This afternoon at 1:45pm ET, BBC America joins other stations around the globe to air a world-wide simulcast of the series 11 premiere of Doctor Who. The new season is a complete reboot for the series, with all new characters, companions, aliens, villains, adventures, and likely TARDIS, plus a whole new team both in front of and behind the cameras. Taking over as showrunner is Chris Chibnall (Broadchurch), and cast as the first female Doctor is Jodie Whittaker (Broadchurch). With each new regeneration, the Doctor gains a new personality and new quirks, so it will be interesting to see what the Thirteenth Doctor will be like. She will also be joined by a new set of companions (though that term will no longer be used in the series)—Graham O’Brien (Bradley Walsh, Law & Order: UK), Ryan Sinclair (Tosin Cole, Hollyoaks), and Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill, The Good Karma Hospital).

I’m curious to check out this latest season, especially since I was one of those who was very much against casting a female Doctor. I hope Jodie proves me wrong, and that I find a new favorite doctor in Thirteen—David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor is still my favorite. Over the past few years, I found the series to be in a bit of a decline, despite having some great episodes with each Doctor. I’m hoping some new blood behind the camera can help to revitalize this iconic series—though I’m a bit disappointed that the showrunner has decided to make a complete break from the past, treating this latest season like the start of a completely new series. I’m also curious to meet the new companions. I think the show works quite well with several companions instead of just one—Amy and Rory were my favorite pair since Doctor Who returned to the air, and I’m hoping we get a fun dynamic between the Doctor and this new trio.

In today’s premiere, “The Woman Who Fell to Earth”, a mysterious woman who can’t even remember her own name, falls from the sky.

Before today’s world-wide premiere, BBC America will be airing an Ultimate Watch Party pre-show at 1:15pm ET, which will also continue after the episode. Tonight’s special encore of the premiere at 8pm ET/PT (the show’s regular timeslot) will include bonus interviews with Jodie Whittaker and footage from New York Comic Con. At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, I attended the press conference for the series. You can check out my video from the event.

Tonight I’ll also be watching/recording God Friended Me, The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, Family Guy, The Walking Dead, Star Wars Resistance, and Kidding.

For additional suggestions on what to check out tonight, including Get Shorty & God Friended Me, check out the If We Controlled Your Remote… 10/7/18 post at TVisMyPacifier.com.