Episode #24 : The Celestial Toymaker

"Make your last move, Doctor. Make your *last* move."

Episode 24:       The Celestial Toymaker.
Companions:     The 1st Doctor, Steven Taylor and Dodo.
Air Date:           Four episodes. 2nd to 23rd April 1966.

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.

This story is missing apart from the final part and a few bits here and there. I have seen it however made from production stills with the audio overlaid. I am sorry to sayit but I was very very dissapointed with this story. Throughout my childhood this seemed to be one of those stories that was often talked about and the villainous Toymaker was made out to be an excellent opponent. Sadly neither was true and the whole thing was a bit of a let down for me.

The Toymaker himself, played by the late Michael Gough, seems a very two dimensional entity. There is no real reason why he snatches the TARDIS and the Doctor away except to just play games with them. I do hope that at some point we see the Celestial Toymaker make an appearence in the current run of the show and that the the writers can do something with him.

It is a shame about this story but it just goes to show that you can't always accept the hype around anything. You have to make your own mind up.

The end of the story runs into the following one, with the Doctor developing toothache and needing to find a dentist.