REACTION! DOCTOR WHO 11x1, Gallifrey Gals Get Wibbly Wobbly! S11Ep1, THE WOMAN WHO FELL TO EARTH 

I actually like the fact that Ryan wasn't able to ride the bike at the end, goes against the cliche of "someone dies and now I'm so inspired that I can do anything". Ryan still not being able to ride the bike is a lot more true to life, which I appreciate.

I along with I'm sure a lot of other people have a love hate relationship with Jodie's Doctor. I personally love Jodie as the Doctor, just have issues with a lot of the writing, which again I think a lot of folks would agree with. So I am very curious to see your thoughts on it!

This was a solid episode that made me so hopeful for the new era. Jodie's Doctor came full-fledged, with interesting character traits. A Doctor that builds her gadgets instead of relying on the sonic screwdriver? Count me in! I couldn't wait to see what she would have built next. It was so Classic Who. Every character had something: the cancer survivor; the first companion with a disability; a young police woman that wants more from life. So many arcs we could have explored! You can really tell that for this episode, Chibnall wrote at least a second draft.

Fun fact: Graham's actor has been in the Whoniverse before - he played an evil alien clown on The Sarah Jane Adventures back in 2008 or 09 XD (would be epic if you guys decided to cover that once you've run out of Jodie)

I love Graham. It is a nice change in the companion dynamic. Having an older companion who isn't trying to find themselves is a good choice.

I was working in London for 3 months in 2005. I can't remember if it was November or December but I was sitting at the Hotel Bar. A young Woman came in, I gave her my stool and we talked for ages. She had a great sense of humour. Then she had to leave for her work the next morning. It wasn't till she went away I realised I didn't know where she worked. The only thing I knew was her first name, Jodie. It was about four years later I found out she was an Actress and was making a Movie when we met called, 'Venus'. I think it was released in 2006. So I met the Doctor before she Regenerated.

I loved Jodie's Doctor from the get-go. Her energy was so reminiscent of David Tennant I automatically felt we were in safe hands. As for the 'tragic deaths'', I'm not crazy about them either, but they've been a staple of new Who since the RTD days.

oh my gosh it's here! it's started! ahhhh!

The start of one of my favorite Eras! Can't wait to see how much you guys will love Jodie and the 13th Doctor!!!

Been watching the show for over 50yrs and I think this is my favorite Series, very classic who and I really appreciated it.

It's interesting that you would think that the Doctor getting mad about Carl pushing the alien off would be something the Doctor would do because to me and a lot of people it seems like the Doctor has a really weird moral contradiction here in which she would allow the Stenza to harm himself (which I would see as basically doing it directly, allowing someone to pick up a grenade unknowingly is morally the same as giving it to them I would think) but then get angry at someone else dealing harm to them.

The main mistake Chibnail did during his whole run was to kill Grace, who had the most personality out of all of the new companions. I genuinely think this whole series would be 100 times better, if we just had Graham and Grace with occasional Ryan for whole season 11 and maybe most of season 12. Keeping Yasmin for later seasons and giving her proper attention. Also for me this was probably one of the best episodes of whole Jodie's run, definitely one of the best before season 13 aired. It was somehow solid start, cute post-regen confusion, ok plotline idea and really nice horror scenes. But I would say for me - it only goes downhill from this, until quality somehow picks up in season 13 (with few occasional ok episodes). Can't wait for your reaction to the Ghost Monument. ED: No wait - the biggest mistake was to not allow/make Jodie to watch other series and find her own performance out of the decades of the show's history. This made her lack depth in many episodes, especially when she got bad scripts. Mostly, because her performance just felt like someone playing a role for a singular movie, not a continuation of multifaceted character like Doctor.

I am an unabashed fan of this era. Jodie has one of my FAVORITE I am The Doctor moments

Okay, accidentally clicked on the video itself, but I was trying to save it for later. I know for a fact we _should_ have this on HBO Max on the TV so what I intend to do is watch it properly first _then_ basically get Paula's take on this Doctor three seconds after I've just met her.

regardless of what I think of the rest of the era I personally think this is really solid doctor intro episode. Up there with deep breath and eleventh hour for me.

Jodie is a local lass, from my actual town here in Yorkshire, same as Patrick Stewart and Lena Hedey. So we can claim oscar winner actors, prime ministers, captains of the Enterprise, a Queen of Westeros,, and more importantly now The Doctor

Aww no "salad man" 😢 lol

EAT MA SALAD HALLOWEEN!!!!

I remember how weird it was when this episode first dropped. The show was totally different. Different music, a more-cinematic look and more companions this time. Also, there's no opening titles (apart from the quick burst of the new theme when the Doctor eventually turns up!) and no TARDIS either. I did absolutely love Jodie as the Doctor. She's so goofy/quirky, which is perfect for the Doctor. Also, what probably wasn't as obvious for viewers like you outside the U.K., was how freaking good Bradley Walsh was as Graham. Over here in the U.K., he's more well-known as a game show host and comedian, although he has done plenty of serious acting through the years. Right from the start, he's funny but also the emotional heart of the show. I can't wait to see you react to the rest of the season.

Very glad to see you guys finally reaching this era. I love Jodie’s Doctor and am looking forward to seeing what Paula thinks of her.

This was the first "uh oh" moment. For me it was the cold and heartless way she treated Graces Death. Literally just after the funeral she was joking about leaving and making it all about her. I feel that when people die to help, the other Doctors have taken it a lot harder. Like they cared more about people. This came off as "Grace died... yeah... that's too bad... so... we're Fam right? You like me right?"

I am looking forward to doing this journey with you two!

Ok, let's do this. Excited to see what you both think.

I’m excited for this, it’s taken me nearly Jodie’s whole run as The Doctor to get into it, far longer than it’s taken me with any other doctor. Now I’m on board I’m looking forward to another look with you guys.

After the fate of the universe stuff that was all over Moffat's tenure as the showrunner, I loved that Thirteen's debut episode was going all out to save a single person.

I love Jodie’s doctor I wish more people were able to enjoy it

This was such a good intro episode! Jodie is my 2nd favorite female doctor, behind Amy Dallen's Doctor!

Excited to see you watch this. I am torn on this and the next series. There are so many really good episodes. I love Jodi. I feel that the show gets let down by a lot of the writing. I don't think Chris Chibnall did Jodi, the Doctor, and the show justice. But you will judge for yourself. And you have made me look at previous episodes that I didn't like in a new light, so who knows.

Totally agree about Grace. And I think it's perceptive to spot that Chibnall might be trying to match Moffat. Interested to see what you think about that aspect in future episodes.

it is entirely possible i will enjoy your reactions to more then the run of the 13th doctor. IMHO it had so much potential and so little of it was realized

With Jodie's era, I enjoy the most episodes while I'm watching them, and even love some of them, but feel her overall series arcs are not strong enough. And I don't mean plot arcs, but I feel her doctor never had a strong enough character arc.

Jodie is essentially my mom's Doctor, since she was the first Doctor she followed for the whole run (though I had shown her a little of the previous Doctors, mostly Tennant - but did NOT skip 9). I feel like this episode worked as a starting point for new viewers without alienating those who have been following all along - though I did keep shouting DON'T TOUCH IT! every time someone touched those creepy pods (Who has me primed for the worst case scenario). And I felt like the Grace thing left a sour note in many people's mouths. Personally, I think there's a lot to like about this era, so I hope you guys enjoy it!

I feel bad about this era. Jodie did the best she could but... I'll air my grievances at a more appropriate time

Finally finally there doing it

over and over different everytime and perfect everytime

I love Jodi as the doctor and her companions and some of the stories and emotional points they hit with her were exceptional ( but some of the story decisions are uhhh interesting ) I am going to have to catch up on the most recent episodes so I can keep watching with yall

I couldn't get into Chibnal/Jodie's Doctor Who, i tried as i was all in for a female Doctor after the greatness that was Missy(Michelle Gomez), but they missed the mark so much imo. Paula's summary at the end i can relate

Well his Gran died, there was a sad funeral, his dad is a piece of shit and he still couldn't ride that fucking bike, what better reason is there to go on a space and time journey with some crazy lady who fell from the sky. Oh God you just watched the Gravity Falls finale too? Jesus no wonder y'all were an emotional wreck after this episode. As for this era of Who, there is some DARK shit coming up, but there is a lot more light hearted than the light hearted than in the Moffat era

While the overall seasons aren't amazing, there are a lot of really good individual episodes throughout Jodies tenure. Looking forward to these!

12: Where I go now, it has to be alone. 13: Will you be my new best friends?

This is such a good season, two episodes not withstanding. Looking forward to episode 3 reaction!

It's so surreal to see you two cover the current Doctor. I love it. So truth be told this may be my least favorite season of Doctor Who, but some positives: -Jodie is great. -Graham is one of the best companions ever. I really feel like he's reminiscent of what Wilfred would have been like had he been a full time companion. -This is a solid opener. -Tzim Shaw is a fun villain. -The writing DOES improve. I may be the minority on this, but I feel the next season, as soon as the holiday special between seasons, is genuinely great, and the season after (the most recent one) is decent too.

Thanks 🙏

With Grace's death, you have to remember where Chibnall comes from. I don’t like a lot of his work, but I understand that he was a Doctor Who fan in his own time too. Just like Davies and Moffat. Look at young fan boy Chris and you'll get context...

Yep. It turns out the woman who fell to earth was Grace all along. If they had called the episode A Fall From Grace, it would have been too obvious. I think this episode is pretty decent. Jodie is given some good stuff to do (building a new sonic, jumping from one crane to another, outsmarting Tim Shaw) and it serves as a good introduction to the new companions.

❤ Jodie!

as much as i hate the 13th doctor and especially the writing to the level that i not even watched the latest season, graham is borderline amazing. i really love graham

I can't wait for the episode with Benny, I want to know your feelings and thoughts of Benny... Benny... Oh Benny, Ican't wait for you to meet Benny...

Agree with others that this is a solid beginning for a new Doctor. We get all of the familiar stuff- new companions, alien threat, an innocent who is trying to help dies, etc. Also, The Doctor sounds like a crazy person lol But they quickly realize that's due to be an alien and a genius. I like that she makes a sonic screwdriver. Paula touched on something that you'll definitely see and feel more of and that is that this Doctor does not seem to have the anger and guilt the others had. It's kind of refreshing in a way but, unfortunately, loses the gravitas the others had due to their absence. Except for the opening credits and whenever the Doctor goes into action, I don't like the musical decisions. Murray Gold is definitely missed.

I think my issues with chibnall's run can be boiled down to two things. 1. Chibnall completely overhauled his writer's room and staffed it with young diverse writers. Not in itself a bad thing but these young writers were very inexperienced in science fiction writing and in just writing in general and chibnall didnt keep any of the seasoned writers around to workshop scripts. 2. Chibnall treated his run as if it was the very first season of doctor who. What i mean is he had the tendency to pursue any idea even if it directly contradicts previously established lore of the show. When your direction is like this and you hire a young group of writers you just chopped yourself at the knee in terms of writing quality. He stabbed himself in the foot and then the BBC tried to blame sexism.

I think this is a decent opening episode. Personally I find the historicals of this era some of the strongest. Honestly I wonder if it would've benefitted from more female writing. It's got a bit better in more recent years, but the history of Who is not one of diverse writing staff.

Have a feeling Paula is gonna absolutely love this era 💙💙

I'll be honest, I like very little about Chibnall Who and still find it hard to sit through, but I'm still excited to hear both your takes on it! Perhaps it will lend another perspective that I haven't considered before!

What Paula said about the "lense of context" is spot on tbh. Lots of things about this episode feel very different when rewatching for the 10th time lol. Not gonna go into detail ofc bc spoilers

Welcome to the era of the toxic fandom! I suspect you will like it, despite the vitriol in the comments section.

Overall, I thought this was a solid first outing. Despite reservations about a female Doctor, Jodie hooked me in from her first moments and quickly became my favourite of the New Who era (although I'm still a Classic fan at heart). Without straying into spoiler territory, I like that Chibnall ditched the rather tiresome and overblown direction Moffat had taken Who with the Doctor being the universally known and feared 'oncoming storm'. The Doctor has always been a very fallible wanderer and meddler and I think this is where Chibnal returns the character. Graham, of course, is my favourite companion--it's long overdue that we had an older man.

Interestingly, of the main cast only Jodie and Mandip have genuine northern accents. Tosin and Sharon are acting (pretty good job too) and Bradley just keeps his Essex accent. Most of supporting cast genuine northerners as far as I can tell. I think you are keeping up so far even if the subtitles were struggling! “Right, this is gunna be fun….”

I love Jodie!

What cunning plan will the Doctor come up with to survive being teleported into deep space?

Spoilers below for the rest of Chibnall's run One of my gripes with Chibnall's run was exactly what you touched on in this episode, whenever he wants to add drama or establish a threat he introduces a red-shirt with a touching backstory and then immediately kills them off in a tragic way. It's really lazy writing in my opinion and just desensitized me to character death, which made me care less and less about the stakes. I think this issue also speaks to one of Chibnall's weaknesses as a writer. I think he is capable of writing really great long-form entertainment, just look at season 1 of Broadchurch it was great. I think DW episodes written by Chibnall (including those in the Moffat's tenure as showrunner) very often suffer from feeling rushed, which is maybe because he struggles to keep a narrative under 45 minutes. Killing off random characters probably seems like a good shortcut to establishing the stakes and making us feel things. That's just my thoughts and opinions anyway, anyone agree?

Great reactions. Loved hearing your thoughts. I love this doctor and this era. The show has never looked better and the music is amazing my favourite revival version of the theme.

There was an awesome fan theory about one of these companions. It wasn't true, but it would have been clever. I don't know if it's a spoiler to tell.

Interesting to see Paula and Katrina react , think I felt quite similarly about the start of the Chibnall era when I saw it . A very different feel , and A bit dark and confusing .

Been trying to think how to phrase this, and not turn into one of my typical super lengthy rambles (not saying this will be short, but not novella). XD I've enjoyed Jodie's run, myself. And I know I'm not alone in that, it's just that some voices are a bit more loud and insistent on their dislike as the correct view to have. Going well beyond hate watching, in some cases. A problem not just with Doctor Who either, sadly. Also seeming to ignore, this is a long, long running show. If one era doesn't appeal to you, things will change. And burying others with really heavy handed doomsaying isn't going to help. The show has to keep going to be able to make more on-screen stories. Anyway, Jodie's Doctor reminds me a bit of Five in some moments (brighter colors, a bit more approachable at a glance and attitude, not cranky-at-a-distance vibes), but with some of the energy and wackiness of some of the more animated and lighthearted portrayals. Though not quite as animated as Four could get at times. But there's moments where you see darker glimpses, like confronting T'zim Sha and using his own weapon against him (there is some gloopy alien blood even if I recall). That more serious side the Doctor likes to usually keep hidden. Refusing Wilf's gun to stop the Master, till the Time Lords are mentioned. Many times where the Doctor could have stopped the Daleks for good (well, till next time they're needed for a story), but questioning what to do. I've always liked such conflicts in the character. "Very old, and very kind," but do not make the Doctor truly upset. As to killing Grace, it was a loss. I would have liked her alive, enjoyed her performance and character. But I also get it, motivation going forward, character development, etc. It's also a change from Moffat's "they're dead. But wait, are they really? I'm doing it again, they're coming back!" approach.

I was very skeptical of Whittaker at first. Not because I cared that they made The Doctor a woman. They had been building towards that for a long time and I was down for it. But because I had in my mind type cast Whittaker. I knew her from the amazing show Broadchurch (if you haven't seen it, SEE IT! Many Dr. Who actors in it including three Doctors, Rory, Prisoner Zero...). And her character there was so NOT like I could ever imagine The Doctor. She was excellent playing that role, but overall she did not impress me enough to see her as The Doctor. (I had the same problem long ago with Peter Davison...I knew him from All Creatures Great and Small (which I still love and is so sweet). I just could not place him as The Doctor. I got over it with Whittaker but only decades later with Davison. I was wrong. She would not be one of my favorite Doctors, but she picked up the playful side of the Doctor as a nice reminder that not all Doctors are grumpy like we saw in the Christmas Special. She was good and I liked her companions. Like with Capaldi I do not think she always got good scripts and plots. But some are amazing. One in particular I love that apparently was not popular among some fans...

16:00 Grace O’Brien, Astrid Peth, Oswin Oswald, Clara Oswin Oswald…

Jodie had potential as a hyperactive steampunk maguver inventor type Doctor that she's hinted at being in this episode... which she's never allowed to be again. The writing and her performance just became a culdesac 5 episodes into series 11. Shame.

I kinda feel like because those episodes are double the length, maybe it would be nice to have them released as two parter reactions? I don't know probably people will complain that this would prolong Jodie's saga reaction, but well. Especially in episode like this one that actually got packed with plot it would be nice to split.

I love Jodie's Doctor. I think her run just gets better from one series to the next. That's not to say her first season isn't fantastic. Some of my favorite Jodie-era episodes are in this season. As always, I'm looking forward to following your journey on the upcoming ride.

I think this episode is great, I love Jodie as the Doctor, and I love the companions! I really dislike Chibnals entire run and style. Season 2 is a definite improvement but, to me, it's a lot of missed opportunities and plot lines that go nowhere and never really make sense. Sad though. For me, cuz I really really love Jodie as the Doctor!

Yup Kat is STUNNING

The antisjw weirdos were slating the Chibnall era. The show has always been educational.

As the Doctor, Jodie is my second favourite (after Matt), just in my opinoon she wasn't given too many great episodes.

Jodie is such a good Doctor!

Oh Grace... My lovely,beloved Grace. She could have been a great companion.

I'm making my way through your entire playlist here, and I was really looking forward to your reaction to this series. I was a long-time fan of the Doctor (mine was Tom Baker, growing up), but when I got to this series, though, it never really resonated with me, and I stopped watching after a handful of episodes. Maybe I can see more from this vantage point.

Shame they killed Grace, she would’ve been a fun companion

I love the subtleties of Jodie's performance over the course of this episode, you can literally see echoes of the physical and verbal tics of the past actors and at first it makes her performance feel haphazard but thats who she is right now and you can see through her acting her own version of the doctor congealing and I thought it was brilliantly acted. Its weird because for most shows I prefer solid writing to solid acting but for Doctor Who solid acting can carry even the worst script (and this was far from the worst script we've seen). Also hard agree, still mad about Grace. She was a compelling character and I hate the 'lets bond over the death of a more interesting character' trope.

So, you guys are going to be able to do Jodie's final LIVE at this rate.

David Tennant 😎💪

20:10 You're talking about A Different World, the spin off from The Cosby Show,yes? I'm guessing you mean Dwayne Wayne? Yes,things do change as it was intended as a vehicle for Lisa Bonet and her character,Denise Huxtable but Jasmine Guy stole the show as Whitley Gilbert.

Hold on to ya butts.. oh wrong franchise 🦖

I recall someone writing a piece about how they ~ for the first time ever ~ not only themselves, but the same thing Ryan has to deal with even being mentioned on a TV show; from the first I loved the three companions; especially Yaz. And Jodie was The Doctor even faster than Matt Smith. I equate this era with Sylvestor McCoy's though. Fantastic actor playing the lead, with an incredible companion and awful, awful writing; not in these first couple of eps though. And I knew Grace was going to die almost from the first moment she appeared on screen (this was the first time I watched Who since part way through Matt Smith's second season and I knew nothing about who would be travelling with them), and I still cried. If there's one thing about modern Who that has alienated me from it is the pain it seems incapable of not delivering. At the time they were announcing who would be The Doctor I was wishing so hard for it to be Nina Sosanya, and I liked the outfit Jodie Whittaker wore in the promo far more than the one picked as it reminded me so much; for reasons I still cannot explain, of Patrick Troughton. Given that this was the first time I ever saw Jodie Whittaker; so I thought at the time (I had seen her in a short film where she played a lesbian role, but didn't realise that until haflway through this season), the comparisons with the two actors stand out even more for me now. So much to look forward to at this point, but I wish now that a woman had been running the show. If wishes were horses though and I was quickly missing eps again because Chibnall was doing to the show what Moffat and RTD had done before and; now I realise, JNT did in the 80s. I'm still grieving I guess, and I wish there were more episodes and Jodie Whittaker had stayed in the role longer, a lot longer than Chibnall anyway. And I am mourning Grace all over again!!! kerk

Jodie is one of those examples of a Great Doctor given Crappy Scripts....particularly Series 11

Love this era, Jodie is my Doctor 🥰...hope you fun with it! 😊

So kicking someone off the crane is unacceptable but dna bombs are fair game? Cool.

We love Jodie! A very cool start for the new Doctor. Solid team of new companions. Graham is my fave cause he's so bewildered and occasionally sarky...😂 Jodie's Doctor is like a kitten..so enthusiastic, playful, inquisitive and full of life. I also love the fact she uses her own accent too.😊

I was quite upset about grace as she seemed the most suitable for a companion. Not sure why they went with that choice. Especially watching the rest of the show and seeing the other companion performances

My FAVOURITE Doctor Who Ep is coming! I am SO STOKED to watch you watch it!!

I theorize this incarnation was influenced by that feisty blonde Yorkshire girl Twelve met in the Xmas special with the Santa Claus played by Nick Frost.

I think at times There's a view that you have to have risk and loss to make and adventure real.

I don't think I ever really considered that "The Woman Who Fell To Earth" is as much Grace as it is The Doctor.

This is probably my favourite episode of the Chibnall era, and dare I say the 2nd best post regeneration episode of new who.

Finally an objective assessment of this episode.

Jodie was so well suited for this role. I'll never forgive Chinbal for wasting that talent.

I loved this Doctor from the beginning.

I've never been a fan of this era for my own reasonings but hopefully rewatching it with you ladies on Pateron will help me appreciate it better.

Ugh, yeah.. Toothface dude had to be my least favorite villain aesthetic ever, from.. any franchise.. Paula's comment about Grace's death made me realize something, and it's taken me this long to start to understand my issue with it, and I'll have more to say on it later, but.. something about her death didn't feel.. earned. And in that the writing felt not honest? I don't think people should watch shows knowing ahead of time a character they dislike "will get better" or whatever. For one, it's possible they won't like them later on, which will be sad but an honest reaction. But also, sometimes people disliking a character a little more intensely makes them appreciate the journey and development of the character (or the writing) more later on. (And, being told what's coming is spoilery.)

Oh boy, here we are at last. While this era of the show isn't one that I care for...like, at all...I find "The Woman Who Fell to Earth" to be a fairly solid introduction to Chibnall's run. I remember being really disappointed when this episode first dropped in 2018 (!), but in all fairness, Moffat had provided us with two phenomenal Doctor introduction episodes in "The Eleventh Hour" and "Deep Breath", so to go from that to this being just fine was always going to feel like a downgrade. And to be honest, there are a lot of flaws running through this episode, some of which will go on to become recurring issues for this era. But for the most part, this opening episode is a pretty good one on the whole. As an introduction to the main characters, this episode does a pretty good job. Ryan and Graham are set up fairly well, with their dynamic and the conflict between them being set up fairly well, while Yaz (in what will unfortunately turn out to be quite a common issue for a while) doesn't really get an awful lot to do. Grace also ends up being a real highlight, Sharon D Clarke's performance is incredibly charismatic and likeable, and her chemistry with both Tosin Cole and Bradley Walsh is really strong, to the point where she arguably overshadows the rest of the cast. I'm also not keen on the decision to kill her off at the end; aside from the fact she's easily my favourite of the characters, it feels way too early for her to die, meaning that it lacks emotional impact, not to mention the optics of killing off a woman - a BLACK woman, no less - to fuel the development of two male characters. And as for the Doctor herself - she's fine, I guess. It's a side effect of there being so many main characters, but she often gets drowned out by all the other stuff that's going on, and she doesn't really get very moments to shine. Compare that Moffat's two intros, which each only had two main characters they had to deal with (Eleven and Amy for series 5, Twelve and Clara for series 8), and thus provided an abundance of moments for both Smith and Capaldi to make a big impression. Jodie Whittaker sadly doesn't get as many moments to stand out when she has to fight with four other performers in order to be the centre of attention. On top of that, Thirteen's characterisation is rather scattershot and unclear, and what little moments of proper fleshed out character we do get are kind of a mixed bag. There's some stuff that I really like, such as the bit where she builds her Sonic Screwdriver, or gives a reassuring speech to everyone after the funeral. At the same time, there's a lot of stuff that doesn't work for me, like her "sorting out fair play" line, or admonishing Karl for taking out Tzim-Sha at the end, which gave me Tennant flashbacks in the worst way. For what it's worth though, I do like Whittaker's performance, she's immediately charming, and brings a great sense of enigmatic mystery and energy to the role right from the word 'go'. Also, she really elevates a lot of the episode's moments of comedy - the gag with Ryan's phone is a good example of this, on its own the line "not anymore" isn't funny, but her incredibly cheerful delivery makes it absolutely priceless. Aside from the characters, the main story is honestly pretty weak. There's some good stuff to be fair, the whole thing looks amazing, and is really well shot by director Jamie Childs; new composer Segun Akinola provides a nicely urgent and ambient score that perfectly suits the grounded urban setting; and the action is fairly entertaining, especially the climactic confrontation on the cranes. At the same time, there's a lot of flaws to pick through; the dialogue is incredibly clunky and workmanlike, another major downgrade coming off the Moffat era; the story is weirdly paced and honestly completely forgettable; and there's a real unpleasant mean streak running through the episode with regard to its deaths - not just Grace, but most of the deaths feel needless and mean-spirited, like Chibnall's overcorrecting from Moffat's perceived inability to kill off his characters by giving his canon fodder just enough of a sympathetic backstory before killing them brutally. I've sounded pretty mixed on the whole, but I do generally think "The Woman Who Fell to Earth" is a pretty decent episode, and a competent, if unremarkable start to this new period of the show. However, now the pressure's on for the next few episodes to keep up the momentum and build off this one to provide something great, and that's when we get into real choppy territories...

This is one of the strongest Doctor intro episodes ever, in my opinion. I just love it. As for the tragic deaths, I feel like this has been missing from (or highly reduced in) modern Who for a few seasons. Everything was fine, no one got hurt (at least not lastingly), and although that's the outcome we all hope for in life, I feel like it had the result of defanging the Doctor's opponents and eliminating any real sense of threat or danger in the show. Finally, the baddies are genuinely dangerous again and, although I'm not a fan of violence, I welcome the stakes that brings back with it to the world of Doctor Who. Also the sad elements and scenes are realistic. Been a while since we've had much of that in Doctor Who. Grief doesn't disappear when the next day dawns. Ryan's condition is a real thing and not something that can be overcome with just "a few more tries". He has a disability and a crappy dad. But none of those things holds Ryan or Graham back from continuing to try and be their best selves. And I think that's an important message that's written there between the lines. You aren't disqualified from a meaningful life even if you've got long-term, possibly permanent, challenges in your life.