The Star Beast

Doctor Who has always been a big part of my life, ever since it returned to screens when I was a wee nipper. I've since watched the original show and delved into the world of the novels and audio dramas and despite loving (almost) every second of it, I've always held Russell's era very closely to my hearts. I was both extremely excited and extremely worried about this fresh run of things: would it be able to capture the charm and atmosphere that made the Davies' era so wonderful? Would it feel like a soulless nostalgia grab? So many questions! But I'm glad to report that I LOVED this first episode. It was everything I had hoped for and more! Brilliant effects, wonderful performances, a tight script, music that hits all the right notes... I could go on. I'm not going to spoil it because it's got more twists and turns than a twisty turny thing but you should go and watch it right now! I imagine that I'll be seeing you back here this time next week, so until then, allons-y!

I am very so slightly torn on this one and it is that nature of torn that ups this to three star from zero.

On the plus side, I suppose, RTD is back and even at his worst he is a better scriptwriter than Chibnall was. Tennant is nice to see back in the suit, although it is almost remorseful in the way having Indy back in Crystal Skull was.

Yes this is RTD, at his worst. Yes this is Tennant back, for a time, having to star in something that is RTD at his worst.

This is chaotic and stupid and some familiar old faces doesn't make it not be these things.

I was hoping I could start taking pride in being a Whovian again. I can't yet.

I never finished the last few seasons of Doctor Who, but I know this is better. It's definitely not perfect, but it's the start of something better. The beginning was a little rushed and weirdly done. There were a couple scenes that were VERY on the nose with the gender aspects, but I think that'll get toned down as the episodes go on as it was an introduction (hopefully..). I did love the new theme song, it feels very fitting for the new era. For me the standouts of the episode were Donna and her mom. There was a nice buildup of Donna getting her memories back. Obviously there are definitely some tweaks that should be made, to make the viewing experience nicer (and a little less cringy), but I'm happy with the shows return.

He's back, and so is Donna, they're brought together to help The Meep, a creature that's landed on Earth.

Fair play, you have to credit Doctor Who fans, we've all waited a long time for this, and I'm sure millions will tune in for nostalgia and curiosity, wanting to see if the show has changed.

Tennant and Tate, it's almost as though a Genie answered my wishes, and brought the two of them back to us, but the question was always going to be whether this episode was as good as the hype, everything possible has been done to rejuvenate the show.

Bonkers good fun, I really did enjoy it, it was like stepping back fifteen years. I can't say it's a classic, but it was an entertaining, action packed sci fi romp, and it was great to see so many familiar faces, and some new.

The story was decent, the character play was magical. I think there's more to come in the next few episodes.

I liked Rose, I liked the way the character was introduced and the way in which Russell handled the trans issue, no preaching.

Miriam Margolyes was a joy as The Meep, about time she featured on the show, I really liked The Meep.

Two questions I had going in, why is this incarnation of The Doctor back, and would Donna suffer coming back into contact with her old travelling companion? I exit this episode with more questions than answers, who's the boss?

Tennant, what can you say, The Doctor is back, he's lost none of the energy, none of the polish, none of the presence, great to have him back.

Donna Noble, I adore you! Tate stepped straight back in with ease, please let her return in years to come.

8/10.

While it is good seeing David Tennant's Doctor and my personal favorite companion back together, hearing Murray Gold's beautiful score, and enjoying some wonderfully composed shots from director Rachel Talalay, the episode unfortunately commits many of the missteps I was hoping they would avoid, but suspected they wouldn't. Despite still having a talent for writing excellent prose, and being able to write characters who (mostly) talk like normal people, the writer of this episode was saddled with having to establish a great deal in fifty odd minutes, leading to a quite clunky opener to this anniversary three-parter. This is, of course, excusable. What is less excusable is the treatment of the main character by the other characters. The Doctor, fresh from regenerating from his previous, female self, is openly mocked by several of the supporting characters for no other reason than his gender. While I have no issue with the Doctor having been a woman, and I have no problem with Donna insulting the Doctor to a degree (her argumentative nature being a core part of their prior relationship), the Doctor is made to feel degraded and humiliated for not understanding the frankly unintelligible ending of the story, which is, of course, put down to him being a man instead of a woman.

While the Doctor should never be portrayed as perfect, something most incarnations have no issue with achieving, he should also not be told to his face that he is stupid and it is because of his physical makeup, for the sake of a cheap laugh. The Doctor, after all he has done for the universe, deserves a lot more respect. Apart from that, the general messaging throughout the episode still evokes much of the eye rolling moral-lessons-without-substance-to-cushion-it that pushed many fans away from the franchise during Capaldi's era. While it is not wrong to have messaging, indeed, morals and messages have always been an important part of Doctor Who, the story should never work it so hard as to be inescapable, or integral to the plot. Doctor Who has always been at it's best when the message is secondary to the main story.

To that point, I have hopes that the second episode, without the baggage of reintroductions and establishing, very clearly, it's virtues, will be a better experience. We''ll see if that instinct is correct. Doctor Who has a lot of bad will to overcome from the fanbase, here's hoping there is more to it's supposed "return to form" than some familiar faces and unearned lectures.