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(SeaPRwire) –   While modern Doctor Who fans may have varied opinions on their favorite Doctor, most would objectively agree that David Tennant was the most pivotal in transforming the series into a global mainstream phenomenon. Although Matt Smith’s era from 2010 to 2013 arguably saw the peak of Who’s viewership, it was Tennant’s three-season tenure from 2006 to 2010 that energized and largely built that fanbase. Pinpointing the true start of the 10th Doctor is tricky, much like the non-linear nature of his adventures. He first appeared at the end of the Season 1 finale, “The Parting of the Ways,” in 2005, and then had his first proper outing in the 2005 special “The Christmas Invasion.” However, the first complete 10th Doctor adventure, featuring the skinny suit, coat, and catchphrases, was Tennant’s third episode, the Season 2 premiere “New Earth.”

Premiering on April 15, 2006, “New Earth” truly launched what would become one of the most iconic runs in Doctor Who history, setting a benchmark for subsequent seasons. But does “New Earth” still stand up to scrutiny today? And does this classic season genuinely represent the best the series has to offer?

The events of “New Earth” follow directly after the Doctor’s regeneration in 2005’s “The Christmas Invasion,” with the new Doctor taking Rose (Billie Piper) on their first proper adventure together. It may seem strange now, but at the time, Piper was arguably the bigger star compared to Tennant. In addition to starring in Season 1 of Doctor Who with Christopher Eccleston, Piper was already an established pop star. Tennant, meanwhile, was likely best known to international audiences for his brief role as the villainous Barty Crouch Jr. in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Today, Tennant is geek royalty, but two decades ago, “New Earth” served as his proving ground.

No reasonable fan would rank “New Earth” among the best episodes of Doctor Who; in many ways, it is a redo and sequel to the superior Season 1 episode “The End of the World.” Instead of visiting the last days of Earth, the Doctor and Rose travel to a new version of the planet, complete with a “New New York,” the 15th iteration of the city. The episode carries strong Douglas Adams vibes, reflecting humanity’s nostalgia for recreating cities and planets in the future. Tennant spending much of “The Christmas Invasion” in a bathrobe also evoked Arthur Dent from Hitchhiker’s Guide, and Adams himself wrote for Who in the 1970s.

“New Earth” possesses a zany, intentionally unrealistic silliness that might make viewers think Doctor Who was prioritizing sitcom elements over sci-fi adventure. The Doctor and Rose again meet Cassandra, the last human, who is merely a sheet of skin with eyes and a mouth. This leads to a body-swapping plot where Cassandra inhabits both the Doctor and Rose at different points, a scenario intended to generate hilarity. (One working title for the episode was even “Body Swap.”)

Two decades later, Tennant’s performance as he’s possessed by Cassandra’s consciousness is not his best work. Those familiar with his entire run know that his comedic chemistry with Catherine Tate as Donna Noble far surpasses the gags with Rose here. On the surface, “New Earth” is an episode about a space hospital, body-swapping antics, and a somewhat glib message about the dangers of excessive plastic surgery. One could easily stumble upon a better David Tennant Who episode by accident.

Yet, “New Earth” cannot be dismissed as a bad episode because it establishes the tone and direction that became the gold standard for modern Doctor Who. Here, Tennant’s Doctor is on a joyful, moralizing high horse, simultaneously a clown and an unforgiving judge capable of ultimate sanctions. While Christopher Eccleston’s 9th Doctor had a biting wit that contrasted less sharply with his occasional cruelty, Tennant’s 10th Doctor exhibits more pronounced mood swings; he is both a kinder Doctor and a more arrogant one. Then-showrunner Russell T Davies seemed intent on transforming the Doctor into a new kind of dangerous alien hero: the 9th Doctor was a bitter war veteran with a heart of gold, but the 10th was a puckish “lonely God,” which in retrospect makes him slightly more intimidating.

“New Earth” also contributes significantly to the show’s lore-building. The mysterious “Face of Boe” reappears after being introduced in the previous season’s “The End of the World.” Boe would return again in Season 3 when the Doctor revisits New Earth, tying together various plot twists that may or may not work depending on one’s view of Season 3’s ending.

In essence, the best and worst aspects of the Tennant era are all previewed within “New Earth.” If there weren’t several superior episodes from later seasons, one could argue that “New Earth” is a decent introduction to the vibe of Doctor Who, not because it’s a great episode, but because its tone and style permeate much of Season 2 and the broader Tennant era.

The Doctor himself sums it up early in the episode by calling himself the “New New Doctor.” This was a metafictional nod: Who had only rebooted the previous year in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston, and now, with a true second season beginning, audiences were being asked to accept another new Doctor so soon. By the end of 2006, Tennant would become the most popular actor in the role since Tom Baker. And even though “New Earth” is not a standout episode, his performance here demonstrates why he remains so beloved. He’s goofy. He’s scary. He looks great in the skinny suit. This was the Doctor’s true reinvention, and ultimately, it didn’t matter if the story was memorable. Tennant’s Doctor was all about the vibes, and in April 2006, those vibes propelled the TARDIS into a brave new era of worldwide popularity.

Doctor Who (2006) is currently available to rent or buy on Apple TV, Prime Video, and elsewhere.