Doctor Who: Jodie Whittaker makes explosive entry as the new Time Lord

BBC aired their Christmas Special episode of their one of the longest-running sci-fi shows Doctor Who on Monday. The episode bid goodbye to Peter Capaldi as the twelfth Doctor and welcomed Jodie Whittaker as the new Time Lord.

For the uninitiated, BBC's Doctor Who is a story of an alien that travels through time and space in its spaceship called TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimension In Space). It's a blue police box, seen in the UK during the 60s. It being a BBC show, obviously, the Doctor (the alien prefers this title) is fond of the little island and often picks up companions from there for his adventures. The Doctor is almost a 1000 years old and it regenerates into a new body when the previous form is in jeopardy.

The original show ran from 1963 to 1989. It was revived in 2005 and it amassed greater popularity than before. So far there have been 12 incarnations of the Doctor. It doesn't include a one-time cameo by actor John Hurt as the War Doctor.

Earlier this year, it was announced that for the first time in 54 years of the show the titular character will be played by a woman, Jodie Whittaker. She was brought onboard by the new showrunner of Doctor Who, Chris Chibnall. The duo has worked together on another British show Broadchurch.

The announcement divided fandom into people supporting the casting and purists who did not want a woman get the key to the TARDIS.

Jodie Whittaker made her debut as the new Time Lord on Sunday in the episode titled 'Twice Upon a Time.' Peter Capaldi gave a moving speech as the 12th Doctor while his character is finally surrendering to regeneration.

As Twelve lets go… Words to hold onto.#DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/YMco9iY9ay

— Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) December 25, 2017

Then the viewers saw Jodie Whittaker on the screen, wearing Capaldi's costume, admiring the TARDIS.

Her first words as the new Time Lord?

"Oh brilliant!"

Then the ship gives up on her and throws her out, free falling on the ground, as the TARDIS sets itself on fire (?).

The time has come.
Let the regeneration begin...#DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/wkSL3gm2Qv

— Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) December 25, 2017

It is a tradition that the final scene, the regeneration scene, is written by the new showrunner. Chris Chibnall did a fantastic job by using just two words for the sole dialogue of Whittaker. It showed the beginning of something new and subtly took a jibe at the dismayed section of the fandom. The TARDIS has exploded too. From a set design point of view, the new season will see the interiors of the ship changed to suit the nature of the new Time Lord.

Fans had varied opinions about Whittaker's appearance. Let's take a look

Thinking about #DoctorWho in 2018 like... pic.twitter.com/c12Ryz7TRT

— The Time Ladies (@thetimeladies_) December 25, 2017

Jodie Whittaker barely says two words...#DoctorWho
Me: pic.twitter.com/UGRitxMjd4

— Nicole (@Sgtpeppers_1960) December 26, 2017

Goodbye Peter, I will miss you.... hello Jodie, let’s get this adventure started! #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/Fsp9UtFvXN

— Backyard Booking Pod (@BackyardBPod) December 26, 2017

The sheer joy and happiness I felt by Jodie Whitaker's first appearance as the first female Doctor only goes to show how important female representation is AND how far we have to go. So excited for 13! #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/QnIRGgdDMG

— Paige Smolen (@pagsmo) December 26, 2017

"Letting go of the Doctor is so hard"
TRUTH
#doctorwho

— Kim Hutcherson (@kahutcherson) December 26, 2017

See you Moffat don't let the Tardis door hit you on the way out #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/m30Se2eqOH

— God Rest Ye Meggy Hippogriffs (@MarauderMeg) December 26, 2017

The regeneration and Whittaker may have gotten people excited but for more of this new Doctor, they will have to wait for more than a couple of month. Next season of the show is tentatively scheduled to air towards the end of 2018.