Through the Vortex: Classic Doctor Who

The Thirteenth Doctor's Regeneration Special and Doctor Who's tribute to BBC's centennial celebrations, this is definitely an event episode.

And dear goodness does it try to cram in a lot!

I had a lot of thoughts on "The Power of the Doctor." Clearly. This will be a three-part review. Part I is discussing the Classic Who elements of "Power," Part II will discuss the villains, and Part III will be looking at the Doctor and her companions.

Enjoy!

CORRECTION: I mentioned that Ace was on the show for one season. This was a mistake; she is actually on for 2 seasons plus one episode (she enters in "Dragonfire" in Season 24  and is the companion for Seasons 25 and 26). Because Seasons 25 & 26 are shorter than other seasons on Classic Who, I often put them together in my brain. I still stand by Season 26 being pretty fantastic! Season 25 is great too--just a little more bonkers. The Seventh Doctor's first season (24) is written as if we are still in the Sixth Doctor's (insane) era and his second season (25) is when the show starts to find its footing for this very different Doctor.


NEXT TIME:

New Who Review: The Power of the Doctor, Part II
This one will be focusing on The Master, the Master-Cybermen, and the Daleks
Monday, November 7th

Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/ 

Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: [email protected]

The Doctor is suddenly invisible in the TARDIS! Soon Team TARDIS discovers it has landed in the domain of the Celestial Toymaker. An eternal being with near infinite powers, the Toymaker traps others in his realm to play games (he's very bored). Now, the Doctor, Steven, and Dodo must win--or they will be trapped forever as the Toymaker's playthings. 

_____

DOCTOR: You need me?
TOYMAKER: Yes. I'm bored. I love to play games, but there's no one to play against. The beings who call here have no minds and so they become my toys. But you will become my perpetual opponent. We shall play endless games together, your brain against mine.
DOCTOR: As you said, if I win the game, I can go.
TOYMAKER: So you can, Doctor, so you can. But I think you will lose.
_________

DODO: I wonder if we'll ever see the sergeant and the cook again? They were rather funny, you know.
STEVEN: Look, you still believe in these creations of the Toymaker, don't you? You can't see that they're just phantoms, things created in his mind.
DODO: If that's so, why do they lose to us? And always through doing something silly and human?
STEVEN: Oh, I don't know. Maybe they get out of his control.
DODO: There, that's just what I meant.
STEVEN: What are you talking about?
DODO: Look, he can bring them to life, but they have wills and minds of their own. I'll never be able to look at a doll or a playing card again with an easy mind. They really do have a secret life of their own.

___________

DODO: We'll never see him again, will we, Doctor?
DOCTOR: Oh, my dear, don't talk too soon. The mind is indestructible. So is the Toymaker.
STEVEN: What, you mean he can never be destroyed?
DODO: But you defeated him.
DOCTOR: Yes, just at this moment, but there will be other meetings in an other time.
DODO: Then your battle with him will never end.
DOCTOR: Yes, you're quite right, my dear, but anyway, let us cheer up. After all we did win the games.
___________________________________________


Upcoming:

The Gunfighters
Episodes: "A Holliday for the Doctor," "Don't Shoot the Pianist,"  "Johnny Ringo,"  "The O.K. Corral"
Team TARDIS encounters hilariously bad American accents in a comedic take on the shot-out in Tombstone....get ready for a song to get stuck in your head; forever. 

New Who Review: The Power of the Doctor
An immediate reaction to Jodi Whittaker's final outing as the Doctor.




Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/ 

Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: [email protected]

Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/ 

Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: [email protected]

The Doctor, Steven, and Dodo arrive on an Ark...in space! The remnants of the human race has joined forces with a race known as the Monoids. Together, they have fled Earth before it is overtaken by the Sun and are heading to the planet Refusis 2 where they hope to re-establish civilization.  Unfortunately, Dodo has a cold....and the humans and Monoids of the distant future have no resistance to the virus....

STEVEN: Look, do you think this has happened before? That we've carried an infection from one age to another, or even one planet to another?
DOCTOR: Oh, I don't want to think it about it, dear boy. It's too horrifying. Though I must say that we're usually very healthy.
STEVEN: It'll spread through the whole ship, become an epidemic.
___________

STEVEN: And that, unfortunately, tells me only one thing...That the nature of man, even in this day and age, hasn't altered at all. You still fear the unknown, like everyone else before you.
______________________________

DOCTOR: He's right. A long time ago, your ancestors accepted responsibility for the welfare of these Monoids. They were treated like slaves. So no wonder when they got the chance, they repaid you in kind.
REFUSIAN: Unless you learn to live together, there is no future for you on Refusis.
DASSUK: We understand.
DOCTOR: Yes, you must travel with understanding as well as hope. You know, I once said that to one of your ancestors, a long time ago.




Upcoming:

Serial #24: The Celestial Toymaker
(Episodes: "The Celestial Toyroom," "The Hag of Dolls," "The Dancing Floor," "The Final Test"
All missing EXCEPT episode 4, "The Final Test")
Monday, October 17th


New WHO Review: The Power of the Doctor
Planning an off-the-cuff review of Jodie Whittaker’s final adventure as the Doctor. 
Around Monday, October 24th



Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/ 

Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: [email protected]

Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/ 

Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: [email protected]

A special episode exploring Lucarotti's three fantastic historical serials: "Marco Polo," "The Aztecs," and "The Massacre." Considering one writer's themes and his contributions to the early years of Doctor Who.

Marco Polo:
MARCO POLO: Move not merely from one place to another, but from today into tomorrow, today to yesterday? No Ian, that I cannot believe.
_____

The Aztecs:

BARBARA: Don't you see? If I could start the destruction of everything that's evil here, then everything that is good would survive when Cortes lands.
DOCTOR: But you can't rewrite history! Not one line!
_____

The Massacre:
DOCTOR: My dear Steven, history sometimes gives us a terrible shock, and that is because we don't quite fully understand. Why should we? After all, we're all too small to realize its final pattern. Therefore don't try and judge it from where you stand. I was right to do as I did. Yes, that I firmly believe.

DOCTOR: Even after all this time he cannot understand. I dare not change the course of history. Well, at least I taught him to take some precautions. He did remember to look at the scanner before he opened the doors. Now they're all gone. All gone. None of them could understand. Not even my little Susan, or Vicki. And as for Barbara and Chatterton. Chesterton. They were all too impatient to get back to their own time. And now, Steven. Perhaps I should go home, back to my own planet. But I can't. I can't.
___________


Upcoming:

Serial #23: The Ark
(Episodes: "The Steel Sky," "The Plague," "The Return," "The Bomb")
NO MISSING EPISODES:-)
Monday,  October 3rd

Sorry all for the long hiatus! Hoping to get back into a regular schedule again. These reconstructions slow me down a little, but many are excellent stories and we shall prevail!!
_____

Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/ 

Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: [email protected]

Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/ 

Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: [email protected]

Still reeling from the traumatizing events of "The Daleks' Masterplan," Steven and the Doctor land in France days before the St Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Separated from the Doctor, Steven gets caught up with the Huguenots who fear a plot to assassinate the newly married Protestant Prince Henry of Navarre. 

_____

TAVANNES: Thank God.
CATHERINE: God had very little to do with it. What is this?
TAVANNES: The list, Madame. When those Huguenots are killed we need have no further fear of a Protestant France.
CATHERINE: We have no need of lists, Marshall. The good people of Paris know their enemies. They will take care of them.
TAVANNES: The good people? Madame, if you rouse the mob the innocent will perish with the guilty.
CATHERINE: Innocent? Heresy can have no innocents. France will breath of pure air after tomorrow.
_________

DOCTOR: I was not responsible.
STEVEN: Oh, no. You just sent her back to her aunt's house where the guards were waiting to catch her. I tell you this much, Doctor, wherever this machine of yours lands next I'm getting off. If your researches have so little regard for human life then I want no part of it.
DOCTOR: We've landed. Your mind is made up?
(The Tardis doors open.)
STEVEN: Goodbye.
DOCTOR: My dear Steven, history sometimes gives us a terrible shock, and that is because we don't quite fully understand. Why should we? After all, we're all too small to realize its final pattern. Therefore don't try and judge it from where you stand. I was right to do as I did. Yes, that I firmly believe.

___________



Upcoming:

John Lucarotti's Historical Triumphs
A special episode exploring Lucarotti's three fantastic historical serials: "Marco Polo," "The Aztecs," and "The Massacre." Considering one writer's themes and his contributions to the early years of Doctor Who.
Monday, July 18th

Serial #23: The Ark
(Episodes: "The Steel Sky," "The Plague," "The Return," "The Bomb")
NO MISSING EPISODES:-)
Monday, July 25th



Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/ 

Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: [email protected]

Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/ 

Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: [email protected]

A special look back on the Daleks as villains that shaped the First Doctor's Era. The defining villain for this period in the show's history, the Daleks gave the show direction and turned the Doctor from a silly stubborn old man into a hero. This podcast will consider the serials: "The Daleks," "The Dalek Invasion of Earth," "The Chase," and "The Daleks' Masterplan."

___________


Upcoming:

Serial #22: The Massacre
(Episodes: "The War of God," "the Sea Beggar," "The Priest of Death," Bell of Doom")
NOTE: All missing
Monday, July 4th

John Lucarotti's Historical Triumphs
A special episode exploring Lucarotti's three fantastic historical serials: "Marco Polo," "The Aztecs," and "The Massacre." Considering one writer's themes and his contributions to the early years of Doctor Who.
Monday, July 11th


Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/ 

Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: [email protected]

Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/ 

Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: [email protected]

Using the directional device they stole from the Monk, Team TARDIS races to Kembel to stop the Daleks from using their Time Destroyer....meanwhile Mavic Chen appears to consolidate his power but may be losing at his own game...and the Daleks prepare their Time Destroyer as the others squabble.

_________

CHEN: Now do stop this masquerade! See, I know he  [the Doctor] is trying to usurp my position with the Daleks.
STEVEN: That is absurd. The Doctor's always fought the Daleks. Why don't you believe us? We don't know where he is.
CHEN: Yet I find you at the entrance to the Daleks' secret headquarters. I know the Doctor's here and that he's trying to take my place. But I'll soon change that.
STEVEN: Why can't you understand the Daleks do not make allies?

_________

DOCTOR: Well, my boy, we finally rid this planet of Daleks.
STEVEN: Bret, Katarina.... Sara.
DOCTOR: What a waste. What a terrible waste.

___________


Upcoming:

The First Doctor and The Daleks
A special episode looking back on all the First Doctor Dalek serials and considering how they shaped the show and the Doctor.
Monday, June 27th

Serial #22: The Massacre
(Episodes: "The War of God," "the Sea Beggar," "The Priest of Death," Bell of Doom")
NOTE: All missing
Monday, July 4th



Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/ 

Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: [email protected]

Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/ 

Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: [email protected]

On the run from Maverick Chen, the Daleks, and an unexpected old Enemy, Team TARDIS flees with the taranium across time and space....

_______

STEVEN: You killed Bret! You just shot him down.
SARA: He was a traitor. Between the three of you, you had stolen the taranium, the most valuable mineral in the universe. It was needed desperately to spread the peace which was founded in the solar system, to reach the whole galaxy.
STEVEN: What was the taranium going to do?
SARA: How should I know? I had my orders.
STEVEN: Your orders. And even though it meant killing one of your own people, you obeyed them blindly, without question?
SARA: One does not question the orders of the Guardian.
STEVEN: You didn't stop to think how it came to happen that a space security agent, one of your own people, was a traitor?
SARA: No!
STEVEN: You didn't give Bret a chance, did you. You couldn't question Chen and you wouldn't question Bret.
SARA: Look, what do you want me to say? That I believe your fantastic story?
STEVEN: It's true.
SARA: It mustn't be.
DOCTOR: I'm afraid it is, my dear.
STEVEN: But Bret had to be killed.
SARA: Shut up! Bret Vyon was my brother.
____

CHEN: Without me, their plan cannot completely work. Without me, they are but nothing. Nothing! When I am next to the Daleks, only they stand between me and the highest position in the universe. Then will be the time for me to take complete control!... You are a fortunate man, Karlton. You will have a high place in galactic history.
KARLTON: The highest, next to you.
_________

CHEN: Three time machines in one infinitesimal speck of space and time. Of course, a coincidence is possible, but hardly likely. You would agree?
MONK: Oh, yes, I would agree.
CHEN: Then why have you arrived here?
MONK: Three, three time-machines? Yes, well, the odd one out belongs to a certain Doctor.
DALEK: The enemy ship!
MONK: Yes, that's right. The enemy. I have an old score to settle with him, but I'm sure yours is the prior claim.
CHEN: He is a friend of yours?
MONK: Friend? No, no, an enemy. An enemy to end all enemies! I came here to inflict a terrible vengeance on him. I mean, we're all on the same side here, aren't we.


Upcoming:

Serial #21: The Dalek's Master Plan, Part III (Episodes 11-12: "The Abandoned Planet" & "The Destruction of Time" ) We will also discuss the serial overall.
Both missing
Wednesday, June 22nd

The First Doctor and The Daleks
A special episode looking back on all the First Doctor Dalek serials and considering how they shaped the show and the Doctor.
Monday, June 27th



Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/ 

Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: [email protected]

Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/ 

Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: [email protected]

Desperate to save Steven from his poisoned wound, the Doctor lands on a jungle planet searching for medical help. Meanwhile, a secret agent named Bret tries to warn Earth about the Daleks' alliance with the Outer Galaxies and impending invasion of the solar system. Soon Team TARDIS finds itself working with Bret to discover the Daleks 'masterplan and save Earth...even from the Guardian of the Solar system himself!

NOTE: It might be helpful to watch "Mission to the Unknown"--or listen to the podcast on that serial--prior to this one as that episode serves as a prequel to this one.

_______

DOCTOR: These are Daleks. Now you listen to me, young man, I am in charge of this situation.
BRET: Sir! Will you shut up! At least that's stopped you arguing.
DOCTOR: Well upon my soul.
BRET: Now, look here, I don't care what happens to you, but I have got to warn Earth.
DOCTOR: Yes, and you will have to do far more than that. If the Daleks are doing something drastic, then we have to stop the Daleks. Now will you shut up, sir?
_____

STEVEN: She pressed the wrong button, Doctor.
DOCTOR: She may have wanted to, dear boy. She wanted to save our lives.
BRET: It must have been quick.
DOCTOR: I hope she's reached her Place of Perfection.
STEVEN: Yes, but not that way.
DOCTOR: She didn't understand. She couldn't understand. She wanted to save our lives and perhaps the lives of all the other beings of the Solar System. I hope she's found her Perfection. Oh, how I shall always remember her as one of the Daughters of the Gods. Yes, as one of the Daughters of the Gods.
____



Upcoming:

Serial #21: The Dalek's Master Plan, Part II (Episodes 5-10: "Counter Plot," "Coronas of the Sun," "The Feast of Steven," "Volcano," "Golden Death," "Escape Switch" )
All missing EXCEPT: "Counter Plot," & "Escape Switch"
Wednesday,  June 15th

Serial #21: The Dalek's Master Plan, Part III (Episodes 11-12 & End Discussion: "The Abandoned Planet" & "Destruction of Time")
Both missing
Wednesday,  June 22nd


Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/ 

Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: [email protected]

Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/ 

Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: [email protected]

I've tried so hard to get on board with Timeless Child....I really have indeed. But unfortunately, I have some issues...

In this podcast, I touch on what I think fails the Timeless Child storyline both in execution and in the fundamental ideas. I also speculate what will be done with the story going forward.

NOTE: I didn't discuss this in the episode but think I do allude to it: I actually don't have too many issues with canon being reframed/rewritten--mostly because Classic Who does this all the time. I do think that New Who has made this more difficult to do, however, and is better about canon continuity (until Chibnail's time). I may return to this in its own episode someday.  I may also return to Timeless Child to directly discuss it in relation to the Cartmel Master Plan--which was a direction that the show was considering going in the 7th Doctor era before it was cancelled. I thought discussing that would be a big can of worms in this episode but do think the Master Plan and Timeless Child bear a lot of similarities and should be compared (especially given I oddly have fewer problems with the Cartmel plan?) 
 
Upcoming:
Serial #21, Part I: The Dalek's Master Plan
(Episodes: "1: The Nightmare Begins, " "2: Day of Armageddon,"
"3: Devil's Planet," "4: The Traitors," "5: Counter Plot," "6: Coronas of the Sun")
NOTE: Episodes 2 & 5 can be watched in their entirety. The others are missing.
Monday, May 23rd

Serial 21, Part II: The Dalek's Master Plan
(Episodes: "7: The Feast of Steven, " "8: Volcano," "9: Golden Death," "10: Escape Switch," "11: The Abandoned Planet," "12: Destruction of Time")
NOTE: Episode 10 can be watched in its entirety. The others are missing.
Monday, May 30th

The First Doctor & the Daleks
A deep dive into how the Daleks help to define the First Doctor's era and a look back at all the Dalek episodes.
Monday, June 6th



Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/ 

Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: [email protected]

Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/ 

Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: [email protected]