast was inherently racist. Words and contexts change. I am not suggesting anyone is at fault of anything. Only that the celestial toymaker has become mildly controversial as a result of the modern context. So: "He just mocks humans precisely because he sees them as toys" was precisely what I said. You put words in my mouth. Part of that mockery is mocking cultures - all cultures. As all people's cultures are his playthings. Not out of racism, just because he finds it fun.

[@friendlyotaku9525]

@@alansmithee419 I really liked how the Doctor even said "We can be... Celestial"

[@Vyselink]

Getting NPH to be the Toymaker was a masterclass in casting. With his legit magic skills and excellent acting he's just awesome.

[@filipvadas7602]

Say what you want about this special as a whole, but good lord this part in particular was *SUPERB* Neil Patrick Harris, in the relatively short time he gets to shine, knocked it out of the park as The Toymaker. He's braggadocious, but polite. Casually cruel, but jovial. Immensely powerfull, but not so drunk on it that he doesn't recognise a threat when he sees it. And the fact that they use this godlike being to introduce what I assume will be the main villain, The One Who Waits is genius. The fact that this guy beat The Master and apparently *God* so *effortlessly* , yet *ran* from this particular being when he noticed it is so damn creepy.

[@schoolingdiana9086]

The only previous reference in Doctor Who to someone with “waits” in their nickname is Rory and Amy. Since Amy can summon The Doctor back from being exploded in the Pandorica, I’d be fairly afraid, too, so my bet is on her with Rory as my second choice.

[@rachelcookie321]

⁠@@schoolingdiana9086 I feel like after bring back David Tennant and Catherine Tate, I don’t think they’ll bring back another old companion in such a large capacity so soon. It will make it seem like they’re entirely relying on nostalgia and inevitably take away from the story. And outside of the ‘wait’ connection, it seems quite random, there is no reason for Amy or Rory to be such a huge powerful being. I think you can have two characters that waited.

[@TheWPhilosopher]

​@@rachelcookie321you already do. Bill.

[@firetarrasque4667]

I think the comment about God is more flowery language than something that literally happened. Definitely makes me curious about the Master, though. It’s pretty much inevitable that we’ll end up seeing the Master again, eventually, so it makes me wonder how he’ll manage to make it out.

[@mrz3062]

This is a probably The Valeyard

[@randocomm]

"That's the game of 21st century. They shout, they type, and they cancel."

[@thelegendthemyththeman4772]

WELL THATS ALRIGHT THEN

[@mikesworld6064]

(SPOILERS) I do love how the Toymaker’s monologue while setting up the cards 1.) provides a terrifying rap sheet of his abilities and what he is capable of, 2.) provides an explanation into the Doctor’s mismatched quest to learn about Division and their origins back in the last season, 3.) leaves the door open for the Master to return by revealing that he sought out the Toymaker to save him after getting fried during “Power of the Doctor”, and 4.) establishes the looming threat of Sutekh’s return while hinting that it would be his next incarnation who would take on that fight. All of which isn’t too overbearing and slipped into just a few seconds, neat :)

[@OrangeTabbyCat]

“I made every opinion superior, that is the game of the 21st century.” So true, sadly so very very true.

[@garlicgoat259]

"The one who waits, I saw it and i ran" so... he saw Sutekh hanging onto the Tardis one time?

[@ВячеславТоропов-ю9г]

I think so.

[@EpicDestr0yer]

Nah the toymaker was just playing cult of the lamb

[@RedRattt]

Saw Sutekh and decided (no I'm not messing with that)

[@nathanbell8415]

now knowing who the one who waits is i can see why the toymaker didn't dare to try and play them that should of been a clue there someone only a celestiel being is afraid of

[@Alejandroigarabide]

What sort of power would he fear? It can't be raw power. I bet The One Who Waits has skill or wits, the likes of which would make any game hard for the Toymaker to win.

[@riveracrobat8393]

I loved the whole conversation the doctor and the toymaker had in this scene before they both got on with the game. Theory and speculation- The boss and the one who waits is connected. I do think a timelord is involved. Maybe Rassilon, Omega, The Rani or maybe even the valeyard. If monsters are involved then it is obviously a species that we know already. Even though the master is part of the story with him being imprisoned in the gold tooth I don’t think he’s the key to this mystery.

[@SamuelBlack84]

It makes you wonder what kind of enemy would terrify the Toymaker

[@sabrinatirabassi3529]

It can't be the Rani, cause after Pip Baker's death the rights for the character are lost.

[@christophervalentin1486]

I think it’s omega

[@TheMoonRover]

I don't think it would a Time Lord. Surely anything which would scare a force like the Toymaker would have to be as powerful as he is. Something like Sutekh, Fenric, the Black Guardian, or... Time. Then again, given that the Doctor defeated the Toymaker then maybe the Valeyard would make sense.

[@hootemanny1165]

Something new as a living idea yet distorts reality on a basic level. My best guess? The One Who Waits doesn't play any games -not really. They really are no fun at all. As a conduit of loss they cannot be defeated. But what doesn't lose yet never needs to move, let alone make a move?

[@Sunshine-zm1fx]

This is the best episode of Doctor Who in years. Amazing ensemble cast who just can do no wrong. Every scene is a winner.

[@scarlet_whovian]

Toymaker: CHALLENGE ACCEP-wait for it…-TED! ACCEPTED!!

[@obsidian4844]

1:25 "and they cancel" I rolled my eyes back so far I can see my brain.

[@Zomboo]

Me too. But he isnt wrong, really. Thankfully, cancel culture is disappearing

[@obsidian4844]

@@Zomboo actually I hope cancel culture keeps going as it's the only way to keep the powerful accountable nowadays. The #metoo movement was cancel culture.

[@Zomboo]

@@obsidian4844 Too easy for completely innocent people to get caught in that. One false claim and a person is ruined. To each their own but Im glad its gone away. It was a horrible fad.

[@obsidian4844]

@@Zomboo even if it's a tool that is objectively abused, I believe it does more good in the world than it's absence. People use knives to kill each other but we don't forbid the usage of knives. Some (very very VERY few) people get falsely cancelled, but we shouldn't get rid of the one of the only means of voicing public opinion that's not controlled by the powerful.

[@Marshal_Longarm]

​​​@@obsidian4844"metoo" aka the movement "the_wealthy_guy_owned_me_10_years_ago_and_I_have_traces_of_his_assault_on_a_dress_I_kept_but_I_can't_bring_it_for_expertise_that_will_prove_me_wrong_but_you_have_to_trust_me"

[@justanaveragegamer8735]

2:43 now that was clever

[@BookwizardQ]

2:10 - Missed opportunity for David to pull a ten card.

[@nickypw8]

It actually only goes up to 9, then it’s Jack, Queen, then king.

[@rafttaleryder]

​@@nickypw8 there's a 10 in a pack of cards

[@eljefe3864]

​@@nickypw8🥴

[@julianaylor4351]

Neil Patrick Harris is a magician, expert with cards.

[@sabrinatirabassi3529]

Yeah, but the hands in close up belong to a professional magician

[@weswheel4834]

It may have been just Neil being humble but he claimed in the behind-the-scenes that basically he dabbles a bit with cards but isn't an expert. (And tbc, I think he was fantastic in this episode obviously).

[@ltbq]

@@weswheel4834 paraphrased from the behind the scenes "I can do all of this stuff pretty well, but I've never been asked to do them simultaneously" 💀💀

[@jimmy2k4o]

How might the toy maker come back? NPH: I can’t tell you, magicians code. *fixes tie*

[@weswheel4834]

@@jimmy2k4o They’ve killed the Master off a bunch of times, he keeps coming back. edit: Ah, I didn't get the NPH reference. :)

[@gameover9390]

0:56 While I’m probably wrong, I really want this to be Omega. I believe the theory that the “Could have been king” is Omega, and the creatures featured in the second special, definitely fit the description of the creature in his army, the “Never were’s” is a fitting name.

[@professionalpizzaconsumer5419]

“So kids this is the time Uncle Barney played an intense game with an Alien with a Time Machine”

[@debbielungsodaitfllo]

How I met your mother

[@adamloga3788]

"Daddy, have you been drinking your specially Daddy juice again?"

[@SamuelBlack84]

I love how offended the Toymaker is at the very idea of cheating 😅

[@liammellor6405]

I have only just found out that NPH is an accomplished magician and actually did the card tricks himself. Amazing.

[@theneondragon004]

"I made a jigsaw out of your history..." Veeeery curious...

[@subscorpion9560]

Series 14 Spoilers below I think it makes sense that sutekh would scare the Toymaker, he did destroy his home world and it took many of his kind to defeat him. When the Doctor faced him, sutekh tortured him and even controlled him. It was by luck the Doctor managed to defeat him. Considering sutekh has a long lifespan, it’s fitting he’s the one who waits. Toymaker is a deity of games and chaos while Sutekh is a deity of death and destruction, something the Toymaker wouldn’t want to be part of or confront

[@nillsthefunexpert2571]

wait sutekh destroy toymaker homeworld?

[@subscorpion9560]

No I meant sutekh destroyed his own homeworld, not the toymaker’s realm

[@christianschoff2490]

He returned in the comics and once again it was luck that saved The Doctor. Dorothy Bell sacrificed herself to stop him.

[@CrilG-Games]

nph and dt were amazing this episode! (so was ncuti (obviously)) the toymaker was so creepy, yet lovable

[@ManoftheHour1987]

I like how offended the Toymaker sounds when she says he would cheat!

[@93Chowo]

I didn´t even notice that on the card it is actually the Toymaker as the king. I just thought with "I am the king" he meant what card he drew. Ps: I really like the Toymaker as a character who has godlike powers, can do anything he wants but still follows the rules of games.

[@GenGamesUniverse]

It's a reference to the first episode with the Toymaker (Michael Gough) as he's dressed in Mandarin royal clothing which is a king.

[@venom_spy437]

If he is The King......does it mean that there should be An Ace?

[@slugmuch]

2:27 I love so much how he delivers this line !

[@ChrisC11291980]

I doubted NPH’s casting at first before I knew he was a magician and had done puppetry (although obviously I knew who he was) but based on this scene alone he was great. Plus he and Tennant played pretty well off each other.

[@nicktroisi6347]

“I gambled with God and made him a Jack-in-the-box” That’s one of the coolest and coldest lines I’ve ever heard. Also when The Toymaker shows what happened to The Master you can see The Doctor’s face drop a bit. It shows he still cares about The Master even after everything that he has done

[@Baroo_Cow]

It's literally an actor reading a line and people like you jizzed when you heard it. Doctor who fans are weird 😂😂

[@KeirHansen]

@@Baroo_Cow Yes, and.

[@KeirHansen]

One of those very rare instances where any (human) theology is directly referenced in this show. Done for effect, granted, but it tends to steer clear of the subject. Interesting!

[@KhanhNguyen-mh5ec]

@@Baroo_CowYeah, it’s called liking a media

[@kogadragneel5601]

​@@Baroo_Cow yes we know, thank you captain obvious🫡

[@azapro911]

Honestly didn't know much about Neil Patrick Harris before this, certainly hope he eventually makes another appearance.

[@stephenmurphy2212]

I’m guessing “the one who waits” will be the story arc of series 14 next year.

[@MightyMarioBros378]

I hope it’s the Valeyard

[@Godzillakingofkaiju1]

@@MightyMarioBros378 I hope it's Omega since he's literally stuck in an anti-matter universe of his own making, just waiting for someone he can take his frustrations out on.

[@stephenmurphy2212]

@@MightyMarioBros378 Or Sutek or Omega

[@RealCryptoTest]

Interesting choice to make the final enemy of the series either Narinder from Cult of the Lamb or a member of the 0-5 council but new directions are always fun!

[@MightyMarioBros378]

@@stephenmurphy2212 could be a possibility

[@JustAnotherPerson4U]

Neil Patrick Harris does a really good British accent! So clear and natural.

[@TheEmpressReborn]

Through the episode, he was switching accents like it was nothing. He's damned good.

[@enigmagenesis7341]

"Everybody wins and everybody loses". That was brilliant. And so very Toymaker.

[@Stingthehedgehog]

I love that he yells Donna's name and she's like "I'm already running!!!"

[@AAyo9036]

That No!! For Shame. From the toymaker makes me laugh constantly. The delivery and facial expressions really sells it.

[@benwasserman8223]

I’m rather disappointed the Toymaker never once said Challenge Accepted in this special. Big missed opportunity.

[@ronaldeliascorderocalles]

Or saying "Our last battle will be LEGEN-wait for it..."

[@daartsy1]

Oh, that would have been hilarious! 😂

[@denisesudell2538]

I thought I saw him say "challenge accepted," but maybe it was in a BTS video

[@thebreezybigt]

He said, "I accept your challenge" twice. I mean, it was right there😂

[@benwasserman8223]

@@thebreezybigt It's not really the same and you know it.

[@jonaton7910]

0:26 I love this line!

[@ClockMaster-mq2hm]

I honestly adore it, when he speaks half german ❤

[@alpha_wolf220]

i like how if a character has a sort of gimmick they actually embrace it. like how the toymaker likes making reality into a game for his own fun. but more than that he actually enjoys games and has a code about playing games. yeah sure they say his existence is binded to the rules of the games, but at the same time they show how the toymaker is actually enraptured by play and he seems genuinely offended when donna says that he'll cheat

[@loriki8766]

The specials were so much fun to watch - kudos to everyone involved.

[@TheCornishStallion]

I love how when the Doctor challenges him to a game, the Toymakers smile vanishes, indicating that for all his power, this ain’t the time to take his opponent lightly.

[@S.U.T.D]

This episode was one of my favorites, NPH is always such a stylish villain and he outdid himself! And I'm so glad David didn't regenerate in the normal way. I couldn't have handled it again. ALSO, great minds think alike! There's a theory to make Matt Smith come back.. Since Matt wanted to come back as The Master.. I thought of this.. The Master is a Timelord, just gone rogue, so he is prone to regeneration as well. Revisiting old faces now is possible, as shown here by Mr. Tennant. I thought, "Maybe it's possible to sort of *mix up* The Doctor's memories/life with The Master's, so The Eleventh Doctor's face is an incarnation of The Master. It would be so nice of RTD or the crew caught a glimpse of these theories to bring Matt back.

[@samanthamaclean1430]

That would be crazy. Awesome. I really hope so that would be an opportunity for any previous Doctor really

[@jimmy2k4o]

That would be great. I think Matt did ‘evil doctor’ better than any other. But I doubt he’ll have time with house of the dragon.

[@S.U.T.D]

@@jimmy2k4o Is he still doing that show?

[@jimmy2k4o]

@@S.U.T.D yup.

[@secretasianman108]

The Toymaker wanted the TARDIS during his original scuffle against the 1st Doctor, and yet seemingly has no such aspirations here. He ain't messin' with the massive doggo perched atop.

[@ashtoningram45]

Doesn't the toymaker still want the doctor TARDIS?

[@willardkestila6465]

​@@ashtoningram45yeah, and I'd like to get ice cream at the store, but if a dog the size of a truck that looks like it wants to rip me apart like a chew toy is sitting on the roof, I'm going to leave well enough alone

[@Arfarf69]

Toymaker was scared , chose to run away rather than face Sutekh. It’s good to see this reference before his reveal.

[@Howyaduing]

The Hallmark of RTD Doctor Who Run

[@FeFeVtuber]

“The one who waits” I would love if it turned out to be the Valeyard 😮

[@icer1249]

the toy maker just casually dropping the first clues at the next big bad

[@HorrorGodzilla54]

The Boss

[@thealjohnsonshow2188]

+icer1249 *The One Who Waits*

[@gameover9390]

0:33 While this is likey a hyperbole, I have a few idea on who he means by “God” if this isn’t a hyperbole: -The Grace, Great old ones who exist in a state of non-existence outside of time and space, although I highly doubt it is them as they seem to be too powerful for the Toymaker. But then again, he did later mention in this episode that he already bested the guardians of time, their agents, so who knows maybe he did beat them? -The miracle worker who appeared in the Torchwood show and claimed to be God -The Creator from “People to the Power”(a Doctor who comic),in that comic God himself appears or ateast Doctor who’s verison, God(in that story)created the universe for his equivalent of a science project, and he himself is not unique entity but instead a member of a species. While it’s unlikely that this comic is canon, the “God” who appears, does share many similarities to the Grace. -The counterpart to the Beast, this is just an idea but since the beast is a great old one, it possible that like he inspired all the legends of the devil, there may be a counterpart to him who inspired the idea of God/gods, maybe he’s the light that the disciples of the light follow.

[@perkasenior]

I think the Doctor drawing the 8 of clubs wasn't at random, it actually foreshadowed the ending of the episode through its meaning! In cartomancy and other aspects, the 8 of clubs basically represents the arrival of a turning point in a person's life, and encourages the strength and wisdom to follow the path to self discovery that comes from it. There are better descriptions online, these are just my words, but if you knew that beforehand, you could tell later that it related to the bigeneration and the Doctor deciding to finally stop and fix himself, the result of which being the next Doctor. It's a really clever detail!

[@psychojoe4764]

I always love how the toymaker looks annoyed everytime the doctor either exploits or explains his nature

[@assassinsrequiem]

1:17 How exact is this scene on how people act on the internet today. Maybe Social Media is the Toymaker's greatest threat to us all.

[@Gmmgmgkgig]

Toymaker está jugando con los críticos de KZbin. Esos tontos que se creen dioses de la verdad absoluta y que pueden cancelar con sus ejércitos de seguidores.

[@EmptyMan000]

Of course. What is social media if nothing but games?

[@rubeusignis1293]

A Scotsman and an American both putting on English accents for this scene 😅

[@chris1pdx]

And damn good ones, too

[@lachlanevans5013]

Having never grown up watching the classic Doctor who I never knew who the toymaker was till now. I initially thought it was the Master up until the reveal. But what hit me the hardest and what made me genuinely scared of the toymaker was when he revealed that he outplayed the Master and imprisoned him in the gold tooth. Knowing how dangerous the master was as he was my favourite villain this really solidified him as a genuine threat to me.

[@freemakerthings4518]

Oh same. The Toymaker really is this unhinged deity who makes you seem like he might be a silly but kind man, yet underneath is a powerful sadist who decides to do whatever the fuck he wants for the sake of his own amusement

[@jackepong6300]

Toymaker: The one who waits.. Doctor: Whos that? Toymaker: Chuck Norris..

[@SirPlatypusVI]

The “I accept your challenge” should have been worded as “challenge accepted”

[@Leon_Tyler]

Love it when an enemy has rules it has to abide by but still be very powerful, so the doctor can be terrified but still be able to work out how to outsmart him. And not too complex. He's binded by the rules of the game. Simple and effective writing people instantly understand. No gibberish explanation from Jodie that makes no sense unless you watch it 5 times.

[@toothyweasel2705]

When the Toymaker smiles to show the gold tooth and the teeth are way to small and there’s ‘s way too many, it’s a great quick hint to show the Toymaker is only something pretending to look human because it’s all a game to him and he’s something much, much worse under the mask you don’t want to see

[@djburke4314]

"The Master, he was dying" is that a reference to the 13th Doctor's Master

[@GenGamesUniverse]

Yes

[@mohzayd1234]

Yeah and when he talked about making a jigsaw out of the doctors history he moves on with the master, so all the timeless child stuff, definitely 13s master

[@totalcreativegaming6681]

I find it hilarious when the Toymaker basically referenced & made fun of modern society “That’s the game of the 21st Century, they shout and they type and they cancel.”

[@chris1pdx]

in 30 seconds, 0:36 to 1:06, they explain 50 years of Doctor Who backstory and set up the next 50 years. How absolutely stunning is that?

[@vincentkeck6448]

The Toymaker a man that treats the universe like a game board and can turn reality upside down was afraid of something that is even more powerful than just what is it

[@wadeyoung4271]

The real question you should be asking is: Why was it hiding?

[@vincentkeck6448]

​@@wadeyoung4271 Maybe it's Rassillon?

[@wadeyoung4271]

@@vincentkeck6448 I don’t think so. If it was in hiding, it would be either planning something (like the Valeyard) or it was wounded from possibly entering the universe (Omega maybe)

[@vincentkeck6448]

@@wadeyoung4271 Well let's think of it this way we know that the last time we say Rassillon it was when the 12th Doctor took over Galifary to save Clara. And we also know that the Meep spoke of his boss who seemed interested in species with two hearts. Now this is all speculation on my part but I believe that what Rassillon was banished from Galifary he started to build a reputation as a universal crime boss that stays hidden in the shadows and has gained powers from his knowledge of time to obtain them. I certainly think that could be a possibility

[@edwardp4038]

The one who waits is what the Doctor will eventually become. As they say you either die young or live long enough to see yourself become the villain, eventually the doctor has to snap, it’s just a matter of time. So the most deadly threat could just be the god like thing doctor who becomes after being immortal for ya, know, eternity.

[@MineKurtMininer]

The only phrase to make this better "Challenge accepted"

[@gruffcashgaming]

great scene, love the "the one who waits" mention, and watching this according to the subtitles (the toymakers says "i saw hiding and i ran" ,it's at 1:00) that i didn't pick up when watching the full episode the one who waits is an it, so i think that it's some kind of creature or entity, not a person. i hope that dr who puts the scene before this on youtube (the puppet show), that was great and loved when the toymaker said "well that's alright then". hope the toymaker comes back at some point (not as much as the daleks, cybermen or master, more like the ood or davos etc., the ones that make two or three appearances every so often)

[@EmperorDestruction]

0:53 The toymaker is referring to sutekh The destroyer/The God of death. that’s the one that the toymaker would never dare to play against, it all makes sense.

[@LunaKuartiX]

How tho. Cause like suketh is the god of death OK but toymaker did say that he defeated god and made him a jack in the box. By definition god is the ultimate one. So how does suketh rank higher? And do the pantheon of discord fall under suketh in terms of power like are they his servants or are they separate beings

[@stephsvids9812]

1:00 would the toymaker ever really tell the doctor he has a weakness?

[@KhanhNguyen-mh5ec]

Yes yes he would

[@enavy04]

"The only rules the Toymaker follows are the rules of the game. They bind his entire existence." This line right here is very significant to me because it feels like it shows the Doctor's innate understanding of who he is. The rules of the game are his anchor to our reality. Without them, he'd be 100% chaos, which nothing in this universe can ever fully embody. I believe later in episode the Doctor drops a line about the order, chaos, and the interplay between them. This interplay is what is what the Toymaker is taking advantage of in order to remain here. The more chaotic he is, the more bound by the rules he has to be.

[@docintar]

I am rewatching this scene and MY GOD Niel can play! In 2:38 he is showing A LOT of emotions. First, when Tennant says in 2:38 "I won a game" and Niel Patric was showing confusion. Then anger And then in 2:48 "Best of Three" he is showing worriyng and disgust. In 2:51 he had shown hate, regret, and then "idea pop-up" in a fraction of second! What an EMOTION TOYMAKER

[@jcurses]

I feel like this is one of the best antagonist monologues I have seen in a while. I keep coming back to this scene for that. NPH really sold the role.

[@milkiassamuel780]

I am convinced after watching this amazing performance alone that Neil Patrick Harris would make an amazing Mr Myxzpltk (5th dimensional imp/Superman villain). Everything about his performance as the Toymaker just exudes Mr Myxzpltk's character, fun and omnipotent power especially with the reality wrapping mixed with Neil's charisma

[@tbuckley2031]

That’s what I said he’s the only guy who could pull off the actual comic costume

[@ceferino6969]

Knowing who it was makes this so much better.

[@starscreamx7]

I like how offended The Toymaker gets when Donna accuses him of cheating. He may be a sore loser, but he would never undermine his own games. That's his personal game, creating situations and rules that best his opponents fair and square. For what good is a victory made with fixed rules? And besides, fixed games are the easiest ones to beat.

[@jodyros9321]

genuis foreshadowing of sutek being the one who wait

[@TheBloodyPinata77]

Wayyyyy too many teeth in the Toymaker’s mouth. Incredibly unsettling when you notice it.

[@poyudi]

That "I'm already running!" Is the best part honestly~

[@Glacial7]

dont often do two comments but i feel like the people saying the toymaker "cheated" in the cutting game by not taking from the top... didn't notice that the doctor also did not take from the top, you can see a few cards beneath his eight of clubs lol

[@mysticalseapotato8303]

Love how the toymaker has dozens of teeth on the closeup