Who Is Moffat Making The Series For?

[Alidar Jarok]

Are you deliberately being dense because a few people have understood my own personal viewpoint? I've explained why I felt that the episode was pandering to the American market more than it's "home" market and I've explained why it felt like that to me personally.

The original question of this now merged thread was "who is Moffat making the series for?" Now I can't really speak for the rest of the series, can't speak for the rest of the planet or all the other viewers, but that is how it felt to me, The Impossible Astronaut was not written primarily for the British market.

Now I'm pretty sure if a really stupidly popular American programme decided to film its season premier over here and base the episode in and around London or other "iconic" locations and then make a massive hoo ha about it being based here in our media, then there will be some who would say that, you know what, they're pandering to the Brits and not us!

Oh and I'm not upset, far from it, I think it's brilliant it's getting more and more popular in other markets, I'm just a wee bit concerned that this is to the detriment of the programme over all and it may lose some of it's "charm" you guys seem to so like about.

Some people are upset. Some people have been claiming it affected the episode itself. You seem to be pointing out it was related to the BBC's marketing push. That's not a big deal either way. If an American show filmed in the UK, my first thought would be that it's cool they're going all out to get an accurate filming location.

That's how I would feel about it, too. I think it's neat when American shows go on-location to somewhere outside the US. I think the problem with the reverse happening is the envy and general inferiority complex non-Americans seem to have toward Americans. "They can't film our show in America! That'll ruin it!" Do Brits not like a change of pace now and then? What if it was being filmed in Canada or Mexico or Brazil? Would that also be [nationality]izing it somehow?

Before the episode aired, I was going to say I liked this special attention I was receiving (appearances on the Craig Ferguson show, little clips, the cast trying American accents). I'm glad I didn't because I didn't realize this was such serious business.

 

[Neroon]

I dunno, you cant keep everyone happy it seems. A lot of people were not happy with RTD and some are not happy with Moffet. Moffet is more of grander overall story teller than RTD, yet RTD is much better with character writing IMO.

So do you feel they each had different a aim as far as their target audience is concerned?

 

[RevdKathy]

See, now the original thread has been jacked away from its broad subject.

Yeah, a thread about whether Moffat has move the show away from its regular demographic has been completely sidelined by people discussing the American thing. Why can't they just start teir own thread?

 

[Sindatur]

See, now the original thread has been jacked away from its broad subject.

Yeah, a thread about whether Moffat has move the show away from its regular demographic has been completely sidelined by people discussing the American thing. Why can't they just start teir own thread?

HEHE.

Just in case you're serious, they did, but, the Mod merged the two, thinking they were too similar.

 

[RevdKathy]

See, now the original thread has been jacked away from its broad subject.

Yeah, a thread about whether Moffat has move the show away from its regular demographic has been completely sidelined by people discussing the American thing. Why can't they just start teir own thread?

HEHE.

Just in case you're serious, they did, but, the Mod merged the two, thinking they were too similar.

Spoiler: Comment

Just in case you're worried, i knew. I happen to think it was a wrong decision to merge two threads on different topics.

 

[Sindatur]

Yeah, a thread about whether Moffat has move the show away from its regular demographic has been completely sidelined by people discussing the American thing. Why can't they just start teir own thread?

HEHE.

Just in case you're serious, they did, but, the Mod merged the two, thinking they were too similar.

Spoiler: Comment

Just in case you're worried, i knew. I happen to think it was a wrong decision to merge two threads on different topics.

I thought so, just wanted to make sure you didn't think I was laughing at you if you weren't aware

 

[StCoop]

Yes, if I could go back an restart the thread again I'd leave any mention of America out of it.

Hey-ho.

 

[OmahaStar]

If the franchise can survive the Sixth Doctor, it can survive whatever Moffat does with the 11th Doctor.

*runs and hides from OmahaStar*

Bite me, slime-boy.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

Yes, if I could go back an restart the thread again I'd leave any mention of America out of it.

Hey-ho.

You raised a good question, though, StCoop. When even an apologist for the series like Jon Blum can express misgivings at the narrative failings of "The Impossible Astronaut," it's a fair question who the target audience for this episode of Who was.

 

[Neroon]

Yes, if I could go back an restart the thread again I'd leave any mention of America out of it.

Hey-ho.

You raised a good question, though, StCoop. When even an apologist for the series like Jon Blum can express misgivings at the narrative failings of "The Impossible Astronaut," it's a fair question who the target audience for this episode of Who was.

I take it this Jon Blum has a history of sticking up for the series under any and all circumstances?

 

[Allyn Gibson]

That would be a fair assessment of Blum, yes.

 

[od0_ital]

If the franchise can survive the Sixth Doctor, it can survive whatever Moffat does with the 11th Doctor.

*runs and hides from OmahaStar*

Bite me, slime-boy.

You'd enjoy it too much.

 

[Yminale]

Yes, if I could go back an restart the thread again I'd leave any mention of America out of it.

Hey-ho.

You raised a good question, though, StCoop. When even an apologist for the series like Jon Blum can express misgivings at the narrative failings of "The Impossible Astronaut," it's a fair question who the target audience for this episode of Who was.

As a red blooded American I can tell you that America is NOT the target audience. I personally enjoyed the episode since it basically showed America as a Brit would see it and it's interesting to see another perspective. Just because Dr Who is playing around with American history and mythos (The Silent are definitely nod to Men In Black/Greys/Shadow People and Utah evokes both the Wild West and Roswell/Area 51) doesn't stop making it a British show.

When Doctor Who is played by an American then you can complain.

 

[Neroon]

I've tried to catch as many of Moffat's interviews, recently. Each time he comes across - to me at least - as simply having a glint in his eye for messing with the viewer, the fan, and nothing other than that. Everything I've seen so far seems to indicate that this beginning 2-parter is the extent of an American-centric story. This setting just strikes me as "someplace different" to set the story(s).

That said, I can understand the concerns that some folks appear to have, over losing at least a portion of the show's identity. Doctor Who has been a uniquely British product since its inception. Even as a proud American myself, I would not want that to ever change in any way. Seriously.... I don't think it's possible for the show to ever lose that British feel.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

For what it's worth, Yminale, I don't think the United States is the target audience of "The Impossible Astronaut." I think it may be the most geek culture/fandom-oriented story since "Enemy Within" (in other words, the 1996 television movie), but it's hard to tell.

 

[StCoop]

As a red blooded American I can tell you that America is NOT the target audience. I personally enjoyed the episode since it basically showed America as a Brit would see it and it's interesting to see another perspective. Just because Dr Who is playing around with American history and mythos (The Silent are definitely nod to Men In Black/Greys/Shadow People and Utah evokes both the Wild West and Roswell/Area 51) doesn't stop making it a British show.

OK, let's try this again.

My question is, is Moffat now making the show for the mainstream family audience the show is intended for or for the dedicated SF-lovers who previously were just a subset of the whole? (Forget anything to do with Americans or Americanisation.)

Because as much as people might want to talk about how great it is that the series isn't being "dumbed down" anymore (though making something comprehensible to a non-SF fan doesn't equal dumbed-down in my book) the simple reality is that without that mainstream audience the series won't surrive more than another couple of years.

By making a two-year long arc which requires complete investment with the audience Moffat is tampring with the formula that made the reborn series a massive hit in the first place and by the end of the year we'll see just what the result of that is.

The fact that discussions of the ratings now get put in the context of how they're great for the time of year / the timeslot / the weather, when they used to be just great, period, is definitely something I've noticed both at the end of last series and now this week.

 

[Yminale]

For what it's worth, Yminale, I don't think the United States is the target audience of "The Impossible Astronaut." I think it may be the most geek culture/fandom-oriented story since "Enemy Within" (in other words, the 1996 television movie), but it's hard to tell.

Well I have to politely disagree with you. The Doctor Who movie did a lot of name dropping but it didn't amount to much (in fact it got some of the references wrong). "The Impossible Astronaut" seems be using the events of 1969 and the mythos around the UFO subculture as a springboard to something else (kind of reminds me of the old series "Dark Skies"). What is I have no idea, but the Grand Moff never disappoints. Honestly I don't know how many sci-fi geeks are all that familiar with the UFO subculture.

 

[Count Zero]

Is that really what's happening, though, StCoop? We've only seen the first episode of the new season so how do we know this will continue into an arc two years long? (Granted, I haven't seen any interviews so maybe Moffat has said that at some point.)
Despite the arc last season - something every season of the new show has had to some degree - there were still many episodes that also hold up on their own, e.g. The Beast Below or Vincent and the Doctor. The Christmas special was also very accessible to casual viewers, I think.

 

[Sindatur]

Is that really what's happening, though, StCoop? We've only seen the first episode of the new season so how do we know this will continue into an arc two years long? (Granted, I haven't seen any interviews so maybe Moffat has said that at some point.)
Despite the arc last season - something every season of the new show has had to some degree - there were still many episodes that also hold up on their own, e.g. The Beast Below or Vincent and the Doctor. The Christmas special was also very accessible to casual viewers, I think.

I happen to agree there are episodes that stand alone, but, as to a 2 year arc, it's seeming that this is year 2 of the 2 year arc, since much of what we've seen (or feel is coming) so far this season, is indeed playing off hints and things from last year. Though, I believe Moffat did a great job of tying off the first year's arc, and making it compelte, and is only expanding upon things that were seemingly left unattended last year

 

[OmahaStar]

By making a two-year long arc which requires complete investment with the audience Moffat is tampring with the formula that made the reborn series a massive hit in the first place and by the end of the year we'll see just what the result of that is.

Have you been watching Doctor Who since it returned in 2005?

No, seriously, have you?

Series One - Bad Wolf
Series Two - Torchwood
Series Three - Return of the Master/YANA
Series Four - Blond Bimbo who got trapped in another universe comes back, threatening to take the whole of reality with her.
Series Five - Pandorica

Every season/series has had at least one overall arc, subtle or otherwise. Moff is continuing in that same way. Arc-based storytelling is nothing new for Doctor Who, since they've been doing it for six years now.