G'day,
It was announced the other day that in 2018 Doctor Who's format will change to 10 x 50 minute episodes (plus Xmas??).
When WHO returned in 2005 it featured 13 x 45min episodes, plus the Xmas special - 14 episodes - which lasted for the first 4 years. After that, showrunner RTD was by all accounts completely burnt out, and as such we then had only 2 stories, plus the 2 part Xmas/New Year story in 2009. The 11th Doctor started with 2 "full" seasons, however one was split with a 3 month break. The next season was also split - but this time with a 6 month break, spreading the season over 2 years - likely due to Moffat's Sherlock commitments (and likely a factor in Smith's departure as Doctor). When Capaldi stepped into the Doc's shoes, it was with 1 less episode per year for 2 seasons, before Sherlock again interrupted, with zero episodes in 2016 (except for the Xmas special). His final season also comprised 12 episodes, plus the upcoming special.
As such, although a "season" has typically comprised 13-14 episodes, on average we've only seen around 10 episodes each year.
The move to 5 minute longer episodes, with 2-3 less per season, one can only hope, is an attempt to increase the likelihood of producing Doctor Who year-in year-out, without the long absences and short seasons. Certainly, IMO, it would be better to have a "full" season every year, because I saw in my children their reduced interest after 2016's abysmal lack of new episodes, and remember my own disappointment with Tennant's fizzled last season.
cheers
cosmic
It was announced the other day that in 2018 Doctor Who's format will change to 10 x 50 minute episodes (plus Xmas??).
When WHO returned in 2005 it featured 13 x 45min episodes, plus the Xmas special - 14 episodes - which lasted for the first 4 years. After that, showrunner RTD was by all accounts completely burnt out, and as such we then had only 2 stories, plus the 2 part Xmas/New Year story in 2009. The 11th Doctor started with 2 "full" seasons, however one was split with a 3 month break. The next season was also split - but this time with a 6 month break, spreading the season over 2 years - likely due to Moffat's Sherlock commitments (and likely a factor in Smith's departure as Doctor). When Capaldi stepped into the Doc's shoes, it was with 1 less episode per year for 2 seasons, before Sherlock again interrupted, with zero episodes in 2016 (except for the Xmas special). His final season also comprised 12 episodes, plus the upcoming special.
As such, although a "season" has typically comprised 13-14 episodes, on average we've only seen around 10 episodes each year.
The move to 5 minute longer episodes, with 2-3 less per season, one can only hope, is an attempt to increase the likelihood of producing Doctor Who year-in year-out, without the long absences and short seasons. Certainly, IMO, it would be better to have a "full" season every year, because I saw in my children their reduced interest after 2016's abysmal lack of new episodes, and remember my own disappointment with Tennant's fizzled last season.
cheers
cosmic
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