The last weekend in March is an exciting time to be a science-fiction/fantasy television viewer with the premiere of “Game of Thrones,” the season finale of “The Walking Dead” and the triumphant return of “Doctor Who.”

Breaking from tradition of starting a new series in spring and running until fall, this current series started last September and went on a 6-month break (with the annual Christmas Special to tide the fans) before returning last Saturday with a new companion for the remaining 8 episodes.

That’s right, we’re heartbroken once again after remembering our beloved Ponds are no longer the Doctor’s companions, and the new companion is none other than the absolutely adorable Jenna-Louise Coleman as Clara Oswald.

Coleman was first introduced in the series opener “Asylum of the Daleks” back in September before reappearing in the Christmas special “The Snowmen” mere months later. It was then that we were teased that the Doctor seeking to discover who Clara is was going to be the ongoing mystery for the last half of the series, for it appears that Clara herself doesn’t even fully know who she is.

With the premiere of “The Bells of Saint John” this past Saturday, it’s obvious that the chemistry between Matt Smith and Coleman is still electrifying after only three episodes together. It’s rather taboo-yet-exhilarating to introduce a new companion halfway through a series, but that’s head writer Steven Moffat’s specialty; keeping the audience on their toes.

It doesn’t always end well for companions of the Doctor, but it’s immediately apparent that there’s something different about Clara; while some previous companions of the Doctor have fallen in love with him, it almost feels that this time around the Doctor is falling in love with his companion. The Doctor is used to having people follow him at a beckoning of a finger, but it seems Clara has him wrapped around her little finger this time around.

The show, like the character it’s named after, is constantly rejuvenating and mixing things up every series. Under Moffat’s reign it’s been consistently marvelous and well-structured episode after episode, usually leading up to an epic season finale that ties all the episodes together. Continuity is key with a show as old as “Doctor Who” (first episode aired in 1963), and the attention to details is just as impressive as the stories and characters themselves.

Later this year marks the 50^th anniversary of the show, and a 50^th anniversary special will be airing on BBC as a feature-length film. Being described as “a love letter to the fans,” the special will star Matt Smith (the current Doctor), David Tennant (the Tenth Doctor), Billie Piper (Ninth & Tenth Doctor’s companion) and Jenna-Louise Coleman (current Doctor’s companion). No word as of yet if Christopher Eccleston (the Ninth Doctor) is onboard, despite multiple letter writing campaigns started by the fans.

In the meantime, the return of “Doctor Who” makes Saturday nights exciting once again for those of us who would rather sit-down in front of the television, than making a fool of ourselves on the dance floor. With episodes written by Mark Gatiss (“Sherlock”) and Neil Gaiman (“The Doctor’s Wife”) around the corner, fans are surely going to be in for a treat.

“Doctor Who” has finally become a hit in America, despite being a staple in British pop culture for decades. With Matt Smith gracing the cover of magazines like “Entertainment Weekly” and “TV Guide,” it’s finally considered to be ‘cool’ again to enjoy a sci-fi show that isn’t “Star Trek” or “Firefly.” So pop-on your bowtie and dust-off your fez, for it’s time to get all wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey once more.