User:SOTO/Forum Archive/The Panopticon/@comment-1293767-20151029072618/@comment-26469787-20160107105831

The thing about classifying stories based on "official statements" is that the BBC really don't spend time explaining creative choices. The fact is that, once the format of single part stories and two part stories was established, both the corporation and the showrunner/s stopped saying "this is a two parter" or "this isn't". We don't have anywhere near enough "official statements" to make our classifications based on them.

Production block classification is similarly flawed. Since Series 6, all episodes from series or half series runs have been filmed in blocks of two. Not all by the same director, sure, but then are we going to use directorial commonality as well? If so, then SNM and FTR suddenly become a story also, and we begin to go completely against authorial intent.

Finally, Bwburke, I think that you are misremembering. I'm all for your disclaimer, but the stories you list do have TBC cards.

I think this debate is going off topic again. We now have three competing solutions, the three-part rule, the "only part x" rule, and SOTO's newly proposed "official statements/production blocks" rule. Like AGMGTW/LKH, TGWD/TWWL and ever FTR/HS/HB can each be debated, per Bw's disclaimer, on another thread. I think it might be useful to bring the debate to its conclusion with a vote relatively soon, as we've been discussing this productively for while a while, and have multiple options to consider.