Welcome to the Whoniverse! It’s a new era for Doctor Who; a 60th Anniversary miniseries, a new streaming home, and a new-ish Doctor. That’s right, David Tennant’s back – but as an all-new incarnation of the beloved Time Lord. And joining him, once again, is Catherine Tate’s Donna Noble. But how is that possible? That’s the question at the heart of this first 60th Anniversary special, The Star Beast. Written by newly returning showrunner Russell T. Davies and directed by Rachel Talalay, The Star Beast delivers a quintessential Doctor Who adventure. Packed to the brim with action, adventure, silly aliens, and heartwarming cheese, it offers up a big helping of comfort entertainment. A perfect addition to the Holiday season and a surprisingly solid jumping-on point for new and old fans alike.
A Heartwarming Adventure
When an alien spaceship crashes in a London suburb, the Doctor (David Tennant) finds himself caught in an intergalactic crossfire. And, to his great shock, so does Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and the rest of her family. Why has the Meep (Miriam Margolyes) taken refuge in Rose Noble’s (Yasmin Finney) bedroom? And can the Doctor protect the Meep and the Noble-Temple family from the forces hunting them down? It’s a race against time in the most classic of Doctor Who ways, packed with action, comedy, and a healthy heaping of heart. If you’ve read Pat Mills and John Wagner’s original Doctor Who Magazine comic strip this episode’s based on, then you’ve got a pretty good idea of what to expect from Davies’ adaptation. But if you’re new to the story, it’s best to enter it as unspoiled as possible.
What Davies does so well is wed the narrative’s more overt sci-fi gobbledygook with an emotional, heartwarming center. It’s a simple story, but one that’s told immensely effectively. Don’t go into The Star Beast expecting stunning plot twists or mind-bending plotlines. Instead, expect a sweet story about the ways the Noble family’s lives are changed by the arrival of the Meep and the reappearance of the Doctor. The ways mothers try to protect their daughters, husbands try to protect their families, and friends try to protect their loved ones. Plus a whole lot of action, adventure, and comedy, of course. If that sounds painfully vague, that’s because it is. There’s very little about The Star Beast‘s plot we’re allowed to say this far in advance – other than that it’s really quite good. It’s quintessential Russell T. Davies/David Tennant Doctor Who in all of the best ways.
A New-Yet-Familiar Doctor
Speaking of David Tennant, he’s obviously the star of the show. But don’t go into this expecting a radically different take on his Doctor. Sure, he’s got all of Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen’s experiences rattling around that brain of his, but he’s fundamentally the same Time Lord he was fifteen years ago. And there’s a real joy to be had in that, one that Tennant exudes throughout the episode. You can see how delighted he is to be back in this role, to be inhabiting those shoes once more. But lest you worry this is one of those victory lap situations, Tennant does everything but rest on his laurels here. He delivers exactly the kind of performance that initially won him those legions of devoted fans back in the day. Funny and charming, his heart worn firmly on his sleeve, and a quiet rage bubbling underneath that cheery exterior.
The Noble Family
As for Tate’s Donna, she’s the real heart of the episode. This is Donna as we originally saw her in The Runaway Bride – oblivious to the wonders of the universe, constantly missing any signs of alien involvement in Earth affairs. But what she’s got this time is a deep love for her daughter and a nagging sense that she’s forgotten some vital part of her life. A time when she was undeniably happy. And as the episode unfurls, that sense of excitement rushes back. Watching Tate navigate this emotional journey is easily the best part of the episode. Seeing Donna come back out of her shell and really reenter the world of Doctor Who is a gift for fans who’ve long felt she’d been done dirty by her original departure. And Tate absolutely makes the most of it with a performance that’s equal parts rip-roaringly funny and heartbreakingly sincere.
A big theme of the episode is the lengths mothers will go to protect their daughters. You’ve got Donna’s mother, Sylvia (Jacqueline King), who’s looked after Donna all these years, desperate to keep her safe. And now you’ve got Donna loving Rose with her whole heart, ready to throw hands with anyone who dares speak ill of her daughter. It’s an energy that permeates the entire episode, and it really helps The Star Beast stand out against similar Doctor Who stories. As for Rose, it’s impressive how well Finney holds her own against heavyweights like Tennant and Tate. While Donna’s arc might form the episode’s emotional center, Finney carries a lot of the episode’s emotional weight. To say any more would be far too spoilery, but she’s absolutely superb and her scenes opposite Margolyes’ Meep are especially delightful as the pair bonds over their shared otherness.
Quintessential Doctor Who
Much has been said about the influx of new money into Doctor Who, but worry not – The Star Beast is Doctor Who exactly as you remember it. Sure, the show’s never looked as good as it does here. Talalay’s slick, bombastic direction easily rivals that of some of the biggest-budget movies and shows. But underneath those impressive visuals lies the same sweet, silly, cheesy show we all know and love. For as good as the CGI on the Meep is (and it’s impressively good), some of the other creatures look delightfully campy. And the same is true for the episode’s visual flair overall. There’s just a charm to the visuals. A warmth, a sense of genuine playfulness, a knowing nod that yes, this is all a bit silly. But that’s what makes it so much fun.
And Davies captures that playfulness in his script, too. The Star Beast is a very tightly-paced episode, launching from one setpiece to the next with daring abandon. But it never fails to take the time to dig into a joke or give the characters room to breathe. Donna and Sylvia share some really lovely scenes together early in the episode, packed with both humor and heartbreak. Rose and the Meep share some similar scenes, ones that are sure to become fan favorites. And Tennant’s Doctor constantly drips genuine pathos in every scene he’s in. The biggest feeling that permeates the entire episode, though, is one of genuine joy. Davies’ script is so full of heart, so unabashedly joyful – even in its sadder moments. And that’s what Doctor Who should be. Joyous, full of adventure, and always, always, always heartfelt.
Final Thoughts
The Star Beast makes for a perfect introduction – or re-introduction – to the world of Doctor Who. It offers a very quintessential Doctor Who story – one that’s packed to the brim with action, intriguing aliens, and a metric ton of heart. Tennant and Tate are at the top of their games here, reunited as though no time has passed since their last appearance on the show. And Davies’ script delivers a true showcase of Doctor Who‘s potential. This isn’t boundary-pushing television or anything, not yet. But it’s a total thrill ride from start to finish; one that’s bound to hook new and returning viewers alike.
If you’ve never seen an episode of Doctor Who, or if you fell off the show some time ago, you can pretty safely start with this one. Sure, there’s a lot of continuity hanging around the edges, but Davies and co. do a great job easing viewers into this new iteration of the Whoniverse. It’s a lighthearted, action-packed adventure in the best of ways. And there are plenty of hints at what might be in store for the remaining specials – but mum’s the word on that. Until then, The Star Beast offers a great start to this 60th-anniversary miniseries. It’s Doctor Who at its most Doctor Who-y.
Doctor Who: The Star Beast premieres November 25 on BBC One (in the UK) and Disney+ worldwide.
Doctor Who begins its 60th-anniversary miniseries with "The Star Beast" - a bombastic, action-packed thrill ride. It may not be anything particularly inventive, but it's Doctor Who at its finest. Led by Tennant, Tate, and Finney's dynamic performances, a tightly-paced script, and a whole lot of heart, "The Star Beast" offers a perfect example of just how fun Doctor Who can be.
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GVN Rating 9
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