Was Series 11, ultimately, too safe?

Series 11 felt to me like a response to people who thought Who was playing it too safe. The casting of Jodie, whether you like it or not, was a deliberate risk, for instance; the decision to not include returning classic monsters was another risk; the decision to have an entirely different production crew and writing staff was another risk. From my perspective, this season was already taking plenty of risks and certainly not “playing it safe.”

It’s really hard for any of us to distance ourselves from the series and judge it objectively. That goes for both what we like about the series and what we dislike - and when we ourselves have simply outgrown a program. There’s no shame in outgrowing a show; it doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you because you stopped liking a show as much as you used to. It doesn’t mean there’s necessarily something wrong with the show either. I used to really love Star Trek, but things happened in my life and I grew interested in different things, and lately I haven’t found much interest in checking out the latest Star Trek episodes. That isn’t a judgement on Star Trek’s quality - I just have other interests and obligations. Life happens.

For people like Stubagful, it seems pretty clear to me that his interests have moved beyond what Doctor Who offers. He mentioned in the video he hasn’t felt much interest in the expanded material lately either - at least, I’m pretty sure he did. For Stubagful, I think he’s just finally reached that point where he’s outgrown the show. And, truthfully, lately I’ve felt kind of the same. It’s not because I think Chibnall’s a hack or because Big Finish isn’t doing a great job - like with Star Trek, life has introduced other influences and experiences. I’m not as in love with the series as I was when I was in high school and for the first half of college, but that’s how all things are for me. I’ll be really passionate about something for a while - maybe years or just a few months - and then I’ll find some other passion in my life. It doesn’t mean I still don’t love those things - I’m just more excited by other things.

All this is my long way of saying that I think this is what’s happening with a lot of people dissatisfied with Chibnall or the series post Russell even. A lot of these people have grown up and they’re still trying to work out why the things they loved as a child or even a few years ago aren’t giving them that same feeling anymore. So, no, the new season wasn’t playing it safe, but I don’t think that matters to people like Stubagful anymore because if it was as absolutely risky and new and utterly different as possible, that wouldn’t necessarily mean he’d love it. It’s just as likely that could be as much of a problem as anything else.

Anyways, that’s how I’ve rationalized it. Of course, I’m still a fan of the show and I doubt I can be truly objective about the series. Maybe it really is Chibnall’s fault and I’m just too in love with the show to really notice. Who knows?

Too safe... Mmn, I think Series 11 was a pretty bold break from what had come before in the same way that, say, Jon Pertwee's first season was. If you put Season 6 and 7 back-to-back, Pat Troughton's last year had The Mind Robber for its second serial; Pertwee's first had The Silurians. We went from an era where the Doctor was facing off against a unicorn and Medusa to the Brigadier worried that one of his men has accidentally shot an amateur potholer and a supporting character letting his ego actively accelerate an epidemic that's killing people in central London.

I can see the same element of vertigo going from Series 10 to 11. From the word go, Whittaker's first season was all about reconstructing what Doctor Who was all about. From the ground up. Both metaphorically and literally. In the more radical category of changes, we've got our first official Doctor who happens to be a woman, a deliberate desire not to use any recurring villains (barring Resolution), a pretty stark depiction of grieving for an ongoing companion and a return to the idea that there are no easy answers. Vital for episodes like Rosa and Demons of the Punjab where these conversations are still very much ongoing.

What I think tends to hurt it is the broadcast order. We don't really get to see any of the new talent until halfway through the season. Once we do, en masse, their stories -- Demons, Kerblam!, Witchfinders, It Takes You Away -- tend to get fairly good views and reviews from people. I've heard rumours that we're going to see some familiar faces for Series 12, but honestly, I think if we take all those other voices and spread them out through the season, that alone could give us a much greater sense of momentum for 2020.

I have to say I agree with a lot Stubagful says and this video also made some points I was thinking.
However, reading the counter- points you guys are mentioning is also illuminating.
Did Chibbs play it too safe? Not really, since the casting of Jodie was controversial to say the least.
However, I totally agree with what Stubagful says why the apparent SJW content was so much into everyone’s faces. Yes, this has always been a part of the series, but it just did not come across as organically as it was with RTD, Moffat, or even back in the day with the Silurians and Dinosaur invasion. It just stood out like a sore tooth.
I am also one of the people who rated series 11 as average and who did not get too excited about the episodes.
For me, it was just missing the spark that electrified me with series 10. Of course we got a couple of great episodes, but the spark never did catch with me.
Not sure, but I was slightly put off by the colorful wonderland we all of a sudden were confronted with.
I like my Who a bit more dark and gritty.
Have I outgrown the series?
Nah, not really. At least for BF and especially the ongoing 8th Doctor stories I have the same enthusiasm I had when I started my Who journey.
Just look at my living room.
But I get completely what relativetime is saying, I am the same with my other fandoms... and I agree on Star Trek. I still have not seen Discovery and not sure when I will, it just does not appeal to me. That said, I ADORE the Orville and I am excited as a little kid for the Picard series. Just Discovery is not my style of Trek.
So no, I have not even outgrown Star Trek it seems.

So yeah, I think that Stubagful as well you guys have valid points and the truth might be somewhere in between.
The style of story telling and visuals in series 11 is just not exactly my taste.
However, it would be really sad if we all had the same taste.
On the convention, I saw so many people dressed up as Jodie, and it is obvious series 11 has invigorated the franchise.
This is also good for people like me, because it means the franchise is still going and we will get more content, including more BF content which is more to my taste.

And for some people, the on the nose SJW content (as opposed to „hidden“ messages one could ignore if they felt uncomfortable) is exactly what they feel is right and that it is the right way presenting it so obviously. That is not my cup of tea, but that is okay, too.
The world somehow is going back to a more black and white thinking, that is just the way it is. I think it is sad. However, one day things will revert back.

No, because it was, fundamentally enjoyable (unlike, say, Capaldi’s first series which DID try to push the boundary).

Which to be fair is the original concept of Dr Who.

I am sorry I gave the wrong impression. This was alone my wording.
Stubagful is VERY civil and against the SJW criticisms and even did a hate video against hate videos.
I am just at home and write on a mobile device so used the short initials instead of longer wording, even if it is politically charged. My mistake. I actually think you will like Stubagfuls videos, even if you won’t agree to everything he says. 
He is one of the few Who Youtubers who is not running his channel on popular hating topics.
He is very refreshing. 

I meant to say that I agree with Stubagfuls assessment why it APPEARED to certain fans that the topics in question were in the fore- front. I think he makes a very good point. I think you might even agree with him. 

I see. However the title of his video is 'Why I'm Bored of Doctor Who under Chris Chibnall", that's not something I have any interest in watching tbh.