It is the highlight of the Holyrood week and the chance for opposition leaders to hold the head of the Scottish Government to account.
Over the past seven years, observers had come to expect a right rammy between Alex Salmond and rival MSPs during first minister’s questions as they played to the public gallery and the press to try to score political points.
Mr Salmond gained a reputation as pugnacious, street-fighting bruiser who relished tearing apart his opponents at an event widely regarded as a mix of pantomime and serious business about the state of the nation.
But yesterday Nicola Sturgeon, in her debut official outing as first minister of Scotland, struck a very different tone, which appeared to surprise and slightly unnerve some of her opponents.
In fact, she came across more like a Church of Scotland minister than a government one so serene was she.
The exchanges on a range of subjects, such as cancer drugs, early automatic prisoner release, child exploitation and justice polices were conducted in an almost genteel fashion.
One Labour MSP later asked me if I fell asleep, but her performance was impressive and hinted at the different approach she has promised to take.
Ms Sturgeon came across as reasonable, measured, calm and considerate – a person who appeared willing to work constructively for the greater good.
There was no attempt to try to duck questions or use deflection tactics – she responded to her rivals in a straightforward manner.
The first minister, who wore a smart grey suit and plum blouse, spoke about answering questions in “good faith”, said she was “open-minded” about any suggestions brought forward by her opponents and offered to meet a concerned member of the public to talk about treatments.
Ms Sturgeon even told Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie that her door was open for “sensible” discussion around justice policies after he grilled her about armed police, stop and search and corroboration.
But in a cautionary note to MSPs, who may have been lulled into a false sense of security, she said: “This is my first day in office and I could stand up here in response to any of the questions I’m asked and engage in the usual defensive ding-dong.
“I daresay there will be weeks when I do exactly that.”