3 reasons why there’s never been a better time to watch Doctor Who

The Chris Chibnall era of Doctor Who is not only entertaining; it’s the best time for new viewers to start watching this show in years.

Doctor Who is the sort of show that can sometimes feel intimidating for new viewers. Or even folks who’ve wandered away from the fandom for a little while.

There’s just… so much of it. It’s been around for over 50 years, there are nearly 40 individual seasons across two distinct “eras” and 13 different actors in the lead role during that time. What’s a TARDIS? How about a sonic screwdriver? Wait… is that a robot dog?? Why is that giant pepper shaker yelling exterminate?

It can all feel just a bit overwhelming. Even longtime Whovians can probably agree on that, even when we sometimes don’t agree on much else.

Happily, now is probably the best time to start watching Doctor Who since the “reboot” or “revival” or “modern”  — whatever you want to call it — era began in 2005.

There’s a new Doctor (and she’s a woman!). There are three new companions (of diverse ages and ethnicities!). And the new showrunner, Chris Chibnall, has promised not to make this season difficult for new folks to understand or get too wrapped up in overly complicated stories like some of his predecessors did. (Cough cough Steven Moffat cough.) And so far, he seems to be true to his word.

So if you’re new to Who, here are a handful of reasons you should give this sci-fi classic a try.

You don’t need to know anything

Seriously, you really don’t need to know anything. As long as you’re up to date on the basic idea that Doctor Who involves an alien called a Time Lord who bounces around time and space with a variety of (usually) human friends, you’re golden. Season 11 has taken considerable pains to explain things as necessary, under the guise of setting up the new season, following the Doctor’s regeneration.

Sure, the three new episodes in season 11 thus far have featured a few things that probably got longtime fans excited, like the appearance of a vortex manipulator or a reference to Venusian aikido. But they’re the sort of Easter eggs built for viewers who pore over each episode three times, and not anything that actually impacts the plot. (For example: The word “Stormcage” isn’t important to the plot of third episode “Rosa”, but River Song fans probably freaked out. Everyone wins!) The stories are simple and straightforward, but entertaining at the same time.

Jodie Whittaker is magic

Jodie Whittaker is the first woman to play the Doctor in Doctor Who history. For the newbies out there, it’s hard to overstate what a big deal it was when she was announced in the role. Just trust me. It was huge.

Just three episodes in, Whittaker seems to have found her feet, and her Doctor is clever, charming, full of heart and instantly likable. Outside of a few sly or funny references, Doctor Who isn’t leaning too hard into the “OMG, the Doctor’s a girl now!” thing within the show itself. Instead, Thirteen is pretty much just the Doctor, both a recognizable version of every incarnation of the character that’s come before her and a fresh take for a new era. It’s exciting to imagine what she’ll do next, knowing that she’s just getting started.

The first three season 11 stories are examples of the show at its best

So whenever we get a new Doctor or companion on Doctor Who there’s a certain tradition that’s generally followed. The Doctor and companion(s) meet cute in their first episode together, travel to a far-flung alien world in their second, and visit the past in their third. (Or something close to that timetable.) Season 11 has made great use of this formula, turning out three distinct installments that are simultaneously bright, fun and completely, unironically heartfelt.

From the in-depth introduction of each of the new companions in “The Woman Who Fell to Earth” to the careful, deft handling of race and white privilege in “Rosa”, Doctor Who is taking pains to tell stories that matter, regardless of where (or even when) they take place. What else does season 11 have in store for us? The show feels as though it could go anywhere at the moment. And that’s a ridiculously exciting thought.

Doctor Who season 11 continues Sundays at 8/7 C.T. on BBC America.