Doctor Who's Latest Special Is Great, But Is It Worth 60th Anniversary Hype?

Summary:

• Doctor Who is a British science fiction television series that has been on the air since 1963.
• This year, the show celebrates its anniversary by bringing back David Tennant and Catherine Tate as the 14th Doctor and Donna Noble.
• The first of three episodes premiered on November 25th to mixed reviews from die-hard Whovians.

There's nothing Whovians around the world have been waiting for more than the 60th Anniversary Specials. Three episodes starring David Tennant as the 14th Doctor and Catherine Tate as Donna Noble were hyped by BBC 1 and Disney as the event worth waiting for.

Living up to such expectations would be a tall order, but Doctor Who fans were sure that their favorite show, written by their favorite showrunner, Russell T. Davies, wouldn't disappoint. And it didn't, at least for the most part. The first episode, titled The Star Beast, which aired on Saturday, November 25th, was everything fans expected and more.

The only thing the episode was not was a celebration. Not a 60th anniversary celebration of Doctor Who that anyone would expect, at least.

Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Special Review

The episode was a celebration of many different things that Doctor Who has always embraced. It was a celebration of inclusivity and open-mindedness, which is only fair when dealing with creatures from outer space. The Star Beast emphasized family bonds and friendship, bringing back that warm and fuzzy happy ending feeling.

It was certainly a celebration of the bygone era of the 10th Doctor and Donna Noble, his fan-favorite companion. By bringing Donna back and giving her the future she truly deserved, Russell T. Davies corrected his own long-standing mistake of messing up the fate of a character so dear to many viewers.

The only thing so desperately missing from the celebration of David Tennant's comeback was anything else from the extended universe of Who.

A reference to a former companion named Rose, a few other references to beloved characters in dialogue, and a few toys resembling the Doctor's enemies were not enough to create the atmosphere of the promised grand event. The episode was great like any other Doctor Who episode, but it didn't manage to surpass the 50th special yet.

The good thing is that this time there's not just one chapter of celebration, but three. And while the first episode was all about restoring justice to Donna's character, the next two may be exactly what we all want to see. The deep dive into Doctor Who lore with a few surprises thrown in just for fun.

If you are interested in seeing how Doctor Who will continue its 60th-anniversary celebration, you can tune in to Disney Plus next Saturday, December 2, for an episode titled Wild Blue Yonder.