Destination: Skaro

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Destination: Skaro
Doctor Who charity special
Cast
Guest
Production
Directed byJamie Donoughue
Written byRussell T Davies
Produced by
Executive producer(s)Russell T Davies
Series2023 specials
Running time5 minutes
First broadcast17 November 2023 (2023-11-17)
Chronology
← Preceded by
"The Power of the Doctor" 		Followed by →
"The Star Beast"

"Destination: Skaro", also known as "Doctor Who Children in Need Special 2023",[1] is a 5-minute mini-episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It first aired on 17 November 2023, on BBC One as part of the 2023 Children in Need special. "Destination: Skaro" is the second television appearance of David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor and preceded Doctor Who's sixtieth anniversary specials. In the episode, a newly regenerated incarnation of the Doctor mistakenly lands on Skaro at the time Davros is creating the Daleks. It was written by Russell T Davies and directed by Jamie Donoughue. The special received mixed reviews.

Plot

On Skaro, Davros unveils his newest creation to Mr. Castavillian, a "travel machine" he describes as the future of the Kaled race. After explaining the numerous features, Catavillian suggests several names for this creation to Davros, all of which are anagrams of Kaled. Davros isn't satisfied with any of the proposed names and briefly exits the room. Sixty minutes after regenerating, the Doctor crash-lands in the TARDIS destroying part of the creation. The Doctor initially questions Castavillian as to why his previous face has returned before recognizing the now partially-destroyed creation as a Dalek. Castavillian takes note of the name as the Doctor says he's lucky he wasn't exterminated, a word Castavillian also notes. Realizing he's at the moment Daleks were first created, the Doctor gives Castavillian a plunger to replace its the broken arm. The Doctor then departs just as Davros returns. Davros momentarily ponders the modified Dalek and accepts the changes.

Production

The mini-episode starred David Tennant (left) as the Fourteenth Doctor and Mawaan Rizwan as Mr Castavillian.

Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies wrote and executive produced the special.[2][2] Chronologically, it takes place after the Fourteenth Doctor comic Liberation of the Daleks and at the same time as the 1975 television serial Genesis of the Daleks.[3] Davros was written to be able-bodied, a change from previous episodes in which the character used a wheelchair and had significant scarring. Davies explained that in any future episodes featuring Davros, he would appear the same way because he and the production team disagreed with common tropes that associated physical disabilities with antagonists.[4]

There's a problem with the Davros of old, in that he's a wheelchair user who is evil. There's a long tradition of associating disability with evil but time, society, culture and taste has moved on. When the world changes, Doctor Who has to change as well. Especially on Children in Need night, when issues of disability and otherness come right to the front of the conversation.

— Russell T Davies[5]
The special received mixed reviews for turning Davros into an able-bodied character.

It was produced by Vicky Delow and Scott Handcock.[2] Jamie Donoughue directed "Destination: Skaro" which was filmed at Bad Wolf Studios in Cardiff, Wales. Filming occurred on 18 April 2023 while the fourteenth series was still in production. The Dalek prop was brought in from Glasgow.[2][6] David Tennant made his second televised appearance in the special as the Fourteenth Doctor following a brief cameo in "The Power of the Doctor" (2022).[7] Mawaan Rizwan appeared in the special as Mr Castavillian.[8][9] Julian Bleach reprised his role as Davros.[10] Barnaby Edwards returned to operate the Dalek prop which was voiced by Nicholas Briggs.[2]

Broadcast and reception

"Destination: Skaro" was broadcast on BBC One on 17 November 2023 as part of Children in Need.[11] It was accompanied by an episode of Doctor Who: Unleashed.[12] A novelisation written by Steve Cole was released on 19 September 2024 in Fifteen Doctors 15 Stories.[13][14] Reviewing it for Bleeding Cool, Adi Tantimedh rated the episode 10/10, wrote that the five-minute episode featured what Doctor Who had been missing for five-years under preceding showrunner Chris Chibnall. He went on to call it "consistently surprising and hilarious" and a "masterclass in storytelling and comedy acting".[15] Nerdgazm's Jack Trestrail praised Tennant's performance, writing that he was "energised as ever" and explaining the special was "a real breath of fresh air after 13 months off the air". Trestrail went on to note the differences between Tennant's Tenth Doctor, opining that the Fourteenth felt "more human, and much less filled with rage".[16] The mini-episode received mixed reviews and some criticism for retroactively turning Davros into an able-bodied character.[17]

References

  1. ^ "Doctor Who Children in Need Special 2023". BBC. 17 November 2023. Archived from the original on 18 November 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Children in Need Doctor Who: Unleashed". Doctor Who: Unleashed. 17 November 2023. BBC. BBC One. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  3. ^ Bassett, Sean (2 December 2023). "Doctor Who: 10 Biggest Reveals In Destination: Skaro". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  4. ^ Whitbrook, James (20 November 2023). "Russell T. Davies Explains Doctor Who's Big Davros Retcon". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  5. ^ Hogan, Michael (18 November 2023). "Doctor Who's Russell T Davies shatters the disabled villain stereotype for new era". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  6. ^ Laford, Andrea (27 November 2023). "Doctor Who star and producers give clues to Meep's mysterious "Boss"". CultBox. Archived from the original on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  7. ^ Mellor, Louisa (13 November 2023). "New Doctor Who Children in Need Scene Hints at Return to Classic Story". Den of Geek. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  8. ^ Hibbs, James (13 November 2023). "Doctor Who's Children in Need sketch confirms Mawaan Rizwan's role". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  9. ^ Laford, Andrea (13 November 2023). "Fourteenth Doctor meets mysterious new character in special 'Children in Need' scene". CultBox. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  10. ^ Laford, Andrea (17 November 2023). "Julian Bleach reprises his Doctor Who role as Davros for Children in Need". CultBox. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  11. ^ Whitbrook, James (13 November 2023). "David Tennant's 14th Doctor Will Make His TV Debut This Week". Gizmodo. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  12. ^ Gladman, Andrew (21 November 2023). "Doctor Who's New Davros Is Perfect for a Dalek Spinoff Series". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  13. ^ @bbcdoctorwho (14 June 2024). "💫 #DoctorWho The Official Guide - https://bbc.in/3xe1Ve7 💫 #DoctorWho The Official Annual - https://bbc.in/3z2bYDt 💫 #DoctorWho: Fifteen Doctors 15 Stories - with 'Destination: Skaro', and a new Fifteenth Doctor story- https://bbc.in/45rdhbg" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ Steve Cole [@SteveColeBooks] (14 June 2024). "Very happy to have brought 14th Doctor fun to this collection, with a novelisation of Destination: Skaro! Out September 19th" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ Tantimedh, Adi (18 November 2023). "Doctor Who/BBC Children in Need Scene: A Fun Sign of Things to Come". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  16. ^ Trestrial, Jack (17 November 2023). "Doctor Who Children In Need 2023 Special – "DESTINATION SKARO" Review". Nerdgazm. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  17. ^ Schulman, Zachary (13 July 2024). "Controversy and Change: The Divide in Disney Doctor Who". Doctor Who TV. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.

External links

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