So I was reading through the forum at Outpost Gallifrey (
http://www.gallifreyone.com) and some (not many) of the old-skool Doctor Who fans are griping about how, under the aegis of showrunner/head writer Russel Davies, since the new episodes are single-part 45-minute stories, the pace of the show is too quick, given its history as a 25-minute show, with 4- or 6-part arcs. They gripe that we don't have a chance to get to know the guest cast enough to care when they get killed off.
This got me to thinking about the contrast to the direction comic books have gone in the last fifteen years. In both cases, production values have improved, real-world plausibility is more important, and dialog is more natural.
But Davies is definitely writing in a rapid-fire style aimed squarely at kids. He's on record saying his audience is 10-year olds, but that he wants the whole family to watch together. He thinks single-part stories are a big part of that plan.
Even in the pair of 2-parters this year, each episode has its own title and will not say "part 1" or "part 2" because he doesn't want viewers to a) feel like they have to make a big commitment by watching part 1; and b) think they shouldn't bother watching part 2 because they missed part 1.
Additionally, he's made the show almost continuity-free so far. When longtime fans see opportunities to slip in references to old stories, he demures, making you wonder what the Doctor's hiding, bringing back the mystery that was inherent in the name "Who." At one point, Davies lays it out for the fanwankers that this is how it's gonna be. The Doctor's Lovely Assistant Rose presses him for personal details and he angrily shouts something to the affect of "I'm the Doctor, that's all you need to know. Here and now, this is who I am."
Then, in the second episode, when he finally does reveal something personal, it has emotional impact for the new viewers, but is absolutely devastating for the longtime fans. Davies clearly knows what he's doing.
Seriously, can we get this guy to write comics?
[plug] And remember kids, Doctor Who premieres in Canada tonight at 8pm on CBC.[/plug]
