Tread Perilously

Tread Perilously's Winter 2024 Patreon request month continues with an episode of Leverage called "The Office Job."

When the team is called in to root out a greeting card company CEO's embezzlement scheme before it can impact the sale of the business to a larger firm and save the town, they find their movements are being recorded by a documentary film crew. Will their antics be discovered? Will their identities remain intact? Will Parker fascinate the German filmmaker tasked with shooting B-Roll and talking heads? Or will the team find the director the most unlikely of allies? And what of the scheme itself -- is it really the CEO behind it?

Justin is thrilled to finally watch an episode of Leverage for the podcast. Erik isn't so sure, but renames the lead character "Max Leverage." Parker, and actor Beth Riesgraf, become an instant hit. The presence of Peter Stormare as a Werner Herzog type is also welcome. And so is Gina Bellman in glasses. A superhero movie discussion breaks out. The pair try to determine when the US version of The Office stopped doing interstitial moments of the water cooler. Erik fails to recast the Herzog character and decides he didn't watch an episode of Leverage.

Tread Perilously's Patreon subscriber request month continues with a look at Evil via the episode called "C is for Cop."

When a New York police officer shoots a stranded Black motorist in the middle of the night, he claims demonic possession as his defense. The team is soon called in to investigate. It leads David almost immediately to the officer's wrist tattoo -- a symbol that correlates with one of the sigils. Is there a cabal within the department (and television shows about police) going back a century? Meanwhile, Ben confronts his night terrors (sort of) and Kristen tries to hide her part in LeRoux's death.

Justin is once again confronted by a secret show, and because of its nature, comparisons to Locke & Key become inevitable. Erik proves incapable of saying the name "Katja" correctly. Justin lauds the cast while Erik gives credit to Christine Lahti for a specialty skill. Justin stumps for Tremors. The Shield is once again lauded. The Predator is not. A discussion about "as you know" dialogue breaks out. Erik tries to be complementary to Ridley Scott while Justin considers the real reason why recent MCU movies don't quite work. Gods are invoked, Gul Dukat gets referenced, and Half Dome becomes a higher power.

Tread Perilously begins the first Patreon subscriber request month of the year with an episode of Locke & Key called, ironically, "Forget Me Not."

The attempt to reunite Uncle Duncan (Aaron Ashmore!) with his childhood memories of magic is not working out. He's frazzled, headachey, and half-recalls that his brother may have killed someone. But, somehow, Duncan's come into possession of the Anywhere Key. Tyler takes it so he can have a romantic date with his girlfriend while Bode tries to reach through his uncle's brain fog to determine how he found it. Also, Kinsey debates putting her fears back in her head.

Justin has a hard time recalling the episode despite seeing it early the morning of recording. Erik tries to get through the plot, but it's really just a collection of scenes as the pair face another connective tissue episode. Discussion of shows they like better occurs. They also try to keep the Ashmores straight. The problem of Netflix programs smoothed by algorithms is addressed. Erik attempts to find the right episodic plot and recall the term for the caretaker who lives in a dorm. A hypothesis emerges regarding the flatness of Locke & Key and Erik once again laments the loss of I Am Not Okay With This.

Tread Perilously wraps up the year with one more Doctor Who treat: the 2023 Christmas special, "The Church on Ruby Road."

Despite being born on Christmas Eve Day, Ruby Sunday is having a rough spot of bad luck. Or is it something else? When her mum agrees to foster a newborn, goblins appear to snatch the infant away for their own Christmas feast. But luckily for Ruby, she's about to meet The Doctor. Will they become fast friends? Is her luck more about a string of coincidence even The Doctor cannot see? And why does Mrs. Flood recognize the blue box parked on her street?

Special Review Unit Captain Charlie Wright returns for her annual introduction to something new and baffling -- Doctor Who in a nutshell. But will she love her first ever episode of the 60-year-old program? Ncuti Gatwa finally takes center stage as The Doctor and the results are amazing. Millie Gibson makes an impression on Justin while Erik immediately theorizes about Ruby's parentage. Of course, a few other suggestions make their way into the discussion. Charlie attempts to explain the premise of the show. Gerd Shockley makes one last appearance for the year and Erik gets to legitimately ask the Tread Perilously question for the first time in ages.

Tread Perilously goes back to the beginning of the DoctorDonna with the 2006 Doctor Who Christmas special "The Runaway Bride."

The Doctor's attempt to dwell on Rose Tyler's departure gets interrupted when Donna Noble materializes aboard the TARDIS in a wedding dress. She was moments from getting married and is in quite a state to now be on a spaceship with a very thin and maudlin Time Lord. Will The Doctor get her to the church on time? Will the Santa roboforms from the previous year's Christmas invasion get in the way? And will Donna's fiancé prove to be a poor choice?

Erik and Justin discuss the latest Gallifrey One announcements and the fate of Dead Again. They get lost in the weeds discussing obscure media, the ghost of Arthur Fonzarelli, and the Babylon 5 hot shot pilot from Season 2. They also find things to like about "The Giggle." Justin's attempt to find the episode reveals the limits of technology. Wilf's absence during the wedding gets some fanon (and the real world reason for it). The pair try to figure out Nerys and warn writers away from employing Jack the Ripper in their work. A youthful David Tennant inspires feelings of mortality and Erik can't stop casting new actors in old TV shows reboots.

Tread Perilously's celebration of Doctor Who continues with the final 60th Anniversary special, "The Giggle."

The Doctor and Donna return to London to find it in shambles. Everyone believes they are right to the exclusion of all other viewpoints. Luckily, UNIT quickly scoops up the time travels and The Doctor determines the source of the madness -- a toy shop in Soho circa 1925. There, The Doctor and Donna confront the Toymaker, an old adversary who has returned to play some games. But will the most important game of all be standing still? Also, the Fifteenth Doctor makes his debut in the strangest regeneration yet.

Erik names "The Silent Narrative" that will continue with Doctor Who discourse for the foreseeable future. A lot of fanon is deployed. Justin has a problem with the choice of villain as the scheme does not fit the Toymaker. Russell T. Davies continues to prove a better writer. The warning about the Black Forest is once again re-issued. An early analysis of Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor occurs. The pair also discuss Mel's return, the nature of the Toymaker, and Verity Ritchie's YouTube video "Doctor Who vs. Women." Also, Erik theorizes the puppet scene is an indictment of the Moffat Era.

Tread Perilously's Doctor Who celebration continues with the second 60th anniversary special, "Wild Blue Yonder."

After Donna accidentally pours coffee into the TARDIS console -- and a quick stop to alter Isaac Newton's famous day under the apple tree -- she and The Doctor materialize on an enormous but empty ship. Soon, the TARDIS senses a threat and vanishes, leaving the two travels to discover the mystery of the vessel stranded on the very edge of the universe. Will they face dark truths and even deadlier threats? Will The Flux continue to matter? And will they ever see Wilf?

Erik pushes against the production's assertion that this is "unlike anything seen on Doctor Who before." He also cites "Midnight" and "42" in the discussion. Justin stumbles on a piece of established lore. Chris Chibnall comes up in a certain light. A digression into fantasy films leads to an appreciation of Sandahl Bergman. The pair also discuss the mavity of the situation and try to determine why "Wild Blue Yonder" was chosen to be featured in the episode. Cenobites end up crewing the Event Horizon mess hall. Fremen cuisine is theorized. Erik explains elements of The Flux and the Timeless Child. Justin presents two readings of The Exorcist and the ending of Loki's second season is finally explored.

Tread Perilously's celebration of Doctor Who at 60 continues with the first of the new anniversary specials, "The Star Beast."

Still bewildered by regenerating into a previous face, The Doctor lands in Camden and almost immediately runs into former companion Donna Noble. She can never remember her travels with the Time Lord or her mind will literally burn away. Nevertheless, circumstances keep bringing them together as The Doctor encounters Donna's husband, Shaun, and their daughter, Rose. And to make matters worse, an alien has found its way into Rose's backyard shed, forcing The Doctor to reveal himself and confront the possibility that Donna might die.

Justin's appreciation for Peter Davison continues. Erik confronts the weird sensation in welcoming David Tennant back to the role. He also expresses some frustration with the reaction to the recent Mystery Science Theater 3000 crowdfunding campaign. Justin points out a certain retcon in Donna's return. Praise is heaped upon Russell T. Davies. Geography Corner leads to Camden Market and old Pasadena movie theaters. Shaun proves to be popular. The slight weirdness in the timeline regarding Rose leads to a lot of callbacks. "Old Douglas" debuts and Erik makes a case for the theatrical cut of Blade Runner.

Tread Perilously continues to celebrate Doctor Who at 60 with a look at the 2005 story simply titled "Dalek."

When The Doctor intercepts a distress signal a mile under the Utah desert, he and Rose materialize in the vault of Henry san Statten, a rich tech entrepreneur with a taste for the extraterrestrial. His collection includes a Slitheen hand, a Cyberman helmet, and one live specimen: a damaged Dalek. The Doctor responds with fear, shock, and even bloodlust. Rose, though, makes an interesting choice in her first interaction with The Doctor's greatest foe. Also, some kid who's too handsome for his own good gets involved.

Erik shares the Gallifrey One guest list -- which happens to feature a timely name. He also shares the Doctor Who Magazine rankings for Ninth Doctor episodes. It leads, naturally, into the weeds. Justin calls out Rose's fashion choices. Bane makes a surprising appearance. The Cybermen get a well-deserved ribbing. The pair try to determine who van Statten is based on. Pronunciation Corner surrounds Ms. Goddard and various ways to say "written." Erik tries to recall why Bruno Langley was a big deal in 2005. The big change to The Doctor is discussed and the moment the Internet went insane is determined.

Tread Perilously's celebration of Doctor Who's 60th anniversary continues with the Fifth Doctor story called "Black Orchid."

In a case of mistaken identity, The Doctor ends up playing cricket with a British lord in 1925. But when the lord discovers Nyssa looks just like his fiancée, he invites the TARDIS crew up to his manor for drinks and a costume ball. Unfortunately, the manor is also home to an unknown horror who escapes his bonds, steals the Doctor's fancy dress costume, and tries to kidnap the lord's bride-to-be. Is there more to the story? And why won't Lady Cranleigh alibi The Doctor when he's accused of murdering a butler?

Justin's love for Mrs. J continues. Erik reveals the Doctor Who Magazine reader poll standings for Fifth Doctor stories. A new slogan for banh mi appears. Justin shares a theory about gothic horror. His appreciation for the Fifth Doctor era continues to develop. Erik lauds the concept behind the story, but criticizes a lot of the execution. The pair try to make sense of cricket. Sting and Trudy make a surprise appearance. A debate about the South American native character occurs. The unseen "Smutty" becomes key to everything and Nyssa, as a character, finally gets examined.