# The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe : Doctor Who Christmas Special 2011 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 26, 2011, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389 "2011-12-26T01:30:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389/1 "2011-12-26T01:30:58Z")
Watching it now. Not quite what I expected, but kind of charming. Lots of nods to Narnia. Nice to see Bill Bailey as well. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389/2 "2011-12-26T03:20:13Z")
Not my favorite Christmas special from Doctor Who. The ending was cute, though. ---
**Author:** ![CorneaGenii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@CorneaGenii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CorneaGenii)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389/3 "2011-12-26T03:52:23Z")
Just finished watching it, and in my opinion, this was not worth the wait. The only things that kept this from be a complete and total waste were the prequel scene previously released and the final scene [spoiler]with Amy and Rory. Maybe I wasn’t paying close attention, but can someone explain to me how they got into the time vortex? On another note, Karen Gillan looked ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!![/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389/4 "2011-12-26T04:18:28Z")
Maybe I wasn’t paying close attention, but can someone explain to me how they got into the time vortex? Timey-whimey wibbly-wobbly humany-wumany foresty-woresty ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389/5 "2011-12-26T04:40:22Z")
The trees could get into the Time Vortex, but Madge had the power to guide them via memories.I think. I liked how there weren’t any bad guys. ---
**Author:** ![CorneaGenii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@CorneaGenii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CorneaGenii)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389/6 "2011-12-26T04:40:39Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Timey-whimey wibbly-wobbly humany-wumany foresty-woresty As explanations go, that was bollocksy-wollocksy and rubbishy-wubbishy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389/7 "2011-12-26T05:02:38Z")
Sappy magicky-wagicky, but kind of cute. And I loved Amy saying of River “She’s a good girl.” ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389/8 "2011-12-26T05:15:08Z")
> [@CorneaGenii](#): > > Maybe I wasn’t paying close attention, but can someone explain to me how they got into the time vortex? They were in a golf ball shaped space ship which travelled by entering the time vortex. Like a TARDIS. But golf ball shaped. It needed a navigator though. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389/9 "2011-12-26T05:19:20Z")
I’ve seen Narnia and that may be a reason it didn’t make as much sense to me. I didn’t understand the tree people. Or the whole fairy tale feel to the story. It was ok. I was a bit distracted why such an old looking actor was playing that young woman’s husband. Also, I expected the Doctor to save the forest and stop the harvesting. I’ve liked other Who Christmas specials a lot better. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > Watching it now. Not quite what I expected, but kind of charming. Lots of nods to Narnia. Nice to see Bill Bailey as well. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389/10 "2011-12-26T05:25:08Z")
I passed the human test because I cried alot. Tears of joy and tears of sadness. And like all Who episodes it had the random funny/weird shit here and there. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389/11 "2011-12-26T05:30:32Z")
_ **correction** _ Never seen Narnia… Can’t fix my blunder now. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389/12 "2011-12-26T05:33:14Z")
Yeah, the Doctor didn’t actually do anything. He just happened to be present. I guess he told her his to navigate the ship, but that’s all he did. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389/13 "2011-12-26T05:44:18Z")
I enjoyed it. Not the best Christmas special, but just getting in Doctor Who this year, this was also my first Christmas special I saw “live.” So I think it will always have a special spot for me. Also, after watching the Best of Doctor Who Christmas Specials, which was basically all about how there’s always something about to crash into and or destroy Earth, I like how this one started with that and then moved into a much smaller story. Definitely fits in more with Moffat, who has most avoided the big epic stories that Davies enjoyed. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389/14 "2011-12-26T05:46:29Z")
Liked it. Made me cry at points. And liked that Madge knows what’s what when it comes down to it. ---
**Author:** ![CorneaGenii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@CorneaGenii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CorneaGenii)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389/15 "2011-12-26T05:53:24Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > They were in a golf ball shaped space ship which travelled by entering the time vortex. Like a TARDIS. But golf ball shaped. I got that part. What I missed was where it was explained or even mentioned in passing that the golf ball WAS a space ship or that it COULD travel in time. Doesn’t matter, though. Nothing will change my opinion that this special was terribly disappointing. ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389/16 "2011-12-26T08:28:53Z")
I really enjoyed it, but then I am about to have a baby, so appreciated the “mums are ace!” message. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389/17 "2011-12-26T09:21:25Z")
It was kind of “meh”. The ending felt like a huge deus ex machina. ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389/18 "2011-12-26T09:28:14Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It was ok. I was a bit distracted why such an old looking actor was playing that young woman’s husband. Also, I expected the Doctor to save the forest and stop the harvesting. According to imdb, the actress who played the mother was born in 1965 and Alexander Armstrong, better known for comedy than serious acting, was born in 1970. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389/19 "2011-12-26T09:48:27Z")
It’s just finished on the ABC here, and I thought it was very predictable and all rather lame. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389/20 "2011-12-26T10:12:28Z")
Reminded me of one of those glurge emails about how incredible mothers are. _barf_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doctor-the-widow-and-the-wardrobe-doctor-who-christmas-special-2011/607389.md?page=2)