Time and Space Unfolded: Analyzing Trends in ‘Doctor Who’s’ Episodes, Ratings, and Creative Evolution

Introduction

My motivation for doing this analysis of the long-running British TV show Doctor Who, is its great worldwide popularity and detailed data availability. And although I have not yet watched it myself, it is one of my baby emo Sharky’s favorite shows, so I wanted to see if I could break down and analyze it and see if there are any interesting trends or patterns to recognize.

Below are some key observations I have found:

Table 1. Number of Episodes per Season

(Please ignore NA values)

This table highlights the distribution of episodes across the 13 seasons of the revived “Doctor Who” series, revealing a general decline in the number of episodes in later seasons. Despite this reduction, the average episode length remains consistent, suggesting a shift in production strategy or narrative focus rather than a decrease in content quality or quantity.

Table 3. Box Plot of Ratings by Season

(Please ignore NA values)

The consistency in the show’s popularity through seasons 1 to 7, marked by a notable peak in season 4, indicates strong audience engagement and approval. However, a visible decline in ratings from season 8 onwards, with a significant drop in season 13, might reflect changes in viewer preferences, the narrative direction, or external factors affecting viewership.

Table 7. Number of Episodes and Average Rating by Director

As illustrated with table 7, the intention was to determine whether or not there was a correlation between the number of episodes (vertical tables) a director has directed and the average episode rating (red dots) each director has. The conclusion drawn from this data is that there is little to no correlation between quantity of episodes and rating per director. Because even though Graeme Harper, who has directed the most episodes in total, also has one of the best ratings, Peter Hoar, who only directed one episode also has one of the best ratings. And the rating in general seems to be all over the place and not attributable to the number of episodes worked on.

Conclusion

This analysis of “Doctor Who,” motivated by its global popularity and rich dataset, unveiled several fascinating trends that speak to the series’ evolution and its engagement with audiences. Through the examination of episode counts, ratings, and the creative forces behind the series, we discerned a narrative of change and adaptation.

The decline in the number of episodes in later seasons, while maintaining consistent episode lengths, suggests a strategic pivot towards enhancing narrative depth or production quality. Notably, select seasons with episodes exceeding an hour and achieving high ratings exemplify the series’ capacity to deliver compelling, extended storytelling without sacrificing quality.

The variability in total playtime across seasons reflects the series’ flexibility in response to production decisions and perhaps broader industry trends. The analyses of contributions by directors and writers highlighted key figures whose visions have indelibly shaped the “Doctor Who” universe. Specifically, the balance between the number of episodes directed and the average ratings achieved underscores a nuanced relationship between creative output and audience reception.

In essence, this project illuminated the intricate dynamics of “Doctor Who,” revealing how shifts in production strategy, creative leadership, and storytelling approaches have contributed to its enduring legacy. As the series continues to evolve, these insights offer a deeper appreciation of its complexity and adaptability, affirming “Doctor Who’s” iconic status in science fiction television.

Notes:

For those interested, feel free to check out more analysis of this project on GitHub.

About the Project

This blog was written as part of an assignment for the MS in Business Analytics program at CEU’s Department of Business & Economics 2023–24. Special thanks to Professor Gergely Daróczi for the supervision.