Critic Reviews for Doctor Who The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe (2011 Christmas Special)

All Critics (8) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (0)

Much as I like Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill, I feel it is time for a companions shake-up. In the meantime, it's undeniably heart-warming to find the lonely old Time Lord among friends at Christmas.

Mar 25, 2019 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Patrick Mulkern

Radio Times

Moffat dials down the time-scrambling maziness that's so characterised the last 12 months of Doctor Who , delivering a sweeter, less frenetic tale that aims squarely for the heart, not the flipchart.

Mar 25, 2019 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Nick Setchfield

SFX Magazine

While fans have had their fair share of yuletide yarns, there have been none that felt quite so classically, indulgently, infectiously Christmassy as 'The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe'.

Nov 16, 2018 | Rating: 8/10 | Full Review…

Matt Risley

IGN Movies

A lovely piece of television, and a smashing way to spend a Christmas night in front of the telly.

Nov 16, 2018 | Full Review…

Simon Brew

Den of Geek

It's both a fine episode of Doctor Who and a fine piece of Christmas television in which death and despair get defeated by hope and love.

Nov 16, 2018 | Rating: A- | Full Review…

Keith Phipps

AV Club

Top Critic

Fortunately, the episode ends on a high point

Nov 16, 2018 | Full Review…

Steven Cooper

Slant Magazine

Top Critic

Putting aside the now-mandatory doomed spaceship that now must surely always feature, this was the smallest - yet perhaps the most enchanting - Christmas special we've had to date.

Nov 16, 2018 | Full Review…

Dan Martin

Guardian

Top Critic

Instant seasonal classic packed with cinematic references that show constant renewal.

Jul 20, 2018 | Full Review…

Kieron Tyler

The Arts Desk

View All Critic Reviews (8)

Audience Reviews for Doctor Who: The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe (2011 Christmas Special)

• Jan 24, 2019

  Weird, very different and underdeveloped. Has a strong story but is muddled up and misses the entertaining special Doctor who can bring.
  Movie M
• Jan 23, 2019

  I find this episode to be a bit of a guilty pleasure, a nice small watch, I liked the scene where Marge pulled out the gun, though I didn't like that stuff about 'strong' and 'weak' i don't really see the logic of it. (don't know why this is all caps nothing else is).
  Mark K
• Jan 02, 2019

  The biggest pile of nonsense and balderdash I have ever seen in my life
  
• Dec 31, 2018

  The end could have been a little stronger BUT over all a really good special! I was very happy with it and excited to see more!
  
• Dec 31, 2018

  Everything about this is poor.
  Daniel C
• Dec 15, 2018

  Continues the tradition of terrible Christmas television because of how drunk the audience is.
  Adam B
• Dec 11, 2018

  Wasn't a bad episode but nothing that mind blowing happened
  connor m
• Oct 11, 2018

  This might be my favorite Doctor Who episode, well at least one of them. I found this episode especially comforting for anyone who has suffered loss. The part where he talks to the Widow after she laments that she doesn't know why she keeps shouting out her kids were so beautiful and it made me cry. The whole episode is the perfect holiday watch being so magical and Christmassy. It's all about our family connections and the people who feel like home to us. My whole family enjoyed it, even the family who had never seen Doctor Who before. It has become a holiday tradition to watch, and the young and old seem to equally love it, laugh and cry and this beautifully crafted episode.
  Romana T

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