Steven Moffat says he's making the biggest changes to the format since 2005

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...5-9465941.html

What do people think to this?

Personally I agree with him that the show needs change, and definitely agree with him that it was a fresh feel to cast Capaldi after two younger doctors. I do worry about exactly what he's got in mind given that his past changes to the format haven't exactly been popular, but I always like to be optimistic so I'm hoping it will be change in the right direction.

So long as they are changes for the better.

The show is about change. Always has been, always will be. Very excited about Capaldi. And personally disagree that his "past changes to the format haven't exactly been popular." They have with me, anyway. Although how radical said changes are is debatable. Don't want to go down the tired RTD v Moffat route, but the changes between. say, Seasons 6 and 7, or 17 and 18 were a lot more noticeable to me than, say, Series 4 and 5. (probably my 2 favourites of C21 Who.)

Roll on August!

That Moffat is a big tease and that what he promises rarely related to what he delivers.

(though what he delivers is often excellent regardless)

I hope they are interesting changes
Nostalgia works also, there is just something about revisiting the past sometimes, just to acknowledge there was and the past was okay.

Evidence? Don't just make unsubstantiated statements like this if you want to be taken seriously.

What format changes has he made and can you demonstrate how they have been unpopular?

The words "split series" spring to mind

Not that I cared either way, Doctor Who is Doctor Who to me

Well I think it was a slow news day at the independent and so they stretched an article out of Moff's Hay interview where he pretty much said what he always does - "we're going to change things around a bit to keep it from getting stale".

I doubt he means the format of the series, more avoiding formulaic episodes

video of the interview here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01zvt1g

Interesting interview.

Maybe like Steven Moffat said, aspects of the show need to change slightly, maybe The Doctor should invent more, he has a sonic screwdriver but he has know-how to make something just as useful.

Is the Doctor going to assemble cabinets with it?

I've noticed a slight change in tone since asylum of the daleks. Dark and more looking back to the classic series......

I'd settle for stories that have a beginning, middle and end, in that order.

And also, characters that have conversations instead of flirty one-liners and witty responses delivered with a raised eyebrow.

Please and fankoo Mister Moffat.

Moffat has always been keen to try and persuade non-viewers to join the party and I imagine this might be indicative of a further offensive - I can't recall if this was a well sourced quote or just an interpretation but I recall something about this coming season being expected to be promoted almost as a relaunch akin to 2005.

Amen to that, but leopards and spots....

Yes please! I appreciate that time travel stories don't always have to be totally linear, but I'd rather that this sort of thing was limited to the occasional story rather than becoming the norm. Maybe I'm getting old, but I don't think I'm the only one who finds that a 45 minute TV episode is much easier to follow when it has a beginning, middle and end.

My feelings exactly! I love time-travel stories - but not to the extent of using 'time' as a continual mix of all stories blending into one, making a souffle and then spitting it out and saying "There you are - turned out well in the end!"

Changes like split series including showing series 7 over two years convincing most we had one series in a space where we could have had two. You can't honestly say you didn't see the many posts complaining about this at the time. Also people often talk about missing two parters. I especially miss them for the finale, and again have seen posts complaining they are less grand now as a result.


Couldn't agree more

It doesn't matter if you've got the space if you haven't got the funding or the schedule.

RTD managed it every year for four years. Then Moffat himself showed he was capable of sticking to that sort of schedule in series 5.

Anyway what I will say is that going back to a straight run could be seen as a change after the last few years, so I can say that he has at least done one good change already.

I really hope all of his changes are change for the better, but I'm a bit cautious to believe that at this point.

They're showing one episode a month and are going to try and sell us on how its a good thing for us and will make the show better

Big Changes...sounds intriguing.

I am not really sure what 'big changes' can be made to the actual concept of the show. It looks as if the episodic nature is staying.

I dont think the 'big changes' will be more prominent companion arcs in the vein of the Matt Smith era.

I think the wide cinematic tone of the Matt Smith era might take more of a back seat in favour of a more close up approach.

So reading between the lines I would say by big changes means back to the Eccleston/Tennant style. (see the 50th)

Of course as per all of my predictions since I joined in 2007 I have no doubt I will be wrong.

please please please please

I don't mind changes as long as they are good changes, which I'm not confident is necessarily going to be the case here. Certainly if the female companion (whether it's Clara or someone else) doesn't fall in love with the Doctor or make a pass at him, that would be a nice change (and even original at this point).

Also, I'm tired of "timey-wimey" explanations and story arcs that Moffat is obviously making up as he goes along. In fact, I'd like to see next season consist of good, entertaining, stand-alone episodes without any convoluted arcs or attempts at "sophisticated storytelling" which just turn into a mess. Just good stories with good acting, good dialogue and good characters, that would make me happy.

Agree with pretty much everything you've said here, except for the fact that I do still like the concept of an arc, it would just be nice to have one where it's simple to understand and has a clear start, middle and end resolution.

Could it: