DW largely overcame Grade back in the 80s. (Although, Grade, Powell, and others certainly didn't do anything positive to help.) It was apathy that killed Who. No one had the time or energy to revitalize an aging, difficult to make series, that was losing viewers. Producers just didn't want to take that on. I'm seeing the same pattern now. No Grade like figure I know of, but the same apathy to revitalize a declining, complex series.
I'm fairly convinced that given the age and decline of the show, we're past the point of revitalizing it. If they were to revitalize it, they'd have to get a whole new team. Both Jodie and Chibnall would have to go. I don't hold Jodie responsible at all for the decline, but as the face of DW, I'm thinking she would have to go along with Chibnall. The only way to get viewers back is starting with an all new team. That'll get people to take a look at least. However, I think much more likely is that the series will rest for awhile. And, then come back with an all new team.
Even if Chibnall was a great writer and showrunner you would still need to replace him because the fans just are not responding to what he is doing, at least in the amount of numbers that you can justify keeping the show around especially when it starts showing on HBO Max because they will want results and can't coast of taxpayer money like the BBC. Not only that I suspect they will want something that brings back the American audience that was gained during the Tennant era so that I assume will be another concern. To be more successful outside of England. Jason
Hence, why I think it's likely they'll need to let it rest for awhile. That and an apparent lack of qualified showrunners willing to take on the series.
In this day and age brand names rarely rest to long. I could see a 2 to 5 year break but even then I am sure they will put things out their to keep people thinking about it's return like webepisodes or things like that. It's also possible they might do another spinoff and let people gain interest in the main show from both it's absence but also you would hope the quality of the spinoff. Jason
Given the current fanbase is small yet the AI is high, why not let Chibnall finish out his last season per his vision and then snooze the show. Colin Baker fans got robbed. So did McCoy's. Why should Jodie's or anyone else's in the same situation?
Those AI figures aren't high. They're the lowest they've been in the modern era. Tennant and Smith routinely scored in excess of 85.
I suspect we'll have two more seasons. We know that they're starting preproduction in several months for the next one. And, I suspect that given the coproduction money they're receiving, we'll probably get one after that. Anything beyond that is a real question though. I'm just saying what I think will happen. I'm not thrilled about it by any means. But, realistically, that seems to be the spot we're in.
I'm also pretty sure Chibnall and Whitaker will get a third season even a third season broken in half basically to save face and also it is kind of bad that you messed up your first female Doctor and to cancel them early only emphasis that failure. It's like if Jackie Robinson was brought into the Dodgers and he hit .223 and eventually got cut. I mean not a perfect metaphor of course because we already have good and interesting lead female characters on other shows but bad in the sense that this was a first for this show. I'm sure they will try something to sort salvage this era and maybe it will sort of work. Enterprise won over lots of Trek fans with it's fandom appealing 4th season so who knows what they will do. You already have two of your campions leaving so that might open the door up for Captain Jack as a regular or something like that. After that though I think is when they will go with a complete reboot or reboot that isn't technically a reboot or a spin-off so they can rest the main show for awhile. Maybe even a movie where you bring back as many Doctors as you can or at least one McGann adventure for tv other than the bad American version. Jason
It's not even a GOOD metaphor, since Jodie's performance has been perfectly fine. It's more like if Jackie Robinson was brought into the Dodgers and he hit .350 but because of bad coaching the Dodgers went on a 40 game losing streak so they traded Jackie to the Red Sox for two minor leaguers and some draft picks.
That does seem to be better one but I wouldn't go with .350 because even though she has been solid she hasn't been that solid. I would go more around .280 18 HR 60 RBIs. Not great but a solid regular who gets the job done but not exactly headed for the Hall of Fame but with better coaching could maybe even one season have a career year and hit 310 80 RBI and 22 HR. Jason
Make the Doctor a man. This lady thing just isn’t working for me. Have his assistant be an alien and get him off Earth. The better stories were always him on other planets in the classic series.
The Doctor sometimes will be a man. I mean you basically go through new Doctors every 3 years. No reason the Doctor can't be female. I don't really care who they cast for the new Doctor but they clearly need to recapture the feeling of the old show in the some way. Jason
Just not a fan of all this gender swapping. It’s silly. I don’t want a male Romana, a female Master etc. Just make new characters.
Hollywood does make new movies and shows it's just they are surrounded by all the aging franchises that are turning into relics before our eyes. To those franchises the gender flip is usually just one more gimmick to keep the aging relic from going belly up but with the new stuff you see more creative storytelling happening. Every once in awhile the old stuff still will give you a Picard, The Madorlorian but it's becoming more rare. Out my 10 favorite tv shows right now only 2 are part of aging franchises those shows would be. 1 The Mandolorian 2 Picard 3Better Call Saul 4 Stranger Things 5 Lodge 49 6 The Orville 7 Atlanta 8 South Park 9 This is Us. 10 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Jason
I’m coming round to the view that they should call it a day now. Let it take a long nap. Sell off the sets and props to collectors, and let it rest for as long as it takes for the passionate talent to form with the will to bring it back properly. Chibnal’s heart clearly isn’t in making the show; it, and we, deserve better.