Review: Doctor Who 7.X: The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe

Lily and Cyril find a present from The Caretaker.

A pattern has emerged out of the avaliable data. My hypothesis, as indicated by The Christmas Carol and The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe is that Moffat is bloody brilliant at Christmas specials. DWW wasn't a perfect outing for the show, but it certainly embodied everything that I want out of both a Moffat script and out of a heart-warming Christmas special. Its few flaws were outnumbered, however, by a brilliant tone and an exemplary set of performances from the main leads.
      The Doctor, escaping from an exploding ship, falls upon a small town in 1938 and is picked up by proud mother Madge Arwell (Claire Skinner, Outnumbered). She helps him to return to the TARDIS, and he tells her that he will repay the favour if needed. Three years pass, and Madge's husband Reg (Alexander Armstrong) is killed at war. That Christmas, Madge takes her children Cyril and Lily (Holly Earl, who interestingly enough had a cameo in Red Dwarf during the Dark Times) to a house in the country run by The Caretaker (The Doctor). At night, Lily investigates The Doctor's tinkering while Cyril strays into a present in the sitting room - a portal that leads to a snowy wood where trees spontaneously grow decorations.
     As Lily and The Doctor tried to find Cyril, who is being stalked by wooden men, Madge also stumbles through the portal and is caught by an Androzani Major mining group (led by Droxil - comedian Bill Bailey), who are prepping the forest for an acid rain drop designed to harvest the valuable Androzani trees. In response, the trees' souls (life force) are trying to escape - but need to use a human as a relay. The Doctor is surprised to discover the trees consider him "weak", but when Madge arrives in their wooden lighthouse, her motherlyness deems her "strong" and she guides the souls. The lighthouse is guided by Madge's mind through the Time Vortex, back to 1941 - and as a bonus, her husband is sent through the vortex and saved. Madge, as a farewell present, promises to call again, and asks for The Doctor to tell those he loves that he is still alive. He pops to visit Amy and Rory, who welcome him to Christmas dinner with open arms.

The Doctor comforts Lily.

     Young actor Maurice Cole's performance as Cyril was irritating at times, but that was excuseable. Claire Skinner was brilliant as always, as was Alexander Armstrong's touching cameo and the appearance from Bill Bailey. Holly Earl as Lily Arwell was actually rather brilliant, and she stood out from the cast - in particular her reactions to Matt Smith, which were wonderfully naturalistic. Claire Skinner ran the risk of feeling just like her character in Outnumbered, but she added an extra pathos to the role that was inescapable.
      The plot was by far the most straightforward of Moffat's tales, and at times it felt distinctly more Gaiman than Moffat. There wasn't any twistyness or strangeness, and the number of references to Who old and new was astonishing to even me. The references felt comforting rather than exploitative, although I do feel that a story as comfy and safe as this one should be wary of dealing with one of the series' more dark outings.
      What can I say, this Christmas day? Moffat delivered a Christmas treat, which, while a little melodramatic and linear in places still presented a heart-warming Christmas adventure with brilliant performances and even better dialogue. I liked it, and it gave me cheer. So Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

Thanks. Merry Christmas.