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The Star Beast (Doctor Who episode)

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301 – "The Star Beast"
Doctor Who episode
Promotional poster
Cast
Guest
  • Yasmin Finney – Rose Noble
  • Karl Collins – Shaun Temple
  • Matt Green – BBC Reporter
  • Jamie Cho – Colonel Chan
  • Ruth Madeley – Shirley Bingham
  • Harley Mcevilly, Max Fincham – Lads
  • Jacqueline King – Sylvia Noble
  • Dara Lall – Fudge Merchandani
  • Cecily Fay – The Meep
  • Brian Herring, Phill Woodfine – Meep Animatronics
  • Robert Strange, Stephen Love, Jordan Benjamin, Vassili Psaltopoulos – Wrarth Warriors
  • Isabella Carey – Soldier
  • Ronak Patani – Major Singh
  • Ned Porteous – Voice of Zogroth
  • John Hopkinson – Voice of Zreeg
  • Anna Martine Freeman – Chief Technician
  • Archie Backhouse – Sergeant
  • Miriam Margolyes – Voice of the Meep
Production
Directed byRachel Talalay
Written byRussell T Davies, from a story by Pat Mills and Dave Gibbons
Script editorScott Handcock
Produced byVicki Delow
Executive producer(s)
Music byMurray Gold
Series2023 specials
Running time57 minutes
First broadcast25 November 2023 (2023-11-25)
Chronology
← Preceded by
"The Power of the Doctor" 		Followed by →
"Wild Blue Yonder"
List of episodes (2005–present)

"The Star Beast" is the first of three hour-long special episodes of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who, marking the programme's 60th anniversary. Based on a comic written for the Doctor Who Magazine in 1979, the episode was written by returning head writer and showrunner Russell T Davies from a story by Pat Mills and Dave Gibbons, directed by Rachel Talalay, and was first broadcast on BBC One on 25 November 2023. It serves as the reintroductions of David Tennant and Catherine Tate, with Tennant making his first regular appearance as the Fourteenth Doctor, having previously played the Tenth Doctor during Davies' original tenure as showrunner, as well as in the 50th anniversary special "The Day of the Doctor" in 2013, while Tate reprises her role as Donna Noble. The episode also sees the returns of Jacqueline King and Karl Collins, with newcomer Yasmin Finney, and guest starring Miriam Margolyes as the voice of the alien Meep.

The episode focuses the newly-regenerated Doctor being drawn back to the life of former companion Donna Noble, whose memory he was forced to wipe after her human mind became overwhelmed by the Time Lord knowledge in the 2008 episode "Journey's End". Upon his arrival to modern-day London, he is caught in a fight to the death when a spaceship crash-lands, with an alien army of Wrarth Warriors pursuing after a small furry creature known as the Meep.

It is the first episode to be led by Davies and Julie Gardner since the two-part 2009–10 Christmas special "The End of Time" and marks the return of former producer Phil Collinson, who left the programme after the conclusion of the 2008 fourth series, as an executive producer. Composer Murray Gold also returns to the series for the first time since the 2017 Christmas special "Twice Upon a Time". It is also the first regular episode of the revived era to be broadcast on Saturday since the tenth series finale "The Doctor Falls" in 2017.

Plot

Following his regeneration, the Fourteenth Doctor lands in London where he runs into Donna Noble, who still does not remember him. He also meets Donna's teenage transgender daughter, Rose, and husband Shaun Temple. A spaceship lands nearby, noticed by all except Donna. Meeting with UNIT scientist Shirley Anne Bingham, the Doctor is concerned of why he resembles his tenth incarnation and has re-entered Donna's life, believing it is tied to her. Shirley sends in a UNIT squadron to investigate the spaceship, only for them to be controlled by a blue entity. Rose encounters a small furry creature called the Meep and hides it in her shed where she keeps homemade stuffed toys. The Meep claims that the Wrarth Warriors are chasing after it for its fur.

Donna discovers the Meep just as the Doctor arrives at her house and is confronted by an angry Sylvia. The Doctor calms everyone down and learns of the Meep's history. The UNIT soldiers and the Wrarths arrive, and a fight breaks out between them. The Doctor gets the Meep and Donna's family out, but realises that the Wrarth are not using lethal force. He holds a trial with the Meep and two Wrarths, with the latter revealing that the Meep's home world was afflicted by a sun that turned its entire species into vicious beings and that the Meep is the last of its kind, attempting to rule the universe. The Meep drops its kindly facade and kills the Wrarths, revealing that the possessed UNIT soldiers are under its control and takes the Doctor and Donna's family hostage.

The Meep plans to escape Earth with its new soldiers at the cost of incinerating London. The Doctor and Donna's family are rescued by Shirley. Donna, who is starting to remember her past, and the Doctor sets off to stop the Meep. Trapped within the spaceship and running out of time, the Doctor is forced to reawaken Donna's memories, and the two manage to shut down the Meep's ship. To their surprise, Donna does not die; with Rose's birth, Donna had passed down part of the Meta-crisis into her, awakening some memories of the Doctor within Rose, whose shed and dolls were effigies of the TARDIS and aliens that her mother had encountered with the Doctor. The Meep is captured by the Wrarths, while Donna and Rose expel the rest of the Meta-crisis from their bodies.

The Doctor suggests Donna and her family visit Wilfred Mott. As Donna accidentally causes the TARDIS to go haywire, it begins to dematerialise. The Doctor remarks that the TARDIS could be taking them anywhere in time and space.

Production

Development

Davies, who has returned to Doctor Who as showrunner and lead writer for the 60th anniversary specials and series beyond

In July 2021, the BBC announced that Chris Chibnall, who served as executive producer and showrunner of the series since 2018, would quit the series after a run of specials in 2022, alongside Thirteenth Doctor star Jodie Whittaker.[1] The future of the programme was first teased by Piers Wenger on 25 August 2021, when he said an upcoming change for Doctor Who would be "radical".[2]

The episode commences the fourth era of production in the revived series, following Davies' first tenure as executive producer from 2005 to 2010, Steven Moffat's from 2010 to 2017 and Chris Chibnall's from 2018 to 2022.

On 24 September 2021, it was announced Russell T Davies would return to Doctor Who as showrunner, after having acted as showrunner from 2005 to 2010 for the Ninth and Tenth Doctors, succeeding Chibnall for the show's 60th anniversary in 2023 and beyond.[3] Davies was joined by the Bad Wolf production company, which was founded by fellow former Doctor Who executive producer Julie Gardner and former BBC head of drama Jane Tranter,[4] with Bad Wolf taking over creative control of Doctor Who beginning with the special, allowing the BBC to focus on establishing Doctor Who as a global brand.[5]

Phil Collinson, Gardner and Tranter all returned to the show as executive producers, alongside newcomer Joel Collins.[6] Davies confirmed by March 2022 that pre-production had begun at Bad Wolf Studios in Cardiff.[7] Tim Hodges edited the specials.[8]

The story is based on the comic strip "The Star Beast" written by Pat Mills and John Wagner and illustrated by Dave Gibbons that appeared in Doctor Who Weekly in early 1980.[9]

Casting

David Tennant and Catherine Tate both returned to the series as part of the 60th anniversary specials.[10] Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor for the first time while Tate reprises her role as Donna Noble.[11]

On 25 December 2022, it was announced that Jacqueline King and Karl Collins are also set to return as Sylvia Noble and Shaun Temple, respectively, who last appeared in Tennant's final story of his tenure as the Tenth Doctor, "The End of Time", and that Ruth Madeley would appear as Shirley Anne Bingham.[12][13] Yasmin Finney joined the cast for the anniversary to portray a character named Rose.[14] The BBC later confirmed the surname of the character to be Noble, revealing that Finney will play the daughter of Donna and Shaun.[15][16] On 14 September 2023, Miriam Margolyes was announced to be joining the cast of the specials as the voice of The Meep.[17]

Filming

Rachel Talalay returned to direct the first special;[18] She had previously directed every series finale of the Peter Capaldi era, as well as the 2017 Christmas Special "Twice Upon a Time". Filming for the specials commenced in May 2022, and wrapped at the end of July 2022.[19]

Broadcast and reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Rotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer)100%
Rotten Tomatoes (Average Score)
Review scores
SourceRating

Broadcast

"The Star Beast" was broadcast on 25 November 2023 as the first of the three 2023 specials, filmed for the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who.[20] The episode had its press release and premiere on 6 November at Battersea Power Station in London.[21][22] The episode also had a special screening as part of the anniversary celebrations on 23 November at the Royal Television Society in Cardiff.[23]

Ratings

"The Star Beast" performed well in overnight figures, coming second with 5.08m viewers and becoming the best performing drama of 2023 so far.[24]

Critical reception

"The Star Beast" was met with positive reviews from critics.[25] The Guardian's Jack Seale rated the special a 4/5, describing it as being "fun, light and fast", and praising the episode's handling of the transgender community as "tender" and "gloriously, air-punchingly affirmative".[9] Anita Singh, writing in The Sunday Telegraph, gave the Star Beast 4/5, and said that the episode was "..a perfect re-entry for a franchise that needs to win back public affection."[26] Writing for The Independent, Ed Power praised the episode's 'back to basics' approach after the convoluted Chibnall era, in particular singling out Tennant's performance as the Fourteenth Doctor.[27] BBC's Neil Armstrong gave the episode a more mixed-review, describing the special as filled with fan-pleasing material but unlikely to win over new viewers, with its focus on progressive views being labelled as "preachy".[28]

Home media

"The Star Beast", along with the other two specials "Wild Blue Yonder" and "The Giggle", are set to be released on home media on 18 December 2023.[29]

References

  1. ^ Kanter, Jane (29 July 2021). "'Doctor Who': Jodie Whittaker & Showrunner Chris Chibnall Are Leaving Iconic Sci-Fi Series, BBC Confirms". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  2. ^ Holmes, Martin (26 August 2021). "BBC Boss Promises 'Radical' Change for 'Doctor Who' After Jodie Whittaker Exits". TVInsider. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  3. ^ Fullerton, Huw (24 September 2021). "Russell T Davies to return as Doctor Who showrunner". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Doctor Who: Russell T Davies returns as programme showrunner". BBC News. 24 September 2021. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  5. ^ Craig, David (2 November 2021). "Doctor Who will "radically build" on success as Bad Wolf assumes 'creative control'". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  6. ^ TVZone (2022-11-09). "DOCTOR WHO: SERIES 14 UPDATES AND PRODUCTION TEAM CONFIRMED". TVZoneUK. Archived from the original on 9 November 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  7. ^ Sarrubba, Stefania (3 March 2022). "Doctor Who's Russell T Davies teases return as season 14 production begins". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Doctor Who 60th Anniversary specials: new details". 13 December 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  9. ^ a b Seale, Jack (25 November 2023). "Doctor Who: The Star Beast review – David Tennant and Catherine Tate have got this show flying again". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  10. ^ "Doctor Who: Here they come". Doctor Who. Retrieved 23 Oct 2022.
  11. ^ "David Tennant and Catherine Tate return to Doctor Who". Doctor Who. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  12. ^ "60th filming reveals who Yasmin Finney's Rose is". Doctor Who TV. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  13. ^ "Doctor Who 60th anniversary trailer - Merry Christmas and a very Happy Who Year". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
  14. ^ "Heartstopper's Yasmin Finney Joins 60th Cast as "Rose"". Doctor Who TV. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  15. ^ Hibbs, James (30 August 2023). "Doctor Who confirms Yasmin Finney plays Donna's daughter, teases her debut". Radio Times. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  16. ^ Graham-Lowery, Nathan (2023-08-19). "New Companion Rose's Future Beyond Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials Seemingly Revealed". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  17. ^ "Miriam Margolyes Joins Doctor Who". Doctor Who. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  18. ^ Busch, Jenna (17 May 2022). "Director Rachel Talalay Confirms Doctor Who Return For 60th Anniversary". Slash Film. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  19. ^ Laford, Andrea (6 September 2022). "Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials: third director discovered". CultBox. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  20. ^ "Doctor Who's 60th Anniversary TX Dates Revealed!". BBC. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  21. ^ "The TARDIS has touched down at @batterseapwrstn for tonight's #DoctorWho 60th anniversary premiere! ❤️❤️➕⚡️". Instagram. 6 November 2023. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  22. ^ "Doctor Who special 'The Star Beast' screens in London". CultBox. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  23. ^ "DOCTOR WHO: 60TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENING AND CELEBRATION". Royal Television Society. 2023-11-10. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  24. ^ "Doctor Who: The Star Beast becomes biggest drama launch of 2023". Radio Times. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  25. ^ "Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials, Episode 1 - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  26. ^ Singh, Anita (26 November 2023). "Gender lectures can't spoil a Time Lord treat". The Sunday Telegraph. No. 3, 257. p. 3. ISSN 0307-1235.
  27. ^ "Doctor Who: The Star Beast review – David Tennant is back and gloriously eccentric". The Independent. 2023-11-26. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  28. ^ Armstrong, Neil (20 November 2023). "Doctor Who: The Star Beast first look review – the first 60th anniversary special is a 'whimsical' affair". BBC.
  29. ^ "Doctor Who 60th Anniversary specials available to pre-order on Steelbook, DVD and Blu-ray". Retrieved 26 October 2023 – via Doctor Who.
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