DW Review: "The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe"

I fell asleep during last year's holiday special, which I attributed to being tired. But upon watching it again, I realize it's because it wasn't the most invigorating story, but ended up being charming and heartwarming, which was probably the intention. It follows the story of Madge, who finds and helps a stranded doctor. Years later, after her husband is reported dead during the war, the doctor helps create a magical holiday for Madge and her kids, but ends up leading them to a planet of living trees about to be decimated for fuel by acid rain. The kids and Madge help save the day, guiding the trees through the time vortex to a safe haven, and inadvertently guiding her husband towards their home as well. In the end, the doctor goes to visit Amy and Rory, and upon finding that they saved a place for him, knowing via River that he did not die at Lake Silencio, he cringes happy tears, which according to him are so human. The last part was really heartwarming, with my favorite companions showing how close they are with the doctor. But it's also bittersweet, because he's about to lose them.

On a side note, some of the "Night and the Doctor" segments on the DW blu-ray set are really stellar. Especially the one with multiple Rivers and doctors coinciding on the same night. And mostly because we see the doctor taking River to see the singing towers, which we know was where he took her before she had her final mission in the library. When addressed regarding that event, he only said spoilers, making it unclear whether that was their nearly final time together. I like how Moffat mentioned that, and I hope that particular story is clearly resolved and clarified before his tenure is done, if or whenever that may be. Along with other things, like what is so important about his name, and now River knows it.

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