The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe Review

If you find a mysterious astronaut on the ground, always help him up cause who know, it would be the Doctor. Steven Moffat's take on the classic tale has its own unique twist to it, and Matt Smith is in his element.

So the story goes like this, after escaping an exploding ship, the Doctor lands in Britain and is found by Madge. Thanks to her help, the Doctor promises to help her whenever she needs help. To wish upon a star for help. Three years later, war has broken out (the year is 1944 by the way) and Madge's husband is missing in action. So Madge decides not to tell her children and give them Christmas before telling them. So they head to a friend's house, and meet the "Caretaker" who is quite ridiculous. We all know the Caretaker is the Doctor, but due to recent events in the show, the Doctor is still hiding.

In this house, the Doctor has added his own personal touch which shocks his guests (ie. tap for lemonade, moving chairs). His most notable gifts is the Christmas tree and the big blue box with a portal inside. Unfortunately, the Doctor's present is opened too early and the youngest Cyril goes inside. So the Doctor and the sister Lily go in after him and the Doctor discovers that this world isn't as safe as he thought.

I feel that this special really pushed emphasis on family and the joys and dark times they experience. I mean the mother desperately wants to her children to enjoy Christmas, but know they'll be sad when she tells them. The children want to have another great Christmas and see their father. The Doctor truly wants to family to work out, and tries his utmost to give them a good time. This Christmas special has its laughs, mostly from the Doctor but it gives that warm feeling that should be felt on Christmas day. On the topic of that, as some may know, the Ponds make an cameo in this special and the reunion between the Doctor and Amy is quite touching since the Doctor has been alone for a while now. So that was nice.

The story mainly focuses on the Arwell family though, or at least thats how it plays out. Although this special wasn't as humorous as the previous one, it was good in its own right. Not to mention something to hold fans over until the late Season 7 in 2012.