Doctor Who has finally set a date for its season 11 return.

Fans will officially meet the Thirteenth Doctor, Ryan, Yasmin, and Graham on October 7 as the show embarks on a fresh new start. But, the faces onscreen won’t be the only changes coming to the beloved sci-fi series.

The TARDIS, which is arguably the Doctor’s most enduring sidekick, is also getting an upgrade. A promo photo of Thirteen and her TARDIS revealed that it would have a more weathered look similar to the earliest Doctors’ vessels.

This makes sense because we see Thirteen falling to Earth as the TARDIS dumps her out of the console room shortly before an explosion. The St. John’s logo on the door is noticeably gone and the infamous police box sign now has a black background with white letters.

This is definitely new for the modern series, which has mostly depicted the TARDIS with a larger frame and a fresh coat of blue paint. It will be interesting to see how the inside is changed for the upcoming season.

The 1950s British police box craft has been a mainstay in the series since the show’s 1963 inception and is the key to making adventures across space and time a reality. It’s one of the most recognizable images from the show despite subtle changes to its exterior and major interior upgrades over the years.

But, the TARDIS is more than just a ship that’s bigger in the inside with an unknown number of rooms, closets, and apparently a swimming pool. It is the Doctor’s interactive map that takes this unlikely hero where help is needed the most.

And, it’s a piece of the Doctor’s Gallifreyan roots that maintains a soul connection to home.

For us fans, the TARDIS represents hope and wonder. It’s the gateway outside of life’s daily stresses into a universe filled with infinite possibilities. The TARDIS opens the door to places that line up with our vivid imaginations and past times we never got the chance to experience.

The wanderlust and curiosity that abides in most of us is temporarily quenched when we hear the TARDIS materializing and anticipate the next adventure. This living being is a lifeline to those of us who need of something to lift our spirits and remind us to never stop dreaming about better days.

And, it’s a formidable fortress that has guided and protected our beloved hero through tough times.

We can’t resist snapping a photo with the TARDIS. It doesn’t matter if we are at a convention and on our way to queue in a line or if we randomly spot one on a UK street. There’s a magnetic energy that makes us giddly hop in front of the TARDIS to strike a pose. I present myself as an example:

And, we like to keep a mini TARDIS (or five) around so we can gaze at it and get lost in our thoughts about where we would go if the Doctor showed up in our lives. It’s the perfect desk accessory to spark a ridiculously long tirade when a non-Whovian asks us what it means.

When we spot TARDIS paraphernalia on other humans, we give them a nod of approval for their impeccable taste in TV shows. Somehow, it makes us feel like long-lost family for just a second as we connect over a TARDIS bookbag or beanie. It is truly a magical, life-changing vessel and the one aspect of the show that we can all agree is absolutely awesome.

Thank you TARDIS for being bold, brilliant, wise, and a major part of this fantastic journey. We love you just as much, if not more, than The Doctor and we can’t wait to see where you take us next.