The Toymaker Faces the Doctor... | PREVIEW | The Giggle | Doctor Who

[@DoctorJedi2742]

I love how the toymaker is shifting accents, in an earlier preview he's French, here he's german and english, he's probably doing it as a precaution, since the doctor mimicking his voice is how he lost the first time. keeping it erratic prevents the doctor from pulling the same trump card.

[@DneilB007]

Clever catch!

[@LinguaPhiliax]

Ooh, hadn't thought of that - but that makes total sense now.

[@jessehammer123]

Oooh, good one! I had just assumed it was to make the Chinese getup from his first story better by implying he just enjoys imitating various nationalities. But I quite like the idea that he’s modifying his tactics this time around.

[@youknow227]

That makes so much sense !

[@ShadowKamehameha32]

​@@jessehammer123Makes sense, The Toymaker isn't one to lose, let alone lose with grace. Ain't no way he's falling for the same trick twice

[@WildcardASMR]

David's deliver of 'the Toymaker' really just cements how big of a deal this is for the Doctor. The mavity of the situation.

[@lonewolf9578]

That’s a stupid joke and everyone knows it

[@campbellbains_wife]

MAVITY HELP 💀

[@wadeyoung4271]

The Celestial Toymaker…the most insidious and creative enemy the Doctor has ever faced. Using simple games to trap people and turn them into his toys…makes me question if that energy thing we saw with the Meep was his way into our world.

[@fayesouthall6604]

I see what you did there.

[@Alduinhead]

@lonewolf9578 It's a stupid joke, everyone knows it, and that's what makes it so great

[@Iamtheultra-nerd]

I love how the toymaker is continuously throwing balls at them but he still has 3

[@KevinTheTimeGeek86]

Yeah, I initially thought it was a continuity gaffe, then I remembered that this is the Toymaker, and he likes to pull that kind of crap. :D

[@venmis137]

He has all the balls.

[@GooseTheDumbassCat]

@@venmis137oh he has the best balls in the universe

[@Drloulou101]

That’s the power of the toy maker

[@jparada]

I would say the toy maker is basically doctor who version of q from star trek and I love that 😁👍✌️

[@Lastname6955]

The acting skill between these three in this scene is insane

[@jennidoesherbest]

Right!? This is ONE minute and the stakes are through the roof?

[@hcrisc]

Abso-f**k*n*-lutely!!! I love Catherine Tate's acting to the very core of my heart. Tennant is one of the best actors in our time. I haven't seen much of Neil Patrick Harris, but just from the previews, oh gosh, he's amazing. I have watched other shows just to see more of Tennant's and Tate's performances, cause I knew them from Doctor Who first, and I love to watch and pay attention to good performances. It's a hobby. (I'm Brazilian, do not judge me for not knowing them before lol)

[@adamantyr]

@@hcrisc Neil Patrick Harris was known for playing Dougie Howser in the 90's. He also played Barney Stintson on the sitcom How I Met your Mother. He's absolutely solid in pretty much any role, and apparently he had never seen Doctor Who before RTD asked him to be in it!

[@Aaliyahchannel2024]

Define skill

[@JynxedKoma]

Tennant was always the best for conveying the severity of situations through his expressions alone. Absolute classic. Such a shame we're losing him again, likely for the last time...

[@hanpolo2727]

Just seeing the Toymaker juggling the balls and throwing them at the Doctor yet still having 3 is the best hint of his powers ever. A truly formidable foe.

[@richardbourn5896]

RTD has done this a couple of times, including things that look like continuity errors but they turn out to be important plot elements (the one before was the bug aliens in the star beast not damaging the car). I really like it.

[@SorchaSublime]

@@richardbourn5896 also when the Not-Things were introduced last episode plenty of people mistook it for sloppy editing. I think it's quite clever how he's taking advantage of the fact that fandoms overanalyze things as they watch and using it to bolster the story.

[@shernweilee5576]

So question is he like the Joker (Batman) to the Doctor?

[@thomaswatson4535]

The Toymaker is probably more like the Riddler@@shernweilee5576

[@bensel1547]

​@@shernweilee5576no more like Mr mtzitlspix (or however you write that name) from superman

[@ImpulseKidEntertainment]

I love the little flashes of Michael Gough's Toymaker and William Hartnell's First Doctor. Brilliant way to show that the pair have history without stopping the moment dead so the characters can break into exposition.

[@timthewarlord2304]

It’s good to see those flashbacks in colour

[@eye-chan1711]

It honestly kind of felt like the doctor had trauma from that experience(probably not actually). Instead of just seeing the past, we were seeing into the doctors mind.

[@travisoliver6741]

​@eye-chan1711 Oh no, he definitely has trauma from that. In the EU (That RTD hasn't retconned), the Celestial Toymaker possessed his friend Rallon (Which is why he looked like Michael Gough), turned his other friend into a toy, and only let the Doctor get away so he could be a better opponent in the future. It's why the First Doctor already knew who the Toymaker was in that episode.

[@Rae-Annechu]

The doctor scared to see the toy maker again after the last encounter

[@sail4170]

I missed RTD sfm

[@thatnishcray]

Catherine Tate has twenty five words in this snippet and she acts each of them to sublime perfection!

[@randomdude189]

Yikes

[@AlexOnABoat]

Well she does have the balls...

[@patrickkenyon2326]

Tennant and Tate are the best combo.

[@gilesguest4]

Catherine Tate is more than just a comedian she's a great actor too.

[@williamr1088]

I love Donna. She is a wonderful companion and very strong. "Don't get all chippy with me, Vera Duckworth. Pop your clogs on and go feed whippets."

[@BlokHeadAnim]

Lmao, an audible diagetic twinkle when he winks. He really feels like someone who can warp reality. Also love how he keeps changing accents for fun, seemingly.

[@jonathonbartos3061]

It may be more than for fun. Remember, the First Doctor beat the Toymaker by imitating his voice. The Toymaker may be changing the accents to keep the Doctor from pulling that again.

[@TheMadwomen]

We saw someone say he's changing his voice as a failsafe. The Doctor was able to escape The Toymaker in their first encounter because he replicated The Toymaker's voice. And yes, we didn't say "win", because that would require stopping the Toymaker. The Doctor had to run away. Imagine what could be so powerful it makes The Doctor run away. A reality bender would do the trick, now wouldn't it?

[@jacka5626]

Max Capricorn had that twinkle effect too. Maybe he was a reality-bending galaxy level threat and we never knew?

[@Rocksteady72a]

Oh wow, that’s actually right, The Doctor never told Donna to just hide in the Tardis. He did that constantly with Amy and Clara, but never with Donna.

[@jennidoesherbest]

Right? The only time he ever told her to go back was The Library, and he didn’t ask so much as push her in there and it didn’t go well it got her trapped 😅

[@MythicFox]

@@jennidoesherbest And even then, he sent her to the TARDIS because of the immediate danger of the Vashta Nerada. Sure, the Toymaker is dangerous, but there's a difference between 'sending Donna out of range of the alien shadow bugs already in the room' and 'sending her back to the TARDIS because he's terrified and doesn't know what's going to happen.'

[@tiagopatricio3805]

That shows how scared he is...

[@RajaniIsa]

At least in the modern era, I get the feeling she was the most equal in capability to the Doctor, overall. Also, turn left gave me chills.

[@tiagopatricio3805]

@@RajaniIsa Yes, Donna would make The Master Run for his money!!!

[@everythingdoctorwho]

I love how they added flashbacks from hartnell’s era!

[@Fanney47]

Yeah!

[@WildcardASMR]

And in colour!

[@lukewebber97]

Me too, it’s just such a shame that now if you follow canon Hartnell isn’t the original Doctor. That wound still cuts deep for me.

[@thepandorica1660]

​@@lukewebber97but he is. I know what you're getting at and referring to, but Hartnell will always be the first Doctor

[@lukewebber97]

@@thepandorica1660 yes I too will never have anyone tell me that hartnell isn’t the original incarnation of my favourite character in fiction. It’s just moments like this that make me sad as I can deal with a lot of storytelling and accept the decisions made but for me that is an area that shouldn’t of been meddled with and I wish I could accept and enjoy it for what it is but I can’t and I’m just glad Hartnell wasn’t around to see it.

[@Blitzo8390]

NPH is already killing it And that Murray Gold score is killer

[@brookead]

Little bits of it towards the end feel like the music from Farscape! Which was also very good.

[@alexhodgkinson6718]

The children's voices in the music here and at the end of the last episode is a lot like his music for Years and Years

[@haydenhall7760]

@@alexhodgkinson6718that was such a great soundtrack. I’m getting the hints of it in these teasers and couldn’t be happier.

[@bgood8299]

Thank you! I knew that music reminded me of something, but I just could not think of it.@@brookead

[@OMARA.OFFICIAL]

Loving it “everyone loves zea balls” - The Toymaker

[@2429Ryanspeer]

If I'm honest Neil Patrick Harris is incredible as the toy Maker and I'm looking forward to seeing the 14th doctor challenge him

[@nairrdlairrd]

Yeah I really hope he’s a recurring villain. This video really made me see the vision: let the master rest for a while, the toymaker can be the doctor’s new nemesis!

[@DistortionOfEcstasy]

I like his German Accent

[@2429Ryanspeer]

@@DistortionOfEcstasy same

[@yanastase]

​@@nairrdlairrdwell it was planed to see him again in the last season of the 6th doc before beign replaced by trial of the timelord

[@KathleenHolland-nk8nk]

​@nairrdlairrd I agree! Already intrigued! 🤔🤔🤔😳😀

[@MushroomHaterProductions]

Those colourised flashback glimpses of The Celestial Toymaker are fascinating, after watching The Daleks in Colour (SPOILER ALERT!). And NPH's performance as the German Geppetto is magnificently brilliant.

[@S-Fan2006]

Part of me thinks that the flashbacks were also meant to inform people that “No. This _isn’t_ a NuWho villain.” because I found one person reviewing Snowmen and it seemed like he thought that the Great Intelligence was a NuWho villain based on some of his criticisms. Regardless, this reveal gives the overall episode a lot of promise.

[@fayesouthall6604]

@@S-Fan2006some of us aren’t old enough to have seen it.

[@bandersnatch9469]

@@fayesouthall6604At least they’re making the effort to bring back 60s villains in new form

[@S-Fan2006]

@@fayesouthall6604 I know. That’s the point. They understood most wouldn’t know the Toymaker, so the flashbacks also serve as clarification.

[@LaMortDeLaMusique]

@@fayesouthall6604 And you probably never will. Not the entire serial anyway. They may have digitally remastere the final episode of it but the rest of The Celestial Toymaker is lost. They'd have to re-make it as an animated arc or something as they still have the scripts.

[@Joey15811]

Love how they colourised more and did flashbacks. The new toymaker version is giving me Oddbob the clown/pied piper vibes from SJA.

[@lew5547]

yes! 100%

[@jadenbryant9283]

I'm honestly getting even more Mxyzpitlix vibes

[@samsnozwell2402]

Good old late Michael Gough

[@hannibalsmyth6779]

The character reminds me of Pennywise.

[@JavertRA]

I also got a bit Emcee from Cabaret

[@ryandunphy60]

You can definitely feel the tension in this scene, the Doctor looks terrified

[@wadeyoung4271]

Terrified…and enraged at the one being who could actually beat the doctor with a simple game.

[@ryandunphy60]

@@wadeyoung4271 exactly, he’s going to cause him a lot of problems for sure

[@wadeyoung4271]

@@ryandunphy60not only that, but the Toymaker has caught the attention of Donna…oh boy.

[@ryandunphy60]

@@wadeyoung4271 Ive got a really bad feeling that something's gonna happen to Donna, hopefully I'm wrong

[@wadeyoung4271]

@@ryandunphy60 not only her but everyone else is in deep trouble. Especially with a celestial being who can literally trap a being in a toy room and force them to play their games until they die or they become one of his toys.

[@rudenotginger123]

Why do I worry that one hour isn't going to be enough time to resolve all this?

[@Legendxtoli]

trust that the pacing will be fine, its gotta be an hour for a reason after all ;)

[@GeorgeDoctorWhoprod]

It might be longer

[@moonmower5575]

Oh, so it’s not just me then 😤

[@drakerios6474]

i think the toymaker will be returning villain

[@TheHufflepuffSaint]

Probably not. They might stop The Toymaker but the pain and misery to humanity that he brings is most likely permanent and will probably show humanity rebuilding in future episodes. Not everything can be resolved... The Toymaker needs to be stopped and I doubt that's gonna be easy.

[@Tystar420]

The music that plays when The Doctor tells Donna that it’s The Toymaker is so good. It has a nice eerie feel to it. Quite chilling. You know it’s serious when The Doctor tells their companion to go back to the Tardis. Nice use of classic flashbacks too.

[@nairrdlairrd]

I really hope they keep the Toymaker around through the new era as a new nemesis for the Doctor! Let the Master rest awhile and explore new territory with a forgotten old character!

[@Joey15811]

Yes Daleks, Cybermen and tbe Master need resting Lets have the Toymaker, the Monk, Sil, the Rani and the Voc Robots and the Gods of Ragnarok Back. More Iconic villians with potential

[@WildcardASMR]

​@@Joey15811​​ I'd personally prefer Sutekh or Omega to make an appearance as a season finale villain, and have the Gods return in a one-off story. The Rani seems like a no-brainer, but I'd also love for the Giggle to end with the Toymaker saying something like 'I enjoyed our little game, Doctor. I can't wait for Round 2.' Before he promptly disappears, only to return in Season 1 for Ncuti's finale. That'd be a marvellous progression.

[@GenGamesUniverse]

The Toymaker is a one off enemy.

[@nairrdlairrd]

@@GenGamesUniverse is that confirmed by Davies or just your speculation?

[@crismonlightning7542]

What if they brought back the Rani?

[@williampaine3520]

I love the moment where Neil Patrick Harris drops the accent. It screams "this just got serious".

[@jarrodedson5441]

Exactly

[@wafflingmean4477]

Tenant REALLY seems to be trying to channel Twelve here and I love it. This comes across so differently to the panic Ten experienced upon realising the Master had survived the Time War. Ten usually revved up in energy when facing a serious threat, even if the threat was so serious that he had abandoned his usual goofy demeanour. But here I can see Twelve turning those wheels, maintaining composure but every bit as worried as he should be. I haven't watched any of the specials yet but I'm glad Fourteen to some extent is taking elements of Smith and Capaldi. I think one of Capaldi's best traits was that while he added a unique persona to the collection of Doctors, Twelve being a 'mask off' incarnation caused him to also often show traits of his former incarnations.

[@xanderm6090]

Jodie as well. Given it being the most direct one and there is a lot of her sarcastic friendly and outgoing demeanor here in other scenes.

[@Z3R0Steam]

its a great way of cementing that this is indeed a redo of an old face, he's still experienced the mental changes from 11, 12, and 13

[@JMurdochNZ]

Neil always gives fantastic performances and here looks no different. That little smirk of "I wondered which one of your had the balls". The switch between the accents. The mimicking of the original actor's mannerisms. Great acting from David and Catherine too, naturally.

[@StickySauce101]

when the Doctor is genuinely afraid you know that the Toymaker is a serious threat, Doctor faces demigods all the time, Toymaker isn't demi.. he's a full "god" and even Doctor knows that there's no way to beat him, all you can do is hope to survive and find some way to get him to leave or trip up somehow.

[@winstonpapstein6871]

The subtle change of expression from uncertainty to horror on both 14 & Donna's faces as 14 is piecing together all the clues regarding The Toymaker's identity like a puzzle is brilliant. All of this while The Toymaker looks at them with a slight mischievous grin on his face is the icing on the cake. I can't wait for this to come out tomorrow!

[@TheHufflepuffSaint]

Ooooo... Those transitions to the First Doctor's encounter is just *chef kiss*. This is gonna be good. 😻😻😻

[@timlemmens1087]

That cut from Gough's face to Harris' is brilliantly edited.

[@93Chowo]

Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker already looks like a very good choice.

[@cimmeriantenebrae4272]

The Toymaker is beautifully sinister in his scenes so far! I hope the story is just as good as the performances and musical score!

[@drd2121]

Won’t lie. The way the Dr catches each ball is subtly badass.

[@supremeoverlorde2109]

I was certainly impressed lol. I've have gotten smacked in the face by every single one. XD

[@victorpeterson3502]

My.god. David Tennant’s acting in this scene is spectacular.

[@kristinwuori3769]

Honestly though, when ISN"T his acting spectacular? And Catherine Tate alongside him? So wish there was a whole new season of these two.

[@JamesBiggins-xb4wo]

Best doctor out of the new generation of doctor who wish he would have stay on for another series

[@lillianflorence6056]

He is good in bad samaritan, kills women, good serious actor

[@wafflingmean4477]

Notice how the Doctor seems more focused on the Toymaker's words, trying to figure out what the next move is, until the Toymaker focuses on Donna, and gives the Doctor that eyebrow raise at 0:46. At that point the Toymaker seems to be saying "You brought her here. So now she's part of this. Bad idea." And then the Doctor immediately tells Donna to go back to the Tardis, and looks terrified. He knows the Toymaker will make an example of Donna if the Doctor loses whatever game is in store.

[@pandaphil]

I always get a thrill when the Doctor recognizes an old enemy.

[@JoboVT]

god the music in this scene is great, the way it slowly builds especially when the doctor starts remembering the toymaker and realises he's back

[@friendlyotaku9525]

CHILLS! Neil Patrick Harris is SO good and those flashbacks of the original Toymaker... in COLOUR no less! So good, and this really sells just how dangerous and powerful the Toymaker is with the Doctor's reaction and him telling Donna to go back to the TARDIS where she will be safe which he NEVER tells her to do! I can't wait for tomorrow!!

[@henrypeters5291]

And here I thought 13 telling that unit agent to give Yaz a gun meant shit was serious.

[@carealoo744]

Neil It's so beyond perfect for this role that I can't even comprehend it. For someone who apparently didn't even know Doctor Who existed before being offered this role, he sure is doing the perfect balance of having fun with it and taking it completely seriously. It's sad to think that this might be the only episode that we get to see him playing the Toymaker in, because I could easily imagine him being a recurring villain based on the first five seconds of this clip alone.

[@Sparx632]

They have that Disney money now, maybe they could bring him back again.

[@goji253]

Problem is, you can't really overuse the Toymaker. If the Doctor regularly outsmarts a reality warping elder god from since before the dawn of time, you'll start to question why you should care about any other threat. Because by comparison they are nothing.

[@carealoo744]

@@goji253 I mean to be fair, I feel like hear this argument a lot, not just about Doctor Who but a lot of things in general, and I'm starting to greatly disagree with it- The argument is essentially- "If a character is constantly shown to be capable of defeating very powerful opponents, then that will reduce the tension to basically nothing if they're up against an opponent that is much weaker by comparison." However, I disagree. Exhibit A of many would be the death of The Seventh Doctor. Now sure, it's a controversial moment in general, but it's also rather realistic. Despite this incarnation of The Doctor being one of the most manipulative and cunning incarnations ever, taking down entire empire and planets at his own will according to audio dramas and books, his end ultimately came to a random group of thugs on Earth. That gang, is far less powerful than anything else The Doctor had battled before, and yet despite all that reputation, he still reached his end in a rather underwhelming fashion. And why wouldn't that be the case? Very intelligent people can meet their end to very underwhelming threats. In fact, if you've built up a reputation as someone who's capable of handling anything, you're much more likely to let your guard down and end up falling victim to something that You never once expected might actually be a problem for you. In fact, writing this comment just gave me a very good idea for a villain- One that is so incredibly unintelligent, that they're just basically unpredictable. It's like that quote- The greatest swordsman in the world doesn't fear the second greatest swordsman in the world; He fears the worst. Because you have no idea what that idiot is going to do.

[@goji253]

@@carealoo744 Except what you mentioned are all still tangible threats. Sure someone can die just as well to a stab wound than to being hit by a truck. But you're really not considering the proportions of the toymaker. He is, quite literally, a god. The very nature of his existence is contradictory to the very identity of the show. The impact he has, the dread he invokes, hinges on the idea that he is beyond comprehension. That all limits of what is possible don't matter to him. Even the time lords were afraid of him. There is nothing fun or believable about the Doctor just beating the single most powerful threat he as ever faced... every other year or so. It just makes an ordinary joke of something that is supposed to be terrifying. Also, just for the record, you can very much destroy a show by overescalating the threats all the time. Look at how many shonen anime die because people don't get that it's a bad idea that will bore the audience.

[@carealoo744]

@@goji253 I mean While this may not be the best example, I just keep thinking of the historical stories from the 60s. We go from giant robot capable of destroying the city and controlling the world, and on the very next story The Doctor is fumbling around and being captured by some pirates. The Doctor will have to struggle No matter what kind of situation he's in, even if it doesn't feel as intense all the time. My ultimately just feel that the Toymaker should come back because there's just so much potential with him. He's the original Squid Game. You don't even necessarily have to have him as the most powerful character to ever exist all the time. You could even do something and maybe this episode or another one, that takes away some of his power. In his first story, he wasn't really treated like a god. Yeah, he has his own realm of existence that he can use to draw in random people like The Doctor, and force them to play deadly games. Otherwise he turns them into toys, and he can turn people into visible and intangible and make them unable to speak, sure all those are great powers and all, but I wouldn't really call them reality altering. In his first story, it takes place entirely within his own reality, and it's never really implied. He has any sort of real influence on the real world. That of course is probably going to change in The Giggle, but I still think there's plenty of story potential to tell with him. You could even have him not necessarily as the main villain, but as a referee as he watches over people being forced to play these games. You could go full Liar Game and have The Doctor be forced to play against mentally strong opponents who are desperate to win, and see if The Doctor can not only not lose the game, but also find a way to save his opponents who are so tirelessly working against him at every opportunity.

[@randallmyrick1762]

bruh this is such a chilling intro, the memory flashbacks and how the more he remembers the bigger the toymakers smile gets as if he can see the moments the doctor remembers with a sick fondness.

[@timelord2502]

Love this scene, the music is great especially at the end once his facade drops and the doctor realises

[@GREATRJ1]

after the first preview most my skeptisium was gone but this ensures its gone. this is very much like the toymaker. he likes to talk; especially about games. the flashes with michael gough and hartnell were also amazing and tells you that this is a much bigger deal than first realised.

[@mirage809]

Neil Patrick Harris was perfect casting. Dude is just owning his every second on screen in this scene. This is episode might just be legen... wait for it... dary!

[@jcasali3391]

wow they actually showed footage of William Hartnell's encounter with him very clever

[@rh.animations]

the german accent to british makes him feel so much more sinister

[@Lia-zw1ls7tz7o]

maybe it's just me but as a german myself I can't take him seriously because the German accent sounds so goofy and when he actually speaks German, it's not quite pronounced correctly, especially with things like "Ball". Only once he speaks with an English accent, it sounds sinister indeed.

[@TheSixthDoctor]

@@Lia-zw1ls7tz7o You're not meant to take him all the way seriously. He's making himself look harmless and ridiculous with this accent in his old timey shop and by juggling throughout, dropping lame puns, but you're supposed to pick up on what he's actually saying. He describes murder as the origin of the first ever game and that it felt enjoyable to the killer, just like the aftermath of a devastating war will mark the last time the game will ever be played. You're supposed to pick up on a ridiculous facade hiding a far more sinister intent. Silk hiding steel, as they say.

[@Lia-zw1ls7tz7o]

@@TheSixthDoctor Oh I did pick up on that, no worry. :)

[@SinisterPixel]

During RTD's first era, he was tasked with introducing an entirely new generation to Doctor Who. Because of that he couldn't really make these deep cut references to classic who as much as he wanted to, I think. Moffat pushed the boat out with classic who references a lot, and I feel like RTD saw this and decided for his second run, he wanted to really try some deep cut references. This is a story that wouldn't have worked during 10s run, but works BRILLIANTLY now

[@tTaseric]

Yeah there's been an increasing confidence with Moffat and Chibnall to get some real deep cut references to classic who, and I'm glad RTD is finally running with it.

[@GranmargYGO]

rtd literally used the macra

[@SinisterPixel]

@@GranmargYGO true although there's a bit of a difference between reusing a monster and reusing a character like the Toymaker. We don't have to establish a history with an enemy like the macra in order to use it. We do with the Toymaker

[@mitchellclark4377]

RTD walked so Moffat could run so Chibnall could stumble so RTD could fly.

[@tTaseric]

@@mitchellclark4377 When it specifically comes to deep cut classic who references, Chibnall hardly stumbled. Having direct references to stuff like the Brain of Morbius certainly wouldn't be a thing in the RTD era. Chibnall in general also just took a lot more inspiration from Classic Who when it came to his interpretations of classic villains. Writing quality can be debated, but the inspiration is certainly there and more evident than Moffat and RTD1 imo. And do I even need to mention Power of the Doctor?

[@Zxolot1]

The fact that they last met 3000 years ago and still remember is crazy

[@davidleonard272]

I'm glad they also acknowledged that The Toymaker used to look like Fu Man Chu. Thats taking both ownership of the awkwardness and keeping continuity so mad respect from me.

[@benjaminoechsli1941]

Yeah! And it works, considering The Toymaker was introduced as a truly immortal being the first go 'round. Who's to say he doesn't have his own appearance changes the way Time Lords do?

[@Courageous91]

Can we talk for a second about the fact 14 is uneasy the moment he walks in and when it dawns on him, the first thing he does is tell Donna to basically hide? This is the same being who had Rose, Jack and Donna (before the Tardis went nope) into the heart of Dalek Empire and this guy scares him that much Ugh this is so goooooood

[@wadeyoung4271]

Think about it. Daleks to the doctor: easy mode. The Toymaker that can either destroy the world and you on it by winning a game or turn you and your companions into toys by losing a game…I’d tell that companion to run back to the Tardis and hide.

[@Courageous91]

@@wadeyoung4271 - That's exactly what I'm getting at. It conveys the threat of the Toymaker in just one line and one action to anyone who doesn't know him. It's a masterful introduction

[@wadeyoung4271]

@@Courageous91 truly the Toymaker is the most insidious and creative enemy. Makes you wonder how the other forms of the Doctor would’ve reacted.

[@tiagopatricio3805]

​@@wadeyoung4271 9th (Before Rose) Would have fought and died 10th would have run 11 and 12th would have fought and then run 13th would have run

[@jaydenyugi9034]

So excited and nervous for this episode at the same time! Excited for the chaos but also nervous for 14 and Donna’s final hurrah. The Doctor’s reaction to knowing it’s the Toymaker is so good.

[@mrafton9457]

Neil Patrick Harris is one of the most underrated actors in the world.

[@shadowshots9393]

Not true, underutilize is the right word

[@fayesouthall6604]

@@shadowshots9393 I looked at his Wikipedia page and he’s barely stopped working for 20 years plus. He’d be a great Bond villain or something in the MCU.

[@jarrodedson5441]

​@@shadowshots9393exactly

[@RajaniIsa]

@@fayesouthall6604 And he can be creepy, fun, or both! He also did a stint as a batman villain in Batman Brave and the Bold. Quite a musical episode.

[@richardknox4612]

​@@RajaniIsamy god...dont tell me he played Music Meister?

[@emberashes6809]

The way he smirks when the doctor remembers who he is gives me flashbacks to when capaldis doctor reacted to missy called herself the master

[@RopeDrink]

The Toymaker, the juggling, the showmanship, the clowning around - the whole episode reminded me of "The Greatest Show in the Galaxy" - and then, 15 literally mentions "The Gods of Ragnarok" later on, much to my surprise. Loved seeing Mel again, and it was nice to have so many classic throwbacks along the way. Also, a fantastic performance by NP-Harris - loved his take on the Toymaker.

[@joshuaa_77]

Neil Patrick Harris is at the top of his game (no pun intended)

[@HelluvaFicus]

The amount of acting chops in this scene is just- Wow. I cannot wait!!

[@S-Fan2006]

That child choir after the Doctor said "The Toymaker" was brilliant. It’s even more chilling than the child choir heard in the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie opening in my opinion, probably because it was in the background and slightly quicker in my opinion. At the same time, you could see the child choir as a sort of symbolism for the early days of Doctor Who. It also works to give the Toymaker a presence that just feels eerie and sinister. I love it so much.

[@piercelindenberg6842]

I felt the same way about the choir.

[@thewiseturtle]

Wasn't there some epic choir stuff leading up to the mysterious darkness is coming plot undertones during 11's run? *checks* Hmmmm, I guess I'm thinking of the creepy haunted dolls episode Night Terrors and the super creepy children singing the "tick tock) nursery rhyme song.

[@parinikasharma317]

Exactly! It just sells the Toymaker's creepiness.

[@chancenaauao-ota7253]

When the Doctor finally realizes he’s the Toymaker and the Toy Maker’s English Accent comes out it sent chills down my spine. Tis but his true voice?

[@JeffreyWood-ku8gd]

I believe he just mocks all of humanity (but oh, they can be fun to play with!) and their silly ways of speaking. And he manages to do this despite the TARDIS translation.

[@FailcopterWes]

That little theme for the Toymaker at the end sounds like something out of Ghost In The Shell and it works.

[@Poke-ladd]

I wonder how many times he had to juggle, I would love to see bloopers or him just showing off his talent

[@Spectralyzed]

The only time the Doctor takes his eyes off the Toymaker during this entire scene is when Donna catches the ball. The rest of the time, his eyes are fixed on him. He doesn't even blink.

[@stephenchapasko5185]

I love that Harris is able to make the Toymaker cheeky and scary at the same time.

[@Doomshroom00]

Hartnell is the first Doctor, his legacy shall remain. No other Doctor was before him. Period.

[@JSP_1147]

Yes. While I love the fugitive doctor, Hartnell is the og one, thankfully RTD loosened the rules with the "I made a jigsaw out of your history" meaning we can chose to believe it or not. For me the fugitive doctor isnt before Hartnell but an alternative universe first doctor

[@rjmcallister1888]

Well done, and the flashbacks to William Hartnell and Michael Gough (colorized) bring it all together. Most of the original is lost for now, except the last episode, where the Doctor triumphs. Don't know this time. Neil Patrick Harris plays well against type. And David and Catherine are on their A-game, along with Murray Gold's music.

[@CharlesDLincoln]

I love this scene AND I also realized Matt Smith's Doctor would miss every single ball, and probably knock over half the store in the process.

[@leoshead]

Too true

[@BlueMoon56832]

That is indeed something he would do

[@mediakira6621]

Yep. Moffat exaggerates rhe silly side way too much

[@BlueMoon56832]

Eh...silly is what we needed...it was fun...besides...he could write one hell of a speech..the pandorica...rings of ahkaten....the zygon rebellion with the osgood boxes

[@riveracrobat01]

All three are killing it in this scene. It’s super intense. I can’t wait for tomorrow’s episode.

[@matt0044]

I'll always appreciate NuWho flashing back to Classic Who even for a little. The film quality might vary but it makes certain that what came before had happened and isn't being "updated." At least not needlessly.

[@kerravon7530]

"We meet again, Doctor" was perhaps the Toymaker at his most chilling. Because it was the only part said without an accent

[@danieljames6899]

I loved both specials released so far for this 60th, but this one seems to be the most celebratio of the series

[@shadowmarvel0737]

The fact that the doctors just catching them effortlessly man he is the doctor iv missed him David just brings something so unique Matt did too ❤ I miss the old days

[@grump9001]

"I wondered which one of you had ze balls..." *smirks* Perfection

[@Duckiman]

With Doctor Who's history I always envy the people who witnessed the original story involving a returning enemy. It must be so thrilling for them to see the Doctor face off against the Toymaker again after all these years.

[@austinnatwick5293]

Did anyone else get chills with the flashback with the first doctor/William Hartnell

[@willsisskind]

Glad to hear (I think?) NPH isn't keeping up the faux-German accent throughout the episode. I loved the cutaways to the OG Toymaker (Michael Gough) and Hartnell. I hope an hour is enough to explain why the Toymaker's there, what all this has to do with 14 looking like 10, and how this is going to (according to RTD) affect the lore of the franchise forever. Fun stuff!

[@ArakkoaChronicles]

In one clip he has a faux French accent, here a German one and as we all know, in the Classic, he was dressed up in a Chinese get up. So I'm guessing they turned his outdated stereotypical get up into an affectation where he pretends to be (a parody of) different ethnicities for fun.

[@solaris9426]

@@ArakkoaChronicles Is the original appearance of the Toymaker among the episodes of Classic Who available on TubiTV?

[@fireflygaming8764]

​@@solaris9426Unfortunately not as the only remaining episode of The Celestial Toymaker is Episode 4, "The Final Game." There is an animated reconstruction due to come out next year, and I would think it would be added afterwards due to the other fully completed animations being there.

[@mrcritical6751]

I kinda hope he uses an exaggerated American accent when he’s in the old timey pilot get up we saw him wearing in the 60th trailer

[@greatgoldino]

I feel like it has to be the Flux right? The Toymaker's realm exists outside the universe and was destroyed, but the Doctor warned his return was inevitable. With half the universe destroyed, it's possible that he took advantage of that gap and simply strolled on through.

[@iw4075]

I love how donna caught the last ball!!!

[@HelluvaFicus]

I love it when they do flashbacks to Classic Who, it's just 🤌

[@docintar]

"I wondered which one of you had the balls" , - Best Smug face of all Doctor Who era

[@danielgrafton93]

After watching this episode All I can say is that Neil Patrick Harris was a golden casting for the celestial toy maker Couldn’t have been happier

[@Solitaire001]

I'd like to see him again too, but as a final appearance for that actor. Then, let someone else take over the role so that he remains an unpredictable threat.

[@CASM-ze7lb]

The fact that NPH can juggle, throw at the co-stars without looking and deliver the dialogue is a testament to his chops as a wicked performer!!!

[@remychase]

Neil is actually skilled in close up magic, which includes juggling skills. It was one of the real aspects of him that he infused his character of Barney Stinson with on How I Met Your Mother. Neil is a seriously talented individual.

[@mediakira6621]

I do like how there is a little bit of Michael Gough in the face when Neil smirks

[@07Optimus]

After 57 years of the Doctor Who series, we finally see The Toymaker return for a rematch with the Doctor.

[@Bagofnowt]

AAAA MY GOD THAT MADE ME FEEL THINGS every single one of them absolutely killing it

[@benburke3015]

"Everybody loves the balls" in absolutely gonna take off as a meme. I just know it is lmao.

[@TreeboyTreeboy-ep3gt]

Naw Doctor Who is dead nobody’s making memes about it and when they do they most definitely don’t go viral.

[@NOVAFOXED]

Whats got you bent out of shape?​@TreeboyTreeboy-ep3gt

[@emreerylmaz2457]

For a moment, I saw the toymaker from the classic series, the speech and facial expressions were exactly the same. Patrick played well.

[@trevorhensley3185]

The Toymaker in the 60s was played by Michael Gough aka Alfred Pennyworth from 1989 to 1997.

[@AngelaH2222]

That's some impressive memory, its been hundreds of years since seeing the Toymaker, yet he still remembers him clearly... meanwhile us mear mortals have trouble recalling someone from five years ago...

[@tiagopatricio3805]

The toymaker made the doctor regenerate for the first time, so, of course he would remember!!!

[@SteelSpurs]

If you count extended media, the last time he saw the Toymaker was as 12.

[@AngelaH2222]

@@SteelSpurs perhaps, but for most of the world Doctor Who is the actual TV episodes

[@SteelSpurs]

@@AngelaH2222 Doesn’t discredit the other media though 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@fallingraine9615]

"I have walked in universes where the laws of physics were devised by a mad man!"

[@aqua3100]

Neil nailed the smile, hell he nailed everything about the Toymaker extremely well.

[@matthewlo55]

Doctor: What will you have after 500 years? Toymaker: You Doctor, I'd still have you.

[@Lemuel928]

(Oh..He did met Curator Doctor in another time.)

[@glennparker7028]

0:02 The Toymaker is just so happy to see his old foe The Doctor again after so long!!!!!!

[@MatthewCYN15]

A few minutes in, and i already love NPH as the Toymaker. Michael Gough would definitely approve. 🎭🃏

[@thesuperiordoctorawhotribu511]

Still sad cause we're going to say goodbye to Tennant...AGAIN 😢

[@DemetriusSorvo]

If rumors are true, I don't think we will. 😉

[@jaumegabaldamendez764]

God Bless You if you are right!!! ❤

[@adamburke4738]

@@DemetriusSorvo 😂😂😂 keeping wishing and coping.

[@DemetriusSorvo]

​@@adamburke4738Just wait and see.

[@DalekGarf]

@@adamburke4738fr

[@shadowhunter0815]

Honestly, as a german the accent should annoy me but NPH's performance makes it work. mostly because you really get the feeling that the Toymaker is "playing" being german and puts on that fake accent for that role.

[@drummerboi357]

It's how he lost the first battle with the doctor with him changing his voice that's how the draw happend so he isn't able to do it again

[@sevro]

"Everybody loves the balls" that is going to become a gif/clip I can 100% guarantee it.

[@kazinwho]

It will be something that my wife will be annoyed of as soon as she gets home from work today, I'll tell you what lmao

[@quailish2]

Lmaooooo

[@P.Zakaidze]

The flashbacks just made this scene even more amazing.

[@Lord_Fenrir]

The build up to the reveal was SO well done and the scary toy-like music when the Doctor drops the name🔥🔥

[@JamesThomasJeans]

It's kind of wild that Michael Gough was 50 when he played the Toymaker, and NPH just turned 50. They carry that age all kinds of different.

[@bill4665]

I love how throughout the episode he drops his accent making him completely unpredictable.

[@AmirysMewen]

I do love how Donna isn’t offended by the doctor telling her to go back to the tardis … she knows him well meaning she knows that if he’s telling HER to go back to the tardis …. Somethings very wrong

[@tdi21]

"We meet again, Doctor!" Who knew Neil Patrick Harris could give you chills as a villain? Doctor Who's answer to Q, he may be. But talk about a sinister voice

[@marvellistbond1218]

Toymaker… Entity, which didn’t lose to the Doctor. There was actually a draw. Poor First Doctor barely got alive. In one of the drafts for the OG series, the Doctor should have regenerated right there. And then here comes Neil Patrick Harris. He is, basically, a Toymaker. He makes some games, and a magician himself. He is cheeky, and magnificent in any of his roles. All stars has aligned for it to be a great story. I suppose, maybe one of the greatest stories of all time…

[@adamstewart9052]

And the Doctor is supposed to have regenerated again at the end of this which might be something to do with this.

[@ronaldeliascorderocalles]

With Neil Patrick Harris, this episode will be LEGEN...wait for it...

[@ronaldeliascorderocalles]

DARY! Legendary!

[@dylanrinker6831]

Dary....!

[@daveellis3048]

I hope you’re not lactose intolerant cos that last word is DAIRY!

[@jordancrooks6752]

1:17 gts reference

[@HazelS71]

The absolute intensity of this scene is Fantastic!

[@nateslplayzzz]

the way how he just swaps from german straight to english to show he's stopped joking around is just.. perfect

[@durpanda123]

Man looks like NPH is gonna kill it as the toy maker, so excited for this.

[@tausharader1960]

Technically The Doctor has tried to send Donna back to the TARDIS for her protection. Only one other time: in The Library with the Vashta Nerrada. And at that time The Doctor had to trick her because he knew she wouldn't go voluntarily. The fact that the Doctor dropped all pretenses and explicitly told her to get back to the TARDIS tells her and the audience just how much of a threat the Toymaker is.