As long as there's demand for it, I'm sure the show will not be exterminated.
Though, I could be wrong.
Though, I could be wrong.
Series 9 will be the final series
5 of 5
Originally Posted by Abomination:
“People that are watching the show out of no obligation to do so, but simply because it's just typical that their TV is on BBC 1 at that time of night and they don't mind it on..”
“People that are watching the show out of no obligation to do so, but simply because it's just typical that their TV is on BBC 1 at that time of night and they don't mind it on..”
Only between 50 - 56% of the BBC One weekly audience were actually live for Series 8, the rest actively chose to record and view at another point in the week. That's without counting the people seeking out the repeats, the non-TV based iPlayer downloads and streams, and the post 7 day timeshifters. And those who did watch live, did so despite it being on later, on a prime going out night, and with one of the biggest shows on TV as competition.
Doctor Who, at this point in time, is about as far from being a show that people watch just 'because it is on' as you can get.
I realise you have a firm belief in your perceptions, and how they must represent the audience as a whole, but they're not likely to be any more representative than any other anecdotal account of poor audience reactions we've seen in the past 9 years. And let's be clear, with every single other of those anecdotal accounts, no matter how insistent their tellers were about how much they knew people were being put off, being proven utterly wrong... just how likely is it that your account will be the exception?
You can, to the best of your knowledge, account for some people who are put off. Others can, to the best of their knowledge, account for some who weren't. None of us should assume that our anecdotal evidence is representative.
Originally Posted by Dr Thete:
“Only between 50 - 56% of the BBC One weekly audience were actually live for Series 8, the rest actively chose to record and view at another point in the week. That's without counting the people seeking out the repeats, the non-TV based iPlayer downloads and streams, and the post 7 day timeshifters. And those who did watch live, did so despite it being on later, on a prime going out night, and with one of the biggest shows on TV as competition.
Doctor Who, at this point in time, is about as far from being a show that people watch just 'because it is on' as you can get.
I realise you have a firm belief in your perceptions, and how they must represent the audience as a whole, but they're not likely to be any more representative than any other anecdotal account of poor audience reactions we've seen in the past 9 years. And let's be clear, with every single other of those anecdotal accounts, no matter how insistent their tellers were about how much they knew people were being put off, being proven utterly wrong... just how likely is it that your account will be the exception?
You can, to the best of your knowledge, account for some people who are put off. Others can, to the best of their knowledge, account for some who weren't. None of us should assume that our anecdotal evidence is representative.”
“Only between 50 - 56% of the BBC One weekly audience were actually live for Series 8, the rest actively chose to record and view at another point in the week. That's without counting the people seeking out the repeats, the non-TV based iPlayer downloads and streams, and the post 7 day timeshifters. And those who did watch live, did so despite it being on later, on a prime going out night, and with one of the biggest shows on TV as competition.
Doctor Who, at this point in time, is about as far from being a show that people watch just 'because it is on' as you can get.
I realise you have a firm belief in your perceptions, and how they must represent the audience as a whole, but they're not likely to be any more representative than any other anecdotal account of poor audience reactions we've seen in the past 9 years. And let's be clear, with every single other of those anecdotal accounts, no matter how insistent their tellers were about how much they knew people were being put off, being proven utterly wrong... just how likely is it that your account will be the exception?
You can, to the best of your knowledge, account for some people who are put off. Others can, to the best of their knowledge, account for some who weren't. None of us should assume that our anecdotal evidence is representative.”
This!
Also with such a choice of channels and media today I can say (anecdotally of course) that people probably don't just leave their channel on something they don't actually want to watch.
Originally Posted by johnnysaucepn:
“It's funny how, for every series, there's a "sense that people don't care any more", and "I and all my friends think it's boring now", and "everything I've seen or heard tells me that this series hasn't been well received".
This has apparently been going on every year since at least Series 3, and yet every objective statistic measurement belies it.”
“It's funny how, for every series, there's a "sense that people don't care any more", and "I and all my friends think it's boring now", and "everything I've seen or heard tells me that this series hasn't been well received".
This has apparently been going on every year since at least Series 3, and yet every objective statistic measurement belies it.”
I work in telly and you can bet your life that almost every complaint we get will include the line "and everyone I know agrees with me."
One senses what they usually mean, of course, is that their granny agrees with them - and then, only for a quiet life.
Originally Posted by Dr Thete:
“Only between 50 - 56% of the BBC One weekly audience were actually live for Series 8, the rest actively chose to record and view at another point in the week. That's without counting the people seeking out the repeats, the non-TV based iPlayer downloads and streams, and the post 7 day timeshifters. And those who did watch live, did so despite it being on later, on a prime going out night, and with one of the biggest shows on TV as competition.
Doctor Who, at this point in time, is about as far from being a show that people watch just 'because it is on' as you can get.
I realise you have a firm belief in your perceptions, and how they must represent the audience as a whole, but they're not likely to be any more representative than any other anecdotal account of poor audience reactions we've seen in the past 9 years. And let's be clear, with every single other of those anecdotal accounts, no matter how insistent their tellers were about how much they knew people were being put off, being proven utterly wrong... just how likely is it that your account will be the exception?
You can, to the best of your knowledge, account for some people who are put off. Others can, to the best of their knowledge, account for some who weren't. None of us should assume that our anecdotal evidence is representative.”
“Only between 50 - 56% of the BBC One weekly audience were actually live for Series 8, the rest actively chose to record and view at another point in the week. That's without counting the people seeking out the repeats, the non-TV based iPlayer downloads and streams, and the post 7 day timeshifters. And those who did watch live, did so despite it being on later, on a prime going out night, and with one of the biggest shows on TV as competition.
Doctor Who, at this point in time, is about as far from being a show that people watch just 'because it is on' as you can get.
I realise you have a firm belief in your perceptions, and how they must represent the audience as a whole, but they're not likely to be any more representative than any other anecdotal account of poor audience reactions we've seen in the past 9 years. And let's be clear, with every single other of those anecdotal accounts, no matter how insistent their tellers were about how much they knew people were being put off, being proven utterly wrong... just how likely is it that your account will be the exception?
You can, to the best of your knowledge, account for some people who are put off. Others can, to the best of their knowledge, account for some who weren't. None of us should assume that our anecdotal evidence is representative.”
BiB - that's one of the most perceptive and spot on comments I've read on here for a very long time. You're whole post sums up my feelings too, but so much better expressed than I could have said it!
Originally Posted by Abomination:
“I've loved the show since 2005. I've loved each series, the better ones (S4) and the worse (S7) and no matter what ups and downs I've stuck by it. I post about it online, I've got t-shirts, the DVD's, the score... I'm a fan, guilty as charged. I've loved Series 8 as well for all of its ups and downs...Capaldi, Coleman, Gomez, some of the episodes...amazing stuff.
But there is a definite change in attitude, perhaps indifference, from much of the viewing public. The viewing figures are very good, consistent, and a good sign. But they're also a little safe. People that are watching the show out of no obligation to do so, but simply because it's just typical that their TV is on BBC 1 at that time of night and they don't mind it on. I was still in school during the RTD era, and my entire group of about 15 friends or so would all talk about it - I think there was one who didn't watch. Now there's only 3 of us who do, all of us sometimes on catch-up (that's life getting in the way admittedly), and a fourth friend who caught Deep Breath, and I quote "because it was on". She thought it was okay, but she didn't stick with it. She stopped regularly watching at Series 5, and missed nearly all of 7 and 8.
My small social life isn't necessarily a reflection of the complete picture, but I see it echoed all over the place. Of my two sisters, only one of them now watches - the other stopped because she was no longer interested in the way it was being written (back in Series 6). My next door neighbours have it on the TV, but were chatting with my Mum in the garden during nearly every episode at the start of Series 8...they won't have watched them on catch-up either.
I don't think opinion of the show is bad, but I think it's lost something of its captivating charm. It's going through the motions a little bit, even with Series 8 and is struggling to keep enticing all but the fans with any sense of certainty. Yes, opinion is generally positive, and the viewing figures are still good as well... but actual perception of the show isn't what it was. I mean, it's not reached a point of indifference where nobody is talking about it, but it's definitely become more fan-oriented to say the least in recent years. I felt that Series 8 worked hard to even the playing field a bit again and appeal to the mainstream a bit more (with exceptions like Listen) but the fact of the matter is it will struggle to do that when the problem for many has been the writing in recent years, and it's still relying largely on the same writers (and getting criticised still for doing so). Even with the new writers at its disposal, Series 8 packed them all in at the end of the series - any casual viewers giving the show a go again may have given up by then if the problem with the writing was most evident in the first half of the series.
I don't know what to suggest that could turn this perception around. Moffat has both impressed me this year with a couple of episodes, and let me down with his other couple - in ways that are very typical to him. Whilst I've enjoyed this series, and many more have as well... I just don't know whether people care like they used to.”
“I've loved the show since 2005. I've loved each series, the better ones (S4) and the worse (S7) and no matter what ups and downs I've stuck by it. I post about it online, I've got t-shirts, the DVD's, the score... I'm a fan, guilty as charged. I've loved Series 8 as well for all of its ups and downs...Capaldi, Coleman, Gomez, some of the episodes...amazing stuff.
But there is a definite change in attitude, perhaps indifference, from much of the viewing public. The viewing figures are very good, consistent, and a good sign. But they're also a little safe. People that are watching the show out of no obligation to do so, but simply because it's just typical that their TV is on BBC 1 at that time of night and they don't mind it on. I was still in school during the RTD era, and my entire group of about 15 friends or so would all talk about it - I think there was one who didn't watch. Now there's only 3 of us who do, all of us sometimes on catch-up (that's life getting in the way admittedly), and a fourth friend who caught Deep Breath, and I quote "because it was on". She thought it was okay, but she didn't stick with it. She stopped regularly watching at Series 5, and missed nearly all of 7 and 8.
My small social life isn't necessarily a reflection of the complete picture, but I see it echoed all over the place. Of my two sisters, only one of them now watches - the other stopped because she was no longer interested in the way it was being written (back in Series 6). My next door neighbours have it on the TV, but were chatting with my Mum in the garden during nearly every episode at the start of Series 8...they won't have watched them on catch-up either.
I don't think opinion of the show is bad, but I think it's lost something of its captivating charm. It's going through the motions a little bit, even with Series 8 and is struggling to keep enticing all but the fans with any sense of certainty. Yes, opinion is generally positive, and the viewing figures are still good as well... but actual perception of the show isn't what it was. I mean, it's not reached a point of indifference where nobody is talking about it, but it's definitely become more fan-oriented to say the least in recent years. I felt that Series 8 worked hard to even the playing field a bit again and appeal to the mainstream a bit more (with exceptions like Listen) but the fact of the matter is it will struggle to do that when the problem for many has been the writing in recent years, and it's still relying largely on the same writers (and getting criticised still for doing so). Even with the new writers at its disposal, Series 8 packed them all in at the end of the series - any casual viewers giving the show a go again may have given up by then if the problem with the writing was most evident in the first half of the series.
I don't know what to suggest that could turn this perception around. Moffat has both impressed me this year with a couple of episodes, and let me down with his other couple - in ways that are very typical to him. Whilst I've enjoyed this series, and many more have as well... I just don't know whether people care like they used to.”
I have to agree with this post. A lot of people don't seem to understand there can be a middle ground between absolutely loving every episode and thinking the whole thing has gone to crap, and I too get the sense that a certain shine has gone from the show, and have also noticed those around me who used to get as excited for it as I did have mostly stopped watching altogether now. I seriously think the show needs fresh direction from someone in the form of a new showrunner. Moffat has written many a good episode but he's never really worked as a showrunner for me, and now he even laughs in interviews that he concerns his time with the next trick or headline grabbing gimmick (his comments on Clara's Im the doctor moment, and the missy/rani trick) rather than thinking 'i'll sit down and write a story that will be good and satisfying from start to finish' which should always be a writers first priority rather than 'what pointless trick can I put into the start /end of an episode to make people watch for a bit longer'.
*yawn*
After 8 years of a TV series (putting aside the previous classic series for a minute) things are bound to get a bit "stale". Have a look at likes of X-Files or Supernatural etc in the states.
Why not try and enjoy what we've got instead of slagging off Moffat etc. Things could be a LOT worse ... ask those who were around in 1989 or even the vitriol that was around when "The Twin Dilemma" aired.
The show is in a good overall state - viewing figures will vary nowadays because times have changed. People don't HAVE to watch live anymore. People have more choices regarding channels.
Some people need to stop the doom and gloom and appreciate the show we DO have instead of wanting it to end (see the OP post).
EDIT : a wise man once said "You can please some of the people some of the time. But ... you can't please all of the people all of the time"
After 8 years of a TV series (putting aside the previous classic series for a minute) things are bound to get a bit "stale". Have a look at likes of X-Files or Supernatural etc in the states.
Why not try and enjoy what we've got instead of slagging off Moffat etc. Things could be a LOT worse ... ask those who were around in 1989 or even the vitriol that was around when "The Twin Dilemma" aired.
The show is in a good overall state - viewing figures will vary nowadays because times have changed. People don't HAVE to watch live anymore. People have more choices regarding channels.
Some people need to stop the doom and gloom and appreciate the show we DO have instead of wanting it to end (see the OP post).
EDIT : a wise man once said "You can please some of the people some of the time. But ... you can't please all of the people all of the time"
Okay, um.....
Series 10 will be the last series. Mark my words.
(Took 26 goes back in the day...and even then it proved to be marvellously incorrect in the long run.)
Series 10 will be the last series. Mark my words.
(Took 26 goes back in the day...and even then it proved to be marvellously incorrect in the long run.)
Nope it wont. I can't wait for series 10 as it seems there will be a new person(s) in charge which will be interesting to see a new era/take on the show. But first we have Moffatts final series to look forward too and enjoy. Will be interesting to see how he goes out.
Originally Posted by Dr Thete:
“Only between 50 - 56% of the BBC One weekly audience were actually live for Series 8, the rest actively chose to record and view at another point in the week. That's without counting the people seeking out the repeats, the non-TV based iPlayer downloads and streams, and the post 7 day timeshifters. And those who did watch live, did so despite it being on later, on a prime going out night, and with one of the biggest shows on TV as competition.
Doctor Who, at this point in time, is about as far from being a show that people watch just 'because it is on' as you can get.
I realise you have a firm belief in your perceptions, and how they must represent the audience as a whole, but they're not likely to be any more representative than any other anecdotal account of poor audience reactions we've seen in the past 9 years. And let's be clear, with every single other of those anecdotal accounts, no matter how insistent their tellers were about how much they knew people were being put off, being proven utterly wrong... just how likely is it that your account will be the exception?
You can, to the best of your knowledge, account for some people who are put off. Others can, to the best of their knowledge, account for some who weren't. None of us should assume that our anecdotal evidence is representative.”
“Only between 50 - 56% of the BBC One weekly audience were actually live for Series 8, the rest actively chose to record and view at another point in the week. That's without counting the people seeking out the repeats, the non-TV based iPlayer downloads and streams, and the post 7 day timeshifters. And those who did watch live, did so despite it being on later, on a prime going out night, and with one of the biggest shows on TV as competition.
Doctor Who, at this point in time, is about as far from being a show that people watch just 'because it is on' as you can get.
I realise you have a firm belief in your perceptions, and how they must represent the audience as a whole, but they're not likely to be any more representative than any other anecdotal account of poor audience reactions we've seen in the past 9 years. And let's be clear, with every single other of those anecdotal accounts, no matter how insistent their tellers were about how much they knew people were being put off, being proven utterly wrong... just how likely is it that your account will be the exception?
You can, to the best of your knowledge, account for some people who are put off. Others can, to the best of their knowledge, account for some who weren't. None of us should assume that our anecdotal evidence is representative.”
Fantastic post, and spot on!
Isolated anecdotal accounts of how many people don't like the show anymore are never going to account for millions of people.
9 years in the multi-channel modern era is an incredible amount of time for a TV show to be running. Doctor Who has seen off Torchwood, Robin Hood, Merlin and will probably still be there when Atlantis has bitten the dust. Some viewers will undoubtedly lose interest and switch off; others will become interested and replace them; that's the way it works.
I lost interest in Coronation St when Hilda Ogden left. The shine had gone off it and I felt it was becoming stale. It was as if they were going through the motions and thinking up gimmicks instead of writing stories. It's only a matter of time before they pull the plug. I'll stick with my The Hilda Years boxsets thanks.
This show isn't going anywhere for a while. At a push, Series 9 will be Moffat's last, but not the show's itself.
5 of 5
