Doctor Who: The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe [Blu-ray]

Watching the modern Doctor Who one-off specials has certainly become an unexpected Christmas tradition in our home. And each Doctor brings his own spin to the holiday themed episodes. Last year Matt Smith's Doctor took on Dickens in an outer-space interpretation of "A Christmas Carol." It was frenetic and funny, managed to seamlessly blend tragedy with humor, and was emotionally satisfying without being cloying. This year, we had "The Doctor, The Widow, and The Wardrobe" (its central plot point borrows from a certain literature classic--I think you can figure out which one). This may well be the most straightforward and heartfelt Christmas special yet. Set in World War II era Britain, Smith helps a family adjusts to what promises to be a painful season by making a perfect getaway experience for the kids. However, with the best of intentions, one of the Doctor's surprises leads to unexpected dangers. The family must work together to ensure their very survival and get back home.

The special capitalizes of an eco-friendly theme as the principle aliens within the piece are not your typical beasts. They too are a race battling to live as manmade intrusions into their environment threaten their existence and livelihood. Might the Doctor and his charges be of assistance? It is Christmas after all. Or as certain annihilation looms, might it be too late for anyone to survive? This is Doctor Who after all. The show's pacing is brisk and its storyline affirms a strong message of loyalty and family. In fact, the Doctor's exposure to the widow and her children make him contemplate those that he has left behind through the course of his exploits.

While many of the past Christmas specials were completely independent, "The Doctor, The Widow, and The Wardrobe" actually fits comfortably into the timeline of the on-going series. With a minimum of screen time, the show's finale packs an emotional punch that really resonates and sets up future episodes. And while, in truth, the main story was pleasant enough--it is these last few minutes that really distinguish this special and make it memorable. Smith is crisp and amusing as always, but it is Claire Skinner (as the mother) that really gets some nice dramatic moments. All in all, this is a very well balanced presentation. And, especially due to the last few moments, it is one that I will remember. A solid 4 star episodes with a simple but effective 5 star finale, I'd rank this as one of the sweetest (and possibly best) Christmas specials yet. KGHarris, 12/11.

The special itself was great, but everything on this Blu-Ray will also be in the eventual Series 7 box set. The only reason to buy this would be if you don't plan on getting season 7 or you just can not wait.

- Lily (as rocket engines fire): "What's happening?"
- the Doctor: "No idea. Do what I do. Hold tight... and pretend it's a plan."

As sublime as "A Christmas Carol" was, it would take something really special for this most recent Doctor Who Christmas Special to match, let alone top, it. I quite liked "The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe" because Matt Smith is never less than entertaining. But Steven Moffat's cup of schmaltz really spills over with this episode. But, hey, it's Christmastime, a season ripe for excess, and surely Moffat can be excused for overindulging his inner sappy.

The story opens in outer space as a hostile alien warship menaces Earth. But no sooner do the invaders declare "People of Earth, you stand alone!" than the Doctor pops up to gum up the works. But, having once more saved our little ball of mud, the Time Lord plummets down and crashlands in London on Christmas Eve, 1938. In the crater developed by his forced landing, the Doctor finds himself in a bit of a bind, but he's aided by a passing housewife named Madge Arwell (Claire Skinner). The Doctor is so touched by Madge's generosity that he vows to return the favor. "How?" she asks. "I dunno," says the Doctor. "Make a wish, that usually works."

Cut now to a war-torn London three years later, and to a desolate Christmastime for Madge Arwell. Having just received a telegram informing her of her husband's death under enemy fire, she determines to keep the news from her children, Lily and Cyril, until after the holidays. She promises them: "This Christmas is going to be the best Christmas ever!" (And, at this juncture, maybe there's a collective rolling of the eyes from the audience, oh we jaded souls.) To escape the German blitz, the Arwells relocate to Dorset to an uncle's country mansion. There, they're greeted by an odd stranger calling himself the Caretaker. Madge isn't too sure of the Caretaker and the barrage of mad whimsy he unleashes, but the kids take to him right away. Matt Smith comes across as a big kid at heart.

I think I love this sequence best, when "the Caretaker" gives the bemused Arwells a frenetic tour of their new home. Hoping to lift up their spirits, the Doctor - c'mon, you knew it was him - had made certain adjustments. I particularly enjoyed how excited the Doctor (and, by extension, Matt Smith) genuinely seemed to be in displaying the various rooms and their singular wares (the locomotive chairs, the lemonade pipeline, the plummeting hammocks, etc.). The kids are soon eyeing a mysterious glowing present wrapped up in blue next to the resplendent Christmas tree.

Moffat doesn't try to disguise his nod towards C.S. Lewis's THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE. And those moments of discovery, encompassed in the first twenty minutes, when the story was still somewhat clinging to the C.S. Lewis bits, make up some of the episode's best moments. Later, once the Doctor and the Arwells employ the "wardrobe" and begin to explore the other side's wintry woodsy realm is when I sort of started checking out. I just don't get the logic of harvesting a forest with acid rain. And I don't think Moffat developed the threats of the forest creatures and the harvesters well enough. I did enjoy the neat bit of trivia which references the 5th Doctor's final 1984 adventure ("The Caves of Androzani").

"The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe" ultimately doesn't resonate as strongly as "A Christmas Carol," and yet it's still a fine holiday tale. Claire Skinner delivers a strong performance. She doesn't have so many scenes with Matt Smith, but their interactions are quirky and memorable. Matt Smith shares more scenes with Holly Earl ("Lily"), and it's gratifying that the Doctor doesn't condescend to young Ms. Arwell. He treats her like an adult. Matt Smith is incredible, able to do madcap and then effortlessly carry on with the emotional bits. Moffat has pulled out the stops in terms of tugging on your heart strings (and there's an argument that he may've tugged a bit too hard). It helps that Moffat writes some of the best one-liners in this episode, and many good character moments. It ends on a truly wonderful moment for the lonely Time Lord, one of the few times since DOCTOR WHO's been revived as a television series that the closing credits drop on an absolutely content Doctor. There's probably a plate of fish fingers and custard waiting for him.

The DVD's bonus extras comprise a Prequel to "The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe" (00:01:26 minutes) and three "Best Of" featurettes (totaling over two hours) which essentially recap Series 5 and 6. As such, these featurettes (each running a bit over 43 minutes) focus on the Eleventh Doctor's top moments, on his Companions, and the Monsters they face. Plenty of clips shown from Series 5 and 6 and, surprisingly, an ensemble of American comedians, actors, musicians, and nerd icons provide fanboy commentary and perspective; Mark Sheppard is the only talking head here who is British and has actually worked on the show. "The Best of the Monsters" featurette also comes with "Ask a Whovian" segments in which Doctor Who cosplay fans at a convention answer Doctor Who-related questions.

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