Summary
It’s been officially confirmed that The Toymaker will be returning as the main villain of Doctor Who’s 60th Anniversary specials, but this long-awaited reunion was actually teased 57 years ago during the character’s very first appearance. He fought against William Hartnell’s incarnation of The Doctor in a 4-part serial during the show’s early years, and although it’s taken 57 years for the character to make his comeback, one small detail in his final scene might explain why it’s taken so long. Still, many fans are hoping that Doctor Who’s upcoming specials will justify the character’s absence further.
The Toymaker has a specific set of powers that actually rank him among The Doctor’s most powerful and dangerous enemies. The Time Lord was unable to permanently defeat him when they first interacted 57 years ago, with The Doctor himself acknowledging that he’d return at some point to get his revenge. The trailers for the 60th Anniversary special also tease The Toymaker as a hugely dangerous opponent, with The Doctor finding himself concerned that he’ll be unable to save Donna and her friends from his games.
The Original Toymaker Stands On “14” During The Story’s Ending
At the end of the original serials in which The Toymaker appeared for the first time, the number 14 can be seen written on the ground where he’s standing. And although David Tennant originally played the Tenth Doctor, there have been three other incarnations since his exit – making this new version the Fourteenth Doctor. This is obviously an amazing coincidence that couldn’t possibly have been planned 57 years ago, but it could be reframed within the context of the story as a clue pointing toward his eventual return. Perhaps The Toymaker always knew he’d be returning in the future, and he decided to secretly taunt The Doctor by standing there.
Doctor Who’s 2023 Specials Need To Explain Why The Toymaker Waited Until Now
One of the biggest questions that Doctor Who’s 60th Anniversary specials need to answer is why The Toymaker has been absent for such a long time. This hidden detail is a fun Easter egg, but it doesn’t actually explain the significance of the Fourteenth Doctor in comparison to all the others. The Toymaker’s return fulfills a long-standing promise in the show, but there needs to be a very clear reason as to why he waited so long to get his revenge. It could be that he views the Fourteenth Doctor as the weakest regeneration (since he’s confused about his own existence). Alternatively, there’s a chance he’s only just decided he’s ready to come back.
Either way, the answer needs to be addressed in these specials. It’s great that Doctor Who was willing to revive such an old and classic villain, particularly since it allows these episodes to focus on the history of the show as a whole rather than just David Tennant’s era. This hidden clue could actually be really useful for the writers, as it gives them plenty of options to answer this question without writing anything too complex into his story. Perhaps he simply chose this version of The Doctor to take his revenge against, and he’d already decided 57 years ago.
