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Much rests on the shoulders of 'The Star Beast', the first of a澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询: series of specials which celebrates the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:60th anniversary of Doctor Who. Not only is it marking a milestone year, but it also welcomes back beloved showrunner Russell T Davies 12 years after he left the show. On top of that, it sees streaming service Disney Plus bring the series to a wider international audience for the first time. Oh, did we mention that actors David Tennant and Catherine Tate have also returned to once agaꦏin portray The Doctor and companion Donna Noble? As if things weren’t exciting enough already.
The question is then, does it deliver on such a promise, 𓃲despite the hype being at an all-time high? Thankfully, the answer is a resounding yes! 'The Star Beast' kickstarts a whole new era of Doctor Who with style, providing a warm embrace for the already dedicated Whovians and welcoming with open arms those who are new to the widely adored show. Much like how Davies gave the show a new lease of life in 2005 with that exciting relaunch, with the first of the anniversary s✃pecials we are on a similar trajectory.
Admittedly the episode does get off to a strange start, with both The Doctor and Donna addressing the camera directly, breaking the fourth wall to speak to the audience. Whilst certainly unusual, the pair briefly recapping previous events works well, giving newcomers everything they need to know going into this special episode. And if you happen to be an expert on Doctor Who lore, this history lesson doesn’t overstay its welcome; instead, it immediately c♏aptures our attention, setting the scene in a curious manner, hooking us right in.
It’s a risk that pays off, but that’s Davies’ filmmaking in a nutshell. Whilst fans celebrated the announcem🦂ent of his return, describing the showrunner as a safe pair of hands, that’s actually one thing Davies never does - play it safe. He’s one of the best in the business due to how much he pus♊hes boundaries and breaks the rules, which is what he does again with The Star Beast. Sure, we do see The Doctor and co. fighting off aliens, but the story dives much deeper than that, exploring more complex themes relating to identity, all of which are beautifully handled with a sensitive touch. Many of the characters may be otherworldly, but Davies understands that, ultimately, Doctor Who is a very human show.
Central to that is new addition Yasmin Finney, the trans trailblazer from beloved drama 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Heartstopper who portrays Rose, daughter of Donna and Shaun Noble. From the moment she appears on screen, Finney brings warmth to the episode, fitting right in with the Noble family (who remain as endearingly hapless as ever). Tate steps right back into Donna’s shoes like she never left, chattering away at a million miles per hour, delivering the exact right level of sarcasm and comic relief. This is an incredibly fun episode, with mu꧒ch of♚ that coming down to Tate’s quick wit as Donna.
And then, of course, there is The Doctor himself, with Tennant’s addictive energy radiating from the screen the minute he steps out of the TARDIS, all wide-eyed, ready to jump right into action. As charismatic as ever, you are reminded why Tennant is a fan-favorite, but crucially here he is playing the Fourteenth Doctor, not the Tenth Doctor, and so there are new edges to remind us that th෴is isn’t quite the character we know. It’s an interesting challenge that the actor has been presented with, but one that he more than rises to the occasion for.
Another notable change this time around is the budget, as Doctor Who now has that sweet, sweet Disney money to play with. The special effects and visuals have therefore never looked better, with all the stops being pulled out to bring Meep to the screen. Adapting the comic story The Star Beast, it’s Meep who drives this tale forward as the creature who lands on Earth causing chaos. Wonderfully voiced by the always brilliant 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Miriam Margolyes, who ensures her character is both cheeky and adorable, Meep is one ൩of the most m♈eticulously crafted Doctor Who aliens yet, looking entirely realistic.
Whilst it is glossier than it has ever been, The Star Beast never once forgets the humble beginnings it came from. The love the filmmakers have for Doctor Who is ever present, especially with the numerous Easter eggs and nods to previous stories that are scattered throughout, celebrating the show’s long history. It’s a shame then that the ending does feel rushed, almost like they were racing to the finish line, which ♈ultimately does take away from the emotional impact of the tender conclusion. Perhaps it would have been better to trim away at the middle acts, so the gorgeous finale could have more room to breathe.
However, it’s 🌟a thrilling start, and perhaps what is most exciting about The Star Beast is that it feels like Davies and the team are only just beginning, leaving us on the promise that what lies ahead will be truly something special. The bar has been set high, but all signs point to remaining specials Wild Blue Yonder and The Giggle somehow surpassing that. And that&r𓃲squo;s before we even get to the upcoming Christmas Day special which will see Ncuti Gatwa step into the TARDIS for a new season as the Fifteenth Doctor. For now though, Tennant’s Doctor sums things up pretty neatly himself - “Allons-y!”
Doctor Who's 'The Star Beast', the first of the 60th a👍nniversary specials, arrives on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and Disney Plus in the𒁃 rest of the world on November 25.
While you wait, check out our guide to all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best shows on Disney Plus to fill out your watchlist.
| Genre | Sci-fi |
Emily Murray is a former Entertainment Editor of GamesRadar+, once responsible for overseeing all the online content for Total Film and SFX magazine. Emily haꦿs previously worked for the BBC, Zavvi, UNILAD, Yahoo, Digital Spy and more. When Emily isn't writing about film and TV, she can be found cuddling her cat on the sofa, likely bingeing New Girl for the millionth time (Nick Miller is the love of my life). You can also find her waxing lyrical about Christopher Nolan on a pꦉodcast dedicated to his filmography.
