Doctor Who: The Giggle: Preview

So the final episode of the 60th anniversary specials is here and in the 1hour finale of David Tennant and Catherine Tate's return, there's much to wrap up - including the ongoing mystery of why Jodie Whittaker's Doctor regenerated into David Tennant's familiar visage.

Based on the preview of the episode provided by the BBC, there's no answers immediately forthcoming as the story launches into the continuation of Wild Blue Yonder's ending which saw the human race apparently driven mad and fighting.

But there's much commentary in what unfolds in The Giggle, both social and of the show's own history.

Parallels to Covid vaccine deniers, keyboard warriors, the delusion everyone is right and the general hostility of Earth's dwellers all feature cleverly in the background of this story that essentially pits the Doctor against the oldest of his enemies, the Toymaker (wonderfully portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris, who calls on all levels of his acting and performance background throughout).

Subtle nods to the show's past will only be picked upon by diehard fans, and perhaps the peppering of these visual cues and callbacks throughout give this episode the greatest feeling of an anniversary episode that looks back on the show. But to say more is sadly to dip toes into spoiler territory.

It's a pacy episode too, but one that's not afraid to pack in nightmarish levels of moments, some of which harken through to disturbing childhood dreams and elements of Saw's own Jigsaw puppet. 

Harris particularly exudes creepy menace throughout, and there's an implicit frisson of danger during most of his appearances. Though one sequence recalls a specific moment from the Sound of Drums and Everything Everywhere All At Once which, much like Sacha Dhawan's Rasputin in The Power of the Doctor, will either be beloved or reviled by audiences and fans.

Perhaps what's best about the episode are the callbacks to both the specials and also the show's history, but once again it's Tennant and Tate's performances within that give the episode the depth. There's a very real feeling the Doctor is outmaneuvered this time, and Tennant captures both that indignation, frustration and desperation with veritable aplomb throughout. 

There's also signature moments of the Doctor's righteous indignation in a couple of outbursts which feel like a writer's commentary on society.

But once again, what's largely clear from The Giggle is how much of a partnership the Doctor and Donna have become and remain so. 

These are the moments Tate leans more into and which the script affords her the chance to be the Doctor's compass and also the one thing that keeps him from the abyss - and Tate makes a great fist of her moments.

The Giggle is one hell of a rollercoaster ride as it wraps up the specials - it'll certainly provoke diehard fans but may also remind many that this show largely reinvents itself every few years, while staying true to its core roots - and with Ncuti Gatwa's entrance into proceedings as the Fifteenth Doctor, there's much change ahead.

The Giggle premieres on the BBC on Saturday December 9, and worldwide on Disney+