Today is the day, Whovians! It feels like it’s been so long and it has! Today we finally get back into the TARDIS – uh, sort of – and take off into a new adventure with Jodie Whittaker as the 13th Doctor, three new companions and a brand new show runner. This review is completely spoiler free so please enjoy. And if you want to talk spoilers with me, please do because I am SO excited!

I literally just finished watching the very first episode of the new run of Doctor Who. Everything is new – new doctor, new companions and new show runner…even a new day to watch. It’s a lot of changes for a show that’s been around for over 50 years and we all know how fans can be about change in a long time fandom (oh yes, I’m talking about you, Star Wars fans). 

I was incredibly excited. I LIKE change. The same thing over and over again gets boring. While there has been a large chunk of the fandom freaking out because how dare the Doctor be a woman, how dare she have that outfit, how dare we not have classic villains…I’ve been excited to see what Chris Chibnall was going to bring to one of my favorite fictional worlds. A small part of that was attributed to watching and absolutely loving Broadchurch, but a bigger part was waiting for Jodie, waiting to see a woman in this amazing role. 

When I saw Wonder Woman in the theater for the first time, I cried. I cried so much and I was so happy and sad at the same time. I was happy because seeing a woman as a main character who was smart and strong and emotional and badass – do you know how rare that is? Wonder Woman has become an obsession of mine since then, because of how much that movie meant to me and women and girls everywhere. I was sad because I didn’t know when I would feel that way again.

I felt that way again today. Jodie was fantastic. She brings what’s familiar and comfortable and quintessential about the Doctor to her version but she also is so uniquely her own. She’s a person – she is both female and male – which is what the doctor is always supposed to be. The Doctor is the best and worst of us, which is why he needs us, and that’s always been true, regardless of gender. Jodie’s Doctor – in the first episode – is passionate and kind, smart and emotional, funny and captivating. I am so in love with her already and can’t wait to see more. 

I am also incredibly attached to her companions already – Graham and Ryan and Yas. I love how unique they are, how different and inclusive. We have people of color, we have both genders, we have different ages, we even have a character with a development disorder. The inclusivity is fantastic, the diversity is fantastic and the best part is – you never feel like it’s being shoved down your throat, that it’s done on purpose. It’s natural! The show is reflecting the world that is there and it’s beautiful and I fully enjoyed it. 

The new monster was also great too – I was so grossed out! I wasn’t sure what to expect and that was so fun because it’s been a long time since we’ve really had that. Don’t get me wrong – I’m a Doctor Who fan. I love Daleks and Cybermen and Weeping Angels and all the good ones, but they start to lose their impact when they’re the bad guy every time – at least when I watch it. The monster in this episode was new, fleshed out, had a purpose that was frightening and would absolutely be against everything the Doctor stands for and made for an episode full of tension and action and fun. 

What this episode ultimately accomplished was making me so excited for the rest of the season. I can’t wait to see Jodie blossom even more in her role – she’s already doing so amazing and I can only imagine she will get even better. I’m excited to learn about the Doctor in this incarnation. I am already attached to these companions and I can’t wait to learn more about them, to see the people they are and the people they become after being with 13. And I’m very very excited to see what new worlds and new monsters the show brings us. 

Some people don’t like new but so far, this new is making me nothing but absolutely fantastic and happy. I am incredibly impressed with this episode and I am very emotional in all the good ways about seeing another badass, genuine woman on screen in an iconic role like this one. 

Now I just am way too impatient to wait until next week!