Debating Doctor Who

Friend of the show Kate Kulzick stops by to help Alasdair offer our long-awaited (hopefully, otherwise they're just late) thoughts on the second chapter of Flux. We discuss how well the episode dusts off the Sontarans for their first significant non-Strax appearance since 2008. We consider what the Crimean War setting lends to the episode. Kate shares her worries about Yaz's eventual fate, and we remain charmed by Dan, with or without his implausibly young parents...

Hi friends! Sorry we haven't had a chance to get you an episode on "War of the Sontarans", even though it's a week later and, uh, slightly after the next episode aired in the UK. As Alasdair hops on briefly to explain, we had some scheduling issues this week, but a full episode on "War of the Sontarans" with guest cohost Kate Kulzick will be here soon, and then we'll endeavor to get back on schedule. Thanks for your understanding!

We give our thoughts on the first episode of "Flux" -- sorry, sorry, the first *chapter* -- and, honestly? We kinda dug it. Allison opens with discussion of a character Alasdair wasn't entirely expecting. We go surprisingly long on the internal logic of the episode's goofy sci-fi thing. Alasdair pledges their allegiance to the walking embodiment of Liverpool (also known as Dan) and uses the word "vibes" a lot. We struggle to remember the name of that one series 12 episode. But mostly, we're liking how this is going... even if we're still nervous.

We talk about the upcoming premiere of series 13, which Allison is very upset to hear is starting with an episode called "The Halloween Apocalypse." We get into what we're hoping for from this six-episode season, which honestly turns into a therapy session for our frustrations with the Chris Chibnall era. Also, unexpectedly, a defense of the relative merits of "Fear Her." Join us next week for our reactions to the premiere -- whatever our issues with the past two seasons, we still find ourselves cautiously excited...

Fire up the emergency podcast klaxons, because we've got some absolutely wild news to talk about! Russell T. Davies is coming back as showrunner on Doctor Who, and we give our thoughts on just what that means. Like... what, if anything, might he bring back from previous eras, including his own? Should we read into the BBC emphasizing that he's back for the show's 60th anniversary year? Do we have to go watch "Years & Years" now? And just how ridiculous can we get by deep-diving the latest (and earliest) betting odds on who RTD might cast as the Doctor? Also... with not a hint of irony, just how exciting is it going to be when the first *bad* Davies episode airs? Friends, we're pumped.

We're back from yet another of our trademark hiatuses to discuss the recent news about the show's future. Series 13 is set to be the last for both Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall -- though, as we discuss, nobody has said anything yet about Mandip Gill, who we can only assume is going to take over Doctor and showrunner duties going forward. We look at what the news that the upcoming series is a single, six-part story might mean, and why we're alternately very worried and maybe just the slightest bit optimistic? Lot of reading the Broadchurch tea leaves here, folks. We then look ahead in general terms to who the 14th Doctor might be, by which we mean Allison is looking at the betting odds again. Kris Marshall's publicist, if you're listening, we're doing our bit to keep his name in the running.

Alasdair and Allison take a look at a very eventful New Year's special, as we see big returns, big departures, and a tease of a big new addition. All that and, oh, right, the Daleks! We both enjoyed this one a lot, especially for various character moments that made us think maybe, just maybe, Chris Chibnall has figured out what he wants to do with these characters. We revel in Captain Jack's big return, and wonder whether maybe a little bit of Torchwood was exactly what this incarnation of Doctor Who needed. All that plus Alasdair reads one of the most wonderfully ridiculous TARDIS Wiki pages, for reasons that honestly escape us.

We're back for our third live show of 2020! Here's the recording of our Crowdcast hangout with a couple dozen of our lovely listeners, in which we field all manner of intriguing questions, including: What is the best episode of series 8, and why is it "Mummy On The Orient Express"? (Taken verbatim, that one.) *Did* Clara meet the Doctor's pre-Hartnell selves in "The Name Of The Doctor", what with the whole Timeless Child thing and whatnot. Would we want to see an animated version of Doctor Who? And what would we pitch as the Doctor Who story we would most like to see? Come along for the ride with Allison, Alasdair, and a whole bunch of friends in the chat!

Reminder: We have a live show this Saturday, December 12, at 6:30 p.m. Eastern! Go to https://www.crowdcast.io/e/ddw-live to sign up or just join us on the day. As for today, here's the first installment of a new occasional series in which Alasdair and a rotating team of cohosts look at works that Doctor Who luminaries (Whominaries?) worked on before the new series. Kev Koeser of the great podcast Talking Who To You joins Alasdair to discuss the Russell T. Davies-written, David Tennant-starring 2005 miniseries "Casanova", which very much feels like a dress rehearsal for what they would create with the 10th Doctor. Alasdair and Kev run through the highs and lows of the miniseries, which is generally a wonderfully enjoyable romp -- with a *great* performance from the legend Peter O'Toole -- but does have some really bad elements. Speaking of: There's some discussion of potentially transphobic content in the miniseries at around the 56:30 mark, so audience members sensitive to that topic should scrub ahead to around 1:04:00.

There's just so much news to talk about! Enough to lure Allison back on for another episode during what is increasingly inaccurately being called a "hiatus", even! We break down the newly released trailer for the upcoming special, "Revolution Of The Daleks", and for some reason the newly revealed guest cast launches Alasdair on tangents about Law & Order: UK and the Mystery Science Theater 3000 entry Time Chasers. (Surprising amount of Law & Order: UK talk in this episode, honestly.) Then we get into some casting news about the upcoming series, followed by a general meditation on Jodie Whittaker's future on the show and what she might do after Doctor Who. And remember, we have a live show on December 12 at 6:30 Eastern/5:30 Central -- go to www.crowdcast.io/e/ddw-live to register!