Doctor Who: The Complete Eleventh Series

Finally, a female. The BBC sci-fi series has been around since 1963, and the Time Lord has now regenerated as a woman: Jodie Whittaker, rocking a bouncy blonde bob, in "Doctor Who: The Complete Eleventh Series."

It's pretty good. Based in Sheffield, The Doc universe-trots with three companions (probably too many to get to know any one of them particularly well): Mandip Gill as Yasmin the copper, Tosin Cole as Ryan, and Bradley Walsh as his step-granddad, Graham.

In her first installment, "The Woman Who Fell to Earth," she reconstructs her all-purpose sonic screwdriver by melting down locally-produced silver spoons.

This Doctor – oddly clad in a Mork from Ork-reminiscent striped shirt and suspenders, under a long, hooded white duster (probably not the best choice for dirty galaxy-jumping) – is earnest and invested, if not scattered, as she keeps asking for more thinking time as her reformatted brain settles in.

The writing can be confusing, as each world is not completely fleshed out, and the season careens from notable Earth-based events – Rosa Parks' famous act of civil disobedience, the Indian partition – back out into space, encountering a preponderance of Predator-looking antagonists. The series is Americanized, perhaps to cater to the rabid fan base this side of the pond, but that tactic also dilutes its brilliant Britishness.

There are clever bits, like The Doctor's suggestion that she might be secret graffiti artist Banksy, and the skewering of Amazon mail-order culture in the "Kerblam!" episode. But it can get preachy, like her insistence for "brains over bullets" – accurate, but awkward.

The guest stars are solid. Alan Cumming has an enjoyable turn as superstitious and flirty King James during a bucolic witch hunt, Chris Noth appears as a Trumpian hotelier, and Mark Addy enjoys a turn as a weary battle commander.

Blu-ray features include commentary, cast video diaries, a few special features, and closer looks at each of the ten episodes.

"Doctor Who: The Complete Eleventh Series"
Blu-ray 3-disc Set
$34.96
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06jcmy9