Debating Doctor Who

Sorry this one is a bit late. The last few days have been a (wonderful) whirlwind, but hopefully that's the last time I need to make such an excuse. Anyway, we work our way through an odd, underwhelming, but not awful finale. What parts work? (Hi, Graham!) What parts don't? (Ugh, it's you, Tim Shaw.) Why doesn't this work, and we can't just say "Tim Shaw" and be done with it? We'll be back sometime -- probably after the holidays -- to talk series 11 generally, and look out for our take on the New Year's special after it airs!

Yeah, this one is incredible. Not our podcast, necessarily, at least not Alasdair's way over-clocked audio. (Sorry about that one.) But "It Takes You Away" is something really beautiful and special, and Allison especially has a ton to say about it. We look at how this episode explores the nature of grief, but also how that's only such a tiny fraction of everything that's going on here. Honestly, I'm not even sure how to summarize this one. Just give a listen if you're feeling so kind.

It's the landmark 112th episode of The Alan Cumming Discussion Hour! Allison and Alasdair dive into the gloriousness that is Alan Cumming as King James I, and also we talk a bit about the Doctor Who episode he happens to be spending time in. Actually, we have a lot to say about this one beyond just Cumming's admittedly brilliant performance, and Allison especially looks closely at what works and what doesn't about its handling of the Doctor's gender and how it affects her role in the story. Also, Alasdair transcends the very notion of self-parody with a fantasy casting suggestion that has to be heard to be believed.

We celebrate Doctor Who's 55th birthday by discussing the show's big look at automation and corporate culture. Alasdair really loved this one, so much so he starts breaking out the "Robots Of Death" comparisons, which is high praise from a classic Who fan. Allison wasn't feeling this one as much, but she finds herself warming to "Kerblam!" over the course of the discussion. All that plus general discussion of how this episode handles robots and the future, how this feels like a low-key turning point for Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor, and how Alasdair's girlfriend has some points to make via text about some stuff he said during our "The Woman Who Fell To Earth" discussion!

The latest episode joins "Rosa" as a heartbreaking, intimate look at one of the 20th century's grimmest chapters. But does it succeed in at last deepening Yaz? We dive deep into this mostly brilliant, beautiful episode, one that feels a long, long time coming for a British cultural institution like Doctor Who. As for the question of the show's least defined companion, well, we don't exactly have good news there, but at least we have a lot to say about just where Yaz stands six episodes in. Plus Allison reveals why she loves this episode's aliens so damn much, and Alasdair takes us all on a long-winded journey through the new series's historical episodes. Oh, and we also digress quite a bit to talk about dream guest stars. We both definitely have types.

We get in some proper debating in this episode, albeit in the most happy and agreeable of ways! Allison really enjoyed this episode, Alasdair had some reservations, and we end up meeting somewhere in the middle. Topics include: What sets apart Chris Chibnall's sci-fi world-building? How does the Doctor's gender inform the scene where she's called out for being selfish? Is it possible to do a successful male pregnancy subplot? Just how many characters can this show pay time and attention to before poor Yaz gets a look-in? All that and more, so come listen!

We're coming late and through a raft of pre-recording technical difficulties, but we're here! We're not huge fans of this past week's episode, but we don't exactly dislike it either. It's just sort of there, really, and we try to figure out why this one feels so insubstantial. Maybe this would work better if either of us were arachnophobes. As it is, we find some stuff to like here, especially in what the story says about Graham and grief, but we also wonder if the show has quite zeroed in yet on what sets the new Doctor and Yaz apart. The show very much feels like a work in progress, and we're still pretty sure that's a good thing? Have a listen and see what you think.

We take a long, sometimes faltering look at one of the most powerful Doctor Who episodes we’ve seen in a long time. “Rosa” is a stunningly accurate, always respectful telling of the civil rights pioneer’s story. Does it also work as an episode of Doctor Who? Does that even matter? Two extremely white people try their best to capture the nuances of an episode that entirely deserves nuanced discussion. Plus we go on some odd tangents about one-shot villains and big American guest stars. Oh, and we don’t forget to roast “The Shakespeare Code” and Andrew Garfield’s incredible American accent in “Daleks In Manhattan”, so fear not.

It took a second, we know, but we're here to talk about the new Doctor's first trip to an alien world. We have a few small but concrete issues with this episode, more than balanced by a lot of big but kind of elusive things we really liked. We discuss which characters are connecting and which really should but haven't had the material to do so yet. We talk about how the world-building here feels different from what we've grown used to over the past 10 seasons. We wonder about the apparent arcs of this season and whether we'd be okay if the show just kind of got on and had some straightforward adventures, but oh well. All that and more, so come listen!

We're back... and it's about time! (Again.) Yes, we've been on hiatus, but we couldn't let a whole new era, whole new season, and whole new Doctor pass us by, now could we? So Alasdair and Allison are here to discuss their thoughts on the 13th Doctor's first adventure. We talk about Jodie Whittaker's arrival in the role, what it's like to see such a different approach to companions, and even a little about the episode's monster, even if we do totally forget to discuss that bit until right before the end. We're excited for the new season, and we're excited to be back to talk about it. Let's do this!

Classic Who neophyte Allison lobs every question she can think of at our resident expert on all things 1963 to 1989. How has the TARDIS changed over the years, both inside and out? What about the theme song and the logo, especially after the recent debut of the 13th Doctor's? Which are the best companions, and which are the least effective? Do you need to be a completist? What are 10 (though Alasdair totally cheats and picks 11) essential stories? All that and more as we dive into some weird corners of Classic Who lore!

Friend of the show and Talking Who to You cohost J.G. McQuarrie joins Alasdair to discuss the long history of Doctor Who in print. We start with the Target novelizations, which served as the effective rerun and home video release for stories before VHS, DVD, and streaming were even imagined. We look at the 7th Doctor's continued adventures in the Virgin New Adventures, which represent perhaps the darkest, most complex period in the franchise's entire history. We consider the 8th Doctor's run as incumbent Doctor in his own series of BBC Books, providing a kind of dry run for many of the creative decisions Russell T. Davies would make with the new series. And we touch on the New Series Adventures, the tie-in books for the revived show. If you've ever wondered what Doctor Who has to offer on the page, consider this your primer!

As our initial discussion of frozen tundras suggests, we recorded this one a while ago, which, yes, sorry about that. But hey, this is pretty timeless stuff! (We think. It's been a while.) All of our wonderful listeners have filled our inbox to the brim, so we take another hour and read through your missives. We ponder a thought experiment in which the 10th and 11th Doctors swap regeneration stories. We assess how much Gallifrey really played into the 12th Doctor's story. We consider a frankly brilliant idea for a regeneration where you don't know who the new Doctor is. And we close with a wonderfully bonkers plan to reveal the true identity of Bradley Walsh's new companion.

The companion episode to our previous look at Torchwood, this one takes a long, generally fonder look at the other Russell T. Davies-era spinoff, The Sarah Jane Adventures. Alasdair is joined by new friend of the show Anthony Strand to discuss the enduring appeal of this show and look at a few highlights from the show's 27 stories. We look at the subtly shifting cast and why Elisabeth Sladen was so brilliant as the (relatively speaking) unconventional lead for a children's show. We discuss what the various child actors brought to the show and spotlight some of our favorite guest stars, from classic Who companions to future new series ones. And we run through some of our favorite episodes, as Sarah Jane and her young friends take on Slitheen, Sontarans, the Trickster, and much more!

Our next stop in our exploration of all things Brigadier and UNIT is a pair of alien invasion stories with good parts and... well, yeah, both have more than their fair share of bad parts. Allison very much continues to have Luke Rattigan thoughts. But "Terror Of The Autons" might be the more disappointing entry here, especially when something that is both sequel to "Spearhead From Space" and introduction for the Master should have plenty of awesomeness to spare. We dive into why the story doesn't work as well as it ought to, plus Alasdair busts out another classic Who history lesson.

The Brigadier Chronicles begin with a look at the 3rd Doctor's debut adventure. Alasdair sets the scene for what was essentially a reboot of the entire show, one that has hugely influenced subsequent relaunches for the show including "Rose", "The Eleventh Hour", and even the 1996 TV movie! But beyond that, it's just a fantastic story, with the Autons and the Nestene never better (at least without Rory around, that one is close actually) than they are here. We also check in on "The Power Of Three," the official restart of a Lethbridge-Stewart running UNIT. Allison still has her issues with the ending, but Kate Stewart really is delightful, and she only gets better from here.

It's once again a combination of classic and new series as we look at another pair of Sarah Jane Smith stories. First up, Allison meets Tom Baker's 4th Doctor in "Pyramids Of Mars," which feels shockingly modern at points. Both she and Alasdair are amazed by just how good Baker is here, which maybe we shouldn't be given how iconic his Doctor is, but hey, we're here now. We break down just how Baker's performance gives such a sense of urgency to the proceedings, and why 96 minutes of 1970s-era Who is surprisingly brisk. Then we take a look at "School Reunion," which has its faults but is still a delightful showcase for the Doctor and all his companions. Yes, Mickey very much included.

We celebrate our landmark 100th episode by looking at two largely forgotten curios in new Who: David Tennant's and Matt Smith's guest appearances on The Sarah Jane Adventures! For Allison, it's a pair of all-new performances she's never seen before from the 10th and 11th Doctors, while Alasdair gets to have some fun with all the classic Who lore on display. What's it like when the Doctor is explicitly a guest star in somebody else's story? What does it sound like for the 11th Doctor to deliver Russell T. Davies-written lines? And just how charming is this this delightful little spin-off? All that and more as we complete our first 100 episodes and look forward to 100 more!

After messing around with the TV movie, we officially break the seal on the classic series... by watching the very last story from its original run. That's right, it's time for the 7th Doctor and Ace to make their proper debuts on the podcast as we look at their de facto finale, "Survival." We also take another look at "The Eaters Of Light," as both stories are by Rona Munro. How will Allison respond to her first classic experience? Will our opinions of "The Eaters Of Light" change with a rewatch? Listen and find out!

Caroline is back once more to help us work through our favorite guest stars of the Steven Moffat era. It turns out to be a slightly trickier proposition, especially in later years where so much of the amazing acting is focused on the main characters. But we throw out a bunch of names both expected and perhaps unexpected, as we look to highlight guest performances both large and small. Sometimes in the same episode!