The Return of Doctor Mysterio (Grade & Discussion Thread

[Mr Awe]

I don't think that follows. The entire context is different now than it was then -- the viewing population of the UK is different in size and composition, there's more competition from other broadcasters, the nature of TV viewing is changing, the government's budget is probably different, and so forth. So the "floor" would have to be computed based on the current parameters, and it would be quite a coincidence if it came out to the same raw number despite being in such different circumstances.

Well, that's why I said "around". It's very approximate. However, I disagree that you would compute it based on the parameters you mentioned, such as broadcasters, budget, etc. We're talking the hardcore Whovians and they're not going to be influenced by such trivial things as that! To really compute the floor, you'd need to know the proportion of hard core Whovians in the population and the population size itself. Of course, the viewership floor is zero. It's probably possible to make such wretched DW that even the hard core fans would bail at some point.

But, what's really important is the floor at which the BBC would decide to stop making the show. I don't know what that is but I don't think we're at it now. I don't think the BBC is panicking either, although I'm sure they're keeping an eye on the trends. Their top priorities are probably to impose a regular production schedule and possibly a return to what they'd consider a safer demographic choice for the lead.

Mr Awe

 

[Christopher]

Well, that's why I said "around". It's very approximate. However, I disagree that you would compute it based on the parameters you mentioned, such as broadcasters, budget, etc. We're talking the hardcore Whovians and they're not going to be influenced by such trivial things as that!

No, we're not talking about the Doctor Who audience, we're talking about the BBC decision-makers and what parameters they'd use in determining the minimum acceptable ratings for renewing a show. After all, it's their decision, not the viewers'.

But, what's really important is the floor at which the BBC would decide to stop making the show.

Hunh. Okay, we're both talking about the same thing after all. So why did you think I was talking about something else?

 

[Mr Awe]

No, we're not talking about the Doctor Who audience, we're talking about the BBC decision-makers and what parameters they'd use in determining the minimum acceptable ratings for renewing a show. After all, it's their decision, not the viewers'.




Hunh. Okay, we're both talking about the same thing after all. So why did you think I was talking about something else?

No, I was intentionally distinguishing between the floor in terms of hard core Whovians and the floor in terms of when the BBC would stop making the series. They are very different things.

In fact, I was specifically addressing the question that Allyn had asked: Where, exactly, is the floor for the number of people who will tune in for Doctor Who, no matter what?

However, the BBC floor is the more important one as I state.

Mr Awe

 

[kirk55555]

I must be the only one around here that genuinely enjoys Time of the Doctor. I watched it again, last year!

I thought it was enjoyable. Not amazing or anything, and it has some problems, but still a solid adventure. The ending was also amazing (the very end in the TARDIS that is, the actual solution to his problem was ok when it comes to the "Clara and the crack in the wall", but the goofy "regeneration energy as a weapon wasn't great), possibly the best end of any version of The Doctor in my opinion.

 

[Christopher]

In fact, I was specifically addressing the question that Allyn had asked: Where, exactly, is the floor for the number of people who will tune in for Doctor Who, no matter what?

However, the BBC floor is the more important one as I state.

Oh, I see. I thought we were talking about the "BBC floor," because of course that's the one that matters in terms of renewal decisions.

 

[Mr Awe]

Oh, I see. I thought we were talking about the "BBC floor," because of course that's the one that matters in terms of renewal decisions.

I'd agree that's the more relevant floor. Looking at the historical ratings, it appears that the average ratings per story during the last 4 seasons of the classic series ranged between 4.25 and 5.5 million viewers. The final season appears to have an average around 4.25 million. I don't know what number the modern series would have to drop to for the BBC to consider resting the series.

I don't have all the data at hand, but Doctors 9-11 all have amazingly consistent season long averages of between 7-8 million viewers per episode. The latest Christmas special falls right into that range, so I don't think it's considered a failure at all. In fact, it's pretty amazing for a series to hold its viewers that long.

Mr Awe

 

[Unionized Elf]

I must be the only one around here that genuinely enjoys Time of the Doctor. I watched it again, last year!

I actually quite enjoyed Time of the Doctor myself.

 

[TommyR01D]

The Time of the Doctor got a positive reception on this forum, but as someone who has analysed these polls in some detail I notice that it is very difficult for an episode to get a negative vote when it first comes out - Sleep No More being one of very few outliers. After a few years have passed, though, the initial love fades away and it becomes more normal to say you disliked it.

 

[Solid Snack]

 

[MacLeod]

No, we're not talking about the Doctor Who audience, we're talking about the BBC decision-makers and what parameters they'd use in determining the minimum acceptable ratings for renewing a show. After all, it's their decision, not the viewers'.




Hunh. Okay, we're both talking about the same thing after all. So why did you think I was talking about something else?

Well the Xmas Special came in 8th place in the overall UK viewing charts that week and 5th for the BBC with a final viewing figure of 7.83m.

As others have said the ratings for last season on the Beeb where in the 5-6m range, with the show often in the Top 10 BBC shows of the week. Only beaten by the Soaps and shows like Strictly Come Dancing making DW one of the most watched Drama shows.

And when one looks at the 28 day viewing figure for DW it can add as much as 0.5m again to the viewing figures

Figures used from

http://www.barb.co.uk/

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

Psychological torture. "You lie to me, I make the doll squeal in agony." A way to put her interview subjects off their guard and hopefully make them give up info they wouldn't otherwise. Though how much longer she'd have gotten away with it before someone chucked it out a window probably wouldn't have been much.

I loved that bit. And considering how out of touch Capaldi's Doctor can sometimes be, it's possible that he continued to think for longer than reasonable that the doll was actually a living creature.

Best line: "There are some situations which are too stupid to be allowed to continue."

Agreed!

I figure people just come up to Clark sometimes and say "Has anyone ever told you that you look kinda like Superman?" and he goes, "Yeah, I get that sometimes" and that's as far as it goes.

There was a scene between Lois Lane & Richard White in Superman Returns that was kinda like that, where Richard remarked on how Clark & Superman kinda have the same height & build.

"Why doesn't Detective Munch show up to help Detectives Goren and Eames?"

Why doesn't Detective Munch show up on his own series half the time?

 

[TommyR01D]

One month has passed since Christmas. I am closing the poll. This episode has clearly been voted Satsuma.

 

[Christopher]

One month has passed since Christmas

Only 334 shopping days left!