Doctor Who Review

Doctor Who is back, baby, and it's better than ever. Today the debut episode of the brand new series (complete with a new writing staff, showrunner, composer, companions, sonic screwdriver, and our first ever female Doctor, portrayed by the infinitely talented Jodie Whittaker) aired nearly-simultaneously in the UK and the US, and now that's it over I'm blown away. The plot was solid and simplified, with stakes much closer to home than previous first Doctor entries (less “the world is about to end/humanity is about to be enslaved” and more “crap, this scary alien wants to kidnap a human for his own personal gain”), and the focus of the episode goes to the characters - and rightfully so. We're introduced to Ryan Sinclair, Yasmin Khan, and Graham o'Brien as they go about their lives until bizzare happenings cross their storylines back together, along with a bizarre woman who fell from the sky - aka our brand new Doctor, Jodie Whittaker. Maybe it's because Doctor Who has been off for so long, but it was refreshing to sit down and watch something so hopeful. Many shows fall into the trap of constant angst, ruining characterization for the sake of drama, until you barely want to watch any longer because you're so bogged down with all these negative feelings. None of that is here - just pure, magical fun, with characters who suffer tremendous loss, who struggle to meet their aspirations, but aren't bitter or angry. No, they want to help people, they want to see the universe. And that is the most beautiful thing, and I've sorely missed Doctor Who for it. By the time the episode is over, you're filled with excited energy, talking a mile a minute, with the urge to run. It's like a veil has been lifted - and all your child-like wonder has returned, and the world's not as small and dark anymore. While the pacing is a bit slow, the character dynamics and the performances keep the show running - every actor brings their own charm to their respective roles. Mandip Gill brings a calm, ambitious, headstrong Yasmin Khan, Tosin Cole gives us a steady, likeable, and full of heart Ryan Sinclair, and Bradley Walsh presents a down to earth, skeptical, wary Graham o'Brien, all of whom are superbly written, with lives that are fleshed out and wonderful. And then there's the Time Lord herself - Jodie Whittaker shines as the Doctor. Full of manic energy, excitement and curiosity, the Thirteenth Doctor is a wonder and an icon - and I won't lie to you, when she said “I am the Doctor” I got choked up and began to cry, because she was. And that is so, so wonderful, and so very important. I cannot wait to see where our new TARDIS team go next, how their characters develop, and what adventures lie ahead of them. I just know I'll be there every Sunday night with my Sonic Screwdriver, pretending to be my own Doctor. Because now I can be. 9/10