Doctor Who: The Star Beast review – David Tennant is back and gloriously eccentric

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Caution: This evaluation is also a summary, which implies that it reveals key plot points from the episode.

The Doctor's connection to time and space has always been challenging. However, this is most evident in "The Star Beast," which is the first of three episodes celebrating Doctor Who's 60th year.

There's a brand new show featuring a familiar face – David Tennant as both the 10th and 14th Doctor. The franchise is also bouncing back from a rocky period under previous showrunner Chris Chibnall and looking ahead with Russell T Davies returning to the helm. And if that wasn't exciting enough, "The Star Beast" is a nostalgic nod to feel-good 80s entertainment like ET but with a contemporary take on gender identity. Fans are sure to be thrilled.

Are you feeling puzzled? It appears that Tennant is. At the beginning of this pleasant and slightly cheesy episode of Doctor Who, he comes out of the Tardis with wide eyes in modern-day London.

Davies probably wouldn't admit it, but he seems to be attempting to repair the harm caused by the Chibnall era. This period saw Doctor Who become entangled in intricate storylines, leading many viewers to abandon the show. Davies has opted for a back-to-basics approach, which is refreshing after a flashy opening sequence reminiscent of Marvel movies. This intro highlights the various Doctors from the past and present, along with the term "Whoniverse". It's likely intended for international fans watching via Disney +, following a new agreement between Broadcasting House and the Mouse House.

While navigating the balance between staying true to the original Doctor Who series and attracting new Disney + viewers, Davies has resisted the urge to alter the core essence of the show. He has only made subtle changes, such as a slight modification to the theme tune. The plot is simple enough for a young child to understand, which was intentional on Davies' part, as he revealed to reporters during a recent interview.

In this section of the blog, we learn that the Doctor is finally reunited with his close companion and cherished sidekick, Donna Noble. In the popular television series, the role of Donna Noble is played by the talented actress, Catherine Tate.

Although "The Star Beast" is straightforward, it doesn't treat the audience like children. It has plenty of action and witty banter between characters from different galaxies. The story also includes an unexpected twist when one of the main characters turns out to be the opposite of what we thought. Surprising plot twists have become a specialty of the show's creator, Davies. When Jodie Whittaker's 13th Doctor regenerated in January 2022, fans expected the new Doctor to be Ncuti Gatwa, but he won't take on the role until a Christmas Day special. Meanwhile, David Tennant is back in the driver's seat as the Doctor, appearing confident and energized in his time-hopping adventures.

The Doctor suddenly appears in Camden at the same time a spaceship belonging to aliens zooms past over London. Some unknown forces have brought together the Doctor and his dear companion, Donna Noble (played brilliantly by Catherine Tate), who is known for her sarcastic wit. Those who follow Doctor Who will remember that the Doctor had previously erased Noble's memory of him to protect her from mental breakdown after she had connected to his mind to defeat Davros, the villain. As a result, when she meets the Doctor once again, she is confused about who he is, as that part of her memory is still closed off. He seems to be a nervous and skinny person with peculiar eyebrows.

She is joined by her kid Rose (Yasmin Finney), who we later find out is transgender. This is not just a minor aspect of the character. Rose's identity as non-binary plays an important role in a thrilling climax. This involves her mom accepting the Time Lord data dump she received during her prior escapades (which can be pretty challenging, but this is Doctor Who after all).

Rose is an up-and-coming artist who focuses on making soft toys. She is surprised to find a new furry friend, called "the Meep", who has shown up at her home. The Meep, voiced by Miriam Margolyes, is incredibly cute with its tassels and it seems like the episode will be Davies' tribute to ET.

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Davies may not openly admit it, but his actions suggest he's attempting to reverse the negative impact caused by the Chibnall era. This period saw Doctor Who become entangled in complex plotlines, leading to a reduction in viewership as audiences tried to distance themselves from the chaos.

There's a bit of that. While the Doctor searches for Noble and the Meep, two bug-like Wrarth Warriors have arrived and seem to be controlling brainwashed troops to go after Rose's furry friend (Ruth Madeley makes a brief appearance as a scientist with the supernatural military organization, Unit). Then, a shocking revelation is made - the real antagonist is the Meep, who was pretending to be cute and innocent.

In a staged court scenario, the Doctor discovers the truth and wears a wig as a barrister to do so. While Whittaker's Doctor possessed characteristics such as humor, bravery, and empathy, the storylines were lacking in quality. Despite this, she wouldn't have been able to deliver the eccentric humor that Tennant brought to this scene. His performance was amusing while also demonstrating his personal growth towards experiencing human emotions, possibly inspired by Whittaker's Doctor.

The current Doctor Who series is very enjoyable, and it's understandable to sympathize with Gatwa, who is taking over as the lead. It's a challenging role, similar to performing after Freddie Mercury at Glastonbury. Tennant perfectly embodies the Doctor's character, appearing as a time-traveling extraterrestrial attempting to blend in with humans. It's a daunting task for anyone to follow in his footsteps, but that's a problem for another time. In the meantime, fans of Doctor Who can feel relieved and happy to see the Doctor return to their eccentric self after a disappointing few years under Chibnall's leadership.

Tonight at 6.30pm, you can catch 'The Star Beast' on BBC One or stream it on BBC iPlayer.