WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
With the Doctor and Donna now back together, the 60th Anniversary specials have the chance to stretch the characters to their limit. Russell T Davies has the opportunity to show how good David Tennant and Catherine Tate are with a confined and scary adventure that shows the actors at their best. That’s exactly what you get with Wild Blue Yonder in a story that personifies Doctor Who. Let’s take a look
The plot of Wild Blue Yonder follows on from the end of the Star Beast where Donna spilt a cup of coffee on the Tardis, and it became out of control. The Tardis ends up isolating the Doctor and Donna on a spaceship in the middle of hostile action as the HADS activate. The Doctor and Donna discover the spaceship on the edge of the universe which is totally isolated with creatures called the Not Things that are replicating them. The Doctor and Donna must stop these creatures from completely replicating them and creating chaos throughout the universe.
Wild Blue Yonder has a vibe to it that is very familiar to Doctor Who fans. The setup of an isolated location with scary monsters and a focus upon suspense and drama is what a lot of Doctor Who hinges on. There is a simplicity to that story format that just works for the show. It uses the elements that work best for Doctor Who in its environment, its monsters, its scare factor and its performances. It means things are neatly focused in the way Russell T Davies writes it as he draws all the meat and fat out of the potential of the ideas, concepts and world which he has envisioned and I love that.
Doctor Who constantly moves forward but some things never change; some setups and ideas are constantly revisited, and writers have had the talent to make different genres and story setups feel original and new but familiar. The base under siege format is one of my favourite kinds of Doctor Who stories, which is a strong reason why Wild Blue Yonder appeals to me so much. It has the stakes, terror and feel of everything I love about Doctor Who and creates a severe and believable sense of stakes right out of the gate. Using the HADS having first originated in the Krotons is a clever device to make things feel dangerous and mysterious for the Doctor and Donna. With the Tardis abandoning them because of hostile action, there is a vivid feeling of an unknown danger that works very well. You know there is a mysterious force lying somewhere in the spaceship. You know there is a menace that means harm, but you don’t know what it is and that idea is spine-chilling and incredibly unnerving. There’s an atmosphere and vibe that has you biting your nails, and the slow-paced suspense of exploring the spaceship works really well because of the situation which Russell T Davies has created. I love having an unknown mystery which you have to unravel with a sense of curiosity and danger, which is well balanced in this episode.
I also think it’s a superb idea to strip the Doctor of his resources. Seeing the Doctor without the Tardis and Sonic Screwdriver puts him in a vulnerable and hopeless state and makes him powerless and therefore increases the danger and the stakes of the overall story. The storyline focuses inward on the characters and their vulnerability. It strips them of an overall aim and puts them in a place where they just have to survive, which creates sincere and powerful drama. It’s a recipe for success in discovering what the events make of the characters. It’s worked wonderfully in stories like the Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit, Midnight and Oxygen and works very well here as well.
Wild Blue Yonder is very methodical and very slow paced in structure and I think that works in its favour. I got tired of the fast-paced nature of the Jodie Whittaker era, where it felt like things were constantly being thrown at the screen simply to grab your attention, which simply became confusing. I much prefer the slow-paced nature of Classic Who stories. This has a similar vibe to the first episode of the Daleks and Part One of the Ark in Space. A slow sense of discovery and intrigue is present, along with an eerie vibe that I just love. The slow building, discovery and suspense also allow time for world-building and mystery, which is very valuable.
The idea of the Doctor and Donna on a spaceship on the very edge of the universe is a very interesting idea and concept that has a sense of risk that I like. Yet the reality of why this ship is at the edge of the universe, what the species were onboard the ship and what their purpose was is left fittingly unanswered. The story answers enough questions to feel satisfying but leaves enough in the dark to create a broad universe with an interesting sense of backstory and leaves things mysterious. The balance in the world-building and backstory is incredibly well judged.
I love the design, look and feel of the spaceship. It has a pleasing vastness and aesthetic where you want to spend time in it and you enjoy seeing the Doctor and Donna exploring it. It has a consistent look and feel that is reflective of where it came from and creates a strong intrigue in its origins. I also enjoy that across the story you discover loads of questions and mysteries which you slowly unravel the answers to in a satisfying way. The question of what the purpose of the robot is and what the countdown and movement of the ship means keeps you gripped and wanting to know more. These are the essentials of good storytelling as the audience enjoys being spoon-fed the information and slowly learning more as the story progresses. Yet the answers aren’t unsatisfying. The truth behind the captain’s sacrifice allows the rest of the story to make sense and the drama is drawn together in a rewarding way.
Now I’m going to move onto the villains in the form of the Not Things. You have unknown creatures that have drifted in the darkness taking the form of the Doctor and Donna, which is an incredibly frightening and unnerving concept. The Doctor and companion are characters you are meant to feel safe in the company of. Therefore, the idea of diverting that security through a shapeshifter concept as they become the enemy is horribly disconcerting. The story plays with a powerful level of suspense, as you don’t know who the real Doctor and Donna are. The idea of not knowing who your allies and enemies are is rather disturbing for the audience. You have a threat that makes itself worthy with the mind games that are played and the uncertain position of the characters and audience. The first scene where you realise that there are creatures replicating the main characters is a truly horrific and scary one that is well played.
The line of “my arms are too long” is a very memorable piece of dialogue that sticks inside your head for the weirdness of it. You can tell the Not Things are very inspired by the creativity of Everything Everywhere All at Once. There is a twisted and peculiar abnormality with the long arms and strange bodies of the Not Things that is wonderful. There is a creativity, ambition and imagination to the threat that fits Doctor Who and is very admirable. I really like the performances from David Tennant and Catherine Tate as the Not Things. It gives them a lot of variety in performance and allows them to stretch their wings as actors. The bizarre and unsettling lack of emotion they both bring in their creepiness and peculiar nature is obvious on reflection. There is a subtle and chilling danger which both actors nail brilliantly and allow the villains to thrive.
The concept of the Not Things alone allows the villains to work to amazing potential though. There is a mysterious vibe to them, not knowing who they are and where they come from which makes them unpredictable with such a lack of knowledge on their threat. Their narrow minded and simplistic mindset and lack of true understanding of what the human race is also makes them very fearful and incredibly fascinating. Their lack of perception of human nuance and contradiction helps form their villainy in an interesting manner. There is a vengeful and childish side to them with what has shaped them and their motives, which makes them creepily chaotic. Their fascination with war, violence and want to be a part of things makes them very intriguing. They are also a villain that uses the Doctor’s natural strengths against him. Their ability to terrorise the characters uses the Doctor’s mind and desire to figure things out and solve mysteries against him. It only makes their menace and their ability to replicate more dangerous. There is a double-edged sword to resolving things with the concept of the Not Things and what solving the mystery allows them to do. I like the way it takes the basics of a Doctor Who formula and then turns it on its head to satisfying results which creates engaging stakes. It uses the essentials of a Doctor Who conclusion in an unexpected manner as it breaks down its core components.
Now I’m going to move onto David Tennant and his performance as the Fourteenth Doctor. David Tennant has continued to impress with his time back in the role and the composed maturity with which he has decided to play the part. The Doctor is a lot less arrogant and more affectionate than he was when in his Tenth incarnation, which is a fitting progression in his character. His care and affection for Donna is shown very well in the way the Doctor comforts her in the moments when the Tardis clears off and abandons them. Yet I like the helplessness and powerless position with which the Fourteenth Doctor is put in this story. Without any Sonic Screwdriver or Tardis, the Doctor is reliant upon his wits, his intelligence and cunning personality. Up against a threat he does not know the limits of adds a vulnerability to the Doctor in this story which I really like. There is a great sense of survival to the Fourteenth Doctor that adds a sensitive nature to the character underneath. It exposes the qualities which drive the Doctor and make him who he is.
Yet I like that through the story you examine the Doctor’s sense of hurt underneath how they present themselves. This is a story that sees the Doctor and Donna coming to terms with how they have changed since they last travelled with one another as they are now different people. It makes sense as a story to push the characters to their limit. I love the moment that shows the Doctor’s hurt and guilt over the Flux wiping out half of the universe which he feels the blame of on his shoulders. I didn’t expect such a direct connection to the Jodie Whittaker era of the show, but it makes perfect sense. I felt the end of Flux brushed past and ignored the consequences of half of the universe being wiped out and I’m glad to see it being addressed. It makes sense that this has had severe emotional consequences on the Doctor which he has run from and avoided facing the truth of which is very in character. David Tennant sells the emotional trauma and damage of this incredibly well. The Doctor’s sense of secrecy and avoidance at the end tells us a lot about his mindset after everything which has happened. The Doctor is physically shaken, and the Flux has changed him which is an interesting place for the Doctor going forward.
Now I’m going to move onto Catherine Tate as Donna Noble. This story reminded me why Donna is one of my favourite companions and why she is, in my view, the most realistic character out of anyone the Doctor has travelled with. It’s purely in the writing and Catherine Tate’s performance and how she reacts to the events. It feels incredibly real and relatable. Donna feels a sense of shock when the Tardis is gone, which we would all feel in that situation. The helplessness in Catherine Tate’s performance and the way it slowly takes hold over her and her reaction feels incredibly true to life. I also like the fact that her worry is primarily in her concern for her family and her daughter. It shows how Donna has grown and evolved in the last 15 years and developed a life with other priorities. Yet she is proactive and has a sense of determined action to her that is characteristically Donna.
Donna sells the fear when in the presence of the Not Things, but I also really like the moment when she is left behind and the Doctor leaves with the wrong version of Donna. Catherine Tate has a raw sense of worry and emotion that is very powerful. The scene dwells upon Donna’s hopeless state in that moment and her vulnerable position in a way where you really feel the personal stakes. Donna’s affection and care for the Doctor also speaks to their relationship with one another. Through the story, you see how Donna’s life has moved on.
There is a small cameo from Bernard Cribbins playing Wilfred Mott at the end, which he filmed before he died in 2022. Even at the age of 93, Bernard Cribbins brings a familiar sense of character to Wilf. You can see his delight and happiness at seeing the Doctor again and there is a proper sense of bonding and affection between the two. He also has a terrific sense of loyalty and worry about the unfolding situation. It’s truly lovely that Bernard Cribbins got to film this final little scene before he died. May he rest in peace.
Now I’m going to move onto the directing by Tom Kingsley who has previously worked on the likes of This is Going to Hurt and Ghosts. There is a suspenseful and sinister vibe which Tom Kingsley nails. He was given a tough job and I think he manages to impress. There is a gentle movement to the frame and the camera which fits the story, yet the shots are usually strongly fixed upon the Doctor and Donna. This helps focus things upon their viewpoint and it makes the story feel intimate and enclosed, which enhances the sense of suspense and tension. The gentle movements through the spaceship flow together in a way that feels like you are following the natural movements of the characters. The visuals and directing use the space and the actors to the best advantage to give the space a very eerie vibe and atmosphere. The framing and movement of the doubles of David Tennant and Catherine Tate, and the camera trickery involved in that is masterfully pulled off. Similarly the scene with Issacc Newton is very impressively done. The drama of the final chase down the spaceship corridor is something you really feel the stakes of and the focused sense of vivid urgency helps it to work.
So, overall, how do I feel about Wild Blue Yonder? I think it’s a simply fantastic story that will become a memorable and well loved episode in Doctor Who history. It’s certainly one of the best Doctor Who scripts which Russell T Davies has ever written with a powerful imagination to it. The story takes a very familiar kind of Doctor Who formula with an eerie vibe and uses it to explore fascinating concepts and imaginative and scary ideas. It pushes David Tennant and Catherine Tate to their limit both in playing the Not Things and also learning about each other as the Doctor and Donna and how they have changed in a way that is emotionally satisfying and character driven as they become closer as a result of the story.
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