Doctor Who: The Metebelis 2

This week on the M2P, David and Ben look at the women companions of the Doctor from Susan to Sarah. Do companions start out well, but lose definition as their time in the TARDIS goes on? What are the rare qualities that make a good assistant? Which companion is the rarest of all? Who's slightly eccentric, but everything you want in an assistant? And, is Sarah Jane the yardstick by which all companions are measured? These questions and more in our look at the first ladies of Doctor Who. Intro music is "Frantic Fracas" by Johnny Hawksworth and used as music in the Inferno nightclub in "The War Machines". Closing music is "Jo Frees the Doctor" by Malcolm Clarke from "The Sea Devils".

In anticipation of Nardole joining the time team, the Metebelis 2 take a quick look at his predecessors in the TARDIS and ask which male companions worked for them and which didn't quite make the cut. The two also express their admiration of Ian Marter's time on the show. Intro music is from Murray Gold's score for "The Husbands of River Song". Exit music is "Futile Escape" composed by Dudley Simpson for "Genesis of the Daleks" and performed by Heathcliff Blair. Plus a bonus soundbite from Matt Lucas talking about Nardole, recorded December 2016 on the One Show on BBC.

Ben and David look at the Doctor Who stories by Chris Chibnall and talk about what he may bring to the show as the next showrunner. What are Chibnall's strengths? Where might the pitfalls be for him moving to the BBC? And is he really responsible for reptile women with breasts? Intro music is "Cubes" from "The Power of Three" and closing music is the theme for "Dinosaurs from a Spaceship", both pieces composed by the one and only Murray Gold.

Monster Smackdown! Ben and David challenge each other with picks of Doctor Who monsters that fall a bit short. Each armed with five so-called duds spanning from the 1960s to the 2010s, can they successfully rebut one another's selections? Intro music is an excerpt from "The Magma Beast" by Roger Limb from "The Caves of Androzani". Outro music is "I See You Silence" by Murray Gold from "Day of the Moon".

Ben and David chat about the recent animation of The Power of the Daleks and share their thoughts on its successes and shortcomings. Then speculate on their dream animations for the missing visuals of 1960s Doctor Who and wonder why BBC Worldwide doesn't hire them as animation commissioning editors. The intro is "Fluid Link" and outro is "Inside the City", music composed by Tristram Cary from "The Daleks" original score and reused as incidental music in Troughton's debut story.

The Cybermen stories from the 1980s are revisited by the Metebelis 2 on this week's show. Find the answers to questions such as: Which cyber stories work and which fall short? Has Earthshock held up over time for David? Why do the cybermen fare so poorly in Gallifrey's Death Zone? What could go wrong with the most continuity heavy story ever? And, does Ben like jazz? Plus, the two chat about how eager they are anticipating the 'excellent' fanzine, Vworp Vworp volume 3. Intro and outro music are excerpts from the incidental music score by Malcolm Clarke from "Earthshock".

Ben, recovered from the Space Plague, joins David to reflect on the passing of John Hurt, the War Doctor. Discussion then moves on to Peter Capaldi's looming departure and then speculate on which actor could be and should be cast to replace him. Lastly, the two chat about "Revenge of the Cybermen", Tom Baker's only encounter with the men of cyber. Intro music: "No More" from Murray Gold's score from "The Day of the Doctor". Intermission and closing music is from Carey Blyton's score from "Revenge of the Cybermen".

Ben is out sick with the Lurgi this week, so David is joined by his son, Eliot, for a brief chat about Peter Capaldi's announcement that Series 10 is his last. Plus a bit of discussion about why Eliot likes multi-Doctor stories and why David would prefer Paul McGann specials. Intro music: a clip from Murray Gold's amazing score for "Heaven Sent". Outro music is "Two Doctors" by Murray Gold from "The Day of the Doctor".

Having recovered (barely) from the sexy-sexy 'Cyberlady' of last week, the Metebelis 2 journey back to the early days of the Cybermen to discuss the 1960s cyber-stories. Along the way, they praise the incidental stock music, congratulate Who monsters and their graphic designing minions, and speculate if dentistry is compatible with cyber technology. Intro-music is from "Power Drill" by Douglas Gamley, which was heard in "The Tenth Planet". Outro-music is the classic 1960 Cyberman theme, "Space Adventures part 2" by Martin Slavin. Also heard along the way is "Muzak" from "Time in Advance" by John Baker from "The Invasion".

Going in reverse broadcast order, Ben and David chat about Cybermen in 21st century Doctor Who and how the Moffatt and RTD eras differ when depicting the Doctor's silver foes. Do Cybermen still work in 'new' Who? Are Daleks better? Finally Ben cannot escape before David brings up Torchwood's Cyberwoman episode written by future showrunner Chris Chibnall. Music is from "Cybermen" by Murray Gold from Rise of the Cybermen/Age of Steel.

Using Peter Cushing's digital mask used in "Star Wars: Rogue One" as a starting point, Ben and David share their thoughts on the technology and using it to bring actors back to our screens. The two chat about impact could the digital masks have on "Doctor Who" and how Big Finish is re-casting the first three Doctors. Intro and outro music is a piece from the 1965 movie, "Dr. Who and the Daleks" titled "The Eccentric Dr. Who" by Malcolm Lockyer. Enjoy!

Ben and David share their thoughts on the 2016 Christmas special and their mutual appreciation of Nardole's visit to the Byzantium Empire. Plus the two geek out over the Series 10 trailer and the hinted return of the Movellans and then speculate over which old monsters may next be returning to "Doctor Who". Intro: clip from "The Return of Doctor Mysterio". Outro music: "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" composed by Nat Simon and Jimmy Kennedy and covered by "They Might Be Giants" on their 1990 album Flood.

The wide Atlantic Ocean divides the Metebelis 2 this week. Ben is back home in England, where he is joined by his niece Lauren (age 10) and nephew Finn (age 12) to discover their reaction to the Return of Doctor Mysterio. Back in the New World, David is wintering in the Columbia Department of the Hudson's Bay Company, where he is joined by his wife Rita and his two teenaged kids, Eliot and Annika, for a post-viewing discussion about the special as well. This week's music is from Murray Gold's incidental score for 2016 Doctor Who Christmas Special.

The Metebelis 2 look at the Matt Smith-era Christmas specials penned by Steven Moffat. Listen in as Ben and David discuss grunting sharks, the appropriate use of the Oxford comma, WW2 Lancaster bombers, the Not-So-Great Intelligence, and 'Handles'. Is the Grand Moff trying to "win" Doctor Who? Plus a little meta-podcast discussion at the end about a possible Christmas hiatus. Intro music is "Back to Christmas" from "The Time of the Doctor" and outro music is "Abigail's Song (Silence Is All You Know)" from "A Christmas Carol" performed by Katherine Jenkins, both composed by Murray Gold.

Snow flurries put Ben and David in a wintery mood as they discuss Christmas specials and Doctor Who. Despite being broadcast for 26 years prior to the return of the show in 2005, the "Feast of Steven" with William Hartnell was the only Christmas episode. Why is Christmas television special in the UK and how great was Russell T Davies for establishing this brilliant Doctor Who tradition? What are the Christmas picks of the Metebelis 2 from the RTD era and what classic Who could be viewed as Christmas television? Pick up a mug of warm cocoa and give a listen. Intro music: "Merry Xmas Everybody" by Slade. Outro music: "Song for Ten" by Murray Gold featuring Tim Phillips.

Ben and David wrap up their discussion on horror during the Hinchcliffe and Holmes era with a look at Season 14. Was this era horrific enough, or were there missed opportunities? What's the significance of owls and Sarah Jane? Would Eldrad have gotten along with K9? Are all assassins deadly? Answers to these questions and more in this episode of the Metebelis 2 Experience. Plus Ben's defense of the tarnished Talons of Weng-Chiang and the duo's picks for the best horror of the era. Intro music is an excerpt from "The Mandragora Helix" by Dick Mills. Outro music is the theme from "Target" composed by Dudley Simpson. "Target" was the show Hinchcliffe would go on to produce after his stint on "Doctor Who."

The Metebelis 2 are joined by @GregSchaal to chat about watching Doctor Who on KTCA Channel 2 and some mid-1980s Doctor Who memories in the Twin Cities, Minnesota including convention meeting three Doctor Who actors. Then they three talk about the "The Return of Doctor Mysterio" trailer and superhero comics, spin-offs, and a plan to bring back Paul McGann. Intro: KTCA Channel 2 continuity announcement with a promo for the Whovian Festival Tour of 1986. Outro: "The Creature Attacks" by Geoffrey Burgon from the incidental music score from "The Seeds of Doom".

The full onslaught of Hinchcliffe and Holmes mash-ups is unleashed on Ben and David as they talk about horror in Season 13. Will the Metebelis 2 escape horrible baby octopus monsters? Or, will their moms try to feed them raw meat trying to transform them into Krynoid monsters? There's only one way to find out... Intro music is "Sutekh Desends" composed by Dudley Simpson for "Pyramids of Mars" and arranged and performed by Heathcliff Blair. Outro music is "Trapped" by Geoffrey Burgon from "The Seeds of Doom".

Ben and David do an overview of the Hinchcliffe/Holmes era as they continue their look at horror in Who by looking at this era's influences and impact on the show. Do these stories hold up for today's fandom? How 'horrible' are they? Are they mostly Hammer and other horror movie pastiches? What were the influences of Mary Whitehouse and her British conservatism in the 1970s, and why did David Sullivan name a magazine after her? From "teatime terror for tots" to Bristol Boy catchphrases, join the Metebelis 2 as they geek out about Season 12 and chat about horror, sadism, and cliffhangers. Intro music by Dudley Simpson's incidental music score from the opening of "The Ark in Space" Part One. Outro music "Sarah Pursued/The Prototype" from music composed by Dudley Simpson for "Genesis of the Daleks" and arranged and performed by Heathcliff Blair.

Ben and David continue their examination of Who Horror with a look of the Jon Pertwee era. What did the white, middle-aged, male writers of Who in the early 1970s find so horrific? From the Autons to Giant Spiders, the Pertwee era was a mishmash of many things. Ben waxes fondly on the Green Death and, as the resident "pervy" European, delves into the possible sadomasochism in the Pertwee-era. Intro music is "Keller Machine Theme" by Brian Hodgson and outro music is incidental music from "The Planet of Spiders" by Dudley Simpson.