Traveling the Vortex

It's spooky season, and we're diving into one of Big Finish Productions' most chilling Doctor Who releases with Halloween: Sea Smoke and Other Stories.

In Part 1 of this review, Glenn explores two standout tales from the Halloween anthology. First, the First Doctor and Dodo arrive on a remote Scottish island in Sea Smoke, where strange traditions, mounting unease, and an atmosphere dripping with folk horror create a haunting adventure. Then, Kate Stewart and Osgood investigate mysterious events surrounding a London apartment building in Party Favours, a tense and atmospheric tale featuring one of Doctor Who's most iconic monsters.

Join us as we discuss the performances, writing, sound design, horror elements, and what makes these stories work so well as Halloween listening. From eerie coastal mysteries to supernatural thrills and time-twisting terror, this anthology delivers plenty of seasonal scares for Doctor Who fans.

#DoctorWho #BigFinish #Halloween #FirstDoctor #DodoChaplet #KateStewart #Osgood #WeepingAngels #DoctorWhoReview #TravelingTheVortex #DoctorWhoPodcast #BigFinishProductions #SeaSmoke #PartyFavours #HalloweenStories #AudioDrama #DoctorWhoFans

Our Halloween celebrations continue with the Tenth Doctor as we journey to the eerie halls of Ratchett Abbey for a review of Scared Stiff by Mark Gatiss, featured in the Doctor Who Storybook 2010.

What begins as a seemingly ordinary live paranormal television broadcast soon descends into something far more unsettling. As the Doctor investigates strange events at a supposedly haunted abbey, long-buried dangers emerge, blurring the line between staged supernatural entertainment and genuine terror.

Join us as we discuss the story's spooky atmosphere, the return of a familiar threat from the Doctor's past, the clever use of Halloween themes, and a uniquely Doctor-ish solution that makes this short story stand out. We also explore how Mark Gatiss balances horror, humor, and mystery in a seasonal adventure that delivers more than a few chills.

If you're a fan of Doctor Who short stories, Tenth Doctor adventures, Mark Gatiss, Halloween-themed Doctor Who tales, or the Gelth from The Unquiet Dead, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Be sure to subscribe to Traveling the Vortex, leave a review, and let us know your thoughts on Scared Stiff. What's your favorite spooky Doctor Who story?

#DoctorWho #TenthDoctor #MarkGatiss #ScaredStiff #DoctorWhoStorybook2010 #Halloween #DoctorWhoPodcast #TravelingTheVortex #Gelth #TheUnquietDead

What happens when the Eleventh Doctor tries to out-scare a galaxy full of alien trick-or-treaters? In this Halloween-themed episode of Traveling the Vortex, we take a quick trip into the pages of Titan Comics' Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor #4 to revisit the delightfully funny one-page comic, "Wholloween."

Join us as we explore how writer and artist Marc Ellerby perfectly captures the charm, confidence, and chaos of Matt Smith's Doctor alongside Amy Pond in a short but memorable Doctor Who adventure. From alien Halloween traditions to a familiar blue box that doesn't quite impress the locals, this bite-sized comic delivers plenty of laughs and classic Eleventh Doctor energy.

We'll discuss what makes this story such a fun celebration of the Doctor and Amy's dynamic, why the humor works so well, and how even a single-page comic can capture everything fans love about this era of Doctor Who.

If you're a fan of Doctor Who comics, the Eleventh Doctor, Amy Pond, or are looking for some seasonal Whovian fun, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

#DoctorWho #EleventhDoctor #MattSmith #AmyPond #DoctorWhoComics #TitanComics #Wholloween #TravelingTheVortex #HalloweenPodcast #Whovian #DoctorWhoPodcast

We're traveling the vortex for our final stop in the Doctor Who: Circuit Breaker multimedia saga as we review Short Circuits, the audio release featuring Battleships and Get Rich or Die Trying, both written by Alex Hewitt and narrated by Dan Starkey.

First, we discuss Battleships, a character-driven story that explores the origins of a dangerous future adversary and examines ambition, prejudice, and survival within the Sontaran Empire. Then we turn to Get Rich or Die Trying, a time-twisting adventure involving mystery, deception, dinosaurs, and unexpected connections to the wider Doctor Who universe.

Do these stories add meaningful depth to the Circuit Breaker saga? Are they essential chapters or enjoyable bonus adventures? Join us as we break down the performances, storytelling, character development, and how these audio tales fit into the larger Circuit Breaker narrative.

Whether you've followed the entire Circuit Breaker range or are simply looking for new Doctor Who audio reviews, this episode has you covered.

#DoctorWho #CircuitBreaker #ShortCircuits #DanStarkey #AlexHewitt #DoctorWhoAudio #Sontarans #UNIT #DoctorWhoReview #TravelingTheVortex

What did you think of Short Circuits? Let us know in the comments below, and don't forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more Doctor Who reviews, discussions, and podcast episodes from Traveling the Vortex!

Big Finish's Full Circuit brings the Fugitive Doctor's Circuit Breaker saga to an explosive conclusion. We break down the shocking truth behind the resistor project, Andrew Turner's secret, the rise of the Sontaran Conductor, and the emotional finale that ties together this ambitious Doctor Who multimedia event.

Join us for our full review of Jo Martin's latest Doctor Who audio adventure and find out whether Full Circuit delivers a satisfying ending to the Fugitive Doctor's biggest story yet.

#DoctorWho #BigFinish #FugitiveDoctor #FullCircuit #CircuitBreaker #JoMartin #UNIT #DoctorWhoReview #TravelingTheVortex #DoctorWhoAudioDrama

A mysterious artifact. A forgotten life. A Doctor on the edge of rediscovery.In this week’s Traveling the Vortex, Glenn dives into The Kaleidoscope, Jo Martin’s ambitious Fugitive Doctor novel that blends cosmic danger with cultural depth and identity‑driven storytelling. It’s a tale of buried memories, ancestral echoes, and the forces determined to keep the Doctor from learning who she truly is.

Glenn reviews 'Coda - The Final Act', a reality‑bending finale that brings the Fugitive Doctor and the War Doctor to the world of Coda, where hidden forces push two forgotten incarnations toward a mythic confrontation. The Final Act delivers a bold, emotional close to Big Finish’s Once and Future saga, powered by standout performances from Jo Martin and Jonathan Carley. A fierce, anniversary‑scale adventure that celebrates the Doctor’s most mysterious corners.

Doctor Who: Circuit Breaker - The Black Archive Files takes center stage as we revisit UNIT’s most secret vaults and the Fugitive Doctor’s clash with Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans, and even a rogue Weeping Angel. This episode breaks down the new Blu‑ray release, explores how its ten curated stories connect across the Circuit Breaker arc, and dives back into our original Fugitive of the Judoon review from 2020. Perfect for fans following the Fugitive Doctor’s evolving journey or collectors curious about this latest multi‑media set.

The Fugitive Doctor and Martha return to the Black Archive as we dive into another Circuit Breaker tale from Doctor Who: Lost in Time. Glenn explores how this latest installment, Momento Mori.

Glenn takes a look at The Doctor and the Three Witches, a quick and imaginative continuation of the Circuit Breaker arc. The story picks up right after Don’t Blink, bringing back UNIT’s upgraded Indigo Device and giving Martha Jones a strong role alongside the Fugitive Doctor. In this review, Glenn highlights how the fairy‑tale setting challenges both characters, how the Doctor’s choices hint at meaningful growth, and how a shadowy force behind the scenes adds momentum to the larger storyline.