I saw the season, but still have to watch the most recent two episodes (so I can't comment on those). I thought she made a great doctor. To me it felt like a return to form for the show in a lot ways. In terms of the political messaging, Doctor Who, especially Nu Who, has long been a progressive show with notable LBGT elements to it. I have to say though, most of the messaging to me this season, felt more in line with Russel T Davies era or Torchwood, than 2018-style politics. Obviously relevant political issues came up (there was a clear Donald Trump stand-in for example, and there were two episodes dealing with racism/ethnic conflict in history. But the episode I expected to have a predictable political message (the Witchfinders) really surprised me with its nuance. If anything that episode felt both anti-alt right and anti-SJW to me. I think Chibnall is being very careful in how he threads his message, but I don't believe it is as inline with 2018 politics as the BBC might be expecting him to provide (but then I don't really know the politics of the BBC that well, so I could be wrong here). I think it is more, classic Doctor Who style progressivism. But overall, my feeling was the stories were good, the political messaging was no more heavy handed than in the past, and generally worked well for the stories they were doing. My only major concern with political messages in shows is when they undermine the story. People should watch for themselves and decide though. That is just my take.