The Celestial Toymaker

Runtime

100 minutes

Time Travel

Present

Tropes (Potential Spoilers!)

Evil Toys, Flashbacks, Games, Traps

Location (Potential Spoilers!)

Celestial Toyroom

Synopsis

The travellers arrive in a strange domain presided over by the Celestial Toymaker — an enigmatic, immortal entity who forces them to play a series of games, failure at which will render them his playthings for all eternity.

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4 Episodes

The Celestial Toyroom Missing

First aired

Saturday, April 2, 1966

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

8 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

The Doctor, Steven and Dodo arrive in the realms of the Celestial Toymaker, who forces them to play his deadly games.

The Hall of Dolls Missing

First aired

Saturday, April 9, 1966

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

8 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

While the Doctor continues to play the Trilogic Game with the Toymaker, Steven and Dodo are involved in a deadly game of musical chairs.

The Dancing Floor Missing

First aired

Saturday, April 16, 1966

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

9.4 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

Steven and Dodo are forced to cross the dancing floor, where the Toymaker's dolls plan to force them to dance for eternity.

The Final Test

First aired

Saturday, April 23, 1966

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

7.8 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

As the Doctor nears the end of his game against the Toymaker, Steven and Dodo take on Cyril in a lethal game of hopscotch to try and recover the TARDIS.

Characters

First Doctor

Steven Taylor

How to watch The Celestial Toymaker:

Watch on iPlayer

DVD

Lost in Time

DVD

Doctor Who – The Celestial Toymaker

Blu-Ray

Doctor Who – The Celestial Toymaker

Blu-Ray

Doctor Who – The Celestial Toymaker [Steelbook]

VHS

The Hartnell Years (VHS)

Reviews
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10 reviews

“We’ll never see him again, will we, Doctor ?”

Avec son Michael Gough absolument électrisant, The Celestial Toymaker a un sacré potentiel, mais force est de constater qu’il ne l'accomplit jamais.

C’est déjà, comme il ne reste rien des trois premières parties, un artefact presque irregardable aujourd’hui, mais même quand - enfin ! - ça bouge, c’est juste très fastidieux et sans vie.

En fait l’histoire n’arrive jamais à être aussi bien que tout ce que son univers coloré promet.

C’est que du remplissage entre deux autres histoires … mais au moins son seul cadre repousse de nouvelles limites.

Review last edited on 11-11-24

“Lady luck will show you the way, win the game, or here you stay.”

Rewatched this with the new animated reconstruction. The low rating is for the story overall, as I actually quite liked the animation style and how it fitted with the story.

Much like the previous story in this season, it’s got good ideas and concepts, but the overall execution and story is rather boring. The Toymaker is a brilliant idea for a character, and Michael Gough an excellent choice, but he’s not even in the story much. Him and Hartnell get a few moments, but it seems such a waste when the Doctor is off screen for so long.

We’re left with an awkward story with different segments and different games for the companions to play again different sets of characters. It’s really hit and miss, some of the side characters, like the clowns, are extremely irritating and while one or two of the games are entertaining, it’s mostly fairly repetitive and leaves you with a sense that it could have been more.

Not a favourite, it’s a shame as the ideas are all good.

Review last edited on 10-09-24

This review contains spoilers!

The Celestial Toymaker in a nutshell:

Steven/Dodo: gets annoyed at one of the Toymaker's minions
Dodo/Steven: Don't get annoyed it's just one of the Toymaker's minions
Steven/Dodo: gets annoyed at one of the Toymaker's minions
Dodo/Steven: Don't get annoyed it's just one of the Toymaker's minions
Steven/Dodo: gets annoyed at one of the Toymaker's minions
Dodo/Steven: Don't get annoyed it's just one of the Toymaker's minions
Steven/Dodo: gets annoyed at one of the Toymaker's minions
Dodo/Steven: Don't get annoyed it's just one of the Toymaker's minions

Also Dodo is written to act like a stupid child for some reason, and this has the most stilted dialogue I have ever heard in anything official, boy this whole thing is a mess!

2/10

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Review last edited on 18-07-24

This review contains spoilers!

The Celestial Toymaker: 7.9/10 - This story was nothing like what I was expecting it to be. For part 1, I watched the animation by Dinopuff which was absolutely amazing. The endlessness he gave to the setting and the emotion he gave to some of the characters was great. The Toymakers ruthlessness was really shown to the full extent in this episode and both companions were great as well. The next two episodes however, were slow at points but I think the writing was good for most of the side characters. The N word however was just an awful product of the times. Part 4 was absolutely great in my opinion with the final game having really high stakes and the Doctor having some good back and forths with the Toymaker. I also think this episode was the one that showcased the Toymakers villany the most.

Review last edited on 27-06-24

This review contains spoilers!

Weird story. I’m sorry to say that I think the original Toymaker is a bit of a rubbish bad guy, I’m glad this character has been given a bit of a redemption more recently. This story took slow pacing to a whole new level. There was zero threat, and the resolution was too simple, making the rest of the story a waste of time.

Review last edited on 17-06-24