The last few years haven’t been great for Whovians. Gone were the days where we would wait with eager anticipation for the next adventure of The Doctor or be amazed by the brilliant storytelling that was laid before us. Chris Chibnall’s era with Jodie Whitaker taking on the role as the eponymous hero was plagued with shoddy scriptwriting, lackluster CGI, and questionable character choices. For a while there, it seemed like Doctor Who was taking a bit of downward trajectory. So it came as something of a pleasant surprise when, early last year, it was announced that not only was Russell T. Davies returning as showrunner, but also that fan favourites David Tennant and Catherine Tate would be reprising their roles for the 60th anniversary celebrations. Whovians all over the world rejoiced. Fast forward to now, with the premiere of The Star Beast, that proves without a doubt that The Doctor is back baby!
For those who don’t know, Russell T. Davies was the man responsible for bringing back Doctor Who back in 2005. His fresh take on the series successfully brought the Doctor into the 21st century without losing any of the deeply entrenched tradition and revered legacy of the character. His return to the series was met with sky high expectations. And boy did he deliver. The Star Beast is validation that under his guidance, magic can indeed happen. Exciting, thrilling, emotional, and hilarious, The Star Beast is a great example of what made Doctor Who great. It is a great nod to the past, while also delivering a glimpse into the future.
Show Me the Money!
The first of three specials, The Star Beast opens with a recap of where we left off with The Doctor and Donna Noble. It was a quick and dirty way of not only reminding Whovians of past events, but a wonderful way for newcomers to get up to speed with what’s been going on so that they can easily dive into this episode. With the new move of screening Doctor Who worldwide on Disney Plus, Davies knew there was literally a world of first time viewers about to enter this universe, and it was a smart touch to include this little bit of information, as not to leave newbies in the lurch. and have to watch decades of stories in order to enjoy this one.
When it was first reported that Disney were ready to invest a massive amount of money into the show – with some reports stating each episode had a budget of around £10 million – there was some apprehension about whether this would do more harm than good. Again, in the hands of Davies, that money seems to have been well spent. The look and feel of this episode is miles ahead of where we left off with Jodie’s finale, The Power of The Doctor. Looking more like a feature film than an episode of television, it’s proving how far that new budget can go. Slick CGI, massive action sequences, and huge set pieces, means that you are completely engrossed throughout. And then there’s Murray Gold’s marvelous compositions that make each and every one of those sequences so much more epic and massive. It’s just beautiful. I’m sure Verity Lambert and Waris Hussein would be so proud to see how far their little baby has come.
Brilliant. Fantastic. Molto Bene.
Sure, big budget effects are one of the enticing ways to keep you glued to your screen, but a lot of the brilliance of this episode boils down to the writing itself. Adapted from a story by Pat Mills and David Gibbons, Russel T. Davies tightly written script, is filled with fun callbacks, emotional hooks, and the kind of family drama we’ve come to expect from him. Apart from delivering a good story with charm and humour, what Davies has always done well is talk about diversity and inclusivity in a meaningful way.
Far too many movies and TV shows include characters of different genders, colours, and sexual orientations in a way that feels forced. Like they’re just ticking off some box. But the inclusion of Rose Noble, Donna’s transgendered daughter, multiple ethnicities within UNIT, and answers about The Doctor’s pronouns, were all done in an incredibly humane manner. And what’s more, all of it served the story he was trying to tell.
All Hail the Tennant!
Okay. I’ve gone on for long enough without gushing about David Tennant.
Let me try to stay as neutral and non-biased as possible (which, if you’ve read any of my previous work on Goggler, is incredibly hard to do).
Tennant has stepped back into those Converse’s with ease and proven why his is not only a fan favourite, but the living embodiment of The Doctor. Apologies to Tom Baker (who some regard as the perfect incantation of The Doctor), but Tennant just oozes that Gallifreyan energy. Every moment he’s on screen has you going, “Yep, that’s The Doctor!” He brings a sense of fun to the role. He’s dark. He’s emotional. He’s wholesome. When he’s running around in the brand new interior of the TARDIS, you know he is having the time of his life. And so are we.
Catherine Tate too slips back into Donna Noble’s shoes with great ease. God, how I’ve missed those snarky one liners and sense of humour. God, how I’ve missed that indefatigable heart. But there’s also something a lot more grounded about her performance this time around. She’s grown. She’s matured. She’s lived a whole life without The Doctor and it shows.
Both Tennant and Tate’s feel like they are truly relishing this moment. And it is such a joy to watch.
(Also, a special shout out to the legendary Miriam Margolyes, finally making her Who debut in the role of Beep the Meep – a character long relegated to the pages of Doctor Who comics – and her wonderful vocal performance that will not only make you fall in love with the Beep, but terrify you as well.)
Allons-y!
Okay. Enough gushing.
Despite my enthusiasm for this special, it isn’t without its imperfections.
While Davies’ use of inclusivity in this story was fantastic, there was one moment that didn’t quite sit right with me. Throughout the episode, there was a great undertone of equality. This idea that no matter what race, gender, or sexuality you are, we are all the same. We’re all human, irrespective of what we look like.
Which is why it came as something of a shock when, after the climax of the story, Donna and Rose proclaim that there are just certain things that a female Doctor could do better than their male counterpart. It’s a fun joke. But one that seemed to undermine all of the groundwork that Davies had just laid before us. Why talk about equality when you are still going to make it seem that one gender is better than the other?
That tiny nitpick aside, it must be said that The Star Beast is a true return to form and a great kickstart towards the future. It’s given us that excitement we have been missing. I’m finally excited over Doctor Who again. It’s a feeling I’ve missed so much. With two more specials to go featuring the 14th Doctor, and the return of the 1st Doctor villain, The Celestial Toymaker (played by Neil Patrick Harris), who knows what else Davies has up his sleeve.
Until then, there’s only one word left to say moving forward with these wonderful adventures… Allons-y!
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