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“The Celestial Toymaker: A Game Show in the Void, But Does It Play Well?”

The Celestial Toymaker begins with an ambitious concept: the Doctor and his companions are trapped in a surreal domain outside time and space, forced to play deadly games by the enigmatic Toymaker. While the premise teases limitless potential, the execution fails to deliver a satisfying or engaging narrative.

Rules of the Game: Pacing Issues and Missed Opportunities

The serial’s core problem lies in its overlong and repetitive structure. Each game, from the tedious chair-picking challenge to the nonsensical kitchen sequence, feels unnecessarily drawn out. What could have been an exhilarating two-parter is stretched into four episodes, testing the viewer’s patience. The games lack variety and stakes, undermining their potential to generate tension or excitement.

The Toymaker himself is another missed opportunity. Michael Gough’s (Alfred in the 90s Batman films!) performance hints at a fascinating, powerful adversary, but the character remains frustratingly passive. His vague Oriental-inspired villainy, complete with harmful stereotypes, has aged poorly, detracting from his intended mystique.

Pieces on the Board: Companions Left in Limbo

Steven and Dodo are positioned as the story’s leads during the Doctor’s partial absence (his invisibility was going to be used to write Hartnell out and replace him with a new actor, but was dropped because Hartnell’s contract was renewed), but they’re given little to do beyond reacting to the games. Their interactions lack depth, and their potential character development is sacrificed to the serial’s rigid focus on the tasks at hand.

Dodo’s overconfidence, which could be a compelling trait, instead comes across as grating, while Steven’s resourcefulness is largely wasted. The lack of meaningful development for either companion leaves them feeling static and underutilised.

The Playing Field: A Lifeless Setting and Uneven Performances

The visual design of The Celestial Toymaker is a significant letdown. The minimalist sets fail to evoke the surreal wonder and danger that the story requires, while the missing episodes leave reconstructions struggling to convey the intended atmosphere.

The supporting cast, with characters like the squeaky clown Clara and the unsettling Cyril, veer into the realm of the irritating and unintentional nightmare fuel. Michael Gough’s restrained performance as the Toymaker stands out, but even he is unable to elevate the lacklustre material.

Final Moves: A Lack of Tension and an Underwhelming Climax

The serial’s conclusion brings some light tension, particularly in the final moments of the Doctor’s Trilogic game. However, the resolution feels anticlimactic, and the Toymaker’s threat never materialises into anything tangible. The cliffhanger leading into The Gunfighters provides a brief spark of interest but does little to redeem the preceding story.

Verdict: A Concept with No Winning Strategy

The Celestial Toymaker is a rare example of a four-parter that feels too long, its potential squandered by lacklustre writing, poor pacing, and uninspired visuals. While the premise offers glimpses of creativity and ambition, the end result is a tedious and problematic outing that fails to live up to its promise. 

📝40/100

An intriguing but flawed experiment that leaves little lasting impression, The Celestial Toymaker plays all the wrong moves.