Season to Taste: A Doctor Who podcast: Recent Episodes
Will Howells and Matthew Michael
Doctor Who fans Will (Doctor Who Magazine's Time Team) and Matthew (Doctor Who Magazine's reviews) have a simple task: to choose one story from each of the 35 active years of Doctor Who to watch through the 50th anniversary year, and then to watch and talk about them. But they're not doing it in order - keeping them on their toes is the Randomiser...
In its final act, Randomiser v1.0 sent Will and Matthew off to Matt Smith's first season as the Doctor - and it's time for Angels. What will they think about the episodes? How many times will one character be described as "smug"? And where will the shiny Randomiser V2.0 send them next?
This episode was recorded over two years ago, but either the Mandragora Helix propelled the contents into the future so it's only available now, or it took Will a ridiculously long time to get around to editing it.
The Randomiser has propelled Will and Matthew into Graham Williams's final series as producer. But can they make it through four whole episodes? What will they find in the Pit? And where will they go next?
When the Randomiser sends them off to season 20, Will and Matthew have the chance to assess multiple companions, a bunch of monsters and five different Doctors. Well, four Doctors. Well, three and a half. And once that's done, there's the all important question: where next?
Good news! Just when you thought Will and Matthew had forgotten they were supposed to be doing a podcast, they've found a cupboard with terrible acoustics from which too bring you episode 26! In this episode, they visit Tom Baker's second season as the Doctor. But when they lift the eye patch of curiosity, are they happen with what they see? (It's about The Android Invasion.)
Will and Matthew return from their voyage to season 16, laden with segments of the Key to Time. But did the Taran Wood Beast find favour? And wither will the Randomiser propel them next?
Will and Matthew make their second visit to the Sixth Doctor's era. They've picked The Mark of the Rani - are three Time Lords are better than one? And where will the Randomiser send them next?
Will and Matthew return after an unexpected hiatus. In episode 22, the Randomiser picked Doctor Who's fifth season and the plucky adventurers chose to watch the recently recovered six-parter The Enemy of the World. Find out whether they liked it and which season the Randomiser thought it would be funny to make them watch a story from next.
Will and Matthew arrive in David Tennant's first series and sample a story with a below average amount of Doctor. Hey there, Mr Blue, we're so pleased to be with you. Or are we? (We apologise for the pre-titles sequence, which is not suitable for children. We do not apologise for the post-credits sequence, which is.)
Will and Matthew continue straight on from Jon Pertwee's last season with a trip to Tom Baker's first. How is the new Doctor settling in? Is Sarah Jane doomed to wear the worst costumes? And how much filthy fiction can one story inspire?
The Randomiser has deposited Will and Matthew in the heart of Jon Pertwee's final season as the Doctor. Which planet are they visiting? How will they fare? And shocking can an episode 1 cliffhanger really be? Find out in episode 20 of Season to Taste! (WARNING: Easter Egg may be musical. Ish.)
Will and Matthew pay a visit to the dawning of the Pertwee era as Doctor Who podcast Season to Taste returns. But which UNIT story have they watched? How colourful is Bessie? And how do you pronounce Ralph Cornish's first name?
Will and Matthew talk through the Tom Baker story they chose in episode 17 as Season to Taste reaches its halfway point. But as another heated debate about the Sontarans kicks off, will there even be an episode 19?
(Yes, there will. Stay tuned!)
Will and Matthew analyse one of their favourite Russell T Davies stories before the Randomiser flings them back to an earlier era. Will they come to blows over the Sontarans? There's only one way to find out...
Will and Matthew find themselves back in the William Hartnell era - will they feel the same way about the Doctor Who story they just watched or will there be blood on the sawdust before the end of the podcast? And where will the Randomiser fling them next? Find out in the latest thrilling instalment of Season to Taste!
Will and Matthew do their best to talk about a story that drives a bus right down the middle of the road before the Randomiser sends them hurtling back into the past and a choice between British imperialism and American impressionism. Well, impressions.
In their ongoing and not especially taxing quest to watch one Doctor Who story from every year of the show, Will and Matthew reflect on their first visit to the William Hartnell era before finding themselves incapable of making a decision when the Randomiser drops them off many years later.
Will and Matthew reflect on the story they chose to watch from Tom Baker's last season of Doctor Who before the Randomiser sends them on their way - but will it be forwards to the new series or will they be heading back to the very beginning?
Will and Matthew take a visit to Patrick Troughton's era on their slow whirlwind tour of every season of Doctor Who before the Randomiser sends them on their merry way once more. Where to this time? Find out in the latest enthralling episode of... Season to Taste!
And for more information on the episode of Adam Adamant Lives! they mention, see this 2006 post from Will's blog.
In their continuing mission to mark Doctor Who's 50th anniversary by watching one story from every year the series was on air, Matthew and a croaky Will explore the strengths and weaknesses of their chosen story from Sylvester McCoy's first season as the Doctor before the Randomiser whisks them off to their next destination.
The podcast's resident doable barkers Will and Matt plough on with their quest to watch one story from each season of Doctor Who. In this episode, they dip into the final year of the "classic series" before the mischievous Randomiser chooses a fitting destination for episode 11.
Will and Matthew return from their Easter hiatus to reflect on a multi-Doctor anniversary story (Christopher Eccleston isn't in that one either) before the Randomiser selects another season from which to choose an episode.
In which Will and Matthew reflect on the short but sweet Christopher Eccleston era of Doctor Who before the Randomiser sends them hurtling back to a season from before they were born...
Matthew and a tired and drawling Will reflect on their experience in Patrick Troughton's last season, kilts and all, before asking the Randomiser to do its job and considering which story to watch when it decides to bring them much more up-to-date...
Choosing a Paul McGann story to watch wasn't the hardest decision to face the boys, but having watched it, they have a lot to talk about. And when that's done, it's time for the Randomiser to tell them where to go - and it's somewhere quite different...
Last week, the Randomiser selected Jon Pertwee's third season for them to take for a test drive as part of their continuing mission to watch one story from every year of Doctor Who. How did they enjoy the one they chose? And which Doctor will be next? All is revealed in... episode 5!
Will and Matthew continue to dip into ("taste") one series ("season") of Doctor Who each week. In this episode, they look at the story they chose to represent Sylvester McCoy's second season and then ask the Randomiser to choose another year - which it obligingly does...
The Randomiser didn't exactly come up trumps in episode 2 with its choice of season 23. How did Will and Matthew cope with that experience? Did they survive the catharsis of spurious morality? And which year will the devious device pick out for them next...?
Will and Matthew have completed the first step of their task and watched a story from the Randomiser's choice of "Year 34". How did they feel that went? And where will the Randomiser take them next? Surely it wouldn't make them do that one...
To celebrate Doctor Who's 50th anniversary year, Will and Matt begin their simple quest to watch one story a week from every season of Doctor Who.
But which story is the best to choose for each year? And how will each season fair? In episode 1, the hi-tech Randomiser selects their first season...