Jodie is back for next year.

[The Nth Doctor]

It didn't help that Moffat was also working on Sherlock, which undoubtedly quickened his burnout.

I agree it's time to split the producer and script editor duties. The series as a whole have still been good to great, but the returns are waning as are the episode counts. Splitting the duties might not completely fix the problems, but I can't see it hurting.

 

[The Doctor]

A year long gap is hardly ideal but if they're starting filming early next year and it's not going to be ready until early 2020, it's hard to lay the blame at Chibnall's feet. It feels like the post production is being drug out in order to save some money.

 

[Mr Awe]

You know, as disappointing as this news is, I'm strangely cool with it. There will be plenty of other shows to watch in 2019, movies to see, books to read. I'll stay busy, and entertained. Doctor Who will be there in 2020.

That is both a great way to look at it and a sad way to look at it. Great for your viewing and entertainment. No shortage of stuff. It's sad from the DW perspective though. You have all of these series coming online, meanwhile DW is contracting. Fewer episodes spread out over longer time frames. It sure gives the appearance of fading away. Meanwhile, plenty of new stuff to watch.

So, yeah, the overall situation is great for genre fans. But, not so great for DW. At least that's my take. That's coming from someone who doesn't watch many series though. DW is one of the view. So, it's impact is undoubtedly larger for me than others who have plenty of alternatives.

I just hope when it returns in 2020 that it comes back stronger. There was a long wait to this season. Lots of hype about the extreme secrecy and a new vision. Everything was going to be NEW! Stay tuned! But, the stories were all meh. Great Doctor and companions, but lackluster stories. If they can just get the story angle worked out, we'd have a cracking season!

But, we'll need wait more than a year to find out. Ugh!

 

[jaime]

I'm really thinking that the problem goes to the Showrunner model that we've got. It must be really hard to produce the show and write a good portion of the episodes. And, DW episodes must be extra difficult to write because you should be thinking outside the box. I think RTD must've been a workaholic or something. But, definitely the exception to what a DW showrunner can do and NOT the rule. Moffat was able to manage to a degree but also struggled. But, it might be beyond Chibnall's and most other humans' capabilities!

I'm thinking it's time to go back to the Producer/Script Editor model. Maybe a bit of adjustment from the Classic Who days, if the Producer and/or Script Editor wanted to write a few stories. Those two roles seem to require specialized skills. You might be great in one but not so good in the other. Very few people will master both--particularly when writing for DW. And, we may have run out of those people!

Someone needs to start channeling their Uncle Terrance basically.

 

[Professor Zoom]

True, though I would point out the AI figures are comparatively poor so there is objective evidence that this is the opinion of a lot of people.

I've enjoyed this season, but no more than season 10 tbh, and in some cases far less.

Which is interesting. I’m curious as to how they collect that information. But, I do wonder what is keeping people around—the higher ratings—for something they like less—the AI ratings.

 

[Professor Zoom]

I believe I heard that each GoT episode in the finale season will be movie length though. So, no real comparison.

Ok, it’s like adding the Christmas special.

My point being: lots of shows both in the US and in the UK do 13 or sometimes less. Sherlock did shorter seasons with slightly longer episodes. 10 episodes isn’t a big deal. The sky isn’t falling.

Edited to add: ALL seasons of Game of Thrones were 10 episodes. Clearly it worked for them.

 

[Mr Awe]

My point being: lots of shows both in the US and in the UK do 13 or sometimes less. Sherlock did shorter seasons with slightly longer episodes. 10 episodes isn’t a big deal. The sky isn’t falling.

I'd agree, it's not a big deal by itself. However, in the context of long gaps between seasons and a lower quality of storytelling, the overall picture is a bit worrying. Not sky is falling worrying, but some concern.

While YMMV on the quality of storytelling, the declining AI figures support the notion that many viewers feel that way.

 

[KennyB]

But, the BBC needs to get its act together. The irregular schedule with extended beaks kills any momentum.

Are you from the UK? The BBC has never really had a normal schedule for production like the US has. Hell man look at the last few series of Sherlock, think there were 18-24 months in between some.....for 3 episodes.

 

[Professor Zoom]

I'd agree, it's not a big deal by itself. However, in the context of long gaps between seasons and a lower quality of storytelling, the overall picture is a bit worrying. Not sky is falling worrying, but some concern.

While YMMV on the quality of storytelling, the declining AI figures support the notion that many viewers feel that way.

Isn’t “We don’t know when it’s coming back” typical of many BBC shows?

 

[Kemaiku]

Yeah, waiting two years for one quick series of Sherlock over with in a month should tell you what you need to know about how we make things here.

 

[Mr Awe]

Isn’t “We don’t know when it’s coming back” typical of many BBC shows?

Sure, but "many shows" aren't a flagship series like DW. And, as I've mentioned, an individual issue such as shorter seasons or longer gaps between seasons isn't problematic by itself. But, you take shorter seasons AND long gaps and then throw in more people being less satisfied by the stories, and some concern should creep in. Not panic. Not sky is falling. But, sometimes course corrections are necessary. That's all.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Isn’t “We don’t know when it’s coming back” typical of many BBC shows?

Yeah, waiting two years for one quick series of Sherlock over with in a month should tell you what you need to know about how we make things here.

Also look at Luther, which is returning after a four-year break for only four episodes. Despite knowing it was coming back for more than a year, we still don't know when exactly series 5 begins, although we recently learned it'll be sometime in January.

 

[Professor Zoom]

Sure, but "many shows" aren't a flagship series like DW. And, as I've mentioned, an individual issue such as shorter seasons or longer gaps between seasons isn't problematic by itself. But, you take shorter seasons AND long gaps and then throw in more people being less satisfied by the stories, and some concern should creep in. Not panic. Not sky is falling. But, sometimes course corrections are necessary. That's all.

Is Doctor Who a flagship show for the BBC? Given there's the Dancing shows, the Baking shows, etc.
Are these gaps really extraordinary for British television? (Seriously, I don't know.)
Going back to Game of Thrones, that was certainly a flagship show for HBO, it wasn't always appearing at exact moments. Though, comparing TV industries, US vs. UK, isn't quite fair to both.

Also look at Luther, which is returning after a four-year break for only four episodes. Despite knowing it was coming back for more than a year, we still don't know when exactly series 5 begins, although we recently learned it'll be sometime in January.

Exactly. (AND, I can't wait, and I hope it's better than the previous series.)

 

[matthunter]

Depends when in 2020 we get it. Both the Orville and DSC have had just over year-long gaps.

 

[Mr Awe]

Is Doctor Who a flagship show for the BBC? Given there's the Dancing shows, the Baking shows, etc.

I don't know. But, if it's not, then it's been downgraded already.

 

[KennyB]

Seriously it is not a big deal. I would rather have a 12 month break and top production and writing, than some thrown together slop JUST to have it back on in 6 months.

 

[Mr Awe]

Seriously it is not a big deal. I would rather have a 12 month break and top production and writing, than some thrown together slop JUST to have it back on in 6 months.

No one is expecting it to be back on in 6 months!

But, as I wrote above, it's not just the gap by itself. It's the combination of declining episodes, long gaps, and declining AI. And, even then, it's not a panic situation by any means. But, hopefully they reflect and make a few course corrections. They don't need to make huge changes.

 

[Professor Zoom]

No one is expecting it to be back on in 6 months!

But, as I wrote above, it's not just the gap by itself. It's the combination of declining episodes, long gaps, and declining AI. And, even then, it's not a panic situation by any means. But, hopefully they reflect and make a few course corrections. They don't need to make huge changes.

I think they will make course corrections (I know I say it a lot, but, I hope they redo the Tardis interior.) I think all of the course corrections will be related to the stories and characters, not to how many episodes--which probably saves them money, nor how long in-between series--which I imagine is because of production time--which is also a money related thing.

Why are the number of episodes of such a concern? Why do you think they herald an end, rather than, perhaps, they are trying to save money?

 

[The Wormhole]

Whenever the Moffat era took breaks people called for the actual death of him.
Chibnall announces a break, and reading this whole thread you all are perfectly fine with it.
What happened?

I believe the main reason why people expressed frustration over Moffat's gaps is because he promised near the start of his term as showrunner to lessen the gaps between seasons, it was his justification for doing season 6 as a split season. Instead, the gaps increased under his tenure. Chibnall has made no such promises, so a gap isn't as annoying from him.

It didn't help that Moffat was also working on Sherlock, which undoubtedly quickened his burnout.

Especially since I doubt anyone was expecting Sherlock's popularity to explode the way it did.

 

[Mr Awe]

I think they will make course corrections (I know I say it a lot, but, I hope they redo the Tardis interior.) I think all of the course corrections will be related to the stories and characters, not to how many episodes--which probably saves them money, nor how long in-between series--which I imagine is because of production time--which is also a money related thing.

Why are the number of episodes of such a concern? Why do you think they herald an end, rather than, perhaps, they are trying to save money?

I never said that anything was heralding the end. In fact, I said that the number of episodes was not such a concern by itself. It's the number of episodes in conjunction with everything else. And, even then it's not the biggest concern. I actually don't think they need to make huge adjustments. But, it is a little concerning that the episode count is dwindling, gaps remaining long, and now the AI is declining. While the ratings are higher, they haven't stabilized like they had in previous seasons.

It's not like the bottom has dropped out, but the combination of all of those things are trending in the wrong direction. Sometimes a single piece of evidence isn't strong enough by itself but a collection of different lines of evidence can collectively suggest that an issue is present. And, that's why I'm saying course correction. Nip small things in the bud before they become bigger problems down the road.

The issue I'm more concerned with, if I had to pick one, would be the storytelling. Now, YMMV, but this season has been underwhelming for me. Not bad, just sort of there for the most part. The AIs would suggest that others feel the same way. But, they have a strong core cast, so they have a good base to build on.