Doctor Who - Season 11, Episode 01: The Woman Who Fell to Earth
Trailer
The further adventures in time and space of the alien adventurer known as the Doctor, a Time Lord/Lady who can change appearance and gender, and his/her companions.
I was also struck by how Whittaker's gleefully altruistic spin on the Doctor immediately felt more akin to Tennant's version than that of her immediate predecessor, Peter Capaldi.
Much of "The Woman Who Fell to Earth" isn't as it immediately seems, and after viewing it, even the episode title works on more than one level, because the series feels more grounded than it has in a long time.
This is a quietly confident start rather than an eruption, that may take a little readjustment. I, for one think, it's worth it. A really promising start.
By the end of the episode, Whittaker is completely owning the role, making it her own. She's weird, she's funny, and it isn't until she hits the iconic tropes of The Doctor that you're hit with the full force of the moment.
The extended episode was more than our first real look at Whittaker's take on the iconic role - bursting with curiosity, empathy, and decency, even as the Doctor's body finished rebooting. It was also an introduction to her new companions.
For as much energy and intrigue as the premiere episode contains, it does have a few problems with pacing and narrative structure. The second act gets a bit clunky, with the new companions adapting a little too quickly to the strangeness.
