No, no, no, no, no. What we need is more Doctor Who, not less.

12 episodes is a commitment to make in watching? Really? This show used to do 40+ episodes a year (as did many shows back then).

The problem is not that there is too much bread, it is just that it seems that way right now because the butter (good ideas) is being spread out way too thinly because the cow (Moffat) ran dry years ago.

We need more episodes per year, not less; we just need more and better ideas to fill those episodes.

All he cares about is Sherlock.

Wow, someone really doesn't understand that the TV landscape has significantly changed since the 1960s.

No dramas, barring the soaps do 40+ episodes a year. They just don't.

Less has always been more in regards to drama, certainly in my lifetime. Things have altered since the 60s. It's often said people are busier now too than they were back then - hence the rise of things like catch-up etc. It all feeds from that.

You saying you want more and not taking things into consideration just makes you come across as a spoilt child.

It takes 9 months to film a series of Doctor Who. So, if they were filming 40+ as you so desperately want (which is a stupid idea), then how long would that series take to film? Answer that.

Personally I find the 20ish episodes a season of most US shows to be too much because they end up with a lot of filler. 13 episodes is a good number which is what DW has and should have.

The show needs 13 episodes and a complete overhaul to make it feel fresh again. It went stale after Matt left. Moffat never got 12 up and running properly and it just feels like the show is treading water not knowing what to do with itself. If Chibnall doesn't get a completely fresh start it'll be a massive waste.

I've always struggled with American dramas because of the obvious filler episodes to get them up to the required 20 or 30 for their season.

As I say, 13 for me I still think is too much for DW. My interest in most dramas can sustain 8 pretty much okay but when your getting near 10, it simply kind of goes.

I guess I just come from the school of thought that less is more and quality over quantity. Then again, I've hated the last two series so I can hardly say its been quality in any sense of the word.

But to me, to keep the show going for years to come. New Doctor, one full series (12/13 eps to satisfy most people) and then going into a block of 4, 5 or 6 episodes a year and treat them as a series of regular specials dotted across the year.

To me, that will sustain the show far better...

Aw, come on. Some people might not like his style of Who, fair enough, but if you read/watch interviews with him (or just read his DWM column) it's blatantly obvious how much Moffat cares about and loves the show.

If it were a good idea, shows would follow that logic of an incredibly small amount of 40 minute episodes spread across a year. Not a single show does it, there must be a reason for it. The reason is people will lose interest, first time in classic who interruptions happened show started to die. When it happened in new who show is losing interest just as an example.

A week between episodes is a long time, plenty of time to build suspense for the next episode and not too long that people will switch off.

I don't think he was advocating 40 episodes a year, but more proving a point. Now in the current era of tv shows, an entire season of a show drops out in a single day! Not sure this era of television has ever been less is more considering the quantity of most shows.

But people are losing interest when its shown in the weekly form too. As we see, people are tending to stack or binge watch more than ever now. I don't personally get that side of watching TV but it happens.

If the show is good enough, many millions will tune in; Strictly, Bake Off, Planet Earth II - they all did so on a weekly basis but dramas are struggling more than ever in that form now.

Plus, again if it were done in the less is more approach, a lot comes down to how it is marketed. The shows marketing since Series 8 has been abysmal. So, if you make that better, you have a better chance of success. Obviously the show dictates that moreso, but marketing does play its part...

The infamous "Same old, same old..." for Series 9.....good grief!

I like the "See the Universe Anew" from the Series 10 trailer, so maybe the marketing people have had a kick up the backside!

I remember seeing that for the first time when the trailer aired on TV and was actually astounded such a line went into a trailer to entice people in. It was so shockingly bad.

I get it being a line in the show, but for the purposes of marketing, it was the worst way I've ever seen Doctor Who marketed in.

Hopefully the marketing people have had the kick they deserve after that shambles.

Its things like little 10-second teaser trailers or actual posters out in public places that I don't see anymore for the show. They were the kind of thing that were done so well in previous years but now, a bad trailer with a long-lingering bad line is all we get.

Plus, the promo pictures are quite naff too in my opinion. Last series, we had Peter and Jenna looking on in a traditional Doctor and companion pose surrounded by mirrors. Well, I didn't get that at all..

Hopefully, fingers crossed, the marketing is far better for S10...

Already been just as much advertising for s10 than s9 had and we are months out. The advertising for that season was horrible.

Two seasons in, I think viewers have pretty much made up their mind whether or not they like the 12th Doctor. Personally, I think the success of season 10 rests very firmly on Bill. From the trailer it seems much more of a 'Rose' type scenario - ordinary girl gets to to see the universe and shows just how extraordinary she can really be. I do like her, just from the trailer. I hope she's good for the show.

Yeah, agree about the promo pics. They are often quite poor and lacking in *imagination*, since Series 7b anyway. I loved the posters they did for that run. The 'Mysterio' one was very bland.

The worst for me was the Series 8 pic with Capaldi unflatteringly pictured with hands on hips and Jenna standing in a funny way which made her look like she really needed to visit the TARDIS toilet asap.

I agree, that Series 8 picture wasn't very good at all. Peter looks unnatural in it and Jenna's pose as you say looks more like the 'I need the toilet' dance rather than 'I want to see alien worlds and planets'.

Generally, I do think the marketing since Series 7 has been quite off. I don't know if they've changed who does the marketing since then, but it's not been the same quality in my opinion.

I loved the posters for Series 7 that even if the episode wasn't up to much, the poster did a lot to entice you and get the feel for the episode within an instant.

As you say, the poster for 'Mysterio' was ultra bland. It didn't really do anything. It wasn't flattering for anyone in it if I'm honest. And it is something that I've picked up on a lot with Peter in the promo material. He's not old by any means yet all the pictures I've seen him in make him look so much older than he is. They really don't do him any justice at all.

Quite deliberate I'm sure, and why not?!

Well judging by this forum, which of course is a perfectly accurate way to judge these things , then yeah people have (to answer my own thread question)...

This forum has gone really quiet, only 12 pages on the Xmas episode after it was aired two days ago... nobody even bothered to start the thread for the episode until the day.. it use to be they were started like a week in advance and would be up to about 4 or 5 pages before the episode even aired, with people talking and theorising before hand... The thread wasn't even done properly with a Poll so everyone could vote their grade for the episode... Also I'm not seeing that much talk about the next series, a trailer at the end of the Xmas episode would usually generate a lot, but there's not that much discussion going on about it.

It seems like just the die hard DW/DS fans are keeping this DW section afloat... when I said this forum felt quiet about a month ago, myself only coming back to the forum just then after not being on here for most of the year (S9 and no episodes this year lost my interest so other things took it) people said it was just the time, it was the calm before the storm, it would pick up around the Xmas episode.... well it hasn't all that much, not really, not like it was a few years ago.

Hopefully Series 10 will be good and start turning things around and get people discussing.

I think a number of people have moved on,or elsewhere, tbh.

As for the episode poll, well, some new FM's started threads last year and had them closed as they were deemed too early. Saw the irony on Sunday when there wasn't one! (Already made my excuses there; am a technical idiot and never done a poll on DS!)

Peter Capaldi is a good actor - quite natural - but in my humble opinion lacks warmth. No warmth in his eyes or smile and I feel casual DW fans need to like or relate to the Doctor in some way. I just can't see much or anything people can relate to with Capaldi's Doctor. I think I'm right in saying the show regularly dipped under 5 million - and was beaten by an episode of Casualty! - during Capaldi's last series. Capaldi is the least popular of the Nu-Who Doctors.

I just feel he's a bit miscast. If HBO or even the BBC made a darker more adult version of Doctor Who, Capaldi might be a natural fit, but for the evening CBBC type audience I feel he's miscast. Just not likable enough to get more casual kids and adults interested in the show.

Hopefully they can find a younger, more dynamic and warmer actor to play the role. I reckon the show will have a rise in ratings when the role is recast but the show has been on for over a decade so it's bound to lose some viewers. If the show went off the air for five years and then came back - who knows - might give it a fresh feel!

I think this sums up the problems with the show really quite well. That initial problem of an unlikable Doctor has had a long-lasting effect on the show I feel. Yes, Peter in his own words says his Doctor has now been "warmed up" a little from Series 8, but the damage was done then.

To me, you've got to like the Doctor. There's no point in having an unlikable one. We've got to be on his side. There's just no charisma or wow factor about his Doctor for me sadly. It's just very flat.

I hope too that we get a more dynamic and warmer actor to take on the role after Peter. I don't necessarily think it has to be younger, but Peter's take on the role has sadly put me off that idea. I do think the Doctor has become more of a younger actor's role now...

It wasn't even a newly started thread, but a resurrected one that had been started way back at the beginning of October!
Only the OP could have added a poll, and he didn't and hasn't.

Oh crap sorry about that, didn't take any notice of it, I'll do it now but it might be too late.

He does care a lot about Dr Who, but as Show runner he oversees all episodes and writes a huge amount. Sherlock is written and filmed and out soon. That's not going to be on his desk for another couple of years. I know he's giving up Dr Who, i for one would like the return of Russell T Davies but, I understand Chris Chibnall will be the new boss. Mofftiss will need new challenges!

Yet we had a split season during Matt's tenure.

Whether Moff or the BBC decided that was crazy especially for a 13 episode season.

Theres a reason America does it because when you have 20 - 30 episodes for something thats understandable.

But 13 episodes??? C'MON!

I can agree Moffat loves the show, but doesn't the saying go: "When you love something, you should set it free" Its time for Moffat to step down.