Product Details

• Actors: Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Paul Kasey, Arthur Darvill, Nicholas Briggs
• Directors: Farren Blackburn
• Writers: Steven Moffat
• Producers: Caroline Skinner, Denise Paul, Diana Barton, Marcus Wilson, Piers Wenger
• Format: Blu-ray, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: February 14, 2012
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B006MVKN6W
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,275 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Doctor Who: The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe [Blu-ray]" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Doctor Who: The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe is one of the beloved series' most enchanting episodes, and that's saying something. The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe was the Christmas special for Doctor Who in England in 2011, and happily it's now available on Blu-ray for merry holiday seasons everywhere. The story opens in 1938 England, with Madge Arwell (played by the prolific and talented Claire Skinner) bicycling home and suddenly seeing an injured man (or is he an angel?). She comes to the mysterious stranger's aid, and he promises to repay her by granting her a wish. Fast-forward several years, when England is being battered by German bombers, and Madge learns that her beloved husband has been lost in combat on the front. Madge is overcome with grief but vows to make Christmas a wonderful one for her children… and then suddenly, magic things begin to happen. Skinner is the heart and soul of this episode, and it's to her credit that the story is such an immersive, enjoyable fantasy. The Doctor (Matt Smith) appears, apparently in answer to Madge's wish, as a guide for her and her children in a magical dimension. The story is an homage to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, with dialogue referencing the earlier work. But The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe is pure Doctor Who in its self-referential, silly, wise, and wonderful way. This special set includes a prequel and several Best of Doctor Who featurettes. Happy Christmas to all. --A.T. Hurley

Product Description

Doctor Who Confidential - An inside look at the 2010 Doctor Who Christmas Special Doctor Who at the Proms - Concert performance of music from Doctor Who recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall during the BBC's annual Proms concerts.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 42 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Straightforward and Heartfelt: The Doctor Returns In This Eco-Friendly Christmas Thriller December 27, 2011

By K. Harris HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWER

Format:DVD

Watching the modern Doctor Who one-off specials has certainly become an unexpected Christmas tradition in our home. And each Doctor brings his own spin to the holiday themed episodes. Last year Matt Smith's Doctor took on Dickens in an outer-space interpretation of "A Christmas Carol." It was frenetic and funny, managed to seamlessly blend tragedy with humor, and was emotionally satisfying without being cloying. This year, we had "The Doctor, The Widow, and The Wardrobe" (its central plot point borrows from a certain literature classic--I think you can figure out which one). This may well be the most straightforward and heartfelt Christmas special yet. Set in World War II era Britain, Smith helps a family adjusts to what promises to be a painful season by making a perfect getaway experience for the kids. However, with the best of intentions, one of the Doctor's surprises leads to unexpected dangers. The family must work together to ensure their very survival and get back home.

The special capitalizes of an eco-friendly theme as the principle aliens within the piece are not your typical beasts. They too are a race battling to live as manmade intrusions into their environment threaten their existence and livelihood. Might the Doctor and his charges be of assistance? It is Christmas after all. Or as certain annihilation looms, might it be too late for anyone to survive? This is Doctor Who after all. The show's pacing is brisk and its storyline affirms a strong message of loyalty and family. In fact, the Doctor's exposure to the widow and her children make him contemplate those that he has left behind through the course of his exploits....

While many of the past Christmas specials were completely independent, "The Doctor, The Widow, and The Wardrobe" actually fits comfortably into the timeline of the on-going series. With a minimum of screen time, the show's finale packs an emotional punch that really resonates and sets up future episodes. And while, in truth, the main story was pleasant enough--it is these last few minutes that really distinguish this special and make it memorable. Smith is crisp and amusing as always, but it is Claire Skinner (as the mother) that really gets some nice dramatic moments. All in all, this is a very well balanced presentation. And, especially due to the last few moments, it is one that I will remember. A solid 4 star episodes with a simple but effective 5 star finale, I'd rank this as one of the sweetest (and possibly best) Christmas specials yet. KGHarris, 12/11. Read more ›

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars "I'm usually called the Doctor. Or the Caretaker. Or Get Off This Planet." February 18, 2012

By H. Bala TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

- Lily (as rocket engines fire): "What's happening?"
- the Doctor: "No idea. Do what I do. Hold tight... and pretend it's a plan."

As sublime as "A Christmas Carol" was, it would take something really special for this most recent Doctor Who Christmas Special to match, let alone top, it. I quite liked "The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe" because Matt Smith is never less than entertaining. But Steven Moffat's cup of schmaltz really spills over with this episode. But, hey, it's Christmastime, a season ripe for excess, and surely Moffat can be excused for overindulging his inner sappy.

The story opens in outer space as a hostile alien warship menaces Earth. But no sooner do the invaders declare "People of Earth, you stand alone!" than the Doctor pops up to gum up the works. But, having once more saved our little ball of mud, the Time Lord plummets down and crashlands in London on Christmas Eve, 1938. In the crater developed by his forced landing, the Doctor finds himself in a bit of a bind, but he's aided by a passing housewife named Madge Arwell (Claire Skinner). The Doctor is so touched by Madge's generosity that he vows to return the favor. "How?" she asks. "I dunno," says the Doctor. "Make a wish, that usually works."

Cut now to a war-torn London three years later, and to a desolate Christmastime for Madge Arwell. Having just received a telegram informing her of her husband's death under enemy fire, she determines to keep the news from her children, Lily and Cyril, until after the holidays. She promises them: "This Christmas is going to be the best Christmas ever!" (And, at this juncture, maybe there's a collective rolling of the eyes from the audience, oh we jaded souls....) To escape the German blitz, the Arwells relocate to Dorset to an uncle's country mansion. There, they're greeted by an odd stranger calling himself the Caretaker. Madge isn't too sure of the Caretaker and the barrage of mad whimsy he unleashes, but the kids take to him right away. Matt Smith comes across as a big kid at heart.

I think I love this sequence best, when "the Caretaker" gives the bemused Arwells a frenetic tour of their new home. Hoping to lift up their spirits, the Doctor - c'mon, you knew it was him - had made certain adjustments. I particularly enjoyed how excited the Doctor (and, by extension, Matt Smith) genuinely seemed to be in displaying the various rooms and their singular wares (the locomotive chairs, the lemonade pipeline, the plummeting hammocks, etc.). The kids are soon eyeing a mysterious glowing present wrapped up in blue next to the resplendent Christmas tree.

Moffat doesn't try to disguise his nod towards C.S. Lewis's THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE. And those moments of discovery, encompassed in the first twenty minutes, when the story was still somewhat clinging to the C.S. Lewis bits, make up some of the episode's best moments. Later, once the Doctor and the Arwells employ the "wardrobe" and begin to explore the other side's wintry woodsy realm is when I sort of started checking out. I just don't get the logic of harvesting a forest with acid rain. And I don't think Moffat developed the threats of the forest creatures and the harvesters well enough. I did enjoy the neat bit of trivia which references the 5th Doctor's final 1984 adventure ("The Caves of Androzani").

"The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe" ultimately doesn't resonate as strongly as "A Christmas Carol," and yet it's still a fine holiday tale. Claire Skinner delivers a strong performance. She doesn't have so many scenes with Matt Smith, but their interactions are quirky and memorable. Matt Smith shares more scenes with Holly Earl ("Lily"), and it's gratifying that the Doctor doesn't condescend to young Ms. Arwell. He treats her like an adult. Matt Smith is incredible, able to do madcap and then effortlessly carry on with the emotional bits. Moffat has pulled out the stops in terms of tugging on your heart strings (and there's an argument that he may've tugged a bit too hard). It helps that Moffat writes some of the best one-liners in this episode, and many good character moments. It ends on a truly wonderful moment for the lonely Time Lord, one of the few times since DOCTOR WHO's been revived as a television series that the closing credits drop on an absolutely content Doctor. There's probably a plate of fish fingers and custard waiting for him.

The DVD's bonus extras comprise a Prequel to "The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe" (00:01:26 minutes) and three "Best Of" featurettes (totaling over two hours) which essentially recap Series 5 and 6. As such, these featurettes (each running a bit over 43 minutes) focus on the Eleventh Doctor's top moments, on his Companions, and the Monsters they face. Plenty of clips shown from Series 5 and 6 and, surprisingly, an ensemble of American comedians, actors, musicians, and nerd icons provide fanboy commentary and perspective; Mark Sheppard is the only talking head here who is British and has actually worked on the show. "The Best of the Monsters" featurette also comes with "Ask a Whovian" segments in which Doctor Who cosplay fans at a convention answer Doctor Who-related questions. Read more ›

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great but little reason to buy January 4, 2012

By Daniel M. Gallagher

Format:Blu-ray

The special itself was great, but everything on this Blu-Ray will also be in the eventual Series 7 box set. The only reason to buy this would be if you don't plan on getting season 7 or you just can not wait.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars DVD vs Blu-ray Description Deception - Bad Amazon August 13, 2012

By Mookie

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Let me start by saying that I love Doctor Who and although this isn't one of my favorite episodes, I'm not giving the 1-star for the episode (I'd give it a 3-star). I'm giving the 1-star for Amazon's deceptive product description for the DVD. Amazon's product description FOR THE DVD is as follows: "Doctor Who Confidential - An inside look at the 2010 Doctor Who Christmas Special Doctor Who at the Proms - Concert performance of music from Doctor Who recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall during the BBC's annual Proms concerts."

Guess what's NOT on the DVD version? Yep, you guessed it, the Doctor Who Confidential. If the Confidential was only on the Blu-ray, then why was it listed in the production description for the DVD? I wouldn't have bought the DVD if I'd known that it wasn't complete with ALL the extras. Amazon, in the future, PLEASE don't put extras that are only on the Blu-ray version in the production description for the DVD version.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun Special Features on Another Good Christmas Episode! November 12, 2012

By Happy Reader TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

It's Christmas Eve and war with Hitler looms. Madge Orwell is biking home in the dark when a man falls out of the sky. She aims to help him, but needs to stop at home, first, to tell her husband and kids where she's going. She tells her son, Cyril, "Listen, Cyril, tell him [his father] that I've borrowed Mr. Goldsmith's car; that I've found a spaceman in a field, possibly an angel. But he's injured and I can't get his helmet off. So I'm having to take him into town to find a policeman phone box."

Of course, the spaceman is The Doctor and the phone box is the TARDIS. And the Doctor is grateful, and plans on repaying Madge for her kindness.

Skip to three years later, Christmas Eve again. WWII is on for the British, and Madge receives the dreaded telegram. Her husband, an RAF pilot, has been lost when his plane disappeared over the English Channel. Madge can't tell Cyril and his sister, Lily, right away - it will ruin Christmas Eve for them forever. So the three of them troop to a mansion in the country. Unfortunately, when they arrive, they find that the only person there is the caretaker. Who is the Doctor!

He's set up a marvelous visit for them, including a beautiful Christmas tree and one giant wrapped present for Cyril, waiting to be opened Christmas morning. That night, Cyril sneaks down to take a peek at his present. It is really an opening into another world! I have to wonder, what WAS the Doctor thinking?!

Cyril, Lily and the Doctor go through, and then, so does the worried Madge. And they will experience wonders they couldn't have imagined. As Madge says, at one point, "One can't imagine being a forest, and then, suddenly one can."

The ending is lovely, for both Madge, Cyril and Lily, and for the Doctor, too.... "The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe" doesn't have quite the emotional punch of 2010's "A Christmas Carol", but it is still inventive and fun. And the Doctor is pretty typical: "Do what I do. Hold tight and pretend it's a plan!"

I get such a kick out of Madge. She is that stereotypical Britisher. On one hand, she is able to take all things strange in stride, because she has such a strong sense of self. On the other hand, that strong sense of self also means that no matter what happens, she always acts the same and she doesn't change because of finding something new.

Special Features for the DVD of "The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe".
Specials 2, 3 and 4 are very similar and filmed at the same time. They consist of flim clips from Seasons 5 and 6 of Doctor Who, along with commentary by many Who enthusiasts. Commentators include: Chris Hardwick (host Nerdist podcast), Scott Adsit (actor, comedian), Alison Haislip (actress, G4 correspondent), Paul F. Tompkins (actor, comedian), Eugene Mirman (comedian, actor), Reggie Watts (muscian, comedian), Hugh Douglas (former NFL defensive end, radio personality), Danielle Harris (actress), Mark Sheppard (actor), Adam Rogers (editor Wired magazine), Amanda Palmer (musician), Scott Ian (musician), Natalie Morales (actress).

Each of specials 2, 3 and 4, emphasize a particular part of Doctor Who. I liked them because they didn't just remind me of the story-lines of Dr. Who episodes. The commentators analyzed the stories and the characters, and pointed out some things I hadn't thought of on my own.

1. "The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe Prequel" (2 minutes) This is a preview trailer for the Christmas special

2. "The Best of the Doctor" (56 minutes) This set concentrates on the Doctor, what he is and how he ticks. Subtopics are: "The Eleventh Doctor Revealed", "The Doctor Confronts the Atraxi", "The Doctor and the Daleks in WWII", "The Doctor and the Pandorica" (All the Doctor's enemies over time have gathered in the sky, and he speaks, "Just remember who's standing in your way. Remember every black day I ever stopped you. And then - and THEN - do the smart thing. Let somebody else try first."),
"The Doctor and the Vortex Manipulator", "The Doctor and Vincent Van Gogh", "The Doctor and the Astronaut", "The Doctor Visits the Oval Office", "The Doctor Meets the TARDIS" (with one of my favorite interchanges: "You didn't always take me where I wanted to go!" - "No, but I always took you where you needed to go.")
"The Doctor Goes to War"

3. "The Best of the Companions" (51 minutes) Amy, Rory and River. How they started and evolved during the two seasons. River first appeared in the Season 4 episode, "Silence in the Library", but that was really just a teaser, and isn't covered here. Chris Hardwick covers the importance of the companions, "If you were the last of your kind, and you were roaming around the universe, you would need someone to keep you sane. Or at least to fire jokes off of."
Subtopics: "Young Amelia Pond Waits for the Doctor" (with that infamous and totally typical line: "Give me five minutes. I'll be right back." And, 12 years later, Pond's furious rejoinder: "Twelve years! And four psychiatrists.")
"Amy Saves the Android Inventor", "River Sends a Unique Message", "Rory Confronts the Doctor", "Amy in the Dream World", "Amy Trapped With a Weeping Angel", "Rory Consumed By the Crack", "River Breaks Out of Storm Cage", "Centurion Rory Protects Amy" (Could I do that? I love my husband, but could I wait outside a box with nothing to occupy my mind, for 2,000 years?")
"The Companions Murdered", "River's Romance With the Doctor" (Commentator: "Forget about star-crossed lovers. They're time-crossed lovers."), "Amy's Pregnancy Revealed", "Amy and Baby at War".

4. "The Best of the Monsters" (44 minutes) Monsters here refers to everything the Doctor must best, including non-creatures such as "The Crack" and "The Pandorica".
Subtopics: "The Daleks", "Prisoner Zero", "The Dream Lord" (As one commentator says: "You want to be [the Doctor's] buddy. but at the same time, there are horrendous things that lurk in him, that you should be afraid of."),
"The Weeping Angels", "The Neighbor Upstairs", "The Silurians", "The Silence", "The Siren", "The Gangers" (haunting as well as creepy), "The Headless Monks", "The Crack", "The Pandorica".

All in all, enjoyable extras for an enjoyable Christmas special. Read more ›