Everyone’s favorite time lord is back in the season 11 premiere of “Doctor Who” Oct. 7. After months of waiting following Peter Capaldi’s heart-wrenching finale, the premiere, featuring Jodie Whittaker as the iconic role of the Doctor, entitled “The Woman Who Fell to Earth” was timely and entertaining.

Following the controversial casting of Whittaker as the first female Doctor since the series’ creation in 1963, it’s a breath a fresh air to see how amazing she portrays the role. She is the perfect fit for the charismatic and witty time lord. The audience was given a small glimpse of the Doctor’s new reincarnation as a woman in Capaldi’s final episode Dec. 25, 2017. As the 13th reincarnation of the notable character, it’s time that a woman was at the center of the show, instead of just a side companion.

Although some may have feared that the casting of a woman as the central character on an established television show would decrease the viewership, the opposite actually happened. With over 8.2 million viewers on BBC, Whittaker’s premiere was watched by more people than the last three doctors’ premieres.

While the premiere starts slowly with the introduction and characterization of three new companions: Ryan Sinclair (Tosin Cole), Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill) and Graham O’Brien (Bradley Walsh), Whittaker almost immediately steals the spotlight as the Doctor. As with most Doctor Who premieres, it begins with a group of humans under attack by aliens and the Doctor, with no memories, struggles through her new reincarnation and must build herself a new sonic screwdriver, the tool and weapon that the Doctor most commonly uses. While all this is happening, the Doctor most also assume her role as a guardian to save the human race and protect the Earth.

Although the premise was very similar to episodes in the past and the writing was not as exquisite as in preceding seasons, the high energy and curiosity Whittaker brought to the character makes up for these issues. Whittaker completely demolishes all doubts and uncertainties of her assuming the recognizable role with just one episode.

Even though only the premiere has been released, Whittaker has proven that a woman has the ability to play a television heroine. It is time that women get more screen time in these central and well known roles. Not only was her entrance into the role phenomenal, it also set a precedent for television casting in the future.