That sums up this era nicely.  "Oooo!  Look!  Spectacle!  Fun imagery!  Big ideas!"  Oh, shit.  We've got five minutes left, better quickly explain this all half-assed.  Do you know what's happening?  No I don't.  Hmm… guess we wrote ourselves into a corner.  I don't know how to get out.

That sums up this era nicely.  "Oooo!  Look!  Spectacle!  Fun imagery!  Big ideas!"  Oh, shit.  We've got five minutes left, better quickly explain this all half-assed.  Do you know what's happening?  No I don't.  Hmm… guess we wrote ourselves into a corner.  I don't know how to get out.

Something else I find a bit confusing, is that all the ardent supporters of this era tend to say—whether it's "Greatest Show," "Fenric," "Battlefield," what have you—"For all it's flaws it's still good because of A, B, C."

Something else I find a bit confusing, is that all the ardent supporters of this era tend to say—whether it's "Greatest Show," "Fenric," "Battlefield," what have you—"For all it's flaws it's still good because of A, B, C."

But then by that logic, Cartmel was an inexperienced script editor, but he had JNT who was—apparently—an experienced producer.

But then by that logic, Cartmel was an inexperienced script editor, but he had JNT who was—apparently—an experienced producer.

I'd take Warriors' Gate over this any day.

I'd take Warriors' Gate over this any day.

Yeah, that makes sense.

Yeah, that makes sense.

I will say this, though.  Two AV Clubs in a row, now, with handsome guest actors. Last time it was Derek Seaton, and now we have Christopher Guard as Bellboy.  :)

I will say this, though.  Two AV Clubs in a row, now, with handsome guest actors. Last time it was Derek Seaton, and now we have Christopher Guard as Bellboy.  :)

Even "Weng-Chaing" has the giant rat, and "Androzani" that awful magma beast or whatever it was.  But, at least neither are front and center like the Ringmaster.

Even "Weng-Chaing" has the giant rat, and "Androzani" that awful magma beast or whatever it was.  But, at least neither are front and center like the Ringmaster.

If I may, then, "Battlefield" isn't great and "Ghost Light" suffers narratively, as you said.  That's already half an entire series.  Now, I understand that all of series 22 and 23 are essentially bad, but sticking up for someone who can only manage half a series of good stuff seems a bit sad if you ask me.

If I may, then, "Battlefield" isn't great and "Ghost Light" suffers narratively, as you said.  That's already half an entire series.  Now, I understand that all of series 22 and 23 are essentially bad, but sticking up for someone who can only manage half a series of good stuff seems a bit sad if you ask me.

And, I might have to add, "someone with a lot more ideas than experience" sums of Verity Lambert, and I'll take her stuff over anything from this time any day.

And, I might have to add, "someone with a lot more ideas than experience" sums of Verity Lambert, and I'll take her stuff over anything from this time any day.

But, then I have to ask myself—if it weren't for Saward—what if this is what we got after the Bidmead era, then?  Would some of us still think it was Shakespeare and Proust?  Beating the Saward era isn't really all that difficult, which suggests that they didn't have to try very hard during Cartmel's time.

But, then I have to ask myself—if it weren't for Saward—what if this is what we got after the Bidmead era, then?  Would some of us still think it was Shakespeare and Proust?  Beating the Saward era isn't really all that difficult, which suggests that they didn't have to try very hard during Cartmel's time.