This weekend BBC Entertainment has started Whittaker's first season again, and because I'm a sucker for punishment I rewatched the first episode.
It was not that bad, with the unfolding plot, but the companions were pretty mediocre and indeed Jodie never really felt like The Doctor. I guess when at the time I first saw this episode I still gave her some benefit of the doubt to get in the role (+ the usual regeneration weirdness) but having seen the two series I have to say she never got better. Au contraire. I liked Yasmin best; Ryan and Graham were a waste of oxygen.
I did like the scene where she wielded a sledge hammer to build a new sonic. Very "Tony Stark built this in a cave! With a box of scraps!"