Debating Doctor Who

You know it's a big episode when we post a new episode mere hours after the premiere. And, yeah, this was a big one. A really big one. One so big that the return of a beloved character after nearly a decade barely rates a mention. That big. Look, no time to waste on preamble. Let's just get to it.

Just in time for this week’s episode, we check in with a look at last week’s episode. We generally liked this one a lot as a fun romp with some lovely performances, particularly from Goran Vsijnic as the titular guest star. That said, we spent a decent amount of time looking at how a very good episode like this could have made that last push into greatness. Generally, it’s all about sharpening ideas and thinking through its politics more deeply.

Allison is busy being a cool person in California, so who should join Alasdair to discuss "Orphan 55" but the great Caroline Siede? Yup, the original duo are back to talk about why this episode had some definite potential but just really didn't work. We dig into how the episode has more ideas and more characters than what it knows what to do with, and how oddly empty the big twist--of about three big twists--ends up feeling. We make a bunch of comparisons to Davies-era episodes, including a very rude comparison to "Midnight" that Alasdair recognizes is going to be deeply unfair to pretty much any episode. We cover a lot of ground here as to why this episode typifies things the Chibnall era is still trying to figure out about itself, and what it already is making good progress on... starting with the Doctor herself.

We take a look at the second half of the series-opening two-parter. There's a lot we love about this episode, which builds on the promise of the preceding hour. There's also one really, really awful moment in the show's treatment of the Master and his race that we spend a lot of time discussing, because it deserves a long look at just how jarringly bad it is. We're still pretty sure we like this one, overall, but wow does the cognitive dissonance get tricky at points. Is this selling the episode well? Maybe just give a listen and see what you think...

At long last, Doctor Who is really, properly back! We both had a blast watching this episode, even before all that went down in the final few minutes. (We're trying to be vague out of some mild respect for the especially spoiler-averse.) We talk about how this represents a much-needed step in the right direction for the show, if only because it injects some much-needed fun into the proceedings. We look at how this story handles the Doctor, among other characters, and how we're hoping the show can build on this very promising premiere. Look, we can't say much more without talking about... well, you probably know. Let's get into it.

For the second half of our decade's end retrospective, we throw around ever more ridiculous lists, none of which either of us told the other cohost about. We look at the best and worst season-defining mysteries, the best guest cast ensembles, the stories that could have been something good but just weren't, and those little moments that linger all these years later. Plus, Alasdair uncorks one of the most furiously on-brand things you'll ever hear to wrap things up. Like you even have to ask if it's about Peter Capaldi. See you in the 2020s!

On the final day of the 2010s, we check in with just so, so much decade in review. And since we're just doing the past 10 years in Doctor Who, that means we're looking at the whole Moffat era, the past season of the 13th Doctor, plus, rather hilariously, "The End Of Time: Part Two" as the solitary morsel of RTD Who. In this first half of what spiraled entirely out of control into an impromptu two-parter, Alasdair and Allison each give their list of top 10 stories, top regular characters, top recurring characters, top guest stars, and top historical figures, which is absolutely just a subset of top guest stars but Alasdair felt like cheating to get more names involved. Honestly, this is mostly just an exercise in remembering a whole bunch of Doctor Who stories and characters we really liked.

Just as soon as we released our first episode in well it's been a while, the BBC had to go ahead and released another trailer. So, a week later and with a sneak peek at the first episode also now released, Allison and Alasdair to return to look at what more we can glean of what's to come in the now officially imminent series 12. But mostly we just spend a while discussing our lingering memories of and frustrations with series 11, and how we hope Chris Chibnall can improve in his second season as showrunner. We still feel like there's a ton of potential in this version of the show, and we discuss what we think it might take to bring that out. Plus we definitely lose it at the end and just start doing unabashed fan fiction. You're welcome.

You miss us? Allison and Alasdair are back after the podcast's latest lengthy hiatus, which, you gotta say, is at least a pretty faithful homage to Doctor Who itself. But we've missed all you lovely people, and we've missed talking about the show, and Allison in particular has missed this so much she literally squeals with delight in the opening second. It's... it's amazing. Speaking of which, there's a series 12 trailer! There's lots of exciting bits in it! Returning monsters! Big-name guest stars! Intriguing locations! And yet, both of us start in the exact same place: the Doctor's tuxedo is back. Hello, old friend. Oh yeah, we're definitely back.

We're back, and it's to discuss what Alasdair declares the most expensive Doctor Who regeneration story ever filmed. (Stay with us...) Yes, Alasdair and Caroline are on hand to talk the massive conclusion to the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first 22 films. We have thoughts about climactic battles, unexpected beginnings, and a lengthy breakdown of which of the original six Avengers' character arcs work and which don't. It's good to be talking to you all again, even if we couldn't match the running time for Endgame like our Civil War podcast somehow managed to.