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.

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? And secondly, it may be that five minutes is enough for the big reveal - significance is not proportional to running time.

I mean, most Doctor's regenerations are started and ended in less time than that - would you consider them rushed?

I've been ranting about the whole "split series" thing in this thread:

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.

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.

Well seeing as we have 3 episodes left at the end of the series and all we really have as fact is that she doesn't know anything about. I agree it could all change in the next three episodes, and I hope it does, but I don't see much happening with it until the end of Nightmare in Silver at the earliest .



I agree but I feel like something of more significance should have happened already to keep us going. For example the mystery of River Song was explained in the last 5 minutes of AGMGtW, and as much as it was exciting, the only reason I felt it worked was because it was a mid season cliffhanger. I doubt that will happen with Clara.

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.

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.

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.

The past is a time too!

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).

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.

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.

I made the presumption that it was because Karen and Arthur were only prepared to do half a series, or so that they have the extra time to film the 50th?

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?


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

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.

Agreed, the BBC have had to make big cuts to their spending and it's inevitable that Doctor who will be effected. But as I've said on many occasions Doctor Who is one of the very few series on the BBC that has had 14 episodes per series most of the others . Apart from f Eastenders, Casualty / /Holby City 8 episodes is pretty much the maximum other series get.

The problem is the BBC doesn't care if its popular or not. Viewing figures don`t matter to the BBC otherwise we wouldn't have the channels full of auction, make over or cookery crap. All the BBC care about is getting your money off you, which you don`t get a choice in. They get the license fee whether you watch Dr who or not.

The walking dead had about a 3 month gap....

Season 5 of Breaking Bad?

Dammit I didn't think of that one. Nice.

Also Suits & White Collar