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Destination: Skaro

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"Destination: Skaro"
Doctor Who charity special
Cast
Others
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, the Doctor Who showrunner, and directed by Jamie Donoughue. The special received positive reviews but was met with criticism from some fans for the changes made to Davros.

Plot

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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, Castavillian 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 broken arm. The Doctor then departs just as Davros returns. Davros momentarily ponders the modified Dalek and accepts the changes.

Production

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David Tennant
Mawaan Rizwan
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 which was produced by Vicky Delow and Scott Handcock.[2] Chronologically, it takes place after the Fourteenth Doctor comic Liberation of the Daleks and is an indirect prequel to the 1975 television serial Genesis of the Daleks.[3] It also bridged the gap between "The Power of the Doctor" (2022) and "The Star Beast" (2023).[4][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.[5]

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[6]

The episode also canonically explains how the Daleks came to have plunger-like devices in their design.[7][8] Jamie Donoughue directed "Destination: Skaro" which was filmed at Bad Wolf Studios in Cardiff, Wales. Filming occurred 18 April 2023 while the fourteenth series was still in production. The Dalek prop was brought in from Glasgow.[2][9] David Tennant made his second televised appearance in the special as the Fourteenth Doctor following a brief cameo in "The Power of the Doctor".[10] Tennant filmed the episode on his birthday which was celebrated by the production team.[2] Mawaan Rizwan appeared in the special as Mr Castavillian.[11][12] Julian Bleach reprised his role as Davros, a character Bleach previously portrayed in 2008 and 2015.[13] Barnaby Edwards returned to operate the Dalek prop which was voiced by Nicholas Briggs.[2]

Release

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Multiple versions of Davros as seen at the Doctor Who Expierience.
The special received mixed reviews for turning Davros into an able-bodied character.

"Destination: Skaro" was broadcast on BBC One on 17 November 2023 as part of Children in Need.[14] It was accompanied by an episode of Doctor Who: Unleashed.[15] The full Children in Need special was seen by 3.77 million viewers.[16] A novelisation written by Steve Cole was released on 5 September 2024 as part of The Official Annual 2025[17][18] and on 19 September 2024 in Fifteen Doctors 15 Stories as part of the Fourteenth Doctor entry Fleeting Faces.[19][20]

Critical response

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Reviewing it for Bleeding Cool, Adi Tantimedh rated the episode 10/10 and 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".[4] 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".[21] The mini-episode received some controversy from fans for retroactively turning Davros into an able-bodied character.[15][22][23][24][25]

References

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  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 "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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Tantimedh, Adi (18 November 2023). "Doctor Who/BBC Children in Need Scene: A Fun Sign of Things to Come". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Bacon, Thomas (17 November 2023). "After 60 Years, Doctor Who Finally Explains Why Daleks Have Plungers". ScreenRant. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  8. ^ Glynn, Daniel (18 November 2023). "'Doctor Who' Telethon Sketch Reveals the Origin of the Daleks". Collider. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Mellor, Louisa (13 November 2023). "New Doctor Who Children in Need Scene Hints at Return to Classic Story". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Whitbrook, James (13 November 2023). "David Tennant's 14th Doctor Will Make His TV Debut This Week". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  15. ^ a b Gladman, Andrew (21 November 2023). "Doctor Who's New Davros Is Perfect for a Dalek Spinoff Series". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Most viewed programmes Barb". Broadcasters Audience Research Board. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Other Worlds: Spotty Time". Doctor Who Magazine. No. 607. August 2024. p. 81.
  18. ^ Doctor Who: The Official Annual 2025. BBC Children's Books. 5 September 2024.
  19. ^ @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.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ Donaldson, Mark (18 November 2023). "After 48 Years, Doctor Who Has Completely Redesigned The Daleks' Creator – But Why?". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  23. ^ "Davros' new look in Children in Need minisode divides Doctor Who fanbase | indy100". www.indy100.com. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  24. ^ "Doctor Who's Russell T Davies shatters the disabled villain stereotype for new era". The Daily Telegraph . 20 November 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  25. ^ "Doctor Who's Davros reinvention is crucial for disabled fans". Radio Times. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
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