Summary
- Doctor Who meets the Beatles in "The Devil's Chord," a music-centered episode with an inventive premise.
- "The Devil's Chord" episode of Doctor Who shares similarities with the 2019 film Yesterday as both explore alternate Beatles timelines.
- Yesterday may have divided critics, but its charming premise and Beatles references make it an underrated crowd-pleaser.
In episode's antagonist is Maestro (Jinx Monsoon), an unhinged, music-consuming being who's actually the offspring of fan-favorite Doctor Who villain The Toymaker. Needless to say, the latest installment in the long-running British sci-fi series is endlessly inventive.
Despite the very music-centered premise of "The Devil's Chord," Doctor Who's Beatles episode doesn't feature licensed music...
While the Beatles — John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr — are the latest additions to the Doctor Who's Beatles episode doesn't feature licensed music due to the costs. Although the show's lack of Beatles tunes is a missed opportunity, the episode's intriguing premise is very similar to a 2019 box-office hit that does feature some of the Beatles' most iconic songs.
The latest Doctor Who series introduces the Fifteenth Doctor, ed by new companion Ruby Sunday.
- Network
- BBC
- Cast
- Ncuti Gatwa, Millie Gibson, Susan Twist, Michelle Greenidge, Anita Dobson, Angela Wynter, Jemma Redgrave, Yasmin Finney, Nicholas Briggs, Varada Sethu
- Writers
- Russell T. Davies, Dave Gibbons, Kate Herron, Steven Moffat
- Seasons
- 2
Doctor Who's "The Devil's Chord" Is Very Similar To Danny Boyle's Yesterday
The 2019 Rom-Com Also Centers On An Alternate Version Of The Beatles' History
While Yesterday, a 2019 musical rom-com by director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire). Written by Richard Curtis (Notting Hill), Yesterday stars Himesh Patel as Jack Malik, a down-on-his-luck musician. In a strange twist of fate, Jack realizes that he is the only person in the world who re the Beatles and their music. The singer-songwriter performs the Fab Four's would-be hit songs, and, as a result, becomes a world-famous music sensation.
Despite some crucial differences, both stories hinge on the Beatles' pop culture-shaping success.
Doctor Who Season 14 Cast Guide: Every New & Returning Character
The cast of Doctor Who Season 14 is filled with popular actors and actresses to push this classic sci-fi drama into the next generation.
While Yesterday's Jack seemingly inhabits a Beatles-less world in which the British rock group never formed, Doctor Who's "The Devil's Chord" episode showcases a world in which the Beatles are merely struggling to make hit music thanks to Maestro's music-gobbling interventions. Despite some crucial differences, both stories hinge on the Beatles' pop culture-shaping success. A jukebox movie musical of sorts, Yesterday never fully explores its sci-fi, alternate-reality premise. Even so, the flick and its charming premise will certainly scratch the itch for fans of "The Devil's Chord" who want more weird Beatles-centered stories.
Written by famous rom-com director Richard Curtis, Yesterday follows Jack Malik, a struggling musician who one day wakes up to discover that he is the only person who re famous 1960s rock band The Beatles. As Jack begins using his exclusive knowledge to his advantage, he must reckon with the burden of it and the price that comes with his newfound fame. The film stars Himesh Patel as Jack, with a ing cast of Lily James, Joel Fry, Kate McKinnon, and Ed Sheeran.
- Cast
- Ana De Armas, Alexander Arnold, Ed Sheeran, Lily James, Camille Chen, Himesh Patel, Maryana Spivak, Joel Fry, Lamorne Morris, Ellise Chappell
- Runtime
- 116 minutes
- Director
- Danny Boyle
- Writers
- Richard Curtis, Jack Barth
- Studio(s)
- Universal Pictures
- Distributor(s)
- Universal Pictures
- Budget
- $26 million
Yesterday Is Underrated (& Rotten Tomatoes Proves It)
The Musical Rom-Com Is A Crowd Pleaser
Given Yesterday definitely boasts enough Beatles references and feel-good charm to be worth the watch.
As of May 2024, Yesterday is streaming on Netflix, while the latest episodes of Doctor Who stream on Disney+ in the US.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
