The Doctor Who Show

The Mandalorian (Series 2)

Rob, Dave and Richard discuss series two of The Mandalorian.

Beginning five years after the events of Return of the Jedi (1983) and the fall of the Galactic Empire, The Mandalorian follows Din Djarin, a lone Mandalorian bounty hunter in the outer reaches of the galaxy. He is hired by remnant Imperial forces to retrieve the child Grogu, but instead goes on the run to protect the infant. While looking to reunite Grogu with his kind, they are pursued by Moff Gideon, who wants to use Grogu's connection to the Force.

Chapter 9: The Marshal
Chapter 10: The Passenger
Chapter 11: The Heiress
Chapter 12: The Siege
Chapter 13: The Jedi
Chapter 14: The Tragedy
Chapter 15: The Believer
Chapter 16: The Rescue

Fan Reactions That Surprised You

How many times have you watched an episode of Doctor Who, then gone online and wondered if the rest of the world watched the same episode?

It might be a story you really loved and it feels like everyone else is panning it. Conversely it might be a story you thought was the worst thing you've ever seen in your life yet, when you go online afterwards, people are talking about it like it's the next Genesis of the Daleks.

It's weird, right? Frustrating? Yeah, we hear you. On tonight's episode, we have TONS of listener feedback on the topic, not only because it gives us a wide and varied group of examples but because we wanted you to be involved in our final episode of 2020 as a thank you to all your support this year. We do throw in some of our own thoughts too, of course!

Before then we talk about the past month in Doctor Who news – this time including the imminent arrival of Revolution of the Daleks and some last minute filming that's been added to it – in addition to some short topics.

Hope you enjoy the episode! Contact us anytime, hello@theDWshow.net

Primary Sources – July 1991

Welcome to the third episode of the podcast we’re dropping on the feed every month in between our regular monthly shows.

These are short (20 minute-ish) shows where Rob from the Doctor Who Show sits down with a guest and reads letters – the primary sources of the title – about Doctor Who from the 80s and 90s, for the purpose of kick-starting a conversation. Vitally, the guest doesn’t know anything about the letters until the recording.

This is Doctor Who without a safety net. The conversations could go anywhere the guest wants them to go.

This is Primary Sources.

(PS: We had some audio issues with this one, dear listener. Apologies.)

Alien Worlds

For many months the topic, "Alien Worlds" has sat on the Doctor Who Show's episode list, staring at Rob & Dave as they marched through each previous month inexorably towards finally doing it.

And tonight the guys finally get to talk about their favourite alien worlds from both Classic and Nu-Who. Which ones will they choose? Will their favourite Doctors influence their choices?

Before then of course, they stick to show's format and talk about the past month in Doctor Who news - this time including the show's 57th anniversary - in addition to some short topics.

Hope you enjoy the episode! Contact us anytime, hello@theDWshow.net

Primary Sources – May 1989

Welcome to the second episode of the new podcast we’re dropping on the feed every month in between our regular monthly show.

These are short (20 minute-ish) shows where Rob from the Doctor Who Show sits down with a guest and reads letters – the primary sources of the title – about Doctor Who from the 80s and 90s, for the purpose of kick-starting a conversation. Vitally, the guest doesn’t know anything about the letters until the recording.

This is Doctor Who without a safety net. The conversations could go anywhere the guest wants them to go.

This is Primary Sources.

Season 25

Back in April of this year we reviewed Season 16 after a listener poll selected it from the list of four options we provided. A close runner-up to that season was Season 25 and, given its clear popularity with our listeners in the poll, plus the fact it debuted in October of 1988, we thought why not dive in and review it here in October 2020?

After a discussion of the season overall, including thoughts on where the show was at in general, the Australian fan experience for us, and also script editor Andrew Cartmel's first year in the role where he had full control over every story in the season, we then give our thoughts on each individual episode, before a summary at the end.

Remembrance of the Daleks
The Happiness Patrol
Silver Nemesis
The Greatest Show in the Galaxy

Hope you enjoy the episode! Contact us anytime, hello@theDWshow.net

Primary Sources - March 1985

Welcome to a new podcast we'll be dropping on the feed every month; usually two weeks after our main episode but on this weekend, we're dropping a Primary Sources on the Saturday and a Doctor Who Show on the Sunday. So you'll be getting another Primary Sources in two week's time, then another Doctor Who Show two weeks after that. Rinse & repeat.

What's it all about? Well, take a listen! These are short (20 minute-ish) shows where Rob from the Doctor Who Show sits down with a guest and reads letters - that's the primary sources of the title - about Doctor Who from the 80s and 90s, for the purpose of kick-starting a conversation. Vitally, the guest doesn't know anything about the letters until the recording.

This is Doctor Who without a safety net. The conversations could go anywhere the guest wants them to go.

This is Primary Sources.

Sontarans

When the world at large thinks about Doctor Who monsters, Daleks and Cybermen rule the roost. But what sits on the secondary shelf of adversaries? Arguably the Sontarans are pretty high in the pecking order for both Classic and Modern Doctor Who fans, but how did they get there? Do they deserve to be there? What does the future hold?

After some news and short topics, Rob and Dave take a deep dive on the Sontarans. Their listeners write in with a ton of feedback, too.

Let the guys know your thoughts on Sontarans or anything else you like at hello@theDWshow.net

Fantastic! It's the Eccleston era!

Every 12 months-ish, Rob and Dave look at an entire era of Doctor Who. Having done the Davison, Hartnell, and Pertwee eras in past episodes, the guys thought it was high time they did a Doctor from Nu-Who. But which Doctor...?

It didn't take long for them to decide on Christoper Eccleston.

Before then, the guys discuss the past month in Doctor Who which includes Peter Capaldi landing in the new Suicide Squad film; Brian Blessed talks about being offered the role of the Second Doctor; 'Time Fracture' - a new immersive Doctor Who experience is coming to London in 2021; and Fury from the Deep announced as the next DVD release.

Short topics include: a Twitter survey Dave conducted on Twitter about Turlough; new Character Options sets excite both Rob and Dave (but not the same sets!); and Rob finishes his collection of Second Doctor PDA novels.

Let us know your thoughts on Christopher Eccleston or anything else you like at hello@theDWshow.net

Doctor Who - Series One - 2005

Rose
The End of the World
The Unquiet Dead
Aliens of London / World War Three
Dalek
The Long Game
Father's Day
The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances
Boom Town
Bad Wolf / The Parting of the Ways

Alternate Galaxies: Star Trek: Picard (Season 1)

Rob and Dave discuss season one of Star Trek: Picard.

Star Trek: Picard is an American web television series featuring the character Jean-Luc Picard, created for CBS All Access by Akiva Goldsman, Michael Chabon, Kirsten Beyer, and Alex Kurtzman. It is the eighth series in the Star Trek franchise, and was launched in 2020 as part of Kurtzman's expansion of the franchise. 

Picard begins 20 years after Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) and sees a retired Picard deeply affected by the death of Data in that film as well as the destruction of the planet Romulus in the film Star Trek (2009).

Star Trek: Picard premiered on January 23, 2020, and its first season ran for 10 episodes until March 26. Second and third seasons were ordered before the first season debuted. The series was met with positive reviews from critics, who highlighted Stewart's performance and the focus on character over action but criticised the slow pace of the series.

"Remembrance"
"Maps and Legends"
"The End is the Beginning"
"Absolute Candor"
"Stardust City Rag"
"The Impossible Box"
"Nepenthe"
"Broken Pieces"
"Et in Arcadia Ego"

The Girl Who Waited

Regular listeners will know that aside from our 'hot take' episodes whenever new Doctor Who emerges, our other episodes are hardly ever based on reviewing a single story. In that way, we're probably different to many, or even most, Doctor Who podcasts out there which make single story reviews their main focus.

 

We 'broke' this rule in September 2019 by randomly selecting The Keeper of Traken for a deep dive and we loved the experience so much, we decided to do it again sometime in the following year.

 

Conscious that we did a Classic Who episode last time, a few weeks back we ran a Twitter poll asking listeners what they'd like to hear us do a standalone podcast on: Amy's Choice, The Long Game, The Girl Who Waited, or The Idiot's Lantern.

 

136 votes were cast, with 35.3% asking for The Girl Who Waited.

 

So... here we are! But some things never change and before we get to the episode itself we also rattle through some listener reviews, Doctor Who news, and short topics.

 

And be sure to let us know what you thought of our opinion on the story, so we can read you out, next time.

 

Hope you enjoy the episode! Contact us anytime, hello@theDWshow.net

Companions that span Doctors

Rob and Dave take a look at all the companions who spanned across different Doctors, from the first regeneration to the most recent.

Think: Ben and Polly, Sarah Jane Smith, Adric, Nyssa, Tegan, Peri, Mel, Rose, and Clara. There's a surprising number of them!

How did these companions assist in the transition? Were they better with their intended/orginal Doctor, or the one who came next?

Before the feature, the guys also rattle through some recent news and short topics relating to their Doctor Who fandom this past month.

Hope you enjoy the episode! Contact us anytime, hello@theDWshow.net

Terry Nation's Doctor Who Show

Terence Joseph Nation (8 August 1930 – 9 March 1997) was a Welsh television writer and novelist who listeners to our podcast will know as the creator of the Daleks.

As well as his work on Doctor Who for the First, Third and Fourth Doctors, Nation also created cult TV classics Survivors and Blake's 7, in addition to writing for The Avengers, The Baron, The Champions, Department S, The Persuaders! and The Saint.

Despite this astounding pedigree versus many of his peers, it's fair to say that Nation isn't widely regarded as one of the great classic Doctor Who writers.

Rob and Dave take a deep dive into Nation's career and fan perceptions of him to both re-evaluate the man and also pay tribute to his time on Doctor Who.

What are your favourite Terry Nation penned stories or series?

Hope you enjoy the episode! Contact us anytime, hello@theDWshow.net

The Key to Time (Season 16)

Rob and Dave asked listeners at the end of the previous monthly episode whether they should tackle Season 16 or Season 25 in this episode. Almost 150 votes were received across Facebook and Twitter, with Season 16 just squeaking through for the win.

After a brief discussion of the season, including thoughts on new companion Romana played by Mary Tamm, and returning producer Graham Williams, the guys then give their thoughts on each individual episode, before a summary at the end, tackling their best and worst episodes and whether the season works overall. What are your thoughts on it?

The Ribos Operation
The Pirate Planet
The Stones of Blood
The Androids of Tara
The Power of Kroll
The Armageddon Factor

Hope you enjoy the episode! Contact us anytime, hello@theDWshow.net

The Podcast of Decision III (The DW Show Presents...)

Time for another edition of the Podcast of Decision, this time featuring Dave, along with sometime Doctor Who Show contributor and co-host; Richard, and the guys from the 42 to Doomsday podcast; Rob and Mark.

If you’re unfamiliar with The Podcast of Decision, in November 2018, Rob and Dave sat down in a hotel room with Todd and Nathan from Flight Through Entirety (and Jodie into Terror), to record a breezy wander through all of Doctor Who via some games Dave devised. Dave called this recording, The Podcast of Decision.

In August 2019 we ran a second installment - coincidentally featuring today's cast - and it received such good feedback, a third edition was always going to happen at some stage. So here it finally is!

We hope you're all safe, staying at home and washing your hands and perhaps content like this can be of some comfort to ward off the dreaded 'cabin fever' during these extraordinary times.

Contact us anytime, hello@theDWshow.net