I know this has been discussed a zillion times in other threads but that word 'lacking' (I've used it myself a lot!) seems to be a common word for some when describing this series. I know a lot of people are enjoying this series and that's fair enough. I've started this thread for those like me who think that something is missing from this series. Problem is, I don't know quite what it is. I watch it every week and apart from two or three episodes, I come away afterwards just feeling disappointed. I know for a fact it isn't Matt Smith. I think it's generally agreed he's a good Doctor, so where does the problem lie? I think maybe it might be the scripts, a lack of urgency and consistency in some stories. Just want to know what others think.

Nothing is lacking for me. I do appreciate some people aren't entirely convinced by this series, which is, as ever, a real shame, but i just wish they would stop acting as though it's some sort of new phenomena for there to be some people on here that aren't feeling it, for whatever reason. There are, after all, people who spent the last few years "not feeling" the series. I don't think there are more feeling that way now than then, it's just a bit of a role reversal in some cases.

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Some people not liking tv program shocker! It has and always will be the way. The only difference is, in the old days before the scourge of the internets, folk would just switch off and find something that they enjoyed. Instead they now feel the need to pronounce on it ad nauseum and behave as if not liking something is a form of bizarre occurence.

Its not- youll get over it, Move on.

I've actually enjoyed all the new series seasons upto now(aside from the first half of season 4). I'm not saying what you've said untrue, I just noticed the theme occurring across several threads. I'm still reasonably new to this forum so I haven't really read such views on the other other series as they happened. I just started this thread for people to discuss it, nothing else, there isn't an anti-season 5 agenda going on from my point of view, trust me!

I'm loving the new series and don't find anything lacking. Saturday Evening watching Dr Who with two of my kids has become a highlight of the week in our house! I think it's inevitable that there will be some people who aren't enjoying it as much as they used to and some who are enjoying it more. And some who enjoy all of it. I think the only time I've ever found anything lacking in Dr Who was in the specials last year, which I felt suffered from not being part of a series and having a regular companion. But on the whole I've enjoyed all of it from when CE took over the role to last Saturday! Roll on this Saturday!

I think in fairness, it's not a question of telling people to switch off, because, after all, they are for the most part enjoying the show. I think my point was more that when things change, the changes either don't work for some or take more time for some to get used to. It's just impossible to please everyone, so we see some people now who were not happy with the last few years delighted with the nes series but at that same time some of the happy bunnies from the last few years aren't feeling it so much. Of course most people have enjoyed all series and I tend to think their views are rather under represented in threads like this!

I do feel, though, that when people spend so much time talking about not liking aspects of the series they actually mentally make it harder for them to get in to it because they can be so focused on the negative aspects that it carries over in to the next viewing.

Yes fair point. I didnt perhaps phrase it as eloquently as I might.

I do feel there has been an almost wilfull desire to actively not like it among some posters that carries from episode to episode.

Seeking plot holes where there are none and even someone who said the beginning of the episode bored them so they watched it while reading a magazine and then complained they didnt connect with the episode! I mean come on!

I think that a lot of the "magic" has been lost since RTD left the show. While Moffat is doing a great job, I don't feel that Doctor Who is the "event" television it once was. It could be that after four successful series the show needed a longer break, or there could be some fundamental issue with the show.

For me, I find Amy beyond irritation (but think Rory is a great foil to the Doc), find Matt Smith a worthy Doc, but the stories just aren't as compelling as they used to be. Of course, I am probably wrong, but there is something missing, but hopefully this will all be fixed next series.

As someone else has pointed out previously (think it was Muttley) the same thing was going on during David Tennant's debut series. Lots of people saying they weren't feeling it and it just didn't have that thing that was there before.

Chances are it's just that it's different and the change can be hard to adjust to. It doesn't feel the same as it did previously and so something is missing. However, that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's just a different thing. Some people may never get used to the changes and abandon the show. I think most will probably get used to the changes come series 6 and "that thing that is missing" will slowly become forgotton.

It's just not what has come to be expected. As soon as it becomes the norm, the problem will diminish.

Part of what you say is true but i go into every week not looking back at last weeks episode. I look for postives from every episode and there have been some. And I did enjoy to a degree last Saturday's episode.

I'm not saying there is at all, I'm just saying this is the same as has happend from the word go, there have always been threads from people not happy about the direction of the series. Series 2 in particular, but also series 3, where many people were writing it off at the half way mark just prior to the Human nature two parter.

I do get a sense that some posters who have been around a very long time do seem to have forgotten (or pretending to forget) all the hate threads directed at the RTD era, and do seem to be implying that this is a somehow unique situation in the shows history. It's not, it's just change, and some people adjust to it better and quicker than others depending on the given circumstances.

I think you make a good point there. We're only half way through series 5. If you didn't like the first half of series 4, but changed your mind with the second half, it's clearly still to early to be judging this series.

I also think that the fact alot of those that arent taking to s5 as they have previous series seem often unable to pin point what it is thats bothering them is quite telling. Its as if they are unable to tangibly describe whats awry and I think that kind of shows that there is nothing fundamentally wrong at all- if there were then you could say its the acting or the script or the direction or whatever but I dont see much of that. Just alot of talk about 'something lacking' or 'not feeling right'.

I think its just the slight shift in tone and atmosphere means it feels slightly unfamiliar to some- give it time and im sure those not enjoying it will be right back on board.

I loved s1-4 and I'm loving this series even more so not a problem for me.

as i said, there was quite a lot of discontent here after the first half of series 3.....some people were actually saying quite similar things...something being missing, no classic episodes, didn't like the companion.....and of course we then had that run of episodes from Human Nature up to Utopia that were very very popular on this board and that in itself changed the perspiration many had of the series as a whole.

I have actually said that myself on another thread. All I wanted to know is what is missing so far. I just put the topic up for discussion because so many people seem to have been saying it.

Do you know what is was about the first half of series 4 you didn't like, compared to the second half now that you can look back on it as a whole? Has your opinion of the first half changed at all, in retrospect? Might be a good indicator as to where you have issies with this year (or possibly none at all, but it's worth thinking about!)

From what i have read people seem to find it quite hard to define what it is though, which personally leads me to conclude it is more about the change and needing to adjust to it than anything else. The style isn't that different to how it was before, but it does have a slightly different feel and a slightly more narrative than character focus. I think both are perfectly valid perspectives but it does require some degree of adjustment from the viewer, albeit it not a massive one since the change is quite subtle really.

I think what is most important is that the reaction to Matt Smith has been very positive overall, I would say way more so than anyone here would have predicted given the fairly mixed reaction to his casting and then some of the negativity that people attached to his costume and then the infamous leaked audio. If you have the right man in the role you have already built a solid foundation for the future.

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I think this series is trying to be a bit too 'grown up'. Is seems to be lacking the simplistic charm of the previous new series(es). The dialog is also a bit rapid fire ensuring that you spend a bit too long trying to understand all that has been said.

That said, I think Matt Smith is a fantastic doctor!

series 5 has been perfect and shows no signs of slowing down either!! i have loved all the episodes so far and hate that some people can't enjoy it.
the ratings have been strong this year too and some of the greatest episodes has been this year too (Eleventh Hour,Time Of Angels/Flesh & Stone,Amy's Choice each INCREDIBLE) and i have enjoyed the new Daleks, far more complex and cunning and really dig deep into the doctors psyche which is very interesting, thought Vampires Of Venice was truely fun in so many ways and Beast Below was a very solid story that i wished the smilers had more screen time and background (maybe needed another 10 mins or so).
The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood looks very exciting too and love the look of these Silurians, they have a very Predator quality to them and look lethal, looking forward to see what they do with this storyline!!
nothing is lacking apart from 13 episodes just isn't enough!! also best story arc of the show too!! the crack is very mysterious and creepy as we know nothing of it's origin and won't know until well...The Pandorica Opens and The Big Bang two parter finale!

so exciting and cannot wait to buy on dvd so i can continue to watch over and over again
Matt Smith is perfect, Amy is one of the best companions and Rory is a fantastic co-star for the show too! it adds so much to the programme with that fundamental basis.
would love if Capt.Jack was on the show in the near future too and be worked into a plotline too! that would be great, and River Song is such a fantastic character too, she is much more developed this series and so mysterious, i love it!!

and yet equally people here have claimed it's been "dumbed down"! Both stances can't be true!

No, my view on the first part of Season 4 hasn't changed. The opening episode was silly beacuse of those stupid fat creature things, never liked the Pompeii story. The Oood story is beetr on repeat viewing but still not my cup of tea. In fact, none of the stories upto the unicorn and the wasp did it for me.

I can't quite pinpoint what is lacking but for me it certainly is lacking something. I've pondered how it could be Matt Smith but dismissed that as he's actually doing a dandy job with the material he's provided with. So that leads me to believe that the problem (my problem) is with the material and direction of the show and how it's changed from the last four years, but then again you can't live in the past and mourn forever. Then there's the new assistant Amy but you can't blame the girl for the whole thing! Again, she's doing her best with the material she's provided with.

I think the waiting game needs to be played (for me, anyway). Hopefully there is an episode that will scream at me "this is great" and then I'll be back to loving the show that I've spent the last five years looking forward to the next episode and missing when the series is finished.

Do you think the more filmic and dreamlike quality this series undoubtedly has is making it a bit more difficult to relate to for some people?

and yet, I adore The Fires of Pompeii and Planet of the Ood. See, nothing has changed really...