Turning Off Casual Viewers

[The Doc]

Based on a conversation I had with Chris earlier, and some of the recent press reports, now that we have seen both parts of this story, do you think it will have deterred casual viewers from tuning in again? Not because its too confusing a plot, but because its too wrapped up in its own backstory that people might not have a clue whats going on.

[Exterminate]

Whether big or small, Doctor Who is always referencing something or making little in-jokes. The story was easy enough to follow so I don't see why it should turn off the casual viewer any more than any other episode would

[thefifthdoctor]

I think the ratings will speak for themselves, to be honest.

[Peri-Peri]

I think the ratings will speak for themselves, to be honest.

I don't know. Its been another decent day and its a bank holiday. Ratings might be pretty low anyways regardless of how much the casual viewer enjoyed it or not. I think we won't know the answer really until later on in the series when there is more of a week to week trend

[Vampyros Adric]

I loved this episode. I loved that we had a lot of things to decide for ourselves. I loved the ambiguity in the story telling. This was Doctor Who for grown ups (and mature children).

My fear is this: will Joe Public, who likes a bit of Daleks and Dr Who but doesn't know much about the rest of it, have any real idea what has just gone on? This is Bank Holiday weekend and the show we just saw had lots of very specific reference (will everyone watching know what a regeneration looks like - we do but will Aunty Dot?). What if this is my first season and they are making reference to things that happened last season. I might think 'is it going to be like this every week?' Should we not, instead, have had a couple of stand alone, easy hits (A la Blink or Vampires of Venice) just to get people watching rather than the magical, sprawling, sci-fi epic that we just had?

Part of me thinks 'Screw it, I'm getting some of the best sci-fi i've ever seen. Sod Joe Public.' But part of me thinks 'Actually, lets build up the audience and then hit them with this.'

This isn't Victor speaking, I promise! I just wondered if this was the way to go first up?

[Roranicus]

I am with Chris on this. Its a brilliant story and a brilliant opener, but how awesome would this have been mid series? The mid series 2 parters are often weaker and this would have strengthened the midsection no end. It also would have given the casual viewer more chance to get up to speed and see the different things the Doctor and the show can do

[Tardis-Console]

I think last weeks ratings speak for themselves. People actively went looking to view it in other ways and the final figure saw a huge boost. Add to that the fact that the show is getting very high AIs from the general audience and I think it proves that the casual viewer can and will still tune in and get up to speed

[Twisted-Sister]

I'm perhaps being a bit mean here, but I think if the casual viewer is having trouble keeping up with the show then perhaps they are best off watching CBeebies. I know that sometimes there are confusing bits and bits that are unexplained so we don't understand them, but the general plot of the opening two parter was very straightforward so anyone paying the blindest bit of notice should have had no problem keeping up.