Bigger on the Inside

As the third season of Doctor Who comes to a close, the TARDIS crew frees an enslaved civilization ("The Savages"), then they stop a supercomputer from destroying mankind ("The War Machines"). And when the dust settles, we're left with an entirely new set of companions. As Steven and Dodo make their exits, Polly and Ben find themselves unwillingly whisked away by The Doctor.

First, the trio must play a series of perilous games to escape a crazy, mixed-up world ("The Celestial Toymaker"). Following that, they land in the American Old West and find themselves caught between the feuding Earps and Clantons ("The Gunfighters").

The Doctor and Steven find themselves in the middle of a religious purging, one they cannot stop no matter how much they long to ("The Massacre"). And after picking up a new companion named Dodo, the trio lands on a spaceship containing the last survivors of the human race ("The Ark").

Great characterization, wonderful pacing, solid acting, the painful deaths of not one but three companions, the awesomeness of the Daleks and the unexpected return of an old foe come together to make "The Dalek's Master Plan" one of the best Doctor Who stories to date.

As a planet is set to die, the Doctor discovers that he shouldn't judge races by beauty ("Galaxy 4"). The crew then takes a week off as hapless humans are exterminated by the Daleks ("Mission to the Unknown"). And lastly, the Doctor influences the outcome of the Trojan War ("The Myth Makers").

Dan and Mike cram a lot of Doctor Who talk into this episode. First they give their thoughts about the recent special, "Planet of the Dead." After that they discuss "The Chase," which features the return of The Daleks, as well as the departure of Ian and Barbara. And not only does Steven Taylor join the TARDIS crew in "The Time Meddler," it's also the first time we see another Time Lord, and it closes out the second season.

Between insulting teenagers and uttering a phrase unheard before on any Earth-2.net podcast, Dan and Mike discuss "The Crusade" and "The Space Museum."

To quote a listener, "The Web Planet" was "not entirely successful," and that's being nice. Between the curious fights, odd voices and needlessly long story, this one proved a challenge to watch for Dan and Mike.

In "The Rescue," the crew welcomes Vicki aboard the TARDIS, but not before uncovering a genocidal madman's horrendous actions. Then in "The Romans," Ian and Barbara are sold into slavery while the Doctor and Vicki must thwart a plot that would see Nero assassinated.

While shrunken down, the TARDIS crew must stop a murderer ("Planet of Giants"). Then they face an old enemy bent on coring out the Earth ("The Dalek Invasion of Earth"). And for the first time ever, a member of the cast leaves the show, prompting Dan and Mike to examine Susan's contributions to the program.