"up its own ass" but in a good way.

I like that description, espeailly as my parents are incredibly middle-class (although perhaps not finally) and almost all the shows they watch fit into this category, except the "prestige" drams I get them into.
But that would make me upper-class, so scratch that. I live on the fringe, I'm fringe class!

I think that's been part of the shows DNA from the start and it's unfair to blame on Moffat.
It was originally created by committee to fill a specific gap in the schedule and will always be a hodgepodge of cult science-fiction and child-friendly entrainment (and several other things).
When Russell T. Davies brought it…

Yea, people can say what they want about Moffat's writing (although I may fight them on it) but the production values shot up when he took over.
He finally managed to sell the show to America in a big way and it looks a lot more cinematic (enough to be shown in cinemas).

Call the Midwife doesn't look that great, from what I've seen it has a very digital look that doesn't stack up to something like Masters of Sex.
Also most of our period dramas have funding from the US. It makes sense I guess, British accents are an easier sell to American audiences with historical stuff, I'm sure a lot…

As other users have said; smaller country, smaller audience, less money.
Our shows that tend to have bigger production values (like Downton Abbey) are partly financed by you Americans (but shhh don't tell fellow my fellow Brits).
Doctor Who only started looking more filmic when Moffat managed to sell it to more of you…

"good (for a British show) production values"
Not a British show. It's produced by BBC America which is a separate company to the BBC and it's shot in Canada.
It get's confusing because the show is the licensed to the BBC to air in the UK but it's technically an American series.
I don't know if that changes your…

"and I've seen Buffy, so I feel like I've seen the best version of that"

"Or take Agents of SHIELD, which has prestige"

I'm not so sure.
There are several foods which I think have "compulsive eatability" but I wouldn't say that's the same as "quality". The fact that I want to slow down and savor certain meals is more of a sign of quality than "Yes! All of that! In my face now!"
Now if you asked me which had more "value" I'd be hard…

Yup, and then that little twinge of annoyance I feel when I hear that terrible show I dismissed at the start is actually good now.
If I'm not watching I want it to be terrible so I'm not missing out*

I think there were many problems with Dexter as the series progressed but the character going from villain to anti-hero (essentially becoming the Punisher) was a big one of them.
This arc could have worked if it was their intention from the start but it was just so badly handled.
I just think there wasn't enough fuel in…

Yea, I still think the first series was the best and think it would be better regarded critically and culturally if it had been cancelled after season 1.

I think that's more of an American attitude though. Here in the UK soaps tend to get more respect (although not as much as prestige drams) probably because they're better.
Just look at Charlie Brooker comparing the two https://www.youtube.com/wat…
I don't think it has to be used as an insult, I personally won't watch…

It's not just "fantasy and sci-fi" though, you're second definition was dead-on, it's anything that's not "normal" (which is a poorly defined word in itself).
Spies, soldiers, detectives and doctors are all characters that would fit into the "genre" label but not necessarily "science fiction or fantasy".

Good points, espeailly those about network limitations on "genre" shows.
I love "genre" television but am finding it increasingly hard to find shows in that category I enjoy because I hold them to the same standards as "quality" television.
I want a superhero/fantasy/science-fiction show that doesn't have any…

I'll do it for £10 and a Curly Wurly.

Really? It's gotten really good word of mouth over here in the UK.
I must confess I'd never even heard of it and then suddenly everyone's talking about it and it felt slightly embarrassing being the pop-culture nerd who'd completely out of the loop.
I guess that's what I get for only frequenting American online…

Then it sounds like she conducted it as responsibly as possible and (as often happens when something get's big enough) a minority of people on the internet took it too far.

Yes, and I believe I said as much in another post.
When there's a criminal on the lose, it is the responsibility of the news to inform people, if someone was murdered/robber/attacked the news should report it, but they shouldn't release the name of the victim unless they/their family want them to.
It is the…