by Callum McAvoy, reporter

There’s a lot going on in this series premiere. So much so that a proper review required a second viewing.

Series 11 of the modern era of Doctor Who offers up the biggest shake-up in years for the long enduring science fiction show. There’s a new Doctor, a new showrunner, new companions, a new Tardis, a new composer amongst many of changes both in front of and behind the camera.

Such a large-scale reboot therefore must be able to allow new audiences to begin their journey without having to worry too much about 55 odd years of Who history, whilst simultaneously not alienating the old fanbase.

It is an utter delight to report then, that episode one, The Woman Who Fell to Earth, achieves both of these things. Jodie Whittaker’s debut as the 13^th Doctor, is an absolute triumph and sets the tone for what should be, an action-packed series.

Addressing the Time Lord in the room, Whittaker absolutely is The Doctor. It seems almost unimaginable that just over a year ago there were so-called fans on social media calling her casting a disgrace. Her performance is very reminiscent of David Tennant’s incarnation, but Whittaker still brings her own charm and nuances to the character and is very capable of creating some excellent humour, such as her interactions with the alien she dubs ‘Tim Shaw’.

Of course, we cannot simply judge based on this one episode. We are yet to see her bring out the darker side of the character that is equally as important as the comedy, but there is time for that to come.

As for the rest of the cast, Mandip Gill and Bradley Walsh are solid in their roles as Yaz and Graham, but its Tosin Cole who portrays Ryan, who is the real stand out. He hits all the emotional beats very early on and it was interesting to see that that Ryan suffers from dyspraxia. As someone who shares the same condition, it is great to see more attention being drawn to it on our screens.

With all new characters to introduce the story can feel a little all over the place at times, to the point where everything gets a little muddled. Upon the second viewing however, the plot makes a lot more sense and little nit-picks and plot holes I had thought up, were proved to be non-existent.

New show-runner, Chris Chibnall, the man behind Broadchurch, which also starred Whittaker, tends to fill his stories to the brim with side-quests for The Doctor to take on. But he could benefit from letting he characters breathe for a moment and let their personalities and relationships develop.

Praise must be given though for making the standard baddie of the week, the aforementioned ‘Tim Shaw’, a lot more memorable than many were expecting and aesthetically unique, although comparisons to The Predator will obviously be made.

But so well-crafted was this series premiere, that hard-core Whovians will likely forgive the omission of both the title sequence and the Tardis, two major staples of Who which will be back for episode two.

For now, though it seems that Whittaker, Chibnall and co. have everything under control, so let the travelling through space and time begin.