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Doctor Who

BBC America’s long-running hit has a new Doctor and a new groove.

Doctor Who BBC Studios 2018
Emily St. James was a senior correspondent for Vox, covering American identities. Before she joined Vox in 2014, she was the first TV editor of the A.V. Club.

Doctor Who is now in its 11th season since the BBC rebooted the venerable sci-fi series back in 2005. (The original series ran for 26 seasons between 1963 and 1989, with a one-off TV movie in 1996.) And yet it feels like a new TV show. That’s thanks to it’s built-in knack for rejuvenation, since its main character can “regenerate” into a new self whenever suffering grievous harm.

Now, for the first time ever, the Doctor is played by a woman — Jodie Whittaker of Broadchurch fame. And with a new showrunner (Chris Chibnall, the creator of Broadchurch), a more ensemble drama feel, and a dedication to sharp standalone stories, Doctor Who feels as fresh and fun as it has in years.

“Whittaker beams with joy and confidence and a smattering of comic derring-do reminiscent of past interpretations of the intergalactic hero’s personality.” Melanie McFarland, Salon

Metacritic score: 78 out of 100

Where to watch: New episodes of Doctor Who air Sundays at 8 pm Eastern on BBC America. Previous seasons are available on Amazon Video.

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