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Split Series doesn't work |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 203
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Split Series doesn't work
I can see why they've done this split series, but IMO it hasn't worked very well. Introducing a new companion has made her story arc rushed and uninteresting, I still want to know how she has been in more that one place, but I get the impression its all going to be squeezed into 5 minutes of the finale.
Also the whole no two parters is making episodes/stories rushed. I don't know about anyone else, but some of my favourite episodes have been the two parters, for example The Empty Child /The Doctor Dances. Having 13 separate stories isn't great in comparison to 10 stories with 3 well written two parters with a nice cliffhanger between them. All I'm saying I guess is that I hope that series 8 ends up being in the old 10 story, 3 two parter, 13 episodes in 14 weeks format that worked so well before. |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,651
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Quote:
I can see why they've done this split series, but IMO it hasn't worked very well. Introducing a new companion has made her story arc rushed and uninteresting, I still want to know how she has been in more that one place, but I get the impression its all going to be squeezed into 5 minutes of the finale.
I mean, most Doctor's regenerations are started and ended in less time than that - would you consider them rushed? |
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 148
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Quote:
I can see why they've done this split series, but IMO it hasn't worked very well. Introducing a new companion has made her story arc rushed and uninteresting, I still want to know how she has been in more that one place, but I get the impression its all going to be squeezed into 5 minutes of the finale.
Also the whole no two parters is making episodes/stories rushed. I don't know about anyone else, but some of my favourite episodes have been the two parters, for example The Empty Child /The Doctor Dances. Having 13 separate stories isn't great in comparison to 10 stories with 3 well written two parters with a nice cliffhanger between them. All I'm saying I guess is that I hope that series 8 ends up being in the old 10 story, 3 two parter, 13 episodes in 14 weeks format that worked so well before. http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1819887 I think the split series was a result of production costs/issues more than actually being a preferred choice by the Beeb. |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 87
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Agree that I don't like the split.
It feels like it has raised the expectation to an impossible level combined with the movie of the week thing. It just can't live up to that hype. I get the feeling that when I view this series in the future I will watch it as a whole and it will be excellent. Kinda wish we could have 8 one hour episodes if they are going to stick with this going forward. The odd two-parter thrown in would be good too. It seems like the series is built to attract negative criticism at the moment even though it is actually very good. An extra 5 to 15 minutes would probably fix some of the resolutions which seem rushed. To sum up, watching Who is like drinking too much coffee at the moment. Does that make sense?! And who knows what goodies are still to come this year. |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 203
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Two responses - firstly, how can you be sure of that, given that we've only seen half of the episodes featuring the character in question?
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And secondly, it may be that five minutes is enough for the big reveal - significance is not proportional to running time.
I'm not saying it wont work, or wont be great, but as the weeks go on and episodes go by without really gaining any new information I'm finding myself caring less and less about who she is. I just hope its a mind blowing reveal. |
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#6 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,275
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I like the split. What I don't like is so many filler stories set in the past. The show rarely travels to the future anymore, which is annoying, the Doctor is a Time Lord not a Space Lord.
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#7 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 699
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30 seconds of trawling the internet would have told the BBC that a split series would be unpopular here. You only have to read the howls of disgust when a US series takes a mid season break (for thanksgiving, Christmas, superbowl, opening of a paper bag etc) few of which concern us here in Europe but which we are subjected to as it is decreed by the US networks, that the break must take place, and as more series are broadcast within 24 hours of the US airing to try to prevent piracy.
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#8 |
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 699
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Quote:
I like the split. What I don't like is so many filler stories set in the past. The show rarely travels to the future anymore, which is annoying, the Doctor is a Time Lord not a Space Lord.
The past is a time too! |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 18,064
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It would have been moved completely to autumn if the BBC didn't need something to lead into The Voice. Hopefully Atlantis (new show filling the Merlin slot this year) will be more entertaining than what Moffat was able to muster this time around!
Also, the lower the viewing figures go, the less likely the BBC will care when Who airs, or if it airs at all, for that matter...axing would be the worst case scenario, but it's by no means unlikely if things don't improve. The BEST case scenario would be to refresh the production team asap (Christmas should be the last Moffat episode). |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,454
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I can see why they've done this split series,
No, you don't know why they've done it; no-one does. We have had much debate about it. All I can say is I don't think their actual reason for splitting it has anything to do with the contradictory official reasons they've come out with from time to time. |
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#11 |
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 162
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I don't mind the split series.
When I look at the current series (part two), my main gripes are: 1. the stories are a little rushed. Whether or not they're written that way or edited in that way, the endings just feel a little too convenient and easy. It is possible to do a single episode story in the allotted and time it well; and 2. the characterisation. I love Matt Smith as the Doctor and I really like Clara's character - 'Asylum of the Daleks' is one of my favourite episodes. MS ends up spending a lot of his time waving around the sonic screwdriver - I almost feel like it deserves a listing in the credits! - instead of connecting with Clara. It feels like a waste of MS's talent. Similarly, with Clara, I've now seen five episodes of this 'incarnation' and, "Lancashire Sass" aside, there hasn't been too much to shout about. Yes, there's a mystery about her, but the episodes so far haven't really dug into this. I think the ideas for the episodes are good, but the two points mean that the stories aren't executed as well as they could be. For me, the issues above wouldn't be solved by a having a 'whole' series. Of course, having said all that, look at the viewing figures! DW is still more than good enough to keep me interested.
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#12 |
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 203
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Quote:
No, you don't know why they've done it; no-one does. We have had much debate about it.
All I can say is I don't think their actual reason for splitting it has anything to do with the contradictory official reasons they've come out with from time to time. |
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#13 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,600
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Quote:
30 seconds of trawling the internet would have told the BBC that a split series would be unpopular here. You only have to read the howls of disgust when a US series takes a mid season break (for thanksgiving, Christmas, superbowl, opening of a paper bag etc) few of which concern us here in Europe but which we are subjected to as it is decreed by the US networks, that the break must take place, and as more series are broadcast within 24 hours of the US airing to try to prevent piracy.
For the record, I hate the mid series break to and the idea someone has already mentioned of 8 one hour episodes and two of them being a two-parter sounds like the way to go for me |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 12,601
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Isn't Doctor Who aired in America too? Would explain the mid series break - it is considered convention over there and so it could be that they are trying to gain more viewers in America by following what others have already done and do?
While many U.S shows have split seasons those seasons consist of 20 plus episodes and the gap in between is usually only 2 - 3 months at most. I can't think of one example where a U.S show of only 13 or so episodes was split with a gap of 6 months. |
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#15 |
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 82,194
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Quote:
I think the split series was a result of production costs/issues more than actually being a preferred choice by the Beeb.
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#16 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 284
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Quote:
30 seconds of trawling the internet would have told the BBC that a split series would be unpopular here. .
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#17 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 274
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Quote:
While many U.S shows have split seasons those seasons consist of 20 plus episodes and the gap in between is usually only 2 - 3 months at most.
I can't think of one example where a U.S show of only 13 or so episodes was split with a gap of 6 months. |
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#18 |
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,725
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Quote:
I can't think of one example where a U.S show of only 13 or so episodes was split with a gap of 6 months.
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#19 |
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 274
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Quote:
Season 5 of Breaking Bad?
Also Suits & White Collar |
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DW is still more than good enough to keep me interested.