Doctor Who losing audience?

Brian G Turner

Brian G Turner

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The BBC headline: Doctor Who sees millions desert opening episode
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34307519

Viewers in their millions deserted Doctor Who as it returned to BBC One for a new series, according to overnight figures.

An average 4.6m watched Peter Capaldi back for his second series playing the Time Lord, compared with 6.8m for his full debut last year.
Click to expand...

I'm one of the ones who didn't switch on. Not because of Peter Capaldi - I really like his portrayal of the Doctor.

Maybe I'll try to keep up - I just struggle to muster enthusiasm for yet another convoluted story arc that makes no ultimate sense.
 
The previous season was pretty bad, tbh. After wrapping up the story the season before, they tried to create an entirely new arc which was a load of nonsense that really went nowhere... So I'm not surprised. The only saving grace of last season was Peter Capaldi who turned out to be a pretty good Doctor.
 
There were some serious script problems last year, but I agree that Peter Capaldi makes the show despite what they give him.
 
I really like Capaldi, but I feel that he was under-utilized in the last season and that it is what turned people away. I think that many people would have stuck with a convoluted plot if the convoluted plot last season hadn't been all over the place and had it given less time to Danny and Clara and their nonsense. The message about Doctor struggling to find himself kinda got lost along the way. I'm really hoping that Clara will be toned down and Doctor pushed to the forefront because I think it might just get it back on the right track and thus, gain back lost viewers.
 
Steven Moffatt has been a fabulous writer for the series. I could go on and on, but I won't. Perhaps it's time for him to take a step back as it seems obvious that he's run out of (sensible) ideas. Sad really, since he createde the longest set up to a wham bam reveal in the history of, er, well, anything.
 
I forgot Dr Who was showing, the Sky Box did not. ;)
It raises an interesting point. Has Dr Who embraced the genre wholeheartedly? Much of the last plot, (scripting aside) was deep and required commitment to a full series. A bit like reading a book, the viewer is having to do some of the dot connecting, bonus points for getting the in-series/story references. A lot of the viewer demographic want an immediate reveal. If it doesn't make sense, they'll go on their way and not wait for the answer to "What the heck is going on?"
Not everyone knows who Davros is, not everyone remembers/watched soufflé girl's plot, let alone who or what Skaro is.
It's a big ask for a hour long show.
 
I'm not sure just comparing the figures for the two opening episodes tells us much. Many viewers would have tuned in for Capaldi's debut just out of curiosity, maybe those who weren't even Who fans but knew him from The Thick of It, etc. Many of those wouldn't have been likely to stick around anyway.

Figures comparing last season's episode four or five with this one's will be more revealing.
 
HareBrain said:
I'm not sure just comparing the figures for the two opening episodes tells us much. Many viewers would have tuned in for Capaldi's debut just out of curiosity, maybe those who weren't even Who fans but knew him from The Thick of It, etc. Many of those wouldn't have been likely to stick around anyway.

Figures comparing last season's episode four or five with this one's will be more revealing.
Click to expand...
http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/doctor-who-series-8-ratings-accumulator-66394.htm
Looks like the figures were around 4.8 million so 4.6 isn't too much of a drop.
 
I like Capaldi's Doctor a lot. Been watching Old Who on Horror recently, and thought I'd give this New Who episode a go [stopped after episode 3 or so of Capaldi's first season].

The difference is stark. Old Who is basically "Crazy stuff is going down and the Doctor gets caught in the middle". New Who is "The Doctor's awesome. Let's show how awesome the Doctor is". I prefer the old style.

It actually reminds me a bit of Uncharted. The series seemed to have some cool set piece idea and then manufactures a story to link them together, rather than having a great story as the backbone (like, say, The Last Of Us [I know Naughty Dog make both]).

Also, female Master? Just no.
 
I haven't watched it yet (was dealing with laptop disaster - see frustrations thread) but not holding out much hope. I still love the first reboot series. Lighthearted, many single episode payoffs, and the Bad Wolf popping g up so that you noticed it but forgot it at the same time, only to see it explained in finale. Nothing major, but they didn't hype it and good to know the noticing was worth it.

I think last season was just trying too hard. It was convoluted, not fun, a set piece amid lots of bad script, each little continuity where there should have been lots. It felt very rushed and plopped together without anyone taking a second look at saying hang on guys this is a little off...
 
I must admit the only thing keeping me watching Who is Capaldi. I like his portrayal quite a bit, but the stories have been poor for a long time. If things don't turn around soon I may give up all together.
 
Anushka Mokosh said:
I really like Capaldi, but I feel that he was under-utilized in the last season and that it is what turned people away. I think that many people would have stuck with a convoluted plot if the convoluted plot last season hadn't been all over the place and had it given less time to Danny and Clara and their nonsense. The message about Doctor struggling to find himself kinda got lost along the way. I'm really hoping that Clara will be toned down and Doctor pushed to the forefront because I think it might just get it back on the right track and thus, gain back lost viewers.
Click to expand...
I shan't watch until there is a new and less irritating companion......can't bear her!
 
I've given up on Dr Who. Last season was awful. I haven't watched the new episode and I've no intention of doing so (or any of the rest of the season for that matter). The whole thing has just become tedious.
 
teen said:
I shan't watch until there is a new and less irritating companion......can't bear her!
Click to expand...

I do think Jenna Coleman is a really good actress. But I'm left scratching my head as to why she's still in the show.

We had the big convoluted strangeness about how she sacrificed herself to go back through time and save the Doctor through all time, as a season finale a while ago.

Yet she's still the Doctor's temporary companion anyhow??
 
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