Episodes
Episode 42: “The Zygon Invasion” / “The Zygon Inversion”
November 14, 2015 00:45 - 100 MBWe kick off the podcast this week with an epic mail roundup of listener responses to our “Day Of The Doctor” podcast, as Caroline continues to try her darnedest to keep the discussion focused on the 10th Doctor’s hair. We then take a deep dive on the morality of “The Zygon Invasion” and “The Zygon Inversion,” with Alasdair admitted he both wants Peter Harness to be the new showrunner and wants him to never write another episode, because it’s just too much trouble. We agree this is a great, am...
Episode 41: “The Day Of The Doctor”
November 08, 2015 01:21 - 131 MBAn epic 50th anniversary special demands an epic podcast, as Caroline and Alasdair obliterate the two-hour barrier (without even taking a break!) debating “The Day Of The Doctor.” But first, we read a couple emails, give some quick thoughts on the first half of the current Zygon two-parter, and discuss how the 12th Doctor has really come into his own this year, and it’s probably all down to Peter Capaldi growing his hair out. As for “The Day Of The Doctor,” Caroline has some contrarian takes ...
Episode 40: “The Woman Who Lived”
October 30, 2015 17:46 - 108 MBOur attempt to keep these podcasts shorter and more manageable totally fails as we come so, so close to the two-hour mark. But fear not, for it’s all in a good cause! We’ve got our latest Danielle Fan Email of the Week Award winner dropping some serious rare books knowledge, a very special round of Who Alum theater looking at David Tennant’s latest projects, and some general Big Finish talk. We then go long on “The Woman Who Lived,” which is really great, but maybe not the greatest of all tim...
Episode 39: “The Girl Who Died”
October 24, 2015 13:00 - 75.6 MBCaroline is back! And she regales us with stories of her recent trip to New York, while Alasdair details his recent stay with a Who-loving family in San Francisco. Then we read maybe our favorite fan email ever (and when you hear the last line, you’ll instantly agree), kick around the question of what would happen if a Doctor or companion just didn’t work at all, and talk the latest Star Wars trailer. Then: “The Girl Who Died,” guest starring Game Of Thrones’s own Maisie Williams! Alasdair is...
Episode 38: “Under The Lake” / “Before The Flood”
October 14, 2015 15:00 - 96.4 MBFriend of the show Kate Kulzick fills in as cohost this week as she and Alasdair break down the latest two-parter, "Under The Lake" / "Before The Flood." But first, we award the Danielle Fan Email of the Week award to listener Caroline S. (no, wait, that’s too obvious, let’s say a Ms. Siede), whose question is so good that (a) we’ll probably invite her on the show next week and (b) Kate and Alasdair take like 25 minutes to answer it, despite it just being, "What’s your favorite and least favo...
DDW Podlet: The Live Episode
October 11, 2015 19:23 - 29.8 MBIt’s Caroline’s birthday … and she’s not here! But here’s a little present for you all, as Alasdair shares a recent live episode of the podcast at the DSI Comedy Theater in Chapel Hill, N.C. It’s a deeply silly bit of fun as Alasdair and two Who-loving improvisers discuss the show, including a worrying amount of discussion of the 1996 TV movie. We’ll be back soon as a special guest co-host joins Alasdair to chat about “Under The Lake” and “Before The Flood.”
Episode 37: “The Magician’s Apprentice” / “The Witch’s Familiar”
October 03, 2015 19:58 - 75.3 MBWe’re back (again)! Busy schedules and crashing computers kept us away, but here we are to give our thoughts on the opening two-parter of the new season. (Spoiler alert: We liked it!) (Double spoiler alert: We *really* liked Michelle Gomez and Julian Bleach!) Also our thoughts on the comings and goings of the Doctor’s friends, as Jenna Coleman announces her departure and River Song returns at Christmas.
Episode 36: Comic Con & Season 9
July 25, 2015 22:54 - 64.9 MBWe get back into the swing of things with a news wrap up: We discuss all the Doctor Who-related happenings at San Diego Comic Con, share our thoughts on the new trailer, look ahead to season nine, and chat about some major developments in the world of Big Finish Audiobooks.
DDW Podlet: How We Spent Our Podcast Vacation
July 17, 2015 20:38 - 37.9 MBWe’re sorry, we’re so, so sorry that we’ve been away for so long. But we’re finally back, chatting about what we did on our podcast vacation.
Episode 35: “The Stolen Earth” / “Journey’s End”
March 22, 2015 15:13 - 96.2 MBWe’re back with a very special episode we recorded IN THE SAME ROOM when Alasdair came to visit Chicago. Even better, friend of the show Kate Kulzick makes her triumphant return to Debating Doctor Who! We chat about Clara’s arc in season 8, the possibility of River Song’s return, and our favorite one-off characters and concepts. Then in our second half, we make a last minute adjustment to our plans (we’ll discuss “The Bells Of St. John” and the Sontaran two-parter next week) to take a look a...
Episode 34: “The Lazarus Experiment” and “The Rebel Flesh” / “The Almost People”
March 04, 2015 21:49 - 106 MBWe read one of our all-time favorite listener emails, chat about some Doctor Who news (Missy is back!), and reintroduce Who Alumni Theater to discuss a terrible rom-com and a ridiculous sci-fi space opera. Then in our second half, we discuss two episodes that ostensibly want to explore science, "The Lazarus Experiment" and "The Rebel Flesh" / "The Almost People." We quite liked one and rather disliked the other.
Episode 33: “The Idiot’s Lantern” and “The Vampires Of Venice”
February 26, 2015 01:37 - 102 MBAlasdair and Caroline hop in our TARDIS to give you an episode we actually recorded back in January! That means we’ve got slightly out-of-date breaking news about new Doctor Who creative forces, Selfie, and an adorable David Tennant moment. Plus we read a bunch of emails from our listeners, discuss New Who’s upcoming 10 year anniversary, and share our favorite multi-episode arcs. Then in our second half we find quite a lot to like in two fun historical romps, “The Idiot’s Lantern” and “The Va...
DDW Podlet: Oscar Special!
February 22, 2015 21:07 - 33.7 MBAlasdair and Caroline are back! We take a break from Doctor Who (don’t worry, we’ve got more regular episodes coming soon) for an Oscar Special Podlet. We weigh in with our thoughts on some of this year’s biggest movies and discuss our predictions for tonight’s ceremony. Feel free to listen to this spoiler-free podcast whether you’re a Doctor Who fan or not!
Episode 32: “The Long Game” and “The Rings Of Akhaten”
January 18, 2015 01:25 - 87.6 MBIn our first half, Alasdair and Caroline share their thoughts on what they’ve seen in the cinema recently, discuss the mystery of Orson Pink, chat about potential future companions, and give recommendations on how to introduce your friends to Doctor Who. Then in part two, we take a look at two episodes set on brand new worlds. First up, the hosts try to remember what actually happens in “The Long Game" (hint: it’s not much), then they discuss the sacrifices and songs of “The Rings Of Akhaten.”
Episode 31: “Last Christmas”
January 01, 2015 00:07 - 84.7 MBIn our last episode of 2014 we discuss the movies we’ve seen over the holidays, list our favorite Doctor Who supporting characters, and discuss whether or not this season deserves to be called “Clara Who.” Then we dedicate the entire second half of our show to this year’s Christmas special, “Last Christmas.” We weigh in on Shona, Santa, and the episode’s Inception-like structure.
Episode 30: “A Christmas Carol” and “The Snowmen”
December 24, 2014 21:13 - 89.9 MBIt’s a special Christmas Bonus Episode! Alasdair and Caroline count down their favorite Doctor Who Christmas specials, answer your emails, and discuss two beloved episodes: “A Christmas Carol” and “The Snowmen.” All that plus our last minute predictions for this year’s Christmas special. Happy Holidays!
Episode 29: “The Unquiet Dead” and “The Unicorn And The Wasp”
December 23, 2014 04:11 - 94.1 MBAfter a brief hiatus, Alasdair and Caroline are back with an extra long episode! We analyze a recent Moffat interview, count down the authors we’d love to see travel with the Doctor, discuss a 6th Doctor adventure, and check out a Big Finish audio. Then we take a look at two episodes featuring British literary icons. Charles Dickens deals with ghosts at Christmas in “The Unquiet Dead” and Agatha Christie solves a mystery in “The Unicorn And The Wasp.”
Episode 28: Top Five From Season 8
December 02, 2014 19:24 - 102 MBAlasdair and Caroline veer off topic to discuss The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, the new Star Wars trailer, and musical theater. We also give thanks for both American Thanksgiving and for some exciting news: Doctor Who has added a female writer for season nine! Then Alasdair and Caroline take one last look back at season eight as they count down their Top Five Favorite Characters and Top Five Favorite Moments from this strong season.
Episode 27: “Listener Thoughts”
November 24, 2014 21:43 - 81.1 MBThis week is all about YOU! Alasdair and Caroline take a break from our usual debates to read a whole bunch of emails from our listeners. Did this season pack an emotional punch? How did Peter Capaldi do? How does Clara know so much about the Doctor? And what does the future of the show look like? All that and more plus a ton of discussion (and yes, debate) about the strengths and weaknesses of this season.
Episode 26: “Death In Heaven”; “The Pandorica Opens” / “The Big Bang”
November 11, 2014 22:22 - 89.6 MBSeason 8 may be over, but Alasdair and Caroline have no plans of slowing down anytime soon! They take a look at the highs and lows of "Death In Heaven." Did this episode live up to the potential of "Dark Water"? And, more importantly, did it live up to the potential of Season 8? While the hosts have differing opinions on that last question, they both agree "The Pandorica Opens"/"The Big Bang" is the best season finale in New Who history. But just what makes that two-parter so strong?
Episode 25: “Dark Water”; “The Name Of The Doctor”
November 09, 2014 19:36 - 97.8 MBAlasdair and Caroline sort through part one of a two part finale. Can "Dark Water" stand on its own? What are our hopes for next week's conclusion? And what do we think of that huge Missy reveal? Then in part two, we take a look at a rather unsuccessful season finale from the Moffat era, "The Name Of The Doctor." Does this episode work on any level? Alasdair and Caroline think it does (kind of).
Episode 24: “In The Forest Of The Night”; “The End Of The World” and “The Doctor, The Widow, And The Wardrobe”
November 02, 2014 01:23 - 95.7 MBA forest sprouts up over night in “In The Forest Of The Night” so Alasdair and Caroline discuss two other episodes that involve trees: “The End Of The World” and “The Doctor, The Widow, And The Wardrobe.” Are these episodes as exciting as they could be? And, more importantly, what is “The Doctor, The Widow, And The Wardrobe” trying to say about motherhood?
Episode 23: “Flatline”; “Fear Her” and “42”
October 26, 2014 00:53 - 82.4 MBCaroline has a lot of contrarian opinions! But first, we share some fantastic Halloween costumes from our listeners, announce our partnership with Following The Nerd, and unveil the brand new Debating Doctor Who logo created by the talented Tyler Feder. Then Caroline and Alasdair discuss the highs and lows of “Flatline.”How does Clara fare as a stand-in Doctor? In part two, things take a turn for the unexpected as Caroline tries to defend one of the most maligned episodes in Doctor Who histor...
Episode 22: “Mummy On The Orient Express”; “Voyage Of The Damned” and “Dinosaurs On A Spaceship”
October 18, 2014 18:18 - 72.5 MBDivision in the ranks! Alasdair and Caroline have very different opinions on “Mummy On The Orient Express.” They hash it all out plus answer a fun hypothetical question from a listener, award a new Danielle Fan Email of the Week, and chat about how hard it is to be a female character on TV. Then in part two, the hosts examine two more dangerous (and very strange) space adventures, “Voyage Of The Damned” and “Dinosaurs On A Spaceship.”
Episode 21: “Kill The Moon”; “Boom Town” and “The Girl Who Waited”
October 13, 2014 12:05 - 94.6 MBDavid Tennant is once again on American TV screens! Caroline shares some brief thoughts on Tennant’s new series “Gracepoint.” Then the hosts jump into this week’s controversial new episode “Kill The Moon.” Does the central moral dilemma work? What’s up with Clara and the Doctor’s relationship? And is there a social metaphor going on here? Then in part two Caroline and Alasdair look at two episodes in which the Doctor must make a tough choice: “Boom Town” and “The Girl Who Waited.”
Episode 20: “The Caretaker”; “School Reunion” and “Closing Time”
October 04, 2014 13:51 - 100 MBAnother week, another round of actual debating! Alasdair and Caroline have plenty of praise for Gareth Roberts’s new episode “The Caretaker” and his season six episode “Closing Time,” but they’re not quite on the same page when it comes to the 10th Doctor adventure “School Reunion.” At least they can agree that Elisabeth Sladen was terrific as Sarah Jane Smith, and that the outfit she wore in her departure scene way back in “The Hand of Fear” was the most ludicrously 70s thing ever!
Episode 19: “Time Heist”; “New Earth” and “Partners In Crime”
September 25, 2014 22:08 - 89.9 MBThere’s actually some debating on this week’s episode! Alasdair and Caroline first share some news stories from the Doctor Who world then take a look at the brand new episode “Time Heist.” Is this episode fun or filler? The hosts next examine two more episodes about corrupt institutions with female antagonists: “New Earth” and “Partners In Crime.” The Doctor and Rose’s first proper adventure proves surprisingly divisive.
Episode 18: “Listen”; “Blink” and “Hide”
September 20, 2014 06:33 - 96 MBEverything is terrifying! Alasdair and Caroline discuss the groundbreaking new episode "Listen," then move on to chat about two more spooky entries in the Doctor Who franchise: "Blink" and "Hide."
Episode 17: “Robot Of Sherwood”; “Tooth And Claw” and “The Curse Of The Black Spot”
September 11, 2014 20:28 - 86.2 MBThis week Alasdair and Caroline rob from the rich and give to the poor as they discuss Doctor Who's recent Robin Hood romp “Robot Of Sherwood.” How does this story compare to other pop culture depictions of the Prince of Thieves? Then in part two it's an actual debate! Alasdair and Caroline have very different thoughts on the Victorian werewolf tale “Tooth And Claw,” then come together to point out the flaws of the pirate adventure “The Curse Of The Black Spot.”
Episode 16: “Into The Dalek”; “The Doctor’s Daughter” and “The Time Of Angels” / “Flesh And Stone”
September 02, 2014 20:29 - 97.8 MBWe have a super-sized episode centered around war-torn futures (oh boy!). Is the Doctor a soldier, and why does he seem to hate soldiers so much? When is violence justified? We tackle those questions and more as we discuss the brand new episode "Into The Dalek." Then in Part Two we put that episode in conversation with the 10th Doctor tearjerker "The Doctor’s Daughter" and the 11th Doctor adventure "The Time Of Angels" / "Flesh And Stone."
Episode 15: “Deep Breath”; “Rose” and “Smith And Jones”
August 30, 2014 20:12 - 77.5 MBCaroline spent the weekend at Chicago Comic and got the chance to attend the Matt Smith and Karen Gillan reunion panel! She recaps the weekend and shares some highlights from the Matt and Karen event. Then Caroline and Alasdair share their thoughts on Doctor Who's eighth season premiere, “Deep Breath.” Does Peter Capaldi live up to our expectations? We also check in on the pilot episode of Karen Gillan's new show, Selfie. Then in Part Two we look at other episodes that center around introduct...
Episode 14: “The Christmas Invasion” and “The Eleventh Hour”
August 23, 2014 05:41 - 79.9 MB"Deep Breath" premieres on Saturday, so Caroline and Alasdair offer up a last-minute Season 8 preview! We collect the best quotes from the show’s cast and creators about the upcoming season and discuss the episode titles (spoiler free!). Then in part two, we look at the past two regeneration stories, “The Christmas Invasion” and “The Eleventh Hour.” They take very different approaches to introducing new Doctors and we weigh the pros and cons of each.
Episode 13: “The Fires Of Pompeii” and “The Waters Of Mars”
August 19, 2014 17:43 - 91.5 MBWe return from a brief hiatus with some listener emails! Then in our brand new “Who Alumni Theater” segment we take a look at David Tennant and Catherine Tate’s stage production of Much Ado About Nothing, Christopher Eccleston in the HBO show The Leftovers, and Karen Gillan in Guardians Of The Galaxy. In the second half we finally get around to discussing time travel. Just what is a fixed point in time and what episode best explores it? Caroline looks at “The Fires Of Pompeii” and Alasdair ex...
Episode 12: “Bad Wolf” / “The Parting Of The Ways” and “The Best Of Both Worlds”
August 05, 2014 22:51 - 77.3 MBDebating Doctor Who boldly goes where no podcast has gone before with a Star Trek crossover episode! Alasdair and Caroline discuss their history with the sci-fi franchise and discuss how Who and Trek have both evolved over the years. In the second half, we compare the Doctor Who season one finale,“Bad Wolf”/”The Parting Of The Ways” to Star Trek: The Next Generation’s “The Best Of Both Worlds (Parts 1 & 2).”
Episode 11: “Cold War” and “Rise Of The Cybermen” / “The Age Of Steel”
July 23, 2014 22:00 - 79.1 MBThere's a new winner of the Danielle Email Of The Week award, and we take a look at the official season eight trailer. In the second half, we examine the various ways the new series has reintroduced classic monsters. Alasdair looks at the Ice Warriors in "Cold War" and Caroline revisits the Cybermen in "Rise Of The Cybermen"/"The Age Of Steel."
Episode 10: “A Good Man Goes To War” and “Let’s Kill Hitler”
July 17, 2014 23:54 - 80.6 MBAlasdair and Caroline welcome a special guest: Kate Kulzick of The A.V. Club and Sound on Sight! With her help we tackle a huge topic: Women, Feminism, and Doctor Who. In part one we talk about the strengths and weaknesses of each companion, look at the troubling tropes of Who mothers, explain just what’s so aggravating about Clara, and discuss whether or not the Doctor should be played by a woman. In the second half, we take a more in-depth look at Amy and River in "A Good Man Goes To War" ...
Episode 9: “The Empty Child” / “The Doctor Dances” and “Human Nature” / “The Family Of Blood”
July 14, 2014 03:27 - 79.1 MBWe present a very special World War-themed discussion as we take a look at two of Doctor Who's very best two-parters. Alasdair celebrates "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances" and Caroline praises "Human Nature"/"The Family Of Blood." In part one we look at the aspects that make these stories so iconic. In the second half, we look at how these stories function as metaphors for the wars they are set in. What do these stories capture about the ethos of WWI and WWII? What historical parallels ca...
Episode 8: “The Power Of Three” and “The God Complex”
July 03, 2014 20:45 - 73.3 MBWe got an email! Caroline has never been more excited. Then we chat about some big news in the Doctor Who fandom: a new teaser, a premiere date, and rumors about Steven Moffat sticking around for season nine. Who should take over as showrunner when he eventually leaves? We take a look at the four main candidates! In the second half, we take a more detailed look at our two favorite potential showrunners based on their best contributions to Who.Alasdair highlights Chris Chibnall’s "The Power Of...
Episode 7: “Gridlock” and “A Town Called Mercy”
June 27, 2014 06:54 - 75.1 MBDoctor Who just announced a worldwide publicity tour. Is this because Peter Capaldi is a former rock star? Then we introduce a brand new segment called “What If?” What if David Tenannt had stuck around for season five? Would the show have been different? Would 10 have flirted with Amy? How would River fit in? And what does Steven Moffat have to say about all this? In the second half, we check in on two episodes that celebrate the best of humanity—in roundabout ways. Caroline defends the oft-m...
Episode 6: “Planet Of The Ood” and “The Beast Below”
June 18, 2014 03:23 - 69.7 MBDoctor Who is coming to a movie theater near you! Alasdair and Caroline are confused. Then we finally get around to discussing Martha Jones! Does she work as a character? Is she unfairly hated by the fandom? What are her best and worst moments? In the second half, we check in on two episodes that argue that humanity can be pretty awful sometimes. Alasdair examines the corporate villians of “The Planet Of The Ood” and Caroline dissects the political complacency of “The Beast Below.”
Episode 5: “The Lodger” and “The Crimson Horror”
June 09, 2014 04:55 - 75.2 MBCaroline gives her review of the 5th Doctor story “The Caves Of Androzani,” and Alasdair’s hearts break. Then, we examine the character arcs that define each of the three new Who Doctors so far. In the second half, we examine two 11th Doctor episodes that make us laugh: “The Lodger” and “The Crimson Horror.” Just what does it mean for Doctor Who to do comedy?
Episode 4: “Asylum Of The Daleks” and “Dalek”
May 29, 2014 20:52 - 71.5 MBWe share our thoughts on the brand new teaser trailer! Then we discuss the long-running history of Doctor Who. Are Classic Who and New Who actually the same show? How many eras have there been in Who history? Also Alasdair tricks Caroline into watching some Classic Who. In the second half, we debate Daleks! Alasdair argues for the expansive world of “Asylum Of The Daleks” and Caroline celebrates the simplicity of “Dalek.”
Episode 3: “The End Of Time: Part Two” and “Father’s Day”
May 23, 2014 21:05 - 63.6 MBAlasdair and Caroline play “Better Know A Host!” Find out our favorite Doctor, scariest monster, which alien planet we’d take a vacation on, and much, much more. In the second half, we debate the question: What is Doctor Who's biggest tearjerker? Alasdair gets misty over “Father's Day,” and Caroline sobs through the 10th Doctor's regeneration in “The End of Time: Part Two.”
Episode 2: “Amy’s Choice” and “The Impossible Planet” / “The Satan Pit”
May 16, 2014 21:07 - 68.6 MBWe discuss what a couple Doctor Who alums are up to, talk about the strengths and weaknesses of season seven, and share our hopes and dreams for season eight. Then, in the second half, we debate the question: What is Doctor Who's best companion showcase? Alasdair celebrates Amy Pond in "Amy's Choice," and Caroline fights for Rose Tyler in "The Impossible Planet"/"Satan Pit."
Episode 1: “Girl In The Fireplace” and “The Doctor’s Wife”
May 08, 2014 20:01 - 65.7 MBWe introduce ourselves, discuss the Bechdel test, and look at Doctor Who's frustrating lack of women writers. Then, in the second half, we debate the question: What is Doctor Who's most adventurous episode? Caroline goes to the mat for “The Girl In The Fireplace,” while Alasdair champions “The Doctor’s Wife.”