The Star Beast
- Episode aired Nov 25, 2023
- 57m
The Doctor is caught in a fight to the death as a spaceship crash-lands in London. But as the battle wreaks havoc, destiny is converging on the Doctor's old friend, Donna.The Doctor is caught in a fight to the death as a spaceship crash-lands in London. But as the battle wreaks havoc, destiny is converging on the Doctor's old friend, Donna.The Doctor is caught in a fight to the death as a spaceship crash-lands in London. But as the battle wreaks havoc, destiny is converging on the Doctor's old friend, Donna.
- Awards
- 3 nominations
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode marks Russell T. Davies's return to the show since series' 4 The End of Time: Part Two (2010), which was David Tennant's final episode before returning in The Day of the Doctor (2013).
- GoofsNear the start of the episode, the doctor unstacks and then re-stacks a tower of 3 cardboard boxes Donna is holding. He starts by removing two boxes, and then replaces one of the boxes before turning around, intending to walk away. In the next shot, the other removed box has inexplicably reappeared on top of the stack.
- Quotes
The Doctor: Once upon a time... Once upon a Time Lord... I had a best friend, and her name was Donna Noble. A Time Lord and a human... and we travelled the stars together.
Donna Noble: Sometimes I have dreams about impossible things. I dream of creatures and adventures and faraway skies. But none of it's true.
The Doctor: Donna saved the entire universe by taking the power of the Time Lords into her mind - at a terrible cost. She had to forget everything she ever knew. She had to forget me. Because if Donna ever remembers me, she will die.
Donna Noble: And now I've got a nice life, with a nice fella and a nice house, and the most beautiful daughter in the world... but I just think something's missing.
The Doctor: I can never see Donna again.
Donna Noble: Now the days are drawing in... I keep having more and more dreams. Like something's getting closer.
The Doctor: But now this face has come back. Why?
Donna Noble: It's like a storm in the air... about to break.
The Doctor: I think the story hasn't ended yet.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Breakfast: Episode dated 25 November 2023 (2023)
The Doctor is caught in a fight to the death as a spaceship crash-lands in London. But as the battle wreaks havoc, destiny is converging on the Doctor's old friend, Donna...
After the past 5 years, getting a coherent and beautifully directed episode feels like a godsend. Bringing back Rachel Talalay was a stroke of genius on Russell's behalf, she cooked here, bringing to life the art of Dave Gibbons. The episode wastes no time getting stuck into the action, just when you think it's going to be a quiet little character building start, a spaceship crash-lands and it's all business as usual.
Tennant and Tate slip effortlessly back into their old routine, mile-a-minute chatter and wounding one-liners matching each other all the way. Tennant absolutely steals the show but Tate isn't very far behind, their enthusiasm and chemistry never wavers leaving me with a goofy smile I couldn't wipe from my face.
Granted there's a really badly timed joke on behalf of the late Bernard Cribbins but he gets a loving little tribute and cameo by journey's end which really made me well up with happiness. On the other hand though, Yasmin Finney's Rose adds nothing to the story that couldn't have been filled by Sharon in the original source material, but then again we wouldn't have gotten to experience such extremely lukewarm acting from Finney... Beep the Meep, however, is brilliantly realised. The genocidal fluffball has always been a fan favourite and he's done a great service by Miriam Margolyes' understated brilliance.
Murray Gold's return left me with mixed feelings but he brings back many of his classic themes from his last tenure while adding something new giving the story the dramatic weight it needed.
Despite my misgivings, with plenty of narrative hand-waving, goofy dialogue and telegraphed twists you can spot a mile off, The Star Beast is real return to form that we deserved. Silly, sincere and jam-packed with plenty of wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey shenanigans that lays loving tribute to 60 years of Doctor Who whilst teasing a tantalising new era for the show... and the best part? It feels like the best is left to come. Allons-y!
- DanTheMan2150AD
- Nov 25, 2023
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- Camden Market, Camden, London, England, UK(TARDIS landing site)
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime57 minutes
- Color