Image Credit: BBC

Greetings and salutations, my fellow geeks! I swear it feels like an eternity since I’ve been back here. Life sometimes tends to get in the way and rudely intrude upon one’s “geek life”. However, just the mere act of writing a title for my two-bits of unsolicited nerd-opinion feels like a warm and comfy blanket that’s been hidden under a pile of clean unfolded underwear, just waiting for me to wrap myself up in it.

*pauses*

*glances around*

Okay, maybe talking about my clean unmentionables isn’t the best way to prologue an insider’s first-look at a show I’m sure we’ve all been super curious to see. Now, don’t worry, this is a spoiler-free review. I don’t want to give away any minute plot details that are better left for your first viewing. I only want to share the bullet-points that made me love it. Are you ready? Perfect. Let’s do this, kids….

I was lucky enough to be one of the first in the U.S. to catch a viewing of the pilot while I was at WonderCon last night. The first episode (entitled “For Tonight We Might Die”) won’t be airing until the 15th (right after the Season 10 premiere of Doctor Who), but the good folks over in Anaheim were kind enough to let us in on the action a few weeks before the rest of the colonies. So, in case you didn’t already know, the show will center around Coal Hill Academy, the school which Clara taught at.

*surreptitiously wipes small tear away from eye*

Since Coal Hill has been the setting for all manner of weird, freakish events, it makes sense that stuff is and has been going on there, even in the absence of the Doctor’s presence to kick-start such incidences. Our new cast of heroes has been nicely rounded out. It’s rich and diverse with men and women – both brown and Caucasian, as well as with both straight and gay characters (I’ll let you discover who’s who when you watch). It’s a testament to the writer’s abilities (as well as the cast) that every one of them is likable by the end of the first episode; well, almost all of them – I know, I know, no spoilers! There are quite a few surprises, both shocking and exciting, so keep your eyes peeled; and some of them have direct, subtle connections to the Doctor’s series, even hinting at possible forthcoming plot points. Additionally, unless you’re live-tweeting during the show, for the love of Gallifrey, put your phones away, folks. Class demands your full undivided attention. Besides, if you’re busy checking social media, you’ll miss the sweet little nod to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. God how I love when shows I love also love other shows I love.

All in all, I really enjoyed Class. I’m glad we finally have another series that resides in the Who universe. It always seems like the new season of Doctor Who comes and goes as quickly as the Doctor himself. Now, with Class, we won’t need to bust out our Blu-rays of past seasons to watch when we want some more Doctor in our television diet; but that’s still okay too.