Doctor Who just aired the first episode of season 8. It’s been a long time coming since the last regular season ended in spring 2013.

It’s been a long wait for fans that’s been filled with a ton of expectation and trepidation. Peter Capaldi finally made his debut as the Doctor in an episode where he (rather than just his eyes) was fully featured.

Breaking up is hard to do

With apologies to the artists of the classic 1960’s song, “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” could have been underscoring just about every scene Clara was in. The only thing missing was Steven Moffat parading by in a cameo holding a sign that read: “He’s different. He’s old. The romance thing is done. Get over it.” It took Clara most of the episode to warm up to the Twelfth Doctor with a little kindly advice from Jenny, a confrontation with Vastra, and finally a phone call from the Eleventh Doctor. The question is, will audiences have adjusted to the change in the hour?

Regeneration hijinks

The new Doctor breaking in his new body, in between passing out, is always entertaining. The Tenth Doctor had fun adjusting to new teeth, and then yelling at Jackie Tyler to shut up. The Eleventh Doctor more or less worked his way through an entire pantry before devouring fish fingers and custard. The Twelfth Doctor manages to offend just about everyone, questions the origins of bedrooms, and obtains the smelliest clothes in London, before settling in.

The Paternoster Gang is back

Jenny, Strax, and Vastra were back this episode to help the Doctor. Jenny and Strax are much the same as we last left them. On the other hand, Vastra seems to have acquired a crush on Clara out of nowhere, and she seems to want Jenny just to stand there and look pretty instead of actively helping her puzzle out what is going on. In the end, they were more helpful to Clara in her transition than they were ultimately to the Doctor in the current battle. Still, Vastra and Jenny make a great rescue, clad in their fighting leathers as they literally sprang into action.

Old foes return

“The Girl in the Fireplace” ranks pretty high as far as fan favorite episodes from the reboot era go. The clockwork figures that haunted Madame Du Pompadour in that episode make their comeback of a sort in this episode, and they are still just as scary. It’s notable that Steven Moffat penned both “The Girl in the Fireplace” and tonight’s episode. It marks the second time Moffat has reused one of his creations. The first was the Weeping Angels. Now the thing of it is… where did this clockwork fellow end up, and who is that woman he was with?

The Doctor holds his own

The acid test for any Doctor is can he hold his own against the villain of an episode even when the companion isn’t with him. Is he sufficiently engaging when acting solo? Is he equally intelligent, fair-minded, competent, threatening, intimidating, and charming. The Twelfth Doctor had his moment when he confronted the clockwork man. One thing is clear, this is an angrier Doctor than we’ve seen in awhile. Did he push the fellow to his death, or did he jump?

Doctor Who is back next week at 8:00pm on BBC America with “Into the Dalek”.