Moderator: Good to hear. I didn't think it would be, but as I said it was really just a 'paranoid moment'. I've been having one of those times lately where, whatever you say (or type), someone seems to either misunderstand or generally take issue and you're left thinking 'What TH did I say?'
Since it's not likely to be a problem with everyone else but rather with the way I've been expressing things, I wanted to be clear(ish ).
CriticAndProud: My nephew's 16 and still likes it...but then he became such a fan that he actually wanted to see older eps, so he already knew who (and how) the Doctor had been in previous incarnations.
My niece, who's a couple of years younger, and most of my nephew's mates are only familiar with 'New Who'...and generally don't seem to know what to make of it now, though a fair few stopped watching pretty much straight away with more giving it a miss - or becoming indifferent about viewing instead of it being a must-watch - every week. At least, that's what he's told me in our usual weekly chat re: the latest ep, and that's what my initial comment was based upon.
What it all means for the future is anyone's guess. The BBC like to trumpet about it now, but it was the BBC who spent a fair portion of the 1980s trying to axe it in the first place (the fans' protests wouldn't let them, so they slashed the budget to the point where, when the chop finally was made, it came as something of a relief to many) and there was a lot of resistance to the idea of bringing it back in the first place. They're even back to treating it in the old 'bunt it around the schedule' manner. It used to be on at 7, pretty much every week. Changes, even by 5 minutes, were quite rare and (iirc) it used to split Strictly Come Dancing in two. Now, it's been pushed back so SCD is on for two solid hours, and what was 8.30 has become rather more flexible on a per-week basis.
It really gives off a feeling of lack of belief on Auntie's part - or a desire to kill it again (the BBC really doesn't seem to like SF, and the current controller has confessed to not being a fan of show or genre) - and tbh it's probably only still on air because of the merchandising income and the increase in popularity in America. If or when that goes, no doubt the Beeb will start sharpening the axe again. And they'll probably bloat SCD up to 3 hours ('cause it's nice, cheap 'reality' BS, the modern equivalent to bread and circuses to pacify the plebs).
As for the latest ep...I need to watch it again, perhaps when mildly drunk. (And for the record, trains like the one shown haven't been in service within my lifetime. I think they were probably phased out in the 60s when new models were rolled out and all serviceable older trains were repainted in the BR livery. There's a mystery for ya, Doc. )
Since it's not likely to be a problem with everyone else but rather with the way I've been expressing things, I wanted to be clear(ish ).
CriticAndProud: My nephew's 16 and still likes it...but then he became such a fan that he actually wanted to see older eps, so he already knew who (and how) the Doctor had been in previous incarnations.
My niece, who's a couple of years younger, and most of my nephew's mates are only familiar with 'New Who'...and generally don't seem to know what to make of it now, though a fair few stopped watching pretty much straight away with more giving it a miss - or becoming indifferent about viewing instead of it being a must-watch - every week. At least, that's what he's told me in our usual weekly chat re: the latest ep, and that's what my initial comment was based upon.
What it all means for the future is anyone's guess. The BBC like to trumpet about it now, but it was the BBC who spent a fair portion of the 1980s trying to axe it in the first place (the fans' protests wouldn't let them, so they slashed the budget to the point where, when the chop finally was made, it came as something of a relief to many) and there was a lot of resistance to the idea of bringing it back in the first place. They're even back to treating it in the old 'bunt it around the schedule' manner. It used to be on at 7, pretty much every week. Changes, even by 5 minutes, were quite rare and (iirc) it used to split Strictly Come Dancing in two. Now, it's been pushed back so SCD is on for two solid hours, and what was 8.30 has become rather more flexible on a per-week basis.
It really gives off a feeling of lack of belief on Auntie's part - or a desire to kill it again (the BBC really doesn't seem to like SF, and the current controller has confessed to not being a fan of show or genre) - and tbh it's probably only still on air because of the merchandising income and the increase in popularity in America. If or when that goes, no doubt the Beeb will start sharpening the axe again. And they'll probably bloat SCD up to 3 hours ('cause it's nice, cheap 'reality' BS, the modern equivalent to bread and circuses to pacify the plebs).
As for the latest ep...I need to watch it again, perhaps when mildly drunk. (And for the record, trains like the one shown haven't been in service within my lifetime. I think they were probably phased out in the 60s when new models were rolled out and all serviceable older trains were repainted in the BR livery. There's a mystery for ya, Doc. )