Hey whatcha been up to lately? Me? I've been hooked on Doctor Who! I've been jumping between different seasons checking out the awesome new edits and getting super excited about the amazing cast. But let me tell you the main event that got me all hyped up was "Partners in Crime".

A Blast from the Past

In case you didn't know Doctor Who used to be a huge deal worldwide. The genius minds behind the show have now come together both in front of and behind the camera with a clear mission: to make the show a smash hit once again after its decline in popularity. And guess what they're doing to achieve that? They're going back to the classics my friend. Familiar Doctors their iconic catchphrases and good old London. But here's the question: can they pull off a new adventure with the Tenth Doctor and Donna?

A Rocky Start

Ok so the episode kicks off without the usual pre-title sequence. Instead we're thrown into a bit of a shaky start. The Doctor shows up superimposed over space while Donna talks straight into the camera. There's a bunch of old footage and metaphors about storms that feel a bit clunky. It's like they're trying to give new viewers a cheat sheet so they can follow along easily. But hey once that epic theme tune kicks in and the TARDIS starts flying through the time vortex all is forgiven. Doctor Who is back on TV folks!

A Reunion and a Spaceship

I don't know about you but when Tennant strolls through those festive streets I couldn't help but expect some killer robot Santas. Instead the story wastes no time in reuniting the Doctor with Donna Noble and her teenage daughter Rose. It's been fifteen years since "The End of Time" and Donna still manages to miss out on all the mind-blowing alien stuff happening around her. This time it's a spaceship crashing over London a classic move straight out of Russell T. Davies' playbook. And let me just say the increased budget shows with the impressive location shots and stunning sets.

Family Dynamics

Let's not forget about Donna's mom Sylvia. She's quite the underrated character you know. In the past she was kind of a suspicious and overprotective mom who saw the Doctor as a threat. Now though we get to see a different side of her. Sure she still limits Donna's potential and dismisses all the spaceship talk but deep down she's just trying to protect her daughter. The relationship between Donna and her mom is complex and it's these kinds of domestic scenes that make us care about these characters even after all this time.

Doctorish Goodness

Alright back to the Doctor himself. As our beloved Fourteen sneaks into the crashed spaceship we get a new twist on the sonic screwdriver. He uses it like a stylus to create a holographic display allowing him to examine his scans more closely. I gotta say this is a brilliant move. It feels so Doctor-ish and just makes more sense than waving the sonic around randomly. I can imagine this becoming a staple in future adventures.

Enter the Meep

So while Rose is busy minding her own business in her Etsy shed she stumbles upon news of an alien escape pod. And then boom she's face-to-face with the Meep a little creature hiding from some Wrarth soldiers. We meet these bug-eyed baddies complete with snapping claws and wings and they do look pretty cheesy. But hey the episode is based on an old Doctor Who comic from the 80s so I guess it's intentional. It's a matter of taste whether it fits with the overall lavish aesthetic.

Tensions Rise

Rose's mom Jackie isn't supposed to see any aliens but she's a teenager in a sci-fi show so naturally she decides to keep the Meep a secret from her family just for fun. But it doesn't take long for Donna to figure it out and soon enough the Doctor bursts in to save the day. Of course Sylvia is against this dangerous plan worried about Donna's safety. But Fourteen can't contain his excitement and starts dropping references to his two hearts alien civilizations and his friendship with Wilf. Thankfully the rest of the gang arrives putting a halt to the chaos.

Action and Adventure

The Doctor brings out his trusty sonic screwdriver and this time things get a bit more controversial. Creating force fields with the sonic feels a bit overpowered if you ask me. Sure it takes some time and the shields don't last forever but still it's a bit too convenient. But let's give credit where it's due: the director Rachel Talalay has done an amazing job. The wide shots of UNIT surrounding Donna's street and the epic top-down view as the Doctor and his crew escape give it a cinematic feel.

Unexpected Twists

Now it's time for a plot twist that caught us off guard. Just as I was about to comment on how the Wrath couldn't even damage Shaun's taxi the Doctor pointed out the same thing. Talk about rug-pulling! The Meep's true nature is revealed and it turns out our little alien friend isn't as innocent as we thought.

The Heart of the Story



With the threat of the Meep's spaceship burning London Donna makes a brave choice. She decides to stay with the Doctor and help save the day even knowing it might cost her life. It's a heartbreaking moment when she collapses in the Doctor's arms seemingly dead. But wait! We all know Catherine Tate will be in future episodes so it does ring a bit hollow. Plus the magically restored streets of London took away from the sense of consequence. It would've been great to see a genuine aftermath emphasizing the gravity of Meep's revenge.

Rose to the Rescue

Just when things couldn't get any crazier Rose swoops in out of nowhere to work her tech magic and save the day. She flips switches spouts technobabble and bam the Meep is captured and the world is safe once again.

Tying Up Loose Ends

But we still have one more thing to address: the Doctor-Donna meta crisis. It turns out Donna can survive it now because part of its energy passed into Rose. And hey here's an interesting tidbit: Rose's non-binary identity somehow connects to the Doctor's freedom from gender limitations. Together they form a powerful team.

And there you have it folks! "The Star Beast" delivered all the excitement adventure and emotional moments we've come to expect from Doctor Who. With a mix of classic nostalgia and fresh twists this episode set us up for more thrilling adventures to come. So grab your sonic screwdriver hop in the TARDIS and get ready for an amazing journey through time and space!