Doctor Who: The Star Beast - A Promising Prelude

In honor of Doctor Who's 60th anniversary, the BBC will release three hour-long anniversary specials. The first, "The Star Beast," will premiere on November 25 and will feature the full debut of David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor. This sparks a natural curiosity about how Tennant's new role will compare to his previous portrayal as the Tenth Doctor, which is often revered as one of the franchise's finest.

Additionally, "The Star Beast" brings together David Tennant with showrunner Russell T Davies and Donna Noble actor Catherine Tate, offering a chance to reference Tennant's previous work. While it may not always be executed gracefully, the special successfully overcomes the challenge of nostalgia.

“The Starbeast” resets the board for Doctor Who

After a spaceship crash lands in London, "The Star Beast" brings the Doctor and Donna back together. With origins from a classic Doctor Who comic strip story by Pat Mills and Dave Gibbons, Davies intentionally keeps the plot mechanics simple for Disney+ newcomers and long-time fans alike.

However, setting aside the brief recap, Davies' objective in this instance appears to be more focused on re-establishing the Doctor, Donna, and their relationship rather than bringing new viewers up to speed on the franchise. As a result, "The Star Beast" presents a relatively low-stakes, character-driven narrative by Doctor Who standards – a positive attribute considering the quality of the characters (and actors) involved.

Tennant and Noble seamlessly revert to their previous roles, and their on-screen chemistry is as lively as ever. Jacqueline King and Karl Collins, portraying Donna’s mother Sylvia and husband Shaun, respectively, deliver strong performances in "The Star Beast." Additionally, Yasmin Finney makes a solid contribution to the show's ensemble as Donna and Shaun’s daughter, Rose.

Not to be overlooked is the Meep, a remarkable animatronic creation performed by Cecily Fay and voiced by Miriam Margolyes. This lovable alien exemplifies Disney’s financial involvement in Doctor Who and stays true to the franchise’s charmingly cheesy origins.

Good intentions, not-so-good execution

The Meep and all the special’s other otherworldly lifeforms still bear something of Doctor Who’s classic “rubber-suit monster” vibe, to the credit of Davies and director Rachel Talalay. Working with their cast and crew, they have brought a polished finish to “The Star Beast,” without sacrificing any of Doctor Who’s whimsy in the process.

Not every aspect of the first Doctor Who anniversary special is a complete success. The story, while understandably simplified, feels a bit lacking. However, Davies compensates with a satisfying conclusion that showcases his skill in storytelling. "The Star Beast" was clearly meant to be an appetizer, not a main course, and it shows.

It’s important to consider that people will have different opinions on how Davies handles the special's progressive plot and character development. The showrunner addresses these aspects of "The Star Beast" directly, but not always with great skill. In fact, the special seems to address many of the criticisms that more traditional fans of the Whoniverse have voiced in the past. However, there are also moments of genuine sincerity and emotion, and while some may be critical, others will undoubtedly be supportive. For those who don't fall into either of these categories, they will likely appreciate what Davies is attempting, even if they don't always agree with the execution.

Doctor Who: The Star Beast review score: 3/5

Moreover, Davies’ occasional overreaches do not have the power to sink the ship (or TARDIS, as it were). “The Star Beast” continues to deliver everything we expect from Doctor Who: humor, thrills, sincerity, inclusivity, and silliness.

Does it reach the same levels of excellence as Tennant's earlier tenure? Not exactly. However, "The Star Beast" certainly embodies the same essence. It also hints at greater things to come in the two remaining Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials - and that's definitely something to celebrate.

Doctor Who: The Star Beast premieres on BBC One (UK & Ireland) and Disney+ (everywhere else) on November 25. For the most recent Doctor Who news and updates, visit Dexerto's comprehensive coverage here.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I have mixed feelings about the new Doctor Who episode, "The Star Beast." On the one hand, I appreciate the show's efforts to be more inclusive and progressive, and I think that the new Doctor, David Tennant, is a great choice. On the other hand, I feel like the episode was a bit too predictable and safe, and I would have liked to see more of a challenge for the Doctor.

Overall, I think that "The Star Beast" is a promising start for the new era of Doctor Who. I am excited to see what the show will do next, and I hope that it will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in science fiction television.