When it comes to Doctor Who, I must admit to large amounts of ignorance. I have been aware of the show for a long time, I can probably track it all the way back to my early childhood. I recall stumbling across episodes on PBS or some such network and I would watch; however, I never really absorbed it. I liked it but it never attracted me in the way that, say, Star Trek did. I never felt compelled to seek it out, I would watch but I never went out of my way. Then the series was revived in a rather substantial fashion in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston; it was good and I loved it. Then David Tennant stepped into the TARDIS in 2006 and I enjoyed the first few seasons but then lost track. Now, with this release I am officially introduced to the Matt Smith version of the Doctor.
The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe is the 2011 edition of the Christmas special, an annual tradition of the universe, and the second one to feature Smith. The story is a little bit inspired by the CS Lewis novel, the similarly titled The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. It is a sweet holiday tale that does not feature a villain, but does have a good dose of genuine emotion, some good special effects, comedy, drama, and pretty good acting. As it turns out, I now think I need to go back and check out some of the most recent season.
As the special starts, the Doctor is on a spaceship orbiting the Earth. He is running and the ship is starting to explode. He is able to get off the ship while wearing a spacesuit. He crashes to Earth of the late 1930s where he meets Madge Orwell, who kindly helps him find the TARDIS.
A few years later, World War II is raging and Madge learns that her husband is lost over the English Channel. She takes her two children, Cyril and Lily, to a friend's home in Dorset where they meet the quirky Caretaker (aka The Doctor). Christmas is around the corner and Madge wishes to protect the children from the knowledge of their father's fate.
The story takes us into a Christmas gift, which is actually a portal, to a snowy forest on an alien world where they meet wood creatures who are looking for help from someone they deem to be strong. This leads too.... well, I don't want to give you everything. Let's just say that you should take a little time to watch it, if you haven't already that is.
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