Tread Perilously

Tread Perilously docks at Babylon 5 to take a look at the late season three episode "Grey 17 is Missing," a story even creator J. Michael Straczynski admits was difficult to write. Boy does it show as Delenn's ascension to Ranger One becomes a drier affair than it should be -- and that's considering a threat against her life. Meanwhile, Garibaldi heads down to the titular Grey 17 where he encounters a cult led by Robert Englund and the Beast from Krull.

Justin is already missing Doctor Who as he admits he only saw season four of Babylon 5, but finds Garibaldi hard to watch. Erik admits to a soft spot for star Bruce Boxleitner and the design of the Babylon 5 station itself. It all leads to larger discussion of sci-fi television in the late 1990s and the similarities to Justin's favorite show of the era, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It also leads to a discussion of the show's influence on modern television and the video game series Mass Effect.

Tread Perilously returns to the beginning to celebrate its one year anniversary! A year ago, the show began as "An Axe to Grind" as Erik and Justin decided to do a podcast centered around Lifetime's limited series The Lizzie Borden Chronicles. They continued on to Doctor Who, Attack on Titan and a number of other series, but never returned to the TV movie from which the whole thing began: Lizzie Borden Took an Ax.

Lizzie begins her murder spree with her father and step-mother, but the baffled police of Fall River, Massachusetts cannot connect the dots without the help of Payback's Gregg Henry. Can The 4400's Billy Campbell get her acquitted on a Miranda technicality which will not exist for at least another fifty years?

Erik and Justin recount their fascination with the series and the early steps to its madness in the TV movie. They also consider the difficulties of the courtroom drama, the missing Lizzie Borden Chronicles characters and Lifetime's intended audience. Erik also tries to figure out his beef with The 4400's Billy Campbell.

Tread Perilously courts controversy as it takes a look at the Tom Baker era story "The Talons of Weng-Chiang," one of the highest-regarded stories in the series, but suggested by a listener who hates it.

The Doctor and Leela land in Victorian London and face yellow peril as the illusionist and mesmerist Li H'Sen Chang enchants young ladies to become part of the ghastly experiments of his master, Weng-Chiang. With the help of theater proprietor Henry Gordon Jago and local medical examiner Dr. George Litefoot, the Doctor and his companion uncover giant rats in the sewer, a phantom at the theater and a pig-brained robot responsible for starting World War VI.

Will Erik and Justin be able to see past the rampant racism in the story to the wit and humor of writer Robert Holmes? Will they want Jago and Litefoot to receive their own spin-off? Will Justin change his opinion of Leela? And just why do so many threats come from the 51st Century?

Tread Perilously continues its adventure in time and space with the Jon Pertwee era Doctor Who story "Death to the Daleks." The Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith find themselves on planet Exxilon out of power and out of answers. The Daleks also land on the planet, but also find themselves out of power. Turned into middle management, the Daleks order the natives and some marooned humans to mine an ore while the Doctor and a new friend learn the secrets of Exxilon's mysterious living city.

Erik and Justin discuss the odd similarities to "The Dominators," Pertwee's performance and both stories' slight case of senioritis. Terry Nation's strengths and weaknesses as a writer also get some examination. They plot the next big Dalek TV show: "Daleks of the Old West" and consider what happens when a Dalek becomes the boss of crusty gold prospectors. They also suggest the possibility that Nation was done with the Daleks when writing this story.

Tread Perilously's Doctor Who adventure takes them to an irradiated island on planet Dulkis for the not-so-beloved Patrick Troughton story "The Dominators." When the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe arrive for a day at the beach, they get involved in an alien invasion. While the pacifist Dulcians want to understand what the Dominators want, the cruel invaders will not talk. With their robot Quarks, they attempt to destroy the entire planet.

Erik and Justin continue to enjoy Troughton's Doctor and the wonderful Zoe. They also map an potential Dalek sitcom, call out the occasional period sexism in the story and continue considering perils of six-part stories (even if this story is a five-parter). Erik mentions the Quarks were an attempt to replace the Daleks and did we mention that Zoe is awesome?

Oh, and Justin finally admits he would watch Doctor Who outside of the podcast.

With only a handful of days remaining before the release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Erik takes the topic of the film off the Judy List. It leads to a discussion of tone, the Panel's feelings on director Zack Snyder, animated series based on cartoons and the perils of going grimdark. Host: Erik. Panel: Dawn, Clint

Tread Perilously continues its return to Doctor Who as Erik and Justin face the First Doctor's six-part adventure "The Web Planet" and almost crack under the pressure. The Doctor, Barbara, Ian and Vicki arrive on Vortis, a planet overrun by the ant-like Zarbi. There is also an invading force of bee people known as the Menoptera, but who are the real rulers of the planet? And why does it take so long for anything to happen?

Justin and Erik discuss the problems of the six-part story, William Hartnell's extra-strength flubbing and the way everyone seem to let the show down during this story. It's an extra dose of difficult black & white Doctor Who that cannot transcend the era in which it was made.

Tread Perilously returns to Doctor Who! But to begin another set of episodes with the famous Time Lord, Erik presents Justin with the 50th anniversary special, "The Day of the Doctor." Intended as an example of treading safely, the special may not have been a complete success.

The Doctor must face his past (literally) when his incarnation from the Time War must make the ultimate choice to end the war and destroy his home planet. Also, David Tennant's Doctor joins in as he remembers that terrible day.

Justin and Erik discuss its suitability for new viewers, the presence of John Hurt as the War Doctor and the Tenth Doctor's ego. They also consider the problem of the Time Lords as a story concept, the nature of time travel and the strange predicament of regeneration. Christopher Eccleston and Paul McGann are missed.

At long last, Erik experiences an episode of Justin's beloved Friday Night Lights. Unfortunately for him, it's the second season premiere, "Last Days of Summer," featuring Jesse Plemons as Beavis and Butthead, Kyle Chandler from Morning Edition and Adrianne Palicki from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

The plot revolves around Mark's attempts to get his quasi-girlfriend to come with him to a party and Jesse Plemons' attempts to get with Palicki. There's also a murder, two families in crisis, a baptism and a cameo by Tim Riggins.

Justin defends his love for the show and deciphers Erik's slanted opinion of the show from watching its worst episode. Photography, network meddling and the angelic grace of Palicki are discussed as well.

Recorded live at Long Beach Comic Expo! The Panel of Experts convenes to talk about some of the best worst movies around. This time, they took a look at what happens when the director of a classic martial arts film, a Realtor, a guy who really wants to see his kid in the pictures and a cable channel stumble over their intents. The group also discusses the origin of the term "Yakmala" and what makes for a Yakmala moment in a terrible-yet-entertaining movie. The movies reviewed include Gymkata, Double Down, Time Master and Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret. Moderator: Erik. Panel: Louis, Sarah, Clint, Justin.