What do you think of Doctor Who two-parters?

[BrotherRool]

Not particularly relevant, since there won't be one for the rest of this season, but I remember them provoking some strong feelings in people for and against.

I have to say I think they're the better idea, it can be easy to feel like the resolution is too cheap in a Doctor Who episode and a two parter is a good way to build that up, my ideal season is one or two good two-parters surrounded by a variety of one-shots.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I wish we had more. Heck, I wish we had longer seasons of half hour episodes tied together into stories of varying lengths, like it was in the old series. A typical story back then had between two and four episodes to it (equivalent to modern one and two parters), with the show tending more towards four part stories than two part stories. Some were significantly longer.

Basically, I like the flexibility the old series had on that front.

 

[kailus13]

They seem to have better stories than the one-shots. Some of the one-shots feel a bit rushed.

 

[JoJo]

Generally I remember liking them, some felt a little stretched but the majority allowed for story with more depth and a slower pace. Shame we haven't had any for a while.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Single ep stories always seem too rushed, IMHO. Doctor who needs 4 or 6 parters of 25 minutes each, an older guy to play the Doctor, and no companions falling in love with him. But I digress.

Cap: you good?

Grrr...

 

[shintakie10]

The episodes we have now seem to be beggin to be 2 parters. They spend so much time buildin up to somethin then they realize, "oh shit! We only have 5 minutes of tv time left! Quick, have The Doctor wave his screwdriver and fix everythin!"

Its gettin obnoxious. With a 2 part episode they can actually use that first part to do all the buildup, then use the second part to get the conclusion done in a far less rushed way.

So yeah. More 2 parters.

 

[gazumped]

Single ep stories always seem too rushed, IMHO. Doctor who needs 4 or 6 parters of 25 minutes each, an older guy to play the Doctor, and no companions falling in love with him. But I digress.

About twice as old, in fact. And the doctor/companion relationship should be more like a kind of grandfather/granddaughter relationship.

OP: Whether it's Doctor Who or anything else, I generally prefer my stories summed up from beginning to end in one sitting, I really hate waiting. Which means 2-6 parters are fine if I'm just buying a DVD season box set, but I feel more at ease watching a self contained single episode if I'm catching it on TV. Of course, either way I can just catch it on whatever format suits me best so I guess it doesn't really matter...

 

[Rylot]

I'd have loved for Rings to have been a two-parter. Could have delved more into the alien cultures there. It breaks up the format nicely. They should also do a three-parter at some point just to throw everyone for a loop.

 

[dvd_72]

I have been finding some of the stories a little bit rushed, especially towards the end. Perhaps a few of them could use a 2 parter. It really depends on the story they are trying to tell, and how much stuff they intend to include in it.

 

[Tom_green_day]

In the original run they were like 8 episodes long, some stories. That lead the stories to being more developed, instead of 'ooh this is scary look at this monster we designed, oh nope we're going to beat it with the power of love'

 

[Daveman]

For the most part I think they're better because they've had more of an opportunity to think about an episode and make it good.

Totally disappointed about the current series though. The irritating flirting is at an all time high to the point where I yell "JUST FUCK ALREADY!" at the TV and concept wise I've felt the episodes have been a bit weak or underexplained (not that they don't make sense, but that they could expand on some points).

 

[boradam]

I miss two-parters. I've been somewhat disappointed in the new season, it's just so... silly? I guess Doctor Who has always been that way, but I still miss the old Doctor's seriousness and whatnot. He had really, really great episodes like the Weeping Angels, that one with the french lady, the other one with the Ood, and the Library, the Cybermen, and so many more. They were one parters, but they didn't just pull stuff out of thin air, they set it up so you'd be held in suspense even though you know what was likely to happen.

I can't think of as many episodes I really, really enjoyed with Matt Smith that are like that. They exist, but they are far too few. Though I'll admit, Hide was great compared to the others we've been seeing -- I also enjoyed the western one from the start of season. If two-parters are the only way to get the feeling of uncertainty or suspense back, I want more, but if they can do that with single episodes once again, I'll be happy.

 

[Doclector]

Depends on the week it looks like I'm going to have.

If it's a good looking week? Great.

If it looks like a hellish week ahead? Fuck you, making me wait all through that shit.

 

[TayVans]

I think they've missed out on some great chances for two-parters. The one that springs to mind right away is the cube story, they introduced a bad guy that even the Time Lords are meant to fear and BOOM, Disney ending magical sonic screwdriver fixed everything. I don't want Disney endings, I want to get away from the whole "Oh well just press the reset button and EVERYTHING'S FINE AGAIN YAY" and I think the lack of two parters is causing them to use the button more because "We're running out of running time".

You go back to people like David and he had some brilliant two-parters (and that one three-parter). Silence in the Library being an special favourite of mine. I don't know if the lack of two parters is to do with a lack of funding now or what, since the BBC had to take some money since ratings have supposedly dropped quite a bit during Matt's run. Sure the episodes now are a lot better than the start of Matt's term but a two-parter here and there wouldn't go amiss, it's sad seeing them waste some fabulous chances. :<

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

They should also do a three-parter at some point just to throw everyone for a loop.

They did that for the season finale in whatever season Martha was the main companion, and it's still my favorite single story of the new series. People complained about the ending being a deus ex machina, but it was still a great episode, and the extra 45 minutes of buildup really helped. I wish they'd do more of those.

 

[j0frenzy]

Judging just on the merits of the new Who, I can't really say one way or the other. Most of the ones that leap to my mind have some of the best episodes, but I don't think most of them can actually deliver two good parts. It always seems like one part is brilliant and one part is bad that makes me want to never watch the brilliant part.

 

[Rylot]

They should also do a three-parter at some point just to throw everyone for a loop.

They did that for the season finale in whatever season Martha was the main companion, and it's still my favorite single story of the new series. People complained about the ending being a deus ex machina, but it was still a great episode, and the extra 45 minutes of buildup really helped. I wish they'd do more of those.

Was it? I watched them all 'on Demand' back to back so they kinda run together, but yeah that was a good story. The ending was a little sketchy but was internally consistent enough to not quite kill my suspension of disbelief; ie humanity collectively believing + Archangel Network = God like powers for the Doctor