Through the Vortex: Classic Doctor Who: Recent Episodes
Through the Vortex
Welcome to all Whovians! This podcast explores Classic Doctor Who (1963-1989) serial by serial providing context, commentary, and analysis. Whether you love Classic Who, are a New Who fan approaching the old series for the first time, or you just love some old-school science fiction, come along on a ride through the vortex. Do feel free to get in in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Sorry for the unexpected disruption in the schedule. I do have some upcoming exciting changes for the podcast, but needed a little break to get everything together for you.
I am moving release dates to Wednesday, and Through the Vortex will return on September 6th for the remainder of Season 4! We have some exciting serials to cover every other week, and I also will be doing biweekly discussions on topics related to the previous serial but that may encompass the larger era/Classic Who ideas on the off weeks.
I really do appreciate everyone who has tuned in for this show, and I apologize for my periodic burnout. It is my hope that from here on out I schedule breaks to make sure this doesn't happen in the future and I can provide higher quality content. Through the Vortex is a passion project, and I adore getting to make these podcasts and the am always quietly astonished people want to listen to me talk about my favorite show:-)
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Doctor Who does Atlantis....for the first time!
The Doctor, Ben, Polly, and Jamie end up getting kidnapped by a group of people living under the ocean who want to sacrifice them to their goddess. They are saved by the scientist Zaroff, but it quickly becomes clear his plans for Atlantis will be earthshattering.
A serial that has a lot of potential it never quite realizes, but still an entertaining ride with some great moments and ideas.
ZAROFF: Bang! Bang! Bang, bang! That's all.DOCTOR: Yes. Just one small question. Why do you want to blow up the world?ZAROFF: Why? You, a scientist, ask me why? The achievement, my dear Doctor. The destruction of the world. The scientists' dream of supreme power!
_____DAMON: Any sign of the Doctor?ARA: No. He must have died saving us.THOUS: We'll raise a stone to him in the temple.DAMON: No. No more temples. It was temples and priests and superstition that made us follow Zaroff in the first place. When the water's found it's own level, the temple will be buried forever. We shall never return to it. But we will have enough left to build a new Atlantis, without gods and without fish people.THOUS: Yes. That shall be his memorial.
Upcoming:
"The Moonbase"
Episodes 1 & 3 are missing, but have been animated
Team TARDIS lands on the Moon, where humans control the weather, but a strange virus is making everyone sick, and something is lurking just in the shadows....Monday, May 14th (returning to our regular weekly schedule after end-of-semester insanity)
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
After the Battle of Cullouden, the Scottish Highlanders who fought for Bonnie Prince Charlie are desperately seeking safety as the English brutally butcher the "traitors." When the Doctor, Ben, and Polly meet up with Jamie McCrimmon and his "Laird," they soon find themselves attempting to escape the English redcoats trying to hang them or sell them into indentured servitude.
One of the funniest of the historicals, the Second Doctor impersonates a German doctor (with a terrible accent) and a Granny while tricking would-be slave traders. Polly blackmails a soldier. Even Ben gets to play "Houdini." Note: I do give a bit of an overview of the history that led to the Battle of Cullouden. If you are already familiar, you can skip over to 28:22 where I hop into the serial itself.
Obviously this historical overview is broad strokes; there are a lot of complicated situations that led up to the Jacobite uprisings--this is a simplistic overview.
POLLY: What about Jamie? We can't leave him here.
DOCTOR: True. His ship's sailed.
POLLY: What will you do?
JAMIE: Oh, I'll be all right. They won't catch me.
BEN: Did you hear that! They'll catch us all if we don't move fast.
POLLY: Doctor, can we take him with us?
DOCTOR: If he teaches me to play the bagpipes.
Upcoming:
"The Underwater Menace"
Episodes 1 & 4 are missing. You can watch 2 & 3 though!
Doctor Who's first venture to Atlantis (yeah...there's more than one!)
Monday, April 24th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
The Daleks are mobile and they are getting their power....at any cost.
Enter a scheming would-be dictator, kidnapping, blackmail, false imprisonment, a mad scientist, and some very annoying recorder music. The newly-regenerated Doctor must think quickly to save the people of Vulcan.
In short, David Whittaker (the writer) is a genius.
DALEK: Why do human beings kill human beings?
BRAGEN: Get on with your work.
DALEK: Yes, master. I obey.
BRAGEN: Yes, obey me! From now on, I'll have complete obedience from everyone!
LESTERSON: Ah, I tried to turn the power off, but they were miles ahead of me. Marvelous creatures. You have to admire them.
BEN: But we've got to stop them!
LESTERSON: Oh, it's too late for that. They're the new species, you see, taking over from homo sapiens. Man's had his day. Finished now....All we can do is marvel at the creatures who are taking our place.
Upcoming:
"The Highlanders"
Team TARDIS lands in the middle of the Jacobite uprising and quickly befriend a group of Scotsman loyal to "the Young Pretender." But the Redcoats are ruthless in punishing those who rebel....
4 episodes, all missing:-(
Monday, April 10th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
A newly regenerated Doctor, Ben, and Polly land on the planet Vulcan and witness a murder. Now they must investigate a colony on the verge of Civil War where a scientist has discovered a capsule buried thousands of years with a familiar foe trapped inside....
In Part I, we are examining Episodes 1-3 and focusing primarily on the introduction of the Second Doctor.
Next Time:
Serial #30: The Power of the Daleks, Part II
Closing out the serial with episodes 4-6, we will discuss the Daleks themselves, the incredible cast of characters on the planet Vulcan, and the philosophical implications of this intricate story.
Monday, April 3rd
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Today, we are taking time to look back at Doctor Who's first three producers, their teams, their visions , and their contributions to the show. Enter Verity Lambert, John Wiles, and Innes Llyod!
NOTE: The pollen is really bad here in Georgia right now, and I've really been struggling with congestion, which has made recording a bit difficult. Hoping to return to the regular weekly schedule going forward however!
UPCOMING:
The Power of the Daleks
6 episodes, all missing:-(
A newly-regenerated Doctor, Ben, and Polly land on Vulcan, immediately witness a murder, and begin to investigate a mystery in the nearby colony.... Monday, March 20th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Taking a moment to celebrate our First Doctor!
I will be discussing the Doctor's character arc in this period of the show, Hartnell's wonderful performance, the Companions that define the Doctor, and some of the later appearances of the First Doctor in Classic and New Who.
This one is extra long as an apology for missing last week!
UPCOMING:
Behind the Scenes: The First Doctor
We are going to close out this era by discussing An Adventure in Space and Time and the producers, directors, writers, and others who helped define this era of the show.
Monday, February 27th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
The end of an era.
The TARDIS lands at the South Pole. The Doctor is ill. And Ben & Polly must contend with an invading group of aliens from the planet Mondas…better known as the planet of the Cybermen!
KRAIL [CYBERMAN): Care? No, why should I care?POLLY: Because they're people and they're going to die!KRAIL (CYBERMAN): I do not understand you. There are people dying all over your world yet you do not care about them.
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DOCTOR: What did you say, my boy? It's all over. It's all over. That's what you said. No, but it isn't all over. It's far from being all over.
Upcoming:
William Hartnell: Our First Doctor
Let us take a moment to mourn (and celebrate) the first version of a character who has given us joy for nearly 60 years.
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Thank you so much for listening!!
We are going to celebrate the great one-off villains of the First Doctor's era by counting down some of the best! No monsters or faceless hordes (so leaving off the Daleks--they got their own episode:-) but rather we are looking at the megalomaniacs, the schemers, and the scoundrels. Some are funny, some are scary, some are down-right devious, but all are unforgettable.In Part III we will look at my pick for the #1 Best Non-Monster Villain of the First Doctor Era!!
Part I looked at my picks from #10-6 and Part II looked at my picks for #5-2. Please check them out.
Also see Vanquishing Villains #1: The First Doctor and the Daleks for an in-depth discussion of the Daleks and how they define this era. This is a different sort of list.
Upcoming:
Serial #29: The Tenth Planet
4 episodes, all missing:-(
Team TARDIS lands at the South Pole where a team of scientists are monitoring a spaceship from the planet Mondas...
Monday, January 30th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Thank you so much for listening!!
We are going to celebrate the great one-off villains of the First Doctor's era by counting down some of the best! No monsters or faceless hordes (so leaving off the Daleks--they got their own episode:-) but rather we are looking at the megalomaniacs, the schemers, and the scoundrels. Some are funny, some are scary, some are down-right devious, but all are unforgettable.In Part II we will look at Villains #5-2. Next time, we will look at my pick for #1:-)
Please see Part I for my dive into Villains #10-6.
You also should see Vanquishing Villains #1: The First Doctor and the Daleks for an in-depth discussion of the Daleks and how they define this era. Obviously, they would top a list that includes monsters.
Upcoming:
10 Best First Doctor Villains (Part III)
We are going to continue are list with the top Villain for the First Doctor.Monday, January 23rd
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Thank you so much for listening!!
We are going to celebrate the great one-off villains of the First Doctor's era by counting down some of the best! No monsters or faceless hordes (so leaving off the Daleks--they got their own episode:-) but rather we are looking at the megalomaniacs, the schemers, and the scoundrels. Some are funny, some are scary, some are down-right devious, but all are unforgettable.In Part I we will look at some honorable mentions and Villains #10-6. Next time, we will look at my picks for Villains #5-2. My #1 Villain is getting his own little episode in Part III.
NOTE: See Vanquishing Villains #1: The First Doctor and the Daleks for an in-depth discussion of the Daleks and how they define this era. This is a different sort of list.
Upcoming:
10 Best First Doctor Villains (Part II)
We are going to continue are list with Villains #5-2 for the First Doctor.Monday, January 16th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Thank you so much for listening!!
In a small coastal town in the 1600s, a priest is terrified for his life and confides a riddle to the Doctor that will reveal the secret to Pirate Avery's lost treasure. Soon, the Doctor is kidnapped, Ben and Polly are charged with murder, and smugglers, pretend-witches, and pirates all collide!
AKA Doctor Who and PIRATES!
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BEN: Oh great! The way things are going there probably won't be a navy when I get back.POLLY: Look, Ben, for the moment we're in the seventeenth century, somehow. We'll just have to like it and lump it. Here you are.
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DOCTOR: Well, I'm afraid, my boy, we can't leave at the moment.POLLY: What? But why not?DOCTOR: Yes, well I know it's really difficult for both you to understand, but I'm under moral obligation.BEN: Well, about what? We've got no ties here.DOCTOR: No, but it's this village. I feel that I might be responsible for it's destruction, and therefore I must at least try and avoid this danger until Blake comes back.BEN: Yeah, but you heard what Blake said. We wouldn't stand a chance against Pike's mob. They're a right bunch of yobbos.POLLY: We wouldn't stand a chance.DOCTOR: Ah, wouldn't we, my dear?BEN: Well, what does that mean?DOCTOR: Well, you seem to forget, young man, that I've already met Pike, and I know something that he doesn't. The clue to the treasure.
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Upcoming:Top Ten Non-Monster Villains of the First Doctor Era We are going to celebrate the great one-off villains of the First Doctor's era by counting down some of the best! No monsters or faceless hordes (so leaving off the Daleks--they got their own episode:-) but rather we are looking at the megalomaniacs, the schemers, and the scoundrels. Some are funny, some are scary, some are down-right devious, but all are unforgettable.
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Thank you so much for listening!!
We've made it through Doctor Who's third season, AKA the season where the show transitioned into the form it would retain for the next 60 years. The Doctor is our wise hero accompanied by a plucky companion providing the human element. It's an uneven season--some of the best serials the show has ever done and...really no bad serials but some that are very unmemorable.
We'll discuss the season overall: the behind-the-scenes chaos, its thematic threads, what it introduces into the Doctor Who formula, the good, the great, and the ugly.
NOTE: In the round-up of which serials to watch, for some reason I forgot to discuss The Dalek's Masterplan. Possibly because it's hard to say whether to struggle through the reconstruction or not. It is easy to follow with the audio and stills. It genuinely is a great serial with great characters, a complicated but interesting story, a lot of commentary....but it is LONG (12 episodes), and it probably only needed to be 6 episodes. If you listen to the three-part podcast on that one, I mention you can basically watch the beginning and the end and leave out the middle strange side quest (even though that means missing the Monk, and who would want to miss the Monk?). Basically, watching still and audio for 5 hours is an investment. But if you want to make that investment, it is a rewarding story. Maybe someone has put out a condensed version somewhere? If not, at the very least check out the last episode--it is the bleakest ending the show has ever permitted.
NEXT TIME:
Serial #28: The Smugglers4 episodes, all missing:-(Pirates looking for buried treasure? Count the Doctor, Ben, and Polly in! Our last first Doctor historical.
Monday, January 2nd
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Thank you so much for listening!!
Oh, Dodo....there was so much potential with this companion that was squandered. It often feels as if the writers just held her in contempt but didn't want to write her out of the story. And that's a shame. Dodo could have been an interesting companion if anyone had bothered figuring out her story. We are going to take a moment to celebrate the good parts and mourn what could have been.
Upcoming:
Doctor Who's Third Season
We are going to take a look back at Doctor Who's revolutionary third season wherein the Doctor is firmly cemented as the hero of his own story and the Doctor/Companion roles are renegotiated in a lasting way.
Monday, December 26th (Happy Boxing Day!!)
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Thank you so much for listening!!
In 1966, in a tall London tower, Professor Brett has developed the computer WOTAN that can think for itself and will soon impartially run all the computers in the world to improve the human race's efficiency....WOTAN unfortunately has other ideas.
AKA Doctor Who enters the swinging 60s for the first time and the Doctor begins his war against machines.
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DOCTOR: Are you seriously telling me, sir, that you have invented a machine that can think?BRETT: Yes.DOCTOR: And never makes mistakes?BRETT: Never.
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STONE: It seems to me by the way you're talking, sir, that this machine can think for itself like a human being.SUMMER: It can. Only much more accurately.STONE: But sir, I mean, isn't this kinda risky? I mean, suppose it decides it can do without people, what then?
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Upcoming:Celebrating Companions: Dodo ChapletOh, Dodo....there was so much potential with this companion that was squandered. It often feels as if the writers just held her in contempt but didn't want to write her out of the story. And that's a shame. Dodo could have been an interesting companion if anyone had bothered figuring out her story. We are going to take a moment to celebrate the good parts and mourn what could have been. Monday, December 19th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Thank you so much for listening!!
Taking a moment to celebrate one of Classic Who's most underrated gems: Steven Taylor! The man who escaped a Mechanoid City and nearly died for a teddy bear who goes on to become a leader uniting Elders and Savages. Noble, headstrong, a tad immature, and a more than a bit silly, Steven deserves more love y'all.
Steven is arguably the Companion to the First Doctor who goes through the most--and he changes the most because of that experience! Our first companion to a "hero" Doctor, he is the first to be the "right-hand man" and friend to the Doctor, the first companion to embody the role we generally see companions play going forward.
NOTE for Clarity: I mention that Steven struggles with empathy...I think a better way of putting this would be he intellectually struggles with "perspective-taking." He deeply cares about people and has great sympathy for their suffering, but he struggles to understand when others see the world differently from him (which leads to him sometimes being a bit pig-headed/stubborn). I think the First Doctor actually has almost the opposite problem wherein he struggles to emotionally feel/connect to others but learns (mostly from Ian/Barbara) to understand multiple perspectives and ways of seeing the world. In the most simplistic terms: Steven is all HEART, and the Doctor is all HEAD.
Upcoming:
Serial #26: The War Machines
4 episodes that all exist!!!
The Doctor and Dodo arrive in "present day" London where scientists have been experimenting with a computer that can think for itself....
Monday, December 12th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Thank you so much for listening!!
In the far distant future there exists an almost perfect civilization with wealth, knowledge, and great scientific advancements. They have tracked the Doctor's progress through time and space and eagerly await his predicted arrival.... but how have they achieved such greatness? And who are the Savages who lurk beyond the City walls?
AKA Doctor Who does another allegory on why capitalism is bad.
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JANO: How can you condemn this great artistic and scientific civilization because of a few wretched barbarians?
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DOCTOR: Indeed I am going to oppose you, just in the same way that I oppose the Daleks or any other menace to common humanity.JANO: I am sorry you take this attitude, Doctor. It is most unscientific. You are standing in the way of human progress.DOCTOR: Human progress, sir? How dare you call your treatment of these people progress!JANO: They are hardly people, Doctor. They are not like us.DOCTOR: I fail to see the difference.JANO: Do you not realise that all progress is based on exploitation?DOCTOR: Exploitation indeed! This, sir, is protracted murder!JANO: We have achieved a very great deal merely by the sacrifice of a few savages.DOCTOR: The sacrifice of even one soul is far too great! You must put an end to this inhuman practice.
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JANO: You will find what I going to say very difficult to understand. All the Elders of our city are here, and so is the source of our supremacy on this planet. No man easily gives up the means which give him power.SENTA: I don't understand you, Jano.JANO: That is what I am asking you to do. I want you to destroy all this.SENTA: What? The laboratory? The generators?JANO: All the machinery which we have used to destroy our fellows.SENTA: They are not our fellows, Jano. They are the savages. They are not capable of development like us.JANO: How do you know?
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DOCTOR: Just think of the challenge to be able to set up the people of this planet for a new life. You're quite ready for this task.STEVEN: You think I can do it?DOCTOR: Yes, I do. And you're the only man who can, my boy.
Upcoming:Celebrating Companions: Steven TaylorTaking a moment to celebrate one of Classic Who's most underrated gems: Steven Taylor! The man who escaped a Mechanoid City and nearly died for a teddy bear who goes on to become a leader uniting Elders and Savages. Noble, headstrong, a tad immature, and a more than a bit silly, Steven deserves more love y'all.
Monday, December 5th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Thank you so much for listening!!
The Doctor, Steven, and Dodo end up in Tombstone, Arizona....right before the shootout at the O.K. Corral. AKA Doctor Who does a Western!
Yes, it is as fabulous as you think it will be. One of the funniest episodes of the era. Just beware of the song...it will remain in your head for the rest of your life.
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DOCTOR: Oh, my dear Dodo, my dear Dodo. You know you're fast becoming a prey to every cliché-ridden convention in the American West. And it's high time we left. Now, come along.STEVEN: Thank goodness for that.
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Upcoming:Serial #26: The SavagesThis is the first Classic Who story without individual episode titles! There are 4 episodes; all of them are missing.
Monday, November 28th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Thank you so much for listening!!
Finally, we reach the end!
This is my the third and final episode examining my thoughts on Jodi Whittaker's Regeneration Special "The Power of the Doctor." In this final part, I am focusing in on our Thirteenth Doctor and her companions. In short, I think they deserved better. Still, there are some great moments.
Enjoy!
NOTE: All three parts of this review were recorded the day after watching "The Power of the Doctor" in pretty much one take (I know!). But the last ten minutes of this episode I felt the need to return, briefly, to the review. Given some time and space, I needed to defend Yaz a bit more. I think she's pretty brilliant in this special. Period. I even buy her and the Doctor together in the isolation of this one episode. Yeah, they do that good a job with these final moments.
A big thank you to Hannah for listening to me as I fully processed this episode!
For what it's worth, this special ultimately softened me considerably to the last three seasons and I am (tentatively) excited to see what they do with the 60th anniversary. As is often the case with Doctor Who, it is possible my feelings on this entire era of the show will change drastically given more time and space. I look forward to revisiting it in a few years.
NEXT TIME:
Serial #25: The Gunfighters
"Holiday for the Doctor," "Don't Shoot the Pianist," "Johnny Ringo," "The O.K. Corral"Team TARDIS arrives at Tombstone, AZ....right before the Shooting at the O.K. Corral. One of the funniest episodes of the First Doctor's tenure. Go watch it. Beware the earworm of a song.
Monday, November 28th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Thank you so much for listening!!
We are back again! Continuing my thoughts on "The Power of the Doctor," Jodi Whittaker's regeneration special and Doctor Who's contribution to the BBC Centennial Celebrations, this time we are focusing on our dear Master, the Master-Cybermen, and the Daleks.
Some great ideas in here even if they are a bit too rushed to be fully explored.
Seriously....the Master as Rasputin. Gold.
NEXT TIME:
New Who Review: The Power of the Doctor, Part IIIThe finale of this review that is longer than the episode! This one will focus in on the Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, and her other companions. I will also touch upon the David Tennant Reveal.Monday, November 14th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Thank you so much for listening!!
The Thirteenth Doctor's Regeneration Special and Doctor Who's tribute to BBC's centennial celebrations, this is definitely an event episode.
And dear goodness does it try to cram in a lot!
I had a lot of thoughts on "The Power of the Doctor." Clearly. This will be a three-part review. Part I is discussing the Classic Who elements of "Power," Part II will discuss the villains, and Part III will be looking at the Doctor and her companions.
Enjoy!
CORRECTION: I mentioned that Ace was on the show for one season. This was a mistake; she is actually on for 2 seasons plus one episode (she enters in "Dragonfire" in Season 24 and is the companion for Seasons 25 and 26). Because Seasons 25 & 26 are shorter than other seasons on Classic Who, I often put them together in my brain. I still stand by Season 26 being pretty fantastic! Season 25 is great too--just a little more bonkers. The Seventh Doctor's first season (24) is written as if we are still in the Sixth Doctor's (insane) era and his second season (25) is when the show starts to find its footing for this very different Doctor.
NEXT TIME:
New Who Review: The Power of the Doctor, Part II
This one will be focusing on The Master, the Master-Cybermen, and the Daleks
Monday, November 7th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Thank you so much for listening!!
The Doctor is suddenly invisible in the TARDIS! Soon Team TARDIS discovers it has landed in the domain of the Celestial Toymaker. An eternal being with near infinite powers, the Toymaker traps others in his realm to play games (he's very bored). Now, the Doctor, Steven, and Dodo must win--or they will be trapped forever as the Toymaker's playthings.
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DOCTOR: You need me?TOYMAKER: Yes. I'm bored. I love to play games, but there's no one to play against. The beings who call here have no minds and so they become my toys. But you will become my perpetual opponent. We shall play endless games together, your brain against mine.DOCTOR: As you said, if I win the game, I can go.
TOYMAKER: So you can, Doctor, so you can. But I think you will lose.
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DODO: I wonder if we'll ever see the sergeant and the cook again? They were rather funny, you know.STEVEN: Look, you still believe in these creations of the Toymaker, don't you? You can't see that they're just phantoms, things created in his mind.DODO: If that's so, why do they lose to us? And always through doing something silly and human?STEVEN: Oh, I don't know. Maybe they get out of his control.DODO: There, that's just what I meant.STEVEN: What are you talking about?DODO: Look, he can bring them to life, but they have wills and minds of their own. I'll never be able to look at a doll or a playing card again with an easy mind. They really do have a secret life of their own.
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DODO: We'll never see him again, will we, Doctor?DOCTOR: Oh, my dear, don't talk too soon. The mind is indestructible. So is the Toymaker.STEVEN: What, you mean he can never be destroyed?DODO: But you defeated him.DOCTOR: Yes, just at this moment, but there will be other meetings in an other time.DODO: Then your battle with him will never end.DOCTOR: Yes, you're quite right, my dear, but anyway, let us cheer up. After all we did win the games.
___________________________________________
Upcoming:The GunfightersEpisodes: "A Holliday for the Doctor," "Don't Shoot the Pianist," "Johnny Ringo," "The O.K. Corral"
Team TARDIS encounters hilariously bad American accents in a comedic take on the shot-out in Tombstone....get ready for a song to get stuck in your head; forever.New Who Review: The Power of the DoctorAn immediate reaction to Jodi Whittaker's final outing as the Doctor.
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
The Doctor, Steven, and Dodo arrive on an Ark...in space! The remnants of the human race has joined forces with a race known as the Monoids. Together, they have fled Earth before it is overtaken by the Sun and are heading to the planet Refusis 2 where they hope to re-establish civilization. Unfortunately, Dodo has a cold....and the humans and Monoids of the distant future have no resistance to the virus....
STEVEN: Look, do you think this has happened before? That we've carried an infection from one age to another, or even one planet to another?DOCTOR: Oh, I don't want to think it about it, dear boy. It's too horrifying. Though I must say that we're usually very healthy.STEVEN: It'll spread through the whole ship, become an epidemic.
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STEVEN: And that, unfortunately, tells me only one thing...That the nature of man, even in this day and age, hasn't altered at all. You still fear the unknown, like everyone else before you.
______________________________
DOCTOR: He's right. A long time ago, your ancestors accepted responsibility for the welfare of these Monoids. They were treated like slaves. So no wonder when they got the chance, they repaid you in kind.REFUSIAN: Unless you learn to live together, there is no future for you on Refusis.DASSUK: We understand.DOCTOR: Yes, you must travel with understanding as well as hope. You know, I once said that to one of your ancestors, a long time ago.
Upcoming:Serial #24 The Celestial Toymaker(Episodes: "The Celestial Toyroom," "The Hag of Dolls," "The Dancing Floor," "The Final Test"
All missing EXCEPT episode 4, "The Final Test")
Monday, October 10thVanquishing Villains #2: The First Doctor vs Megalomaniacs
A special look back on all the larger-than-life megalomaniacs of the First Doctor's era. Monday, October 17th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
A special episode exploring Lucarotti's three fantastic historical serials: "Marco Polo," "The Aztecs," and "The Massacre." Considering one writer's themes and his contributions to the early years of Doctor Who.
Marco Polo:
MARCO POLO: Move not merely from one place to another, but from today into tomorrow, today to yesterday? No Ian, that I cannot believe.
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The Aztecs:
BARBARA: Don't you see? If I could start the destruction of everything that's evil here, then everything that is good would survive when Cortes lands.DOCTOR: But you can't rewrite history! Not one line!
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The Massacre:DOCTOR: My dear Steven, history sometimes gives us a terrible shock, and that is because we don't quite fully understand. Why should we? After all, we're all too small to realize its final pattern. Therefore don't try and judge it from where you stand. I was right to do as I did. Yes, that I firmly believe.DOCTOR: Even after all this time he cannot understand. I dare not change the course of history. Well, at least I taught him to take some precautions. He did remember to look at the scanner before he opened the doors. Now they're all gone. All gone. None of them could understand. Not even my little Susan, or Vicki. And as for Barbara and Chatterton. Chesterton. They were all too impatient to get back to their own time. And now, Steven. Perhaps I should go home, back to my own planet. But I can't. I can't.
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Upcoming:Serial #23: The Ark(Episodes: "The Steel Sky," "The Plague," "The Return," "The Bomb")
NO MISSING EPISODES:-)
Monday, October 3rd
Sorry all for the long hiatus! Hoping to get back into a regular schedule again. These reconstructions slow me down a little, but many are excellent stories and we shall prevail!! _____Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Still reeling from the traumatizing events of "The Daleks' Masterplan," Steven and the Doctor land in France days before the St Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Separated from the Doctor, Steven gets caught up with the Huguenots who fear a plot to assassinate the newly married Protestant Prince Henry of Navarre.
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TAVANNES: Thank God.CATHERINE: God had very little to do with it. What is this?TAVANNES: The list, Madame. When those Huguenots are killed we need have no further fear of a Protestant France.CATHERINE: We have no need of lists, Marshall. The good people of Paris know their enemies. They will take care of them.TAVANNES: The good people? Madame, if you rouse the mob the innocent will perish with the guilty.CATHERINE: Innocent? Heresy can have no innocents. France will breath of pure air after tomorrow.
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DOCTOR: I was not responsible.STEVEN: Oh, no. You just sent her back to her aunt's house where the guards were waiting to catch her. I tell you this much, Doctor, wherever this machine of yours lands next I'm getting off. If your researches have so little regard for human life then I want no part of it.DOCTOR: We've landed. Your mind is made up?
(The Tardis doors open.)STEVEN: Goodbye.DOCTOR: My dear Steven, history sometimes gives us a terrible shock, and that is because we don't quite fully understand. Why should we? After all, we're all too small to realize its final pattern. Therefore don't try and judge it from where you stand. I was right to do as I did. Yes, that I firmly believe.
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Upcoming:John Lucarotti's Historical TriumphsA special episode exploring Lucarotti's three fantastic historical serials: "Marco Polo," "The Aztecs," and "The Massacre." Considering one writer's themes and his contributions to the early years of Doctor Who.
Monday, July 11thSerial #23: The Ark(Episodes: "The Steel Sky," "The Plague," "The Return," "The Bomb")
NO MISSING EPISODES:-)
Monday, July 18th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
A special look back on the Daleks as villains that shaped the First Doctor's Era. The defining villain for this period in the show's history, the Daleks gave the show direction and turned the Doctor from a silly stubborn old man into a hero. This podcast will consider the serials: "The Daleks," "The Dalek Invasion of Earth," "The Chase," and "The Daleks' Masterplan."
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Upcoming:Serial #22: The Massacre(Episodes: "The War of God," "the Sea Beggar," "The Priest of Death," Bell of Doom")
NOTE: All missing
Monday, July 4th John Lucarotti's Historical TriumphsA special episode exploring Lucarotti's three fantastic historical serials: "Marco Polo," "The Aztecs," and "The Massacre." Considering one writer's themes and his contributions to the early years of Doctor Who.
Monday, July 11th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Using the directional device they stole from the Monk, Team TARDIS races to Kembel to stop the Daleks from using their Time Destroyer....meanwhile Mavic Chen appears to consolidate his power but may be losing at his own game...and the Daleks prepare their Time Destroyer as the others squabble.
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CHEN: Now do stop this masquerade! See, I know he [the Doctor] is trying to usurp my position with the Daleks.STEVEN: That is absurd. The Doctor's always fought the Daleks. Why don't you believe us? We don't know where he is.CHEN: Yet I find you at the entrance to the Daleks' secret headquarters. I know the Doctor's here and that he's trying to take my place. But I'll soon change that.STEVEN: Why can't you understand the Daleks do not make allies?
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DOCTOR: Well, my boy, we finally rid this planet of Daleks.STEVEN: Bret, Katarina.... Sara.DOCTOR: What a waste. What a terrible waste.
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Upcoming:The First Doctor and The DaleksA special episode looking back on all the First Doctor Dalek serials and considering how they shaped the show and the Doctor.
Monday, June 27thSerial #22: The Massacre(Episodes: "The War of God," "the Sea Beggar," "The Priest of Death," Bell of Doom")
NOTE: All missing
Monday, July 4th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
On the run from Maverick Chen, the Daleks, and an unexpected old Enemy, Team TARDIS flees with the taranium across time and space....
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STEVEN: You killed Bret! You just shot him down.SARA: He was a traitor. Between the three of you, you had stolen the taranium, the most valuable mineral in the universe. It was needed desperately to spread the peace which was founded in the solar system, to reach the whole galaxy.STEVEN: What was the taranium going to do?SARA: How should I know? I had my orders.STEVEN: Your orders. And even though it meant killing one of your own people, you obeyed them blindly, without question?SARA: One does not question the orders of the Guardian.STEVEN: You didn't stop to think how it came to happen that a space security agent, one of your own people, was a traitor?SARA: No!STEVEN: You didn't give Bret a chance, did you. You couldn't question Chen and you wouldn't question Bret.SARA: Look, what do you want me to say? That I believe your fantastic story?STEVEN: It's true.SARA: It mustn't be.DOCTOR: I'm afraid it is, my dear.STEVEN: But Bret had to be killed.SARA: Shut up! Bret Vyon was my brother.
____CHEN: Without me, their plan cannot completely work. Without me, they are but nothing. Nothing! When I am next to the Daleks, only they stand between me and the highest position in the universe. Then will be the time for me to take complete control!... You are a fortunate man, Karlton. You will have a high place in galactic history.KARLTON: The highest, next to you.
_________CHEN: Three time machines in one infinitesimal speck of space and time. Of course, a coincidence is possible, but hardly likely. You would agree?MONK: Oh, yes, I would agree.CHEN: Then why have you arrived here?MONK: Three, three time-machines? Yes, well, the odd one out belongs to a certain Doctor.DALEK: The enemy ship!MONK: Yes, that's right. The enemy. I have an old score to settle with him, but I'm sure yours is the prior claim.CHEN: He is a friend of yours?MONK: Friend? No, no, an enemy. An enemy to end all enemies! I came here to inflict a terrible vengeance on him. I mean, we're all on the same side here, aren't we.
Upcoming:
Serial #21: The Dalek's Master Plan, Part III (Episodes 11-12: "The Abandoned Planet" & "The Destruction of Time" ) We will also discuss the serial overall.
Both missing
Wednesday, June 22ndThe First Doctor and The DaleksA special episode looking back on all the First Doctor Dalek serials and considering how they shaped the show and the Doctor.
Monday, June 27th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Desperate to save Steven from his poisoned wound, the Doctor lands on a jungle planet searching for medical help. Meanwhile, a secret agent named Bret tries to warn Earth about the Daleks' alliance with the Outer Galaxies and impending invasion of the solar system. Soon Team TARDIS finds itself working with Bret to discover the Daleks 'masterplan and save Earth...even from the Guardian of the Solar system himself!
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DOCTOR: These are Daleks. Now you listen to me, young man, I am in charge of this situation.BRET: Sir! Will you shut up! At least that's stopped you arguing.DOCTOR: Well upon my soul.BRET: Now, look here, I don't care what happens to you, but I have got to warn Earth.DOCTOR: Yes, and you will have to do far more than that. If the Daleks are doing something drastic, then we have to stop the Daleks. Now will you shut up, sir?
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STEVEN: She pressed the wrong button, Doctor.DOCTOR: She may have wanted to, dear boy. She wanted to save our lives.BRET: It must have been quick.DOCTOR: I hope she's reached her Place of Perfection.STEVEN: Yes, but not that way.DOCTOR: She didn't understand. She couldn't understand. She wanted to save our lives and perhaps the lives of all the other beings of the Solar System. I hope she's found her Perfection. Oh, how I shall always remember her as one of the Daughters of the Gods. Yes, as one of the Daughters of the Gods.
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Upcoming:
Serial #21: The Dalek's Master Plan, Part II (Episodes 5-10: "Counter Plot," "Coronas of the Sun," "The Feast of Steven," "Volcano," "Golden Death," "Escape Switch" )
All missing EXCEPT: "Counter Plot," & "Escape Switch"
Wednesday, June 15thSerial #21: The Dalek's Master Plan, Part III (Episodes 11-12 & End Discussion: "The Abandoned Planet" & "Destruction of Time")
Both missing
Wednesday, June 22nd
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
I've tried so hard to get on board with Timeless Child....I really have indeed. But unfortunately, I have some issues...
In this podcast, I touch on what I think fails the Timeless Child storyline both in execution and in the fundamental ideas. I also speculate what will be done with the story going forward.
NOTE: I didn't discuss this in the episode but think I do allude to it: I actually don't have too many issues with canon being reframed/rewritten--mostly because Classic Who does this all the time. I do think that New Who has made this more difficult to do, however, and is better about canon continuity (until Chibnail's time). I may return to this in its own episode someday. I may also return to Timeless Child to directly discuss it in relation to the Cartmel Master Plan--which was a direction that the show was considering going in the 7th Doctor era before it was cancelled. I thought discussing that would be a big can of worms in this episode but do think the Master Plan and Timeless Child bear a lot of similarities and should be compared (especially given I oddly have fewer problems with the Cartmel plan?)
Upcoming:
Serial #21, Part I: The Dalek's Master Plan(Episodes: "1: The Nightmare Begins, " "2: Day of Armageddon,"
"3: Devil's Planet," "4: The Traitors," "5: Counter Plot," "6: Coronas of the Sun")
NOTE: Episodes 2 & 5 can be watched in their entirety. The others are missing.Monday, May 23rd
Serial 21, Part II: The Dalek's Master Plan
(Episodes: "7: The Feast of Steven, " "8: Volcano," "9: Golden Death," "10: Escape Switch," "11: The Abandoned Planet," "12: Destruction of Time")
NOTE: Episode 10 can be watched in its entirety. The others are missing.
Monday, May 30th
The First Doctor & the Daleks
A deep dive into how the Daleks help to define the First Doctor's era and a look back at all the Dalek episodes.
Monday, June 6th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Vicki is the first companion to choose a trip on the TARDIS! The first "pea in the pod" with the Doctor, she departs to prove her loyalty to her lover Troilus and re-write a myth. We didn't have her along for as long as we would have liked, and the fandom has somewhat forgotten her, but Vicki is a fantastic companion who sets the stage for later characters who link with the Doctor because they share his sense of adventure and fun.
Let's take a moment to celebrate Vicki, later renamed Cressida: the great adventurer, the rebel, the girl who could make the Doctor giggle, the woman who goes on to found Rome.
FYI: Sorry this is coming out a couple days late! I was closing out the semester and could not record this weekend. I also accidentally recorded the first part of this on my computer mic:-( I didn't have time to re-record and this is already late, so uploading as is. I will keep an eye on this for the future, however.
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NEXT TIME:
The Timeless Child Rant (You knew it was coming)
Monday, May 16th
For Classic Who, we are moving on to The Dalek's Master Plan!
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Odysseus and company are trying to invade Troy. Guess who thinks up the horse scenario? Oh, and Vicki might be Cressida....yeah, The Cressida. Hold your horses for Doctor Who's The Myth-Makers!
So, in all honesty, I recorded this one several times and also cut it down considerably. I may come back to the Myth-Makers in the future. Still not sure I did it justice. I also think that how I feel about this ending has changed with every viewing...so there's that!
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STEVEN: Well, the Doctor said they were Greeks. We're probably in Greece.VICKI: Oh, but that would be wonderful, wouldn't it? We might meet the Heroes!STEVEN: Those men who carried off the Doctor wouldn't be heroes, or anything like them.
_____
DOCTOR: Yes, yes. I'm afraid we must face up to it, Odysseus, man was never meant to fly.ODYSSEUS: Wasn't he now? Well, that seems to me a great shame. Now if your machine won't work, Doctor, I propose to fly you without it.DOCTOR: Oh? What do you mean?ODYSSEUS: Simply this. That my catapult is ready and it seems a great pity to waste it. Now you have failed me, therefore you are expendable. I propose to fire you over the walls of Troy.DOCTOR: Ah, but I have another idea. And a much better one.ODYSSEUS: It had better be. Well?DOCTOR: Have you ever thought of a horse?
Upcoming:
Celebrating Companions: VickiWe need to take a moment to say goodbye to our revolutionary, our Cressida, the Doctor's first pea in the pod companion, dear Vicki!Monday, May 9th
Serial #21: The Dalek's Master Plan ("The Nightmare Begins," "The Day of Armageddon," "Devil's Planet," "The Traitors," "Counter Plot," "Coronas of the Sun," "The Feast of Steven," "Volcano," "Golden Death," "Escape Switch," "The Abandoned Planet," "Destruction of Time")
All missing EXCEPT: "Day of Armageddon," "Counter Plot," & "Escape Switch"
Buckle in...this is a long one.
Probably will be broken into multiple parts.Monday, March 14th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Pirates and sea devils and dates....oh my!
Well....it tried? There are good ideas here...really good ideas. Shame it didn't really follow through.
Upcoming:
The Timeless Child Rant
You knew it was coming....
Monday, May 2nd
Serial #20: The Myth-Makers(Episodes: "Temple of Secrets," "Small Prophet, Quick Return," "Death of a Spy," "Horse of Destruction")
NOTE: All of these episodes are missing. Monday, February 28th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Vicki wondered what was happening over on that planet on the scanner....well, it isn't good. Welcome to Mission to the Unknown!
A group of humans have crash landed on a planet and one appears contaminated by the varga root which turns him into a killer fluffy thorny cactus. And the varga are not the most dangerous thing in the jungle.....
CORY: All right. I suppose you've heard of the Daleks?LOWERY: The Daleks invaded Earth a thousand years ago.CORY: That's right. Well, they haven't been active in our galaxy for some time now, but that doesn't mean they've exactly been sitting around. In the last five hundred years, they've gained control of over seventy planets in Ninth Galactic System and forty more in the Constellation of Miros.LOWERY: Don't see why that should concern us. I mean, they're both millions of light years away from our galaxy.CORY: Hmm, that's what we all thought. But about a week ago we had a report from the captain of a space freighter. His navigator spotted a space ship of a type never before used in our system. He saw it only for a second but he gave us a good description.LOWERY: So?CORY: What he described was a Dalek spaceship.
Upcoming:
Serial #20: The Myth-Makers (Episodes: "Temple of Secrets," "Small Prophet, Quick Return," "Death of a Spy," "Horse of Destruction")
NOTE: All of these episodes are missing. Monday, February 28th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
A planet has two dawns before exploding and Team TARDIS landed on it, of course. Welcome to commentary and analysis of Galaxy 4!
The Doctor, Steven, and Vicki land on a planet due to explode and must navigate a conflict between the beautiful Amazonian Drahvans led by Maaga and the monstrous Rills. But appearances can be deceiving....
MAAGA: This is a fight to the death for existence itself.DOCTOR: I see.MAAGA: in which one of us will be obliterated.
________
RILL: But if there is a choice, the Doctor must go. He travels further than we can. And everything he has shown he stands for is what we believe in. So it is better that he goes.STEVEN: I'm sorry. You can't blame me, though, for being suspicious. In that case, there's something you ought know. Whilst I was in the Drahvin ship, they said they intended to leave this planet in yours.RILL: We are prepared to take them with us.STEVEN: Well, that's not what they mean. They take your ship, you stay here.RILL: We must hope they do not succeed.
_____
RILL: To the Drahvins we are ugly, so they become frightened.DOCTOR: You are different from us, of course, but at least you are intelligent.STEVEN: Yes, what difference does it make what your form is?DOCTOR: Importance lies in the character and to what use you put this intelligence. We respect you as we respect all life.
Upcoming:
Serial #19: Mission to the Unknown
The one-episode prequel to "The Dalek's Master Plan"Monday, February 21st
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
We've made it through the second season of Classic Who!
This special episode looks at the second series overall. It's a weird one, right? We change out the entire cast, start getting comedic episodes, the Doctor is suddenly gradually becoming the star....so much to talk about!
NEXT TIME:
Serial #18 Galaxy 4 (Episodes: "Four Hundred Dawns," "Trap of Steel," "Air Lock," "The Exploding Planet")
All episodes missing except Air Lock. BBC has animated this one though!
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
The Vikings are invading! And there is a Meddling Monk....who has a TARDIS? Introducing one of the great episodes of the First Doctor....The Time Meddler!
The Doctor, Steven, and Vicki land in 1066 in a Saxon village and quickly discover that someone appears to be trying to rewrite history.
DOCTOR: So that's it! You're a time meddler! No wonder you wanted to get rid of me. And what are you trying to get up to this time?MONK: I'm sure you'll approve, Doctor.DOCTOR: Are you quite mad? You know as well as I do the golden rule about space and time travelling. Never, never interfere with the course of history.
Upcoming:
Doctor Who's Second Season
A retrospective on the very eventful second season of Doctor Who wherein 3/4ths of our original cast departed and the show gained a sense of humor.Monday, February 7th
Serial #18: Galaxy 4 (Episodes: "Four Hundred Dawns," "Trap of Steel," "Airlock," "The Exploding Planet")
NOTE: Episodes 1, 2, and 4 are missing
Team TARDIS arrives on a planet "two dawns" away from exploding and must navigate the complicated relationships between the two native races desperate to escape destruction...Monday, February 14th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Ian & Barbara are our first companions, our original audience surrogates, and such a large part of Doctor Who that it would have been difficult to see the production continuing without them. Their loss ushers in a new era and signals the end of Part I of Hartnell's time as the Doctor. The Doctor, and the show, is never quite the same. In a very real way, these two companions are never "replaced" in function--rather the Doctor absorbs their roles.
Let's take a moment to celebrate these two companions who perhaps taught the Doctor more than any of the others--compassion and courage that comes from empathy towards others and the moral wherewithal to feel obligated to help. The Doctor as we know him would not be the Doctor without his first two human friends.
____
NEXT TIME:
For Classic Who: The Time Meddler (Episodes: "The Watcher," "The Meddling Monk," "A Battle of Wits," "Checkmate")--Monday, January 31st
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
This special edition of the podcast has my dear friend Hannah and I discussing "The Flux"....among other things!
We're basically L.I.N.D.A. Though hopefully we shall not be absorbed by monsters.
We discuss The Flux as a season as well as the Thirteenth Doctor's Era more generally.
I was having problems with my microphone during this recording which we didn't realize until afterwards--so apologies for the sound quality. I thought the conversation was still worth preserving even if the audio is not as good as I would like it to be.
Enjoy!
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**UPCOMING:
Celebrating Companions: Ian & Barbara**We are going to do a special episode on our two departing companions Ian & Barbara!
Monday, January 24th
The Time Meddler
(Episodes: "The Watcher," "The Meddling Monk," "A Battle of Wits," "Checkmate")
Monday, January 31st
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Bring on the bonkers' insanity of Doctor Who's "The Chase!" A serial that can only be fully appreciated if you just go with it. But seriously--how can you not love this one? Mostly commentary (because this one doesn't want me to analyze).
The Daleks have built a time machine that can lock on to the TARDIS. Now, the Doctor and companions are being chased through space and time, ending up on futuristic worlds, atop the Empire State Building, meeting Dracula, and encountering all sorts of monsters along the way.
DALEK: The Dalek Supreme has ordered they are to be pursued through all Eternity. Pursued and exterminated!
____
DOCTOR: I have the directional instincts of a honing pigeon!
___
BARBARA: You're from Earth?MAN: No ma'am, I'm from Alabama!
_____DOCTOR: I must see what's on that table.IAN: Must you?DOCTOR: Where's your spirit of adventure?IAN: It died a long and painful death when those bats came out of the rafters.
____
BARBARA: All we've been through will remain with us always--and it will probably be the most exciting part of my life.IAN: It was fun, Doctor. Thanks for the ride.DOCTOR: I shall miss them. Yes, I shall miss them.
Upcoming:
Hannah & Brianna Talk Doctor Who: The Flux
Monday, January 17th
Hannah and I are going to talk through our thoughts on the last season of New Who--which Hannah is in the process of finishing and I've had some time to think about. Should be a ton of fun!
Celebrating Companions: Ian & Barbara
We need to take a moment to cry and laugh, and create a montage of adorable photos in our brains celebrating two of The Greats: The School Teachers We All Wanted to HaveMonday, January 24th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Actual Text to Hannah 10 minutes into this episode: I am fing loving this DW New Year's Special so far! Like I am squealing with delight.Text to Hannah 20 minutes in: Seriously, this might be the best Whittaker episode.*
GROUNDHOG'S DAY with DALEKS!!! And Sarah and Nick are such wonderful side characters, right? And so much laughter! And Yaz getting called on her feelings for the Doctor?!
The immediate (mostly positive) reactions to Doctor Who's third New Year's Special: "Eve of the Daleks" There be spoilers in here.
I chat about all the many things I love about this episode....as well as my mixed reactions to Doctor/Yaz as it was executed. If you love Doctor/Yaz and got to see your ship, I'm so happy for you:-) I might not be emotionally there yet (on the Doctor's side; I buy Yaz's emotions 110%), but I really want to be.
Upcoming:
Classic Who Serial by Serial: The Chase (Episodes: "The Executioners," "The Death of Time," "Flight Through Eternity," "Journey into Terror," "The Death of Doctor Who," "The Planet of Decision")
Monday, January 10th
Hannah & Brianna Talk Doctor Who: The Flux
Monday, January 17th
Hannah and I are going to talk through our thoughts on the last season of New Who--which Hannah is in the process of finishing and I've had some time to think about. Should be a ton of fun!
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
The one where Doctor Who finally asks, "can we change the future?" And there's a museum....in Space! Like a "Space Museum?" Commentary and analysis.
Team TARDIS arrives at a planet where they seem to be invisible and incapable of touching anything. Then, our Fearsome Foursome sees themselves as future exhibitions at a museum! Realizing they have skipped a time track and had a glimpse into the future, the Doctor, Vicki, Ian, and Barbara "arrive" at the museum where they are now visible to their future captors, the Moroks. Now, all four must attempt to prevent the future they have already glimpsed....
DOCTOR: All we have to do is to wait here until we arrive.BARBARA: I beg your pardon?DOCTOR: You see, my dear, before they actually put us in those glass cases, we must have arrived here sometime in the Tardis. These people saw us and thought we were worthy people to be put in their Space Museum--BARBARA: I see! I think.DOCTOR: But nothing has happened to us yet. What we are doing now is taking a glimpse into the future, or what might be or could be the future. All that leads up to it, is still yet to come.
_____BARBARA: But Doctor, what can we do now?DOCTOR: My dear Barbara, you must try and remember, the short time we've been on this planet, we've met people, spoken to them and who knows, we might have even influenced them. VICKI: That's what I was trying to say, Doctor.DOCTOR: Yes, I knew you were, child, yes. Yes, I knew you were.IAN: You mean we don't necessarily have to change our own future. It could be changed for us.DOCTOR: Quite so, yes, quite so, my boy.
NEXT TIME:
For Classic Who: The Chase (Episodes: "The Executioners," "The Death of Time," "Flight Through Eternity," "Journey into Terror," "The Death of Doctor Who," "The Planet of Decision")--Monday, January 10th
For New Who:
Review of "Eve of the Daleks"-- January 5th
Hannah & Brianna Talk Doctor Who: The Flux--January 10th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
The one where everyone decided they were in a Shakespearean Historical Tragedy....and El-Alkir is hated by everyone ever. Commentary and analysis for Doctor Who partially missing serial's "The Crusade!"
The Third Crusade has wearied both Richard the Lionheart and the Sultan Saladin who both seek peace--possibly by marrying Richard's sister Joanna to Saladin's brother Saphadin. Into the middle of this turbulent conflict arrives Team TARDIS. When Barbara is kidnapped by the wicked El-Alkir, Sir Ian of Jaffar tries to rescue her (badly) while the Doctor and Vicki navigate the intrigues of Richard's court.
JOANNA (to the Doctor): There's something new in you, yet something older than the sky itself. I sense that I can trust you.DOCTOR: You stupid butcher! Can you think of nothing else but killing, hmm?
LEICESTER: You're a man for talk, I can see that. You like a table and a ring of men. A parley here, arrangements there, but when you men of eloquence have stunned each other with your words, we, we the soldiers, have to face it out. On some half-started morning while you speakers lie abed, armies settle everything, giving sweat, sinewed bodies, aye, and life itself.
DOCTOR: I admire bravery and loyalty, sir. You have both of these. But, unfortunately you haven't any brain at all. I hate fools.
____
NEXT TIME:
For Classic Who: The Space Museum (Episodes: "The Space Museum," "Dimensions in Time," "The Search," "The Final Phase")--Monday, January 3rd
For New Who: "Eve of the Daleks"-- Probably January 5th
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Well....that was a finale?! Every character did have something to do and the Sontaran plan was pretty nifty. But this season has some serious problems with baggage and logistics. I think I still enjoyed it though...probably more than I should have? A mixed review that befits my very mixed feelings.
The immediate reactions to "The Flux, Chapter Six: The Vanquisher" as well as The Flux as a season.
I was going to separate this into two episodes one on this episode and one on the season but it seemed to flow together as one united thing hence the length.
Upcoming:
Classic Who Serial by Serial returning on Monday, December 27th with The Crusades (Episodes: "The Lion," "The Knight of Jaffa," "The Wheel of Fortune" "The Warlords")
NOTE: Episodes 2 & 4 are both missing. You can find reconstructions online however. I will do a little more thorough a summary for this one in case you cannot watch it or aren't a fan of still reconstructions.
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Kate's Back!!! So many call outs to Classic Who and U.N.I.T! Bel & Vinder miss each other by moments! Yaz comes into her own and the show regains its sense of humor. And, you know, we found out a ton about Division. Lots to discuss.
My thoughts on The Flux, Chapter Five: Survivors of the Flux
Upcoming:
New Who Review: The Flux, Chapter Six: The Vanquishers (early next week!)
Temporarily putting Classic Who serials on hold with the New Who season and end of the semester grading. Will be returning with The Crusades once current season concludes.
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Bel & Vinder are still the best! But the Weeping Angels are fun too...not too sure about the Division.
My thoughts on The Flux, Chapter Four: Village of Angels
Upcoming:
New Who Review: The Flux, Chapter Five: Survivors of the Flux (early next week!)
Temporarily putting Classic Who serials on hold with the New Who season and end of the semester grading. Will be returning with The Crusades once current season concludes.
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Bel & Vinder are the best! Also possibly the Doctor's parents? And probably Gallifreyan.....Speculation abounds!
My thoughts on Season 13: The Flux, Chapter Three: Once, Upon Time
Upcoming:
New Who Review: Season 13: The Flux, Chapter Four: Village of Angels (this week!)
Temporarily putting Classic Who serials on hold with the New Who season and end of the semester grading. Will be returning with The Crusades either next Monday or once current season concludes.
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
It was fun to see the Doctor having space to be the Doctor....even if there were issues.
My thoughts on Season 13: The Flux, Chapter Two: The War of the Sontarans
This is not as structured as my regular episodes, just FYI. Just me talking through my reactions to the new episode.
Upcoming:
New Who Review: Season 13: The Flux, Chapter Three: Once, Upon Time (this week!)
Temporarily putting Classic Who serials on hold with the New Who season and end of the semester grading. Will be returning with The Crusades either next Monday or the following.
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
GIANT INSECT-PEOPLE IN SPACE! A great theatre production coming to you soon! Commentary and analysis for Doctor Who's "The Web Planet!"
The TARDIS gets dragged down to the planet Vortis by a dark and mysterious force. Soon the captured Doctor and Vicki are trying to outsmart the terrifying Animus and her Zarbi (giant ant) minions in order to survive. Meanwhile Ian and Barbara find themselves assisting the Manaptra (Butterfly-like creatures) in a rebellion to reclaim their planet. IAN: Those things out there.DOCTOR: Well, to use the term of Earth, I suppose we should call them insects.IAN: Ants? I've seen a colony of ants eat their way right through a house. That size, they could eat their way through a mountain. Why are they that big?DOCTOR: Size is only relative. In this rarified atmosphere, it appears that evolution has chosen that particular form of life on this planet.IAN: Ants.DOCTOR: Yes.
____
NEXT TIME:
For Classic Who: The Crusade (Episodes: "The Lion," "The Knight of Jaffa" (missing), "The Wheel of Fortune," "The Warlords" (missing))
Episode 1: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x54yjfg
Episode 2: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3lgbi2
Episode 3: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x54yg31
Episode 4: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3lgcfs
I will also be reviewing the next episode of New Who, "The War of the Sontarans" sometime this week.
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Well...I'm tentatively excited but also a bit terrified?
My thoughts on Season 13: The Flux, Chapter One: The Halloween Apocalypse
This is not as structured as my regular episodes, just FYI. Just me talking through my reactions to the new episode.
Upcoming:
For Classic Who: The Web Planet (Monday, Nov 8)
For New Who Review: "War of the Sontarans" (probably Fri/Sat next week)
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
This special edition of the podcast has my dear friend Hannah and I discussing "The Romans"....among other things!This was an experiment for us and there were a few minor recording issues, but I think we ended up having a pretty interesting discussion that covers both this serial as well as other aspects of Classic and New Who.
Enjoy!
____
NEXT TIME: The Web Planet (Episodes: "The Web Planet,""The Zarbi,""Escape to Danger,""Crater of Needles,""Invasion,""The Centre")
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
The one where the Doctor has way too much fun....a perfect serial to introduce Newbies to the First Doctor! Commentary and analysis for Doctor Who's "The Romans"
Team TARDIS has been chilling in a Roman villa when the Doctor and Vicki get bored and go to Rome to meet Nero! But there is conspiracy afoot. Meanwhile, Ian and Barbara are captured by slave traders and suddenly must survive their very own adventure. DOCTOR: On my arrival, I was rather under the impression that there was some sort of intrigue going on here, hmm?NERO: Well, nobody said anything to me. Nobody said a word and I am always informed of intrigues!
______
BARBARA: Oh, it isn't fair, Ian, is it?IAN: No it is not. Still, got a funny side to it, hasn't it.BARBARA: Yes.
____
William Hartnell, take a bow! We'll chat about how brilliant Dennis Spooner is at dark comedy, the horror the comedy conceals, how the lyre-scene reveals the truth, and what these pure historicals can do better than New Who historicals....
NEXT TIME: Hannah & Brianna Talk Doctor Who--a special podcast in which my friend Hannah and I chat over The Romans some more!
The following week we will continue on with The Web Planet.
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
My Dearest Vicki!!!!! A new companion is coming to the TARDIS. Commentary and analysis for Doctor Who's "The Rescue"
On the planet Dido, Vicki and Bennett have been terrorized for months by Koquillion, a monstrous being whose race murdered the enter crew of their spaceship after they crash landed. The rescue ship is coming soon and they just need to survive a few more days. But everything is not as it seems....DOCTOR: We can travel anywhere and everywhere in that old box as you call it. Regardless of space and time.VICKI: Then it is a time machine?DOCTOR: And if you like adventure, my dear, I can promise you an abundance of it. Apart from all that, well you'll be amongst friends. Hmm? Well? Now, suppose I leave you here for a moment to think about it, hmm?
____
This was the serial that sold me on the First Doctor my first go through Classic Who. For real. I talk about why in my commentary. I also discuss Bennett as a symbol of colonialism and the ways in which his relationship with Vicki exposes how abusive relationships work. We talk about Vicki, of course, particularly her relationship with the Doctor and why I think it special.
NEXT TIME: The Romans (Episodes: "The Slave Traders," "All Roads Lead to Rome," "Conspiracy," "Inferno")
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
BBC and BBC America recently dropped trailers for Season 13 of Doctor Who, and I thought I would share my thoughts in another installment of New Who News!
If you all are interested in short reactions to the new season of DW as it is coming out, do drop me an email to let me know! I'm super excited for it.
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Let's Celebrate the complicated legacy of Susan Foreman, the Doctor's Granddaughter and First Companion!
I'll discuss Susan's (perhaps unfair) reputation as "The Screamer," what makes Susan special as a companion, her unique relationship to the Doctor, Mentor/Mentee relationships generally between the Doctor and Companion, the problematic aspects of Susan's development and departure, the deliberate parallels between her departure and Rose Tyler's, and her overall legacy within the history of the show.
One day, she shall come back. Yes, she shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties.
"Look, if they don't understand, they can't, they can't hurt us at all. I understand these people better than you. Their minds reject things they don't understand." (to the Doctor)
"I love your school. I loved England in the twentieth century. The last five months have been the happiest of my life." (to Ian and Barbara)-An Unearthly Child "Oh, look, Grandfather. I understand the Sensorites. They're timid little people. Because their minds and mine can communicate sometimes, they trust me."
"Grandfather and I don't come from Earth. It's been ages since we've seen our planet. It's quite like Earth. But at night, the sky is a burnt orange, and leaves on the trees are bright silver."
***The Sensorites
"*I never felt there was any time or place that I belonged to. I've never had any real identity."
"One day you will. There will come a time when you're forced to stop travelling, and you'll arrive somewhere."
-The Dalek Invasion of Earth
NEXT TIME: Serial #11 The Rescue** (Episodes: "The Powerful Enemy" & "Desperate Measures")
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Apocalyptic London. Daleks. Resistance Fighters. Robo-men. Companion-worthy side characters. Some of the most iconic shots of Classic Who....and an ending the changed the show forever. Welcome to commentary and analysis on Doctor Who's "The Dalek Invasion of Earth!"
Arriving in a London seemingly devoid of people, Team TARDIS quickly realizes that the Daleks have invaded the planet and decimated the human race. Split apart from each other, the Doctor, Susan, Barbara, and Ian end up embroiled with the human resistance as they race to stop the Daleks before the implement their "final solution." SUSAN: I can't stay, David. I don't belong to this time.DAVID: But I love you, Susan, and I want you to marry me.SUSAN: You see, David. Grandfather's old now. He needs me. Oh, don't make me choose between you and him, please!DAVID: But you told me! You said that you'd never known the security of living in one place and one time. Look, you said it was something that you always longed for. Well, I'm giving you that, Susan. I'm giving you a place, a time, an identity.SUSAN: Oh David, I do love you! I do, I do, I do!
____DOCTOR: Believe me, my dear, your future lies with David, and not with a silly old buffer like me. One day, I shall come back. Yes, I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in all your beliefs, and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine. Goodbye, Susan, goodbye, my dear.
____
There are A LOT of references to this serial in New Who and A LOT of firsts, so the commentary runs a little long on this one as we work through all the threads. I also briefly discuss the portrayal of the Daleks in this serial, the way in which humans react to stress/horrific situations, Terry Nation's desire to position the possibility of rebirth after horror, and, of course, Susan's departure.
NEXT TIME: We are going to pause and do a special episode Celebrating Susan Foreman. Because we should! We'll move on the following week to Serial #11 The Rescue!
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
He is returning!
I thought I would share my thoughts on Russell T. Davies returning to New Who as showrunner upon Chibnail's departure. This is a departure from my regular scheduled programming, but I thought the news warranted some commentary.
If you like this sort of odd out of the blue episode, do let me know and I'll try to do more of them in future.
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Honey, I Shrunk Team TARDIS. What a weird start to Season #2....Commentary and analysis on Doctor Who's "Planet of Giants."
After the doors to the TARDIS open during materialization, Team TARDIS is shrunk to roughly the size of an inch. They must traverse a typical English backyard and house to safely return to the TARDIS. Meanwhile, the regular-sized humans who own the house are experimenting with a deadly insecticide.....and MURDER!SUSAN: These things haven't been made bigger. We've been made smaller.BARBARA: Smaller?DOCTOR: We have been reduced roughly to the size of an inch.
I discuss the ways in which this serial interacts with the early environmentalist movement--particularly the work of Rachel Carson in Silent Spring.
NEXT TIME: Serial #10 The Dalek Invasion of Earth (Episodes: "World's End," "The Daleks," "The Day of Reckoning," "The End of Tomorrow," "The Waking Ally," "Flashpoint")
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
We've made it through the first season of Classic Who!
This special episode looks at the first series overall and considers how the individual characters have grown, what makes the historicals great, the experimentation with the science fiction episodes, and what made this first season unique.
NEXT TIME: Serial #9 The Planet of Giants (Episodes: "The Planet of Giants," "Dangerous Journey," "Crisis")
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Is this still a kid's show? Commentary and analysis on Doctor Who's "The Reign of Terror!"
Attempting to return Ian and Barbara to their time and place, the Doctor accidentally lands the crew in the middle of the Reign of Terror just outside Paris. Soon Ian, Barbara, and Susan are being taken to the guillotine and the Doctor is impersonating a regional official trying to save them. Encountering English spies, revolutionaries, and counter-revolutionaries, Team TARDIS must navigate one of the darkest times in history....BARBARA: We demand the right to speak.JUDGE: You have no rights! You will be guillotined as soon as it can be arranged. Take them to the cells!
________
JULES: There are only two sides today, Barbara. Those who rule by fear and treachery, and those who fight for reason and justice. Anyone who betrays these principles is worse than the devil in hell!
I discuss the ways in which this serial builds an atmosphere of extreme distrust through both its writing and directing, the horror of what we don't see, how the comedy adds to the drama, the ways in which the serial addresses the complexities of the revolution, as well as the animation.
NEXT TIME: I will be doing a special recap of Season 1, discussing the first season overall, trends, and such, so no new serials next week. The following week we'll move on to Season 2 with Serial #9 The Planet of Giants (Episodes: "The Planet of Giants," "Dangerous Journey," "Crisis")
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Commentary and analysis on one of the most overlooked serials of the era.... "The Sensorites."
The TARDIS arrives on a ship whose crew is trapped aboard by a telepathic race known as the Sensorites. Soon, however, Susan discovers that the Sensorites are not aggressors but terrified of the humans who might want to exploit their resources. Taken to the Sense-Sphere, the Doctor and company must save the Sensorites from a deadly disease in exchange for the release of the TARDIS and returning the human crew to perfect sanity. But a traitor lurks among the Elders of the Sense-Sphere, and he wants power at all costs--and has no qualms about using the strange visitors to gain it. BARBARA: Sorry, I was thinking. You know, I've never seen the Doctor so angry.IAN: Oh, yes. Susan set him off, didn't she. The Sensorites must have hypnotized her in some way.BARBARA: No, I don't think so. She's just growing up, Ian.
______
SUSAN: Trust can't be taken for granted. It must be earned. I trust you, but only because I know you.1ST ELDER: But Susan, our whole life is based on trust.SUSAN: Yes, and that might be your downfall. Look you don't trust the ground you walk on until you know it's firm, do you. So why trust your people blindly?1ST ELDER: When I listen to you, you who are so young among your own kind, I realize that we Sensorites have a lot to learn from the people of Earth.SUSAN: Grandfather and I don't come from Earth. Oh, it's ages since we've seen our planet. It's quite like Earth, but at night the sky is a burned orange, and the leaves on the trees are bright silver...
________
I discuss this episode's parallels to "The Zygon Invasion"/ "The Zyon Inversion," the way in which people perceived powerless are silenced, the ways in which this serial questions power structures, how people exploit others to gain power, the inherent messiness of conflict-resolution, and how trust operates in the serial.
NOTE: The Sensorite's planet is called the Sense-Sphere. Not the Senser-Sphere:-)
NEXT TIME: Serial #8 The Reign of Terror (Episodes: "The Land of Fear," "The Guests of Madame Guillotine," "A Change of Identity," "The Tyrant of France," "The Bargain of Necessity," "Prisoners of Conciergerie")
**These two episodes are missing but have been animated.
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Commentary and analysis of one of the most celebrated serials of the First Doctor's era "The Aztecs."
The TARDIS arrives in an Aztec tomb which seals when the Team exits. Now Barbara is mistaken for a goddess, Ian is training to be the leader of armies, Susan is off at Aztec finishing school, and the Doctor is in the Aztec's version of a retirement home. All must find a way back to the TARDIS before they are forced to help in one of the Aztec's more notorious traditions: human sacrifices.... BARBARA: Don't you see? If I could start the destruction of everything that's evil here, then everything that is good would survive when Cortes lands.DOCTOR: But you can't rewrite history! Not one line!
I discuss the central question of the serial: Are the Aztecs wrong to commit human sacrifices? We'll look at how this serial examines objective morality vs moral relativity, how ethics vs morality allow us to approach this problem, the legacy of colonialism and Barbara as a representative of the British Empire, how this serial fits into New Who theories about "fixed time," how Autloc and Barbara walk from faith to uncertainty, and ultimately how we (can/should?) "judge" the morality of people in the past. I don't have many answers for you in this one--but neither does the serial....we'll just all have to wander together into the wilderness trying to find the truth.
DISCLAIMER and CLARIFICATION: If my voice sounds stuffy it is because I am ill! I also edited out a lot more of this podcast than usual (illness must cause me to ramble). One thing lost was nuance around whether or not we can "judge" people with wrong belief systems. In the final cut it seems as if I say we can't judge people who are unknowingly participating in a wrong belief system; in my more extended ramble I was trying to express the difficulty of drawing absolutely moral lines when people genuinely believe they are doing the right thing. Obviously, how we judge people morally for holding wrong beliefs is more complicated than "we can't":-)
NEXT TIME: Serial #7 The Sensorites (Episodes: "Strangers in Space," "Unwilling Warriors," "Hidden Danger," "A Race Against Death," "Kidnap," "A Desperate Venture")
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Commentary and analysis of Doctor Who's first attempt at an epic quest.... "The Keys of Marinus!"
The planet Marinus was once ruled over by a machine which prevented its people from perpetrating any act of evil, but the machine was disassembled centuries ago to prevent the evil Voord from using the machine to enslave the planet. Now, Arbitan, the keeper of the machine, needs Team TARDIS to find the keys scattered across the planet so that he can operate the machine once again...
ARBITAN: If you help me find the keys of Marinus, I will let you have access to your machine when you have delivered all the keys to me. If not, you will stay on the island without food or water. The choice is yours.IAN: Choice? What choice?
.............DOCTOR: But I don't believe that man was made to be controlled by machines. Machines can make laws, but they cannot preserve justice. Only human beings can do that.
This podcast is on the longer side as each episode in The Keys of Marinus has its own story. Hence, I do the commentary for each episode followed by my analysis rather than going through the whole serial and then giving my analysis.
NEXT TIME: Serial #6 The Aztecs (Episodes: "The Temple of Evil," "The Warriors of Death," "The Bride of Sacrifice," and "The Day of Darkness")
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Commentary and analysis of Doctor Who's first lost serial "Marco Polo!"
Stranded with a malfunctioning TARDIS on the "Roof of the World" in Cathay (China), Team TARDIS is taken in by Marco Polo on his vast caravan travelling to Kublai Khan. Marco takes possession of the TARDIS in order to gift it to Kublai Khan and the team must try to convince him to give it back. Meanwhile, the Mongol Warlord Tegana plots to take the TARDIS for himself....
KUBLAI KHAN: Oh, we want to tell you something, Marco. We owe half of Asia to our friend [The Doctor] at backgammon.MARCOPOLO: It is unusual for you to lose, my Lord.KUBLAI KHAN: Oh, he is a fortunate one.
I discuss some of the historical content of the episode and how well the serial works to be accurate and to humanize its characters, the great relationships the serial portrays (particularly between Ping-Cho and Susan and between the Doctor and Kublai Khan), the FANTASTIC villain Tegana, and how this serial allows for the team to have fun and become the family they will be going forward.
NEXT TIME: Serial #5 The Keys of Marinus (Episodes: "The Sea of Death," "The Velvet Web," "The Screaming Jungle," "The Snows of Terror," "Sentence of Death," "The Keys of Marinus")
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Commentary and analysis of Doctor Who's shortest serial "The Edge of Destruction!"
The TARDIS crashes and the Team is trapped inside--and no one is quite themselves! Tensions run high as each member of the crew has to confront whatever force has come aboard the TARDIS....or is the real problem inside them all along?
BARBARA: Yes. Or we're imagining things. We must be. I mean, how would anything get into the ship, anyway?
SUSAN: The doors were open.
BARBARA: Yes, but, but where would it hide?
SUSAN: In one of us.
I also use this episode to talk more generally about this specific Team TARDIS and why I think this Fearsome Foursome works so well in comparison to some of the other larger TARDIS crews, the significance of Susan and the Doctor's unique familial relationship, and the charge of "sexism" often labeled at Classic Who (my thoughts in short: "it's complicated.")
NEXT TIME: Serial #4 Marco Polo (Episodes: "The Roof of the World," "The Singing Sands," "Five Hundred Eyes," "The Wall of Lies," "Rider from Shang-Tu," "Mighty Kublai Klan," "Assassin at Peking") ALL EPISODES ARE MISSING:-(
To Watch: Loose Canon's ReconstructionBBC's 30 Minute Condensed ReconstructionSpecial thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Commentary, context, and analysis for Doctor Who's second serial "The Daleks"! The Tardis crew arrives on a seemingly dead planet only to discover the primary inhabitants are the terrifying and iconic Daleks! And they want to destroy not only Team TARDIS but the other inhabitants of the planet: the peaceful Thals.
The Doctor: Nothing can live outside if you do that, nothing!Dalek: Except the Daleks!The Doctor: This senseless, evil killing...First we'll do some commentary on the episode. Then, we'll discuss: 1. Some thoughts on how to improve this particular serial. 2. The historical context of this episode (WWII!). and 3. H.G. Wells's The Time Machine and the thematic ideas this serial takes from it!
NEXT TIME: Serial #3 The Edge of Destruction (Episodes: "The Edge of Destruction", "The Brink of Disaster")
Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Context, commentary and analysis on Doctor Who's first serial "An Unearthly Child" (1963)! I go through the first episode in detail and then compare it to the unaired pilot, then discuss Shakespearean Cavemen!
"If you could touch the alien sand and hear the cries of strange birds... and watch them wheel in another sky - would that satisfy you?" (The Doctor to Ian)
NEXT TIME: Serial #2: The Daleks (Episodes: The Dead Planet, The Survivors, The Escape, The Ambush, The Expedition, The Ordeal, The Rescue)
Yeah, it's a long one:-)Special thanks to Cathlyn "Happigal" Driscoll for providing the beautiful artwork for this podcast. You can view her work at https://www.happigal.com/
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com
Why on Earth do I want to do a whole podcast going serial by serial through Classic Doctor Who? Well, it's a journey--through time and space! Here's my ten-year adventure from Whovian newbie to super fan. I also go over the basics: What is Classic Doctor Who? How do you watch it? What's with the missing episodes? Is it worth it? (Spoilers: Oh, so, so much.) Find yourself a companion and head back to 1963!
"Let me get this straight. A thing that looks like a police box, standing in a junkyard, it can move anywhere in time and space?" (An Unearthly Child)
Easiest way to watch Classic Doctor Who: Britbox on AmazonPrime gives you access to all but the lost episodes!
NEXT TIME: Serial #1: An Unearthly Child (Episodes: An Unearthly Child, Cave of Skulls, Forest of Fear, The Fire-Maker)
(NOTE: I will discuss the unaired Pilot as well. If you are interested in seeing the minor changes from the Pilot to the canonical first episode of Unearthly Child, I would suggest watching AFTER you see the serial as aired:-)
Do feel free to get in touch to share the love of all things Doctor Who: throughthevortexpodcast@gmail.com