Even if Deus Ex Machina is mistakenly used, the fact remains that a lot of the endings in Doctor Who are still lazy and terrible which is what I think people are trying to say.

I love Doctor Who but some of the resolutions to episodes are awful.

^Exactly.
I'd say this has been one of the strongest series's in DW history!
And this is resoundingly echoed by reviews and scores on sites like IMDB and the rating polls.
Thankfully, people who feel like marksith are a small minority.

No it doesn't.

"Jump the shark" does not mean "I don't like it" or "This is crap" or "Disappointing".

A jump the shark moment is a period or point where a TV show uses a gimmick which signals the decline of the show. If you've not enjoyed series 8 from the start, then something in the penultimate episode can not be the "jump the shark moment".

Thank you for playing.

Personally I've loved this series. I can engage and believe it so much more than when matt smith was gurning his way thru another forgettable episode. Just seems so much more grown up this year, less of a cbbc production.

At no point have I stated 'jump the shark' means I don't like it etc etc. I have stated that I haven't enjoyed this series and for me the Missy/Master reveal may (MAY) be the point at which the shark may be lept (yes I know the Fonz was on a waterski and he didn't physically jump, I'm old enough to have seen the episode before you all give me links to the actual moment) over. Love the discussion but somewhat disappointed at some of the all knowing replies but hey ho......

Like I said I'm happy to be wrong.

But nothing in a science fiction show is really unchangeable. The reveal hasn't defeated the point of the show.

All we are seeing is familiarity with the concept, so obviously there is an increasingly lack of engagement with the show by the general public. It always happens.

Unfortunately the usual response from programme makers of a declining show is to jazz it up or go for gimmicks.

I really don't think they have jumped the shark at all with The Doctor or The Master


Then again a few weeks I think Danny jumped the Skovox Blitzer

Jump the shark?

How is that even possible when it's a programme about a bloke with two hearts who isn't from round here and is a thousand years old?

Where a dinosaur terrorises Victorian London and tin cans roam the universe?

Pur-leeze. Doctor Who comes up with such an implausible plotline that it invites public derision? That's not even possible. If Doctor Who eschewed utter nonsense there would BE no Who on our screens. It wouldn't have lasted two episodes!

Well it was all going down hill, once upon a time... and somebody came up with a most amusing gimmick to save the show. They turned the lead actor... in to somebody else!

Turns out their race is conveniently capable of changing every cell in their body - but somehow they never seem to end up as a dog or a tree, but occasionally they can turn in to THIS


Alas, this "shark" was "jumped" some time ago. We're just experiencing a different outcome to it. Change, my dears.

It could be a shark-jumping moment, but right now we only have half the story. We've only just scratched the surface of Missy's history, there's not enough to tell whether it's a worthwhile story to tell.

I can't beleive anyone's taking this thread seriously!

Almost a thousand Whovians on IMDb have given 'DarkWater' a rating of 9.2 out of 10,
while in this forums poll, around 85% have rated it good-to-excellent.

This is one of the most highly rated episodes since 'Day of the Doctor'!
A few people disliking the Missy reveal hardly amounts to a so-called 'Shark Jump'!

I think you'll find that the shark was too busy recovering from Alan Sugar's triple firing on The Apprentice to make an appearance on Dr Who.

A Thousand or so people is hardly conclusive but I still agree. Far to early especially as whatever you think about Missy/The Master it was still a very good episode imo anyway.

I believe the term 'nuked the fridge' has now superceded it...

It has. And it always me chuckle when "jump the shark" is used incorrectly, as it most certainly has in this thread.

That's a little more specific - when suspension of belief in action-movie physics has been stretched beyond breaking point. I believe it too has been superseded by "hatching the moon-dragon"...

Shark jump? What Shark jump? Don't remember The Doctor jumping over any Sharks.

Roger Moore jumped over some crocodiles in Live And Let Die and it was brilliant...

Maybe if The Doctor does something similar it will be epic!

Shark & Crocodile jumpings for the win!

This is definitely a gimmicky series of Who - I think the shark was jumped with the lesbian/lizard kiss in episode 1 - now we have transTimeLords ! what's next? lol

Let's get back to story telling without turning dr Who into Hollyoaks in time and space thanks have a nice day

In my eyes - 'Jumping the Shark' was when Moffat took over!
All this time-travel mixture stuff to resolve everything - and the ENDLESS sonic screw-driver!!
This was never done before to such extent!
At least it has calmed down a bit more now......after three years!

What's so bad about something from an American show becoming common usage over here (even though it's often used incorrectly)?

Xenophobic much?

i dont think it has just the shark, am still enjoying Doctor Who, has been a very good season so far

Nuked the Fridge?!

I have seldom felt more British/Welsh. I'd google it, but find the expression so yeuch I've decided to pass on in ignorance.