In recent years there has been stagnation Doctor Who. Boring stories, simplistic characterization, falling ratings. The inescapable feeling that the best days of being a doctor are over.
But what is the past for a Time Lord? In three special episodes to mark the series’ 60th anniversary, the Doctor returned to the most popular incarnation of the modern era: David Tennant. The revered Russell T Davies, who revived the series in 2005, has also returned to form a bold new partnership with US streaming giant Disney+.
And what a relief: it’s been a long time since a show has been so full of personality and life, so full of manic dynamism. Reassuringly familiar yet excitingly new, it was a return to the show it once was. Star Beast didn’t reinvent it Doctor Who A wheel, but at least it rolled like a wheel.
Inexplicably, Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor (a new incarnation with an old face) floated through the void of space, breaking the fourth wall to help viewers catch up.
He told us that the Doctor once knew a swashbuckling Chiswick transient named Donna Noble (Catherine Tate), but had to erase her memories of his adventures after she absorbed all the Time Lords’ knowledge. If she remembers him, she will die.
Sure enough, the TARDIS materialized right in front of her, just before the alien spaceship crashed in London. The opening was abrupt and jarring, but soon gave way to the thrilling chemistry of the Doctor and Donna’s reunion.
The story was relatively vague: the adorable furry alien Meep (voiced by Miriam Margolyes) crash-landed on Earth, apparently fleeing bug-eyed hunters. But of course it’s the other way around ANDTurns out it was “crazy” Paddington“Actually was an evil dictator who wanted to conquer the earth.”
Tennant eased back into the role of doctor. He’s older now, a little grayer, but has lost none of the impressive charisma, dashing romanticism and sparkle in his eyes that made his Doctor a fan favorite. At best, Tennant makes every other Doctor feel like a fraud.
Tate was in cheerful form again. Donna now lived without memories of her adventures, settled down and started a family, but did not lose any of her serious demeanor. Her speech “There’s a Martian in the barn!” was a special treat.
The beauty of Russell T. Davies’s work is how elegantly it balances its inherent absurdity. Doctor Who with the grounded drama of everyday life. In 2005 it was Rose Tyler and her escape from everyday life on a council estate. Here we have Rose Noble, Donna’s transgender daughter, played by Heart plugYasmin Finney.
At a time when trans life in Britain has been reduced to a political football, it was great for a major show. Doctor Who depict how Rose is mistreated on the street, or how her family struggles to adapt to her transition. These scenes felt natural and alive and were not simply didactic. Although the role of gender identity in the plot was awkward (it turns out Donna’s Time Lord knowledge was passed on to Rose, leading her to reject the gender binary).
But the marriage of Tennant’s charm, Tate’s comedic qualities and Davies’ talent for writing scripts that are vibrant, funny and informative is a special kind of alchemy.
This episode was emblematic of a series that needed to go back in time in order to move forward. Doctor Who returned… to the future.