The Doctor's Beard Podcast

Jim and John experience their most polarizing disagreement since the Colin Baker era as Paradise Towers splits them into opposing camps—Jim delivering a devastating 1 out of 15 ("a Billy") while John counters with an enthusiastic 14 out of 15, declaring it his favorite story of Season 24 and a formative influence on his understanding of world building as a young writer. The Ratings Chasm: Final scores: Jim 1, John 14, averaging to 7.5—perfectly appropriate for a story that divides straight down the middle. Jim places Paradise Towers at "Romans level bad," his first 1 rating in years, possibly ever. John acknowledges flaws but insists "I adore this. It's the best [of the season] to me. The next two aren't as good." Jim's Bewilderment: "It just had no idea what it wanted to be." Jim struggles through four parts feeling lost, bewildered, and unable to take anything seriously. The story veers wildly between dark humor and slapstick, feels like Monty Python meets children's television, and presents concepts (cannibal grannies, color-coded gangs, killer cleaning robots) that never cohere into a satisfying whole. He literally took no notes during Part 2 because he was too disconnected. The Kangs' rapid-fire accents and gang-speak were incomprehensible. The music sounds stolen from Donkey Kong or Pac-Man. Richard Briers' performance left Jim feeling "embarrassed for him." John's Passionate Defense: "This is my favorite of the season... This story as a young 17, 18, 19-year-old person trying his hand at writing finally started to click and say, 'That's what world building is all about.'" John goes against fandom consensus by loving Richard Briers' portrayal, appreciating the rule book escape scene as "absolutely brilliant," and embracing the tone as intentionally campy satire of bureaucracy, hierarchies, and dystopian societies. The Batman Season Revelation: John drops the word he's been holding back all season: "campy." He dubs Season 24 "the Batman season"—meaning Batman's infamous campy third season with Nora Clavicle, flat painted backdrops, and wind-up mice. Jim initially resists but eventually concedes: "Yeah, this is clavicle level." Discussion of JNT's continued obsession with stunt-casting notable British TV stars (Richard Briers was a huge get; Ken Dodd is coming next story). Production Context: Stephen Wyatt wrote episode one in a week without knowing the ending or who would play the Doctor (McCoy not yet cast). Inspired by J.G. Ballard's dystopian novel High-Rise. First story Andrew Cartmel commissioned as script editor. Director Nicholas Mallett loved McCoy's malleability and openness to improv versus Baker's by-the-script approach. BBC Head of Drama Jonathan Powell (not a Who fan) praised the script. Ratings: 4.5, 5.2, 5.0, 5.0—about even with McCoy's other stories. Jim's Specific Complaints: Cannot understand what the Kangs are saying half the time due to rapid delivery and thick accents. Doctor and Mel spend more time apart than any previous story. Sets look like existing ones dirtied up with garbage and wall scrawl. Killer cleaning robots are laughably unthreatening with cartoon buzzsaws—"I could outrun those things any day of the week even if I wasn't feeling well." Video game music drowns out dialogue. Cannibalism appears and disappears without explanation. Why are Tilda and Tabby's cozy apartment untouched by dystopia? Why does Kroagnon need to eat people when he's a machine? Where are all the boys? Why is it all women (Kangs, Rezzies) versus all men (Caretakers)? John's Counterpoints: The rule book escape scene demonstrates the Doctor using the Caretakers' rigid bureaucracy against them—"absolutely brilliant." Richard Briers is proud of ignoring direction and doing what he wanted; interviews on Blu-ray show he has no regrets. The jerky movements after Kroagnon takes his body represent rigor mortis setting in. Clive Merrison (Deputy Caretaker) played the pilot Jim in "Tomb of the Cybermen." The tone is intentionally satirical—mocking rule books, procedures, hierarchies in very British Monty Python style. Behind the Sofa Revelations: Three different commentary teams watched: Sylvester McCoy/Bonnie Langford/Sophie Aldred; Peter Davison/Sarah Sutton/Janet Fielding; Colin Baker/Michael Jayston. Colin and Peter both declared it one of their favorites so far—disappointing Jim but validating John. Bonnie had little to say either way. Pool filmed at private house with freezing water—Bonnie's stunt double did most shots because Bonnie can't swim (redheads apparently don't know how to swim, Jim claims) and the water was unbearably cold. Camera crew in wetsuits couldn't last more than 45 minutes. The McCoy Question: Jim still doesn't know what to think of McCoy. Not engaged, not seeing the cantankerous fellow promised. The R-rolling is Scottish, not an affectation. The left-handed handshakes are unexplained. Still no clear sense of the Doctor-Mel relationship since they're separated the entire story. John insists McCoy's performance improves with better scripts in Season 25 once Ace arrives. The New Who Question: Jim and John publicly ask listeners: should The Doctor's Beard continue into New Who after finishing Classic Who and the TV Movie? They've brought on new listeners recently and want to know if the audience wants Eccleston era coverage or if it's "too new" for Classic Who purists. Email your yes/no vote to thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com. Mel Scream Count: Screams #10, #11, #12. Less than Time and the Rani but still plenty. Coming Up Next: Patreon Exclusive (Monday - Episode 168): Colin Baker's final Doctor Who Magazine comic story "The World Shapers" written by Grant Morrison (three parts), Memory TARDIS spin, more music discussion. Main Feed (Friday) & Patreon (Monday): "Delta and the Bannermen" - Jim handling narration for the three-part story. Already started watching because he's driving to Ithaca College convention and losing three days of viewing time. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #ParadiseTowers #SylvesterMcCoy #SeventhDoctor #Mel #TheGreatDivide #PolarOpinions #JimHatesIt #JohnLovesIt #1Versus14 #BatmanSeason #RichardBriers #Kangs #Caretakers #Rezzies #Kroagnon #CampyWho #StephenWyatt #AndrewCartmel #Season24 #BuildHighForHappiness #FaultyTowers #NewWhoQuestion #ClassicWho #DoctorWhoPodcast

SPECIAL PATREON EXCLUSIVE THE OPENING: "Peter, Peter, please forgive me..." A countdown begins the most diplomatic disagreement in podcast history. BELATED BIRTHDAY & TIMING: John's birthday just passed! Next story is Attack of the Cybermen (aired January 5, 1986) - "the year I turned 18!" THE DREAD: John: "I'm filled with a little dread to talk about this with you, Jim, because I know where you stand." Jim: "Listen, we've made too much of it. Every fan has doctors they like and doctors they don't like." THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION: "Do you know anybody who likes every single Doctor?" JOHN'S CONFESSION: "I do to certain degrees. There are ones I'm not as fond of - Colin, Tom Baker. In fact, I might turn around and be like Colin Baker is better than Tom Baker if I keep feeling as excited as I did with Twin Dilemma!" The Tom Baker Problem: "Tom Baker was one who outstayed his welcome. He has the David Tennant complex. They're both fabulous but they overstayed their welcome where it diminished their appeal to me." JIM'S CORE PROBLEM: THE DOCTOR WHO DIDN'T WANT COMPANIONS The Comparison: Fourth Doctor with Leela: Great mentor/teacher relationship Fourth Doctor with Romana: Lots of warmth Fourth Doctor with Sarah Jane: Clear affection Fifth Doctor: "So few moments putting across that he really wanted people traveling with him. He seemed like he'd be so much happier if he was just by himself." Jim's Labels: "The grouchy doctor. The invisible doctor. He never seemed like a larger than life character, which the Doctor needs to be." JAMESON'S FRAMING LETTER: The Fifth Doctor Summary: "Nice, sweet, the more human Doctor. Almost purely reactive. Quiet, kind of bland, often seems to have hollow victories. An anti-Fourth Doctor. The Fourth Doctor breezed in and took control - the Fifth Doctor is one who no one seems to listen to." Jameson's Position: "I don't hate his Doctor, but he's not entirely a favorite. On audio he has mixed results, though lately really good with the Season 19 crew." The Missing Element: "One thing this era is missing is more humorous or lighthearted moments. It's always gritty and dark - nobody's allowed to crack a joke." THE COMPANIONS - A COMPREHENSIVE BREAKDOWN: ADRIC - "THE BOY GENIUS" Jameson's Take: Not a big fan. Works better with Fourth Doctor in master-apprentice role. Butts heads with Fifth Doctor. First Companion killed off since Sara Kingdom and Katarina (Season 3). Hope he works better in audios with hindsight, foreshadowing his departure and fears of not being good enough. NYSSA - "THE SCIENTIST" Jameson's Summary: Orphan from Traken who lost everything. Master stole her father's body. Sweet, quiet mediator between Adric/Tegan/Doctor. Most prolific audio Companion for Fifth Doctor. TEGAN - "THE AIR STEWARDESS" Jameson's Description: "Sarcastic, sassy, acts like she doesn't want to be there but kind of loves traveling. Australian air stewardess is fun, gives older high school sister vibes to Adric/Nyssa's middle schooler vibes. Janet Fielding is so fun to watch in modern special features." TURLOUGH - "HOLD MY BEER" Jim: "Hold my beer. We ain't seen nothing yet." Jameson's Take: "Interesting character - alien exile stuck as English schoolboy. Sneaky, untrustworthy, cowardly, yet underneath wants to do right. Gets rough arc, wish they hadn't waited until last story to flesh out backstory." KAMELION - "THE CURSED ROBOT" Jameson's Frustration: "I get JNT wanted the next K-9, but why introduce a shapeshifting robot if you're not going to capitalize on shapeshifting abilities? This is a character MADE for stunt casting! Instead, the inventor/controller passed away before it could be fully utilized. Introduction story, departure story, nothing else. Wasted opportunity. Why bother?" PERI - "THE AMERICAN STUDENT" Jameson: "Perpugilliam Brown, American botany student the Doctor rescues on vacation. With Fifth Doctor she's odd beast - introduced in one story, Davison leaves in next. Sassy but more upbeat and peppy than Tegan. Really comes into her own with Sixth Doctor. On audio, several adventures with Fifth Doctor, sometimes with new Companion Erimem (father/uncle with two daughters dynamic)." SEASON BREAKDOWNS: SEASON 19 - "THE SOAP OPERA SEASON" "Crowded TARDIS, JNT wants regulars always arguing and not getting along. Still good stories - Kinda and Earthshock standouts. Death of Adric, return of Cybermen shake things up." SEASON 20 - "THE ANNIVERSARY SEASON" "Two new Companions, Companion departure, tons of returning elements celebrating 20 years. Returning: Omega, the Brig, Mara, Black/White Guardians, Borusa, the Master." THE FIVE DOCTORS DEBATE: The Classification: More people saying it's its own thing between seasons (like Christmas specials). John always looked at it as Season 20: "Caps off Season 20 - after whetting appetite with Master and others, throw it all at you." Jim's Verdict: "Best Fifth Doctor story. He pretty much holds his own." SEASON 21: Jameson: "I don't really know what to say. Possibly Davison's strongest, but I don't really have anything else. I like Resurrection of the Daleks, Frontios, Caves of Androzani." THREE YEARS OF THE DOCTOR'S BEARD: "Three years of fun with the Doctor's Beard, somewhere in time and space." NEXT TIME: Monday (Patreon #153): Voyager (five-part Colin Baker epic), Ian Levine's Doctor Who theme (Eastway/Freeway?), Memory TARDIS spin Friday (Patreon) then Saturday (Main Feed): Attack of the Cybermen - first two-parter with 45-minute episodes for Season 22! John handles narration, oddly looking forward to it after Twin Dilemma optimism This retrospective showcases exclusive Patreon content! Join for $3/month at patreon.com/thedoctorsbeardpodcast for early access, bonus episodes, and comprehensive retrospectives! Subscribe on all platforms. Email thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or join our Facebook community. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #PeterDavison #FifthDoctor #Retrospective #PatreonExclusive #ItsJustThere #FailedExperiment #InvisibleDoctor #GrouchyDoctor #SoapOperaSeason #AnniversarySeason #Companions #Adric #Nyssa #Tegan #Turlough #Kamelion #Peri #TheBachelorUncle #JNT #EricSaward #SeasonRatings #TheFiveDoctors #CavesOfAndrozani #MawdrynUndead #Enlightenment #ResurrectionOfTheDaleks #ColinBaker #SixthDoctor #TwinDilemma #CautiousOptimism #BlakesSeven #GroundedWho #DoctorWhoDidntWantCompanions #NyssaDeservedBetter #JanetFielding #RoseColoredGlasses #DrSmith #WillRobinson #WesleyCrusher #ThreeDoctors #GallifreyStories #AudioWho #BigFinish #ClassicWho #80sWho #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #Whovian #PodcastCommunity #ComprehensiveReview #ThreeYearsStrong #DocJonesNovels #WritingLife

John and Jim examine the third Trial of a Time Lord story featuring the Doctor's bold defense strategy: presenting evidence from his own future, complete with a new companion who somehow makes Perry instantly forgettable. The Gutsy Introduction: The hosts examine the unprecedented decision to introduce Mel (Bonnie Langford) not at the beginning of her travels but as if she's already been with the Doctor for ages. Discussion covers the instant chemistry between Colin Baker and Bonnie Langford, Mel's agency and enthusiasm as a breath of fresh air, and why this pairing works despite unconventional storytelling. Evidence From the Future?: Jim questions the trial's fundamental logic - why would Time Lords accept evidence that hasn't happened yet? The hosts debate whether showing the Doctor "gets better" in the future undermines the entire prosecution while simultaneously revealing he survives the trial. Discussion includes the questionable legal framework and the Valeyard's surprisingly weak objections. The Bonnie Langford Factor: Extensive background on why casting Bonnie Langford was considered both a coup and a joke. The hosts explore her reputation as "England's Shirley Temple" (not in a good way), comparisons to Justin Bieber or Tiffany suddenly joining Star Trek, and how Pip and Jane Baker deliberately wrote against audience expectations. Coverage includes the infamous scream count, the F-key requirement matching the theme music sting, and whether Mel's voice takes getting used to. Production Crisis Mode: John details the chaos behind the scenes - Eric Saward's resignation leaving no script editor credited, JNT forced to take over script development, the Starlog interview controversy, JNT's attempted resignation (initially accepted with the caveat he fire Colin Baker), and morale at all-time lows with no pickup news. The Space Liner Mystery: Discussion of the murder mystery setup aboard Hyperion 3, Honor Blackman's casting (playing someone in her 40s while in her 60s), the Love Boat-style passenger introductions, the Mogarians and their translator issues, and Commodore Travers recognizing the Sixth Doctor from an adventure viewers never saw. The Vervoid Problem: Both hosts agree the plant-based menace suffers from unfortunate design - looked fine in studio as tulips but became laughable on screen. Jim argues the human crimes prove more interesting than the creature threat. Discussion covers Pip Baker's research into plant hormones, the effective reveal scene in shadows, Professor Lasky's Thing from Another World-inspired death, and the wilting death sequence. Red Herrings and Subplots: Examination of dropped plot threads including the Demeter seeds going nowhere (despite the Doctor eating one), Ruth the plant-infested woman's wasted potential, the Mogarian hijacking subplot as acknowledged "sideshow," and whether these diversions work or waste time. The Chemistry Question: Both hosts marvel at how Baker and Langford perform as if they'd been together for years. Coverage includes Mel not being told to "stay here," treatment as the Doctor's equal rather than damsel, her computer programmer background never materializing, and Pease Pottage references connecting to nursery rhymes. Design and Effects: Appreciation for the art deco lamp-inspired Hyperion 3 design (compared to Empire Strikes Back's Cloud City inspiration), the elaborate video game homage possibly recycled from "Nightmare Fair" development, black hole interpretation, and bodies stacked like cordwood pushing graphic boundaries. The Genocide Charge: The Valeyard's closing accusation transforms the trial as Article 7 of Gallifreyan Law makes no exceptions - destroying an entire species constitutes genocide regardless of necessity. The hosts question whether this charge sticks and what it means for the finale. Behind the Sofa Confusion: Colin, Bonnie, and Nicola on one couch with Matthew Waterhouse, Fraser Hines, and Mark Strickson on another - the three men initially think the plant-infested woman is Nicola Bryant and wonder "what happened to Peri." Coming Up Next: Patreon Exclusive (Monday): More Doctor Who music, Memory TARDIS spin with random First Five Doctors story recall, the three-part comic "Time Bomb," and news about recent collection release controversies and RTD decisions raising hackles. Main Feed Episode (Friday for Patreon, Following Saturday for All): The two-part finale "The Ultimate Foe" wraps up Colin Baker's era. John handles narration and promises Jim will thank him for NOT handling this one. Fandom generally dislikes it - meaning Jim will probably love it. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #TrialOfATimeLord #TerrorOfTheVervoids #ColinBaker #SixthDoctor #Mel #BonnieLangford #HonorBlackman #PipAndJaneBaker #TheVervoids #Season23 #Hyperion3 #ChrisClough #MurderMystery #SpaceLiner #ClassicWho #GenocideCharge #TheValeyard #TheInquisitor #DoctorWhoReview #DoctorWhoPodcast #1986 #CompanionIntroduction

John and Jim welcome back special guest artist Jerry Lange to discuss the Season 23 opener - a story that surprises everyone involved and showcases Colin Baker delivering what may be his finest performance in the role. The Return After 18 Months: John provides extensive background on how the show returned after the hiatus with a reduced budget, shorter episode format, and completely different vision from what was originally planned. Discussion covers the tumultuous production environment, Eric Saward's declining interest, and the challenges facing the production team. Dominic Glynn's Theme: The hosts react to the new arrangement of the Doctor Who theme - and Jim does NOT hold back his feelings. Discussion explores why this version feels cheaper than previous iterations and whether anything can redeem it. Jerry's Fresh Perspective: As someone experiencing Colin Baker's Doctor properly for the first time, Jerry shares his impressions of the "grumpy Doctor" and how this performance compares to what he expected. His observations about how each Doctor can be characterized provide interesting insights. Colin Baker's Courtroom Brilliance: All three hosts agree: Colin Baker shines brightest in the trial sequences. Jim examines how Baker balances humor and outrage, the effective "fencing" between the Doctor and the Valeyard, and why these courtroom interruptions actually enhance rather than detract from the story. The Mysterious Planet Story: The hosts discuss Robert Holmes' final full script, the Beneath the Planet of the Apesinfluences, the impressive (and expensive) model work, Drathro's excellent robot design, and whether Glitz and Dibber work as comedy relief characters. Jerry questions whether certain characters were even necessary to the narrative. Production Challenges: Discussion covers wrong studio construction, extended recaps to fill time, rating troubles despite heavy BBC promotion (blamed on the Roland Rat lead-in and The A-Team counterprogramming), and which actors stood out in guest roles. The Valeyard Factor: The hosts examine Michael Jayston's performance, the mysterious prosecutor's agenda, and why his dynamic with Colin Baker creates such compelling television despite being filmed primarily in one courtroom set. Listener Perspectives: Jamie Girl weighs in on the arrogance factor and Perry's odd reaction to Earth's fate, while Jameson provides expanded media context and praises the Baker/Jayston chemistry. Jeff from Australia offers thoughts on problematic elements and the Young Ones connections in "Revelation of the Daleks". Coming Up Next: Patreon Exclusive (Monday): Dominic Glynn theme variations, the comics "Exodus," "Revelation," and "Genesis," plus another spin of the Memory TARDIS wheel. Main Feed Episode (Friday for Patreon, Following Saturday for All): Parts 5-8 of Trial of a Time Lord - "Mindwarp." John handles narration duties, and he cryptically promises Jim will thank him for the division of labor. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #TrialOfATimeLord #TheMysteriousPlane #ColinBaker #SixthDoctor #Peri #NicolaBryant #TheValeyard #MichaelJayston #RobertHolmes #Season23 #Drathro #GlitzAndDibber #ClassicWho #TheInquisitor #Ravalox #DoctorWhoReview #DoctorWhoPodcast #NicholasMallett #1986

Episode Title: "Bang Bang A-Boom!" - Season 12 Retrospective & Big Finish Review - Patreon Exclusive #85 SPECIAL MAIN FEED RELEASE - PATREON SHOWCASE DOCTOR WHO THEME MONTAGE: The Tardis Elliot Video: John sent Jim a montage from Tardis Elliot (a fan who makes trailers of Doctor Who episodes) featuring title opening sequences. John's Reasoning: "This is the last, with Tom Baker, the last hurrah for the original version of the Doctor Who theme. After this, we're going to start seeing the variations. I thought, give me a little sneak peek at what's in store for you if you continue on into the new series and all." NO COMIC THIS WEEK: Jim: "What a relief that was. It's terrible for me to say that, but what a relief. It was nice having a break. It really was." SEASON 12 RETROSPECTIVE: SEASON AVERAGES: Jim: 10.2/15 John: 11/15 Overall Average: 10.6/15 Jim: "Some of that is nostalgia for you." John: "Absolutely." SEASON 13 SPOILER CARDS: The Three Cards: Ncuti Gatwa Fembots Classic Movies JIM'S CHOICE PROCESS: "How in the world could I possibly pick? I can pretty quickly eliminate Classic Movies, even though I like classic movies. I'm really intrigued by the other two." Fembots: "I'm not as big of a Bionic Woman fan as you are. I didn't watch it regularly like I did $6 Million Man. I know who the Fembots are and I liked that she had a recurring adversary, that was sort of her Daleks." THE PICK: NCUTI GATWA THE REVEAL: PYRAMIDS OF MARS BIG FINISH: BANG BANG A-BOOM! Release: December 19th, 2002 (their second Christmas episode) Writers: Gareth Roberts & Clayton Hickman Director: Nicholas Pegg Doctor: Sylvester McCoy Companion: Mel THE BASIC PLOT: "Star Trek meets Space 1999 meets Eurovision." The Setup: "The TARDIS lands on Dark Space 8 and finds themselves dealing with a whole bunch of aliens who are on the station because the Doctor is mistaken for the replacement commander for the station." The Backstory: "The TARDIS winds up on a shuttle that's transporting the new commander, but it explodes before it reaches the station. They are beamed onto the station - he and Mel - as the only survivors of it." Beamed vs. Transmitted: "They actually say 'beamed' in this case. They don't use the term transporter though. But I think that term was already being used in science fiction before. It's like blasters. I was naive enough to think that blasters came from Star Wars, but in Foundation by Isaac Asimov, the guns are called blasters." THE ELEMENTS: Space 1999: "The Space 1999 bit is the medical doctor who sounds an awful lot like Barbara Bain. She's going out of her way. She's the one doing medical logs like Bain did in Season 2 of Space 1999. Barbara Bain had a very distinctive voice. This woman seems to be placing that same emphasis on it there." Star Trek: "There's a lot of references to Star Trek. You look and you go 'Oh, now they're referencing this episode. Now they're referencing that episode.'" Eurovision: "They got someone who did a dead-on impression of the guy. For years Eurovision was hosted by a BBC presenter Wogan from Northern Ireland. So they have their version being Logan and he sounds just like him. It was cute." THE INTERGALACTIC SONG CONTEST: "On the station, while he's trying to figure out who tried to kill or not try to but successfully killed the new commander, the Doctor's also got to deal with an intergalactic song contest." JOHN'S VERDICT: Worth It? "It's worth a listen, especially if you are a Star Trek fan. And in my case, I had to laugh at the Eurovision spoofing they did." NEXT TIME: Friday (Patreon): Big Finish's "The Ark" - Jon Lucarotti's original story before it became Ark in Space Saturday (Main Feed): Reissue/release of a Patreon episode - Jon Pertwee Retrospective Monday (Patreon #86): "Primarily we're going to be focusing on the comic strips that were on during the break." The Reality: "It's going to be a mix of stuff from the strip and also a comic from the TV Comic Annual for 1976." "And that is our Big Finish for this show!" Support at patreon.com/thedoctorsbeardpodcast for $3/month - early access, exclusive episodes, and bonus content! Subscribe on all platforms. Email thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or join our Facebook community. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #PatreonExclusive #Episode85 #BangBangABoom #Season12Retrospective #TomBaker #FourthDoctor #Robot #ArkInSpace #TheWirrn #GenesisOfTheDaleks #Davros #Nyder #RevengeOfTheCybermen #TheSontaranExperiment #K1 #GiantRobot #SarahJaneSmith #HarrySullivan #HarryIsAnImbecile #BestCompanion #SarahIsntThereYet #ItHappening #Vira #Bettan #MissWinters #PeterMiles #Kettlewell #OutOutBriefCandle #HaveITheRight #JumpRopeScene #PyramidsOfMars #Sutekh #Spoilers #NcutiGatwa #Fembots #ClassicMovies #DoctorWhoTheme #TardisElliot #PeterHowell #NeonLogo #TheBrigadier #BigFinish #SylvesterMcCoy #Mel #SeventhDoctor #GarethRoberts #ClaytonHickman #NicholasPegg #StarTrek #Space1999 #Eurovision #Wogan #BarbaraBain #TheChimesOfMidnight #PaulMcGann #EighthDoctor #Jameson #ListenerMail #UNIT #Assembled #TheChurchAndTheCrown #Erimem #FifthDoctor #Pathfinder #RPG #ExternalHardDrive #TheArc #JonLucarotti #JonPertweeRetrospective #TVComicAnnual #1976 #ClassicWho #Retrospective #BestOf #FunniestMoment #BestMoment #GuestStarDebate #10Point6Average #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #Whovian #PodcastCommunity #PatreonShowcase

Join hosts John Drew and Jim Beard, along with special guest Alan J. Porter, as they tackle one of Classic Who's most controversial stories - and discover they might be more divided on it than expected! Production Overview: This 1985 two-part adventure was written by Glen McCoy (his only Doctor Who story) and directed by Pennant Roberts in his final work on the series. The production faced several challenges, including John Nathan-Turner pulling Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant out of rehearsals twice - once for a US convention and once for pantomime rehearsals. Robert Ashby's Borad makeup took three hours to apply daily and prevented him from eating, though he was given creative freedom to rewrite his own dialogue. The story originally featured the First Doctor, Susan, Ian, and Barbara, but was changed to reference the Third Doctor and Jo Grant at JNT's insistence. The Paul Darrow Factor: Guest star Paul Darrow (Blake's 7's Avon) deliberately over-acted as revenge for Colin Baker's bombastic portrayal of Bayban the Butcher on Blake's 7. When JNT asked him to play Tekker like Avon, Darrow refused and instead played him like Richard III - even asking if he could wear a hump! Eric Saward described the character as "a Roman Emperor who's been sniffing glue all day." Fan Reception vs. Host Opinions: Despite ranking 199th out of 200 in Doctor Who Magazine's 2009 poll (just above "The Twin Dilemma"), the hosts find themselves surprisingly divided. Alan defends the story as one of his favorites, particularly praising the H.G. Wells subplot and the Doctor's use of temporal mechanics. Jim finds it uneven but leans more positive than negative, enjoying Part 2 more than Part 1. John remains the dissenting voice, giving it his lowest rating and arguing it should have been condensed to a single episode. What Works: The Borad's makeup design and Robert Ashby's restrained performance The Doctor actively using time manipulation as a tool (the "time slip" device) The Third Doctor/Jo Grant backstory and photo reveal H.G. Wells as Herbert, with the reveal of his identity The Bandril aliens as an attempt at something visually different Colin Baker's performance showing the Doctor's arrogance and self-assurance Peri's relatively conservative and flattering outfit The concept of time technology used as a weapon (aging doors, etc.) References to the Doctor being President of Gallifrey What Doesn't Work: Twenty-one minutes before the TARDIS actually arrives on Karfel Excessive padding, particularly the extended TARDIS arguing scenes The "Morlocks" name being too on-the-nose from H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine" Plot holes regarding mirrors, reflective surfaces, and androids The unnecessary subplot about the impending Bandril war The clone reveal feeling like a tired trope Peri's character arc diminishing from agency to damsel in distress Questions about how the Doctor knew there was a mirror behind the mural The Borad's similarity to Davros (wheelchair, arm weapon, disfigurement) Behind the Sofa Reception: Interestingly, all three Behind the Sofa pairings enjoyed the story, with Janet Fielding calling it the best of Season 22 and Peter Davison saying it was "bad enough to be good." Special Effects: The Blu-ray release is the only Colin Baker Season 22 story to receive updated special effects, particularly within the Timelash corridor itself. However, the hosts debate whether the original effects were actually any worse than typical for the era, with some defending them as perfectly acceptable for 1985. The Third Doctor Connection: The story's references to an unseen Third Doctor adventure generate discussion about whether this needs to be explored further. Some Big Finish audios and novels have addressed different aspects of this backstory, though no single story covers the complete adventure. The reveal of Jo Grant's photo in the locket creates a memorable moment, though questions remain about the logistics of the wall/mural/mirror setup. Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor: All three hosts praise Colin Baker's performance, with discussion about how he represents a return to the "classic" Doctor archetype - combining arrogance, self-assurance, and alien behavior in ways that callback to earlier incarnations. Alan notes that the Sixth Doctor has become his favorite classic Doctor, particularly in Big Finish audios where the character develops further. Jim agrees that Baker brings back an edge and arrogance that had been missing from the Fifth Doctor's portrayal. H.G. Wells Subplot: The reveal of Herbert as H.G. Wells divides the hosts. Alan loves this aspect and wishes Wells could have become a companion, noting that expanded media has hinted at further travels with the Doctor. The hosts discuss the 1979 film "Time After Time" covering similar territory. The Loch Ness Monster connection provides a subtle Easter egg at the story's conclusion. Nicola Bryant's American Accent: The discussion reveals interesting perspectives - Alan, who lived in Britain during the original broadcast, thought she was genuinely American for years. Now living in the US for 30 years, he can hear her straining with the accent. The hosts share the behind-the-scenes story of how Bryant and her agent maintained the deception for nearly a year before revealing the truth to Colin Baker. The Violence Debate: The hosts attribute Season 22's increased violence to Eric Saward's script editing philosophy and his particular vision of science fiction, suggesting he didn't fully understand the Doctor's character. They note that the 18-month hiatus may have saved the show by allowing time to reassess and tone down the violence. Production Value Discussion: The hosts debate whether Timelash deserves its reputation for poor effects and production values, with most agreeing the special effects are no worse than surrounding stories. The Timelash corridor interior set receives mixed reviews - an "A for effort" but questioned execution that might have benefited from filters or different lighting approaches. Viewership: Part 1: 6.7 million viewers Part 2: 7.4 million viewers Coming Up Next: Patreon Exclusive (Monday): John and Jim cover all three parts of Steve Parkhouse's "Polly the Glot" comic strip, spin the Memory TARDIS, and discuss more theme music variations. The hosts express relief that only two more Parkhouse stories remain in their comic journey. Next Main Episode: The hosts continue through Colin Baker's Season 22 with "Revelation of the Daleks," featuring the return of Davros. John handles narration duties, and they're joined by special guest Felicity Kusinitz, who has recovered from her previous illness and will bring her "much better voice" to the discussion. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #Timelash #ClassicWho #SixthDoctor #ColinBaker #NicolaBryant #Peri #PaulDarrow #BlakesSeven #HGWells #ThirdDoctor #JoGrant #TheBorad #Season22 #1985 #DoctorWhoReview #DoctorWhoPodcast #Whovian #ClassicDoctorWho #TimeLords #TARDIS #TemporalMechanics #GlenMcCoy #PennantRoberts #Karfel #Bandrils #Morlocks

OPENING: THE RANI INTRODUCTION: John: "So here we are again talking The Mark of the Rani, which now for you, Timey Wimey, you've already met the Rani, but this is the Rani 1.0, played by Kate O'Mara, who American audiences might remember appeared on the television show Dynasty." JIM'S INITIAL REACTION: "It is really interesting. I'm glad you brought that up, because it had occurred to me that I had already met the character and was somewhat familiar with her. At least I knew the basic setup because we had talked when we watched her in the Ncuti story." THE OVERALL VERDICT: "Otherwise, in general, I enjoyed this story. And Kate O'Mara - good. And yet in a different way than the actress in current days." PRODUCTION DETAILS: Production Code: 6X Air Dates: February 2-9, 1985 Writers: Pip and Jane Baker (first outing for Doctor Who - they'll be back next season and Sylvester McCoy's first season with another Rani story) Director: Sarah Hellings (the last female director for Classic Doctor Who) THE MUSIC John: "One of the things - I've said this, this is one of my favorite episodes - but one thing that I love about it, the music stands out in this one compared to a lot of other productions." Jim: "Interesting that you say that, because I've said it many times before, I don't always notice music, it doesn't always hit me on a conscious level. I noticed it and made a note. It did stand out to me in this story." ANTHONY AINLEY'S DISCONTENT: John: "I mentioned the appearance of the Master. And Anthony Ainley, Colin Baker, and Nicola Bryant all say on the Blu-ray set that Ainley was not happy about sharing the limelight. RATINGS: Episode 1: 6.3 million Episode 2: 7.3 million JIM'S FORMAT REVELATION: "I'm gonna say it right now. While watching this, I finally, finally decided fully - I don't care for this setup. I don't care for the two parts at 45 minutes each." PART ONE SYNOPSIS: Doctor and Peri arrive in the early 19th-century mining village of Killingworth to investigate time distortion. They witness local miners attack a deliveryman and smash the machinery he was carrying, appearing as Luddites to locals. The Doctor notices one rampaging miner has a strange red mark on his neck. He meets Lord Ravensworth, a local landowner who saves the Doctor when attacked by three Luddites. He's deeply concerned about violent outbreaks among normally passive men. Culprit is the Rani, a Time Lord chemist posing as old woman running local bathhouse. She's been extracting neurochemicals from miners that enable sleep, which causes red marks on their necks. She needs these chemicals for her planet, Miasimia Goria, where her experiments have left inhabitants unable to rest and have now rebelled. Master arrives having visited her planet and forces an uneasy partnership by stealing some of her precious brain fluid to ensure cooperation. Doctor disguises himself as a miner and enters the bathhouse. Rani traps him, but Master convinces her to let him handle the Time Lord. He convinces Luddites to push Doctor's TARDIS down the mine shaft with the Doctor to follow. JIM'S LIGHTNING ROUND: "I want to try something different here. Bear with me. Lightning round of comments. You ready? Let's see this." THE LIST: Almost artistic opening shots plus nice music She is wearing - the Doctor says the Daleks have time machines Master Lots of handheld camera work Peri's more capable The Master changed time by eliminating a man Vulgarly colored coat The Master and Rani have a history Rani's jabs at the Master - smiley face Doctor's imitations of Peri - smiley face No birds Doctor recognizes the Rani but she didn't recognize him American War of Independence The Rani's a vegan Brains as good as anyone's - No comment, Doctor Shades of Bruce Wayne THE OPENING SEQUENCE: Jim: "Let's go right back to the beginning - that opening series of shots to set up the village, the music lining, and then into the bathhouse. Almost artistic. It was filmed so nicely, with nothing weird going on. And then they go into the bathhouse, and it gets weird at that point. But accompanied by very nice music." The Impact: "Beautiful work. I was never so taken by opening shots. They were almost poetic in a way. And she did all that - that was a small area, and she made it look so much bigger." PART TWO SYNOPSIS: Doctor is saved by inventor George Stephenson and returns with Peri to Lord Ravensworth's estate, where Stephenson has planned a meeting of scientific and engineering geniuses. The Doctor worries about gathering under the current circumstances, but the Master is desperate for it to proceed. He wants to enlist the finest minds of the Industrial Revolution to accelerate Earth's development and use the planet as a power base. Master uses mind control on Stephenson's assistant Luke Ward, ordering him to kill anyone who tries to prevent meeting. Master strikes a deal with Rani - she can return to Earth at any time to harvest brain fluid if she helps him achieve his goal. Doctor sneaks into Rani's TARDIS at the bathhouse, discovering jars of preserved dinosaur embryos. Rani summons her ship to the old mine workings, with the doctor still hiding inside, and he overhears their plans. Peri uses her botanical knowledge to make a sleeping draft for afflicted miners, searching for herbs amid Rani's landmines. Doctor confronts Master and Rani at the edge of the dell and witnesses Luke step on a mine that transforms him into a tree. Using Master's own tissue compression eliminator, Doctor takes them prisoner, but Rani tricks Peri and two escape. However, the Doctor has sabotaged Rani's TARDIS navigational system. The ship spins out of control, and under destabilized conditions, the jar holding the Tyrannosaurus Rex embryo falls and breaks, causing the creature to grow due to time spillage. Doctor and Peri swap a vial of brain fluid with Ravensworth, who will administer it to afflicted miners. They depart in the TARDIS before the astonished eyes of the scientist and his financier. THE LANDMINE QUESTION: Jim: "What is it about this show and landmines?" THE REMOTE CONTROL: Jim: "The thing about that - she has solved the problem of being able to remote control a TARDIS. Does that come into play going forward?" John: "Yes. There is another Time Lord in Classic Who coming up who also has the ability to do that." Jim: "That's cool." THE MORALITY DEBATE: John: "I think she's not evil. She's amoral." THE INVITATION: Jim: "So, everybody out there listening, if you want to chime in, is the Rani evil or just amoral? We'd love to hear from you." NEXT TIME: Monday (Patreon): More Voyager Part 4, some Doctor Who music, and some Memory TARDIS Friday (Patreon) then Saturday (Main Feed): THE TWO DOCTORS - a three-part story Jim: "Let's see how well things hold up there if I've got to sit through three 45-minute episodes. Oh my word. It does have Patrick Troughton though." John: "And you always seem to like Patrick Troughton better when he's tempered by the other ones." THE SIGN-OFF: "And now you know what your co-hosts do in the Doctor's Beard TARDIS - argue, mainly!" Support at patreon.com/thedoctorsbeardpodcast for $3/month! Subscribe on all platforms. Email thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or join our Facebook community. 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Episode Title: "Colin Baker Fans Unite!" - Attack of the Cybermen Review THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! Recorded on January 14th, the anniversary was January 13th! Three years of The Doctor's Beard Podcast! The Early Days: "I wonder how many people were listening back then?" Only a couple dozen, mostly friends. "How many of those people are still with us?" Patreon Originals: Shout-out to Dawn, Jameson, and Jamie Girl who've been there from the beginning! THE OPENING QUESTION: John: "What did you think of the season opener for Season 22?" JIM'S RESPONSE: "I'M A HAPPY CAMPER." "This is a world of difference. A universe of difference. I'm even rolling with the stuff that's not that great." THE BIG DECLARATION: "I think this is my second favorite Cyberman story." Why Jim Loves It: Colin Baker has settled into his Doctor "He's smoothed over some of the rougher edges already" The Cybermen's scheme isn't dumb - it's BIG and makes sense Foundation is reasonable: self-preservation Connects with Tomb of the Cybermen John's Agreement: "I give you all that. Colin, his performance, and even Peri." PRODUCTION DETAILS: Production Code: 6T Air Dates: January 5-12, 1985 (not 1986 as John mistakenly said last episode!) Writer: Paula Moore (Paula Woolsey, Eric Saward's girlfriend) Director: Matthew Robinson (last directed Resurrection of the Daleks) THE WRITING CONTROVERSY: Three Claims: Paula Woolsey: Got the credit Eric Saward: Most say he wrote it; this was a workaround to BBC rules Ian Levine: Claims HE wrote the story, Saward just wrote the script Saward's Version: Levine contributed to continuity help, didn't write anything Jim's Reaction to Levine News: "You shouldn't have told me that. I'm down on it." John's Defense: "You appreciate these continuity things. That's what Levine brings to the table." Why the Strong Opening? "Hey, the Cybermen are back! It's the new season!" BBC did 4-5 different promos (unprecedented). Possibly Nicola Bryant cheesecake photos helped. NOSTALGIA CENTRAL: THE COMPANION NAME-DROPS: Peri's Line: The Doctor's called her Tegan, Zoe, Susan... and strangely, Jamie. Jim's Point: "Really dumb thing to say - as we in particular know on this podcast, Jamie can be used for both male and female. It's like Peri's never met a female named Jamie?" The List: Tegan, Zoe, Susan, and Jamie THE TERRIBLE ZODIN: Jim: "How do you remember that?" The Running Joke: Started in The Five Doctors - Patrick Troughton listing enemies fought, mentions "the terrible Zodin." Brigadier: "Who?" Peri's Confusion: She seemed to act like it was a companion or ally. "Although the 'terrible' part should have tipped her off." TOTTERS LANE: The Landing: No specific reason other than for us, the audience John's Theory: "There seems to be more of a nod to the 20th anniversary with these references. Companions, Totters Lane, we're getting The Two Doctors with Patrick Troughton, another story where Jon Pertwee's Doctor is referenced. This felt more like walking down memory lane." The Set vs. Location: Originally a set, now actual location shot. "Doesn't exactly match up, but probably thinking 'It was 20 years ago, who the heck would remember what it looked like?'" The Availability Problem: At that time, you couldn't watch An Unearthly Child if you wanted to - not available on VHS or anything. Only if you caught The Five Faces of Doctor Who a couple years earlier. Jim's Sadness: "It's sad they would have had to rely upon an outside source to help with historical things of the show. Doctor Who is still a pretty big, important part of the BBC. Odd there wouldn't be anybody around who would be the keeper of the flame." PERI'S FIRST OUTFIT: Jim's Complaint: "Horrible. Dumb. Peri, you're obviously having a lot of problems running when the Doctor starts running. Is this really the best choices you're making here? And the color!" Why It's There: "But I know why it's all there. I get it." (For the male viewers) GUEST STARS: Brian Glover (Griffiths): Former wrestler and English teacher turned actor. No relation to Julian Glover. David Banks: Cyber Leader (same as Earthshock) Michael Kilgarriff: Cyber Controller (same as Tomb of the Cybermen THE CYBER HIERARCHY: Jim's Confusion: "Is this the first time we've actually seen this Cyber Controller?" The Difference: Cyber Leader: Always in the field directing Cybermen in action Cyber Controller: The big boss they check in with PART ONE PRAISE: John: "I always love anytime we've got the Doctor in contemporary setting - going back to Pertwee, but definitely Troughton and Hartnell with War Machines. Here we have Peri and Doctor just roaming the streets tracking the signal. Loved it. I'm looking at the houses." The Date: Aired January 5-12, 1985. Set in 1985 to jive with The Tenth Planet (1986). The Realization: "Whoever came up with this idea realized 'We're coming up on the year the Cybermen first arrived. We should do something with that.'" THE TIME CRAFT MYSTERY: The Questions: Where did it come from? Whose planet is doing this? Was the Doctor sent off course to stop use of time ship? Is mission to stop Cybermen from changing history or to get time ship? The Concern: "How many times over past 20 years has there been any other race with time craft other than Time Lords? The Daleks, for one..." John's Point: "That should be of fairly great concern by Time Lords. They should know everybody everywhere in the whole universe who has time travel capability." Jim: "Why did they want the TARDIS when they already had a time craft?" THE WEB OF TIME: Jim's Note: "I always love the conversation about history of Mondas, the whole 1986 thing. I circled this - mentioned more than once, I don't think the term has been used before. The web of time." The Phrase: Used very formally as if that's what it's really called. The concept has been there, but not the phrase. PERI'S SECOND OUTFIT: Jim: "Much better outfit once Cybermen force her to change clothes." The Question: "Did they stand there as she changed to make sure?" John: "They'd do it passively. No passion. They'd just be like—" Jim: "Oh right, yeah. I can just see 'You've got to turn your back.' 'There's no significance to us having to turn our back.'" TOMB OF THE CYBERMEN LOVE: Jim: "I love all the references to the tombs, Tomb of the Cybermen. That whole thing. I love that concept. That's one of the reasons I like Tomb of the Cybermen. Really glad that was pulled back into cyber mythology." THE KRYONS: Jim's Uncertainty: "I don't know what to think about the Kryons and their design. Interesting it's all women who play the roles. Don't know if we were supposed to think anything of that - is their race entirely female, or were there males but the males perished?" John's Theory: "More my thinking - there's nothing suggesting 'we're the last women' or 'we were only women.'" The Appreciation: "Makes them more exotic. I appreciated all the actresses - really got into the hand movements thing. Right out of the 60s!" THE SENSORITES CONNECTION: Jim: "Everything about the Kryons is right out of the Sensorites playbook. They are so early 60s. The translucent pieces of plastic film cut up and pasted on them." The Head Pieces: "Weirdly, their eye holes are so big you can see the actresses' eyes. Then I saw there's an actual lens over that - some smooth, some segmented which really made it hard for actresses to see. I realized they weren't trying to say those were their organic heads but helmets they wear." Ice Warriors Comparison: "Reminded me of Ice Warriors - those aren't necessarily their heads but helmets. Made me wonder what the Kryons actually looked like." The Follow-Up: "There's no way nobody has not followed up - they've returned in a book, comic, or Big Finish and answered some questions." John: "Do you know off the top of your head?" / Jim: "I don't. They don't return in the show." SONIC LANCE VS. SONIC SCREWDRIVER: Jim's Frustration: "Why have an ersatz sonic screwdriver? Just have a sonic screwdriver! They call it a sonic lance. Why does JNT not want his cake but he's going to eat it too? You want to get rid of sonic screwdriver, yet you have a device that is everything but a sonic screwdriver except for the name." The Theory: "Possible Eric Saward himself was either testing waters or trying to put his mark on it." The Problem: "We won't see it again. Because it had a lot of use - chameleon circuit, closeups, handed around." Modern Context: "I get it - at this moment, sonic screwdriver's not anything like today where it's indispensable. Almost too much in modern Doctor Who - almost overboard, like he couldn't live without it." LYTTON'S TORTURE: Jim: "Wow, that was pretty extreme. But I have to say, I was glad for it. Not necessarily that somebody gets tortured, but I think it's a good moment. Makes the Cybermen seem like a threat." THE DOCTOR'S HUMANITY: Jim's Appreciation: "I really liked and appreciated how much the Doctor's humanity comes through. You might've gotten the idea with earliest moments of Colin Baker's Doctor we weren't going to see anything like that. But no - he's got one hell of a streak of humanity." The Balance: "My goodness, did they balance that character in the span of one story! They somewhat softened his sarcasm and cutting remarks, but not completely. The ego is still there, but then they play up the humanity. It's a nice balance. I really like him." COLIN BAKER'S VOICE: Jim: "I haven't said this before - I like Colin Baker's accent. Every Doctor is from somewhere different in the UK. I don't know exactly where Colin Baker's from, but I liked the way he speaks. Something about his voice I like." The Comparison: Tom Baker had the most distinctive voice Davison's kind of wasn't a pleasure to listen to Loved Hartnell's accent Troughton's just kind of bland "My God, I love the way Pertwee talked" "I'm finding I really like to listen to Baker, Colin Baker, give lines" Born in London, moved to Lancaster - primarily uses posh accent. "It is high-brow. That's okay. Nice to have another Doctor like that." THE WEAK SUBPLOT: The Agreement: Bates and Stratton (semi-converted men trying to make their way through) - "Probably the weakest part of this whole thing." Jim: "A little boring. I think the show intended them to be comedy relief with bickering back and forth and sarcasm. Didn't really take much notice of them until they run into Lytton and Griffiths." The Fan Wank Accusation: John: "Some people look at it as fan wank." Jim: "No. Yeah. No. There are moments that go so quickly - maybe a little fan service. But overall, no way whatsoever. Just because Cybermen are in it? People who are against use of any classic bad guys? Assume they probably say that of every Dalek story." The Defense: "There's no reason behind using Totters Lane and I.M. Foreman other than 'hey, look at this folks, remember this from 20 years ago?' But if it was all through the whole thing doing that over and over, no. As far as Tenth Planet references, brought in for significant reason - it's the plot! They want to go back and stop that story from happening. That's a valid story idea." Jim's Challenge: "Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me I'm wrong for liking this story." The One Person: "I know one person is probably sitting there screaming... He's probably wondering what the hell is wrong with me. That dude betrayed me." THE NEXT TWO STORIES: John: "Honest to God, the next two are two favorites of mine." Story 1: "One from extremely nostalgic perspective - first one of Colin Baker's I ever saw and actually said 'You know, as ridiculous as this coat is, this has a lot of potential.'" Story 2: "One other story speaks to my love of television in many respects." JIM'S CURRENT PROJECTS: Local Author Spotlight: Tomorrow night (unfortunately very cold - "people in my area cower in their homes if drop of rain, flake of snow falls or it drops below 55 degrees"). "Really hoping I have nice little audience. Really looking forward to it. Did some prep work today. Going to do readings from my books, selling my books hopefully. Should be pretty fun." Doc Jones Novel: "14 chapters in, writing every day, averaging between 2,600-2,700 words a day. Completely insane for me, but I can't question it or think too hard about it. Got to keep going. Try to finish this. More than halfway through." NEXT TIME: Monday (Patreon #154): Part 2 of Voyager, Memory TARDIS spin (maybe another Peter Davison to annoy Jim!), and "probably one of the most unique Doctor Who-inspired songs - not a theme this time. I found this really unique song called 'I Am Chameleon' and we'll discuss the whole origin on Patreon show." Friday (Patreon) then Saturday (Main Feed): Vengeance on Varos! Jim handles narration. Joined by Felicity Cousins from The Flop Cast! Support at patreon.com/thedoctorsbeardpodcast for $3/month - early access, exclusive episodes, and bonus content! Subscribe on all platforms. Email thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or join our Facebook community. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #AttackOfTheCybermen #Season22 #ColinBaker #SixthDoctor #PoorMalignedColinBaker #Cybermen #Lytton #MauriceCulbourne #Telos #Kryons #TombOfTheCybermen #TheTenthPlanet #TottersLane #IMForeman #TheChameleonCircuit #TheTerribleZodin #WebOfTime #CyberController #CyberLeader #DavidBanks #MichaelKilgarriff #SonicLance #BrianGlover #HalleysComet #Mondas #TimeTravel #SanitizedSewers #WebOfFear #TheInvasion #PaulaWoolsey #EricSaward #IanLevine #WritingControversy #MatthewRobinson #Peri #NicolaBryant #45MinuteEpisodes #ClassicWho #80sWho #JNT #JohnNathanTurner #BulkingMailbag #FanMail #ThreeYearAnniversary #SecondFavoriteCybermanStory #JimIsHappy #13OutOf15 #JodieWhittaker #TellMeImWrong #FanWank #Continuity #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #Whovian #PodcastCommunity #VengeanceOnVaros #FelicityCousins #TheFlop

Episode Title: "I Am The Doctor, Whether You Like It Or Not" - The Twin Dilemma Review THE GREAT REVERSAL: After three seasons of John defending Peter Davison against Jim's criticisms, the tables turn completely. Jim embraces Colin Baker. JIM'S SHOCKING TAKE: "I don't usually line up with Doctor Who fans because I did not like Caves of Androzani and I liked this. I liked Baker. If it's not what the show needed at this moment in time, it's definitely what I needed. I needed a Doctor who was more awake and doing things... larger." THE TWIN DILEMMA (March 22-30, 1984) Writer: Anthony Steven (first and only Doctor Who story - oldest writer at 67!) Director: Peter Moffatt (returning) The Legend: Doctor Who Magazine 2009 poll - Caves of Androzani came in #1. The Twin Dilemma came in #200... DEAD LAST. The Rift Begins: Saward wasn't happy with Baker's casting (thought he was miscast), didn't like JNT's stunt casting focus, and objected to JNT comparing Doctor Who to comedy show "Morecambe and Wise." THE DAVISON SLAM: The Shocking Lines: "I never really liked him anyway" "He had a sort of feckless charm" Definition of feckless: "Lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible" The Culprits: Either JNT (getting back at Davison for leaving?), Saward (who did the heavy rewrite), or Steven - but those lines don't get through without approval. Jim's Theory: "I can't see JNT being happy with Davison leaving after three years. This could be him being petty." STORY BREAKDOWN: Mathematical geniuses Romulus and Remus are abducted by mysterious Edgeworth and taken to Mestor on asteroid Titan Three. The newly regenerated, unstable Doctor picks a new outfit, declares himself "unregenerate," and plans to become a hermit with Peri. The twins' father alerts authorities. Police commander scrambles fighters to investigate the freighter - only survivor is pilot Hugo Lang who accuses the Doctor of the attack. The twins are forced to do calculations for Edgeworth (revealed as Azmael, a Time Lord and the Doctor's old teacher). Mestor plans to move two planets into Jaconda's orbit as "larders" to replenish the wasting planet. The Doctor realizes the calculations are off - the worlds will crash into the sun, destroying everything but scattering Mestor's gastropod eggs throughout the universe. Mestor demonstrates mind-possession on Azmael, threatening to take the Doctor's body. The Doctor destroys Mestor's slug body. Azmael dies exorcising Mestor's mind. Jacondans are freed. Lang stays to help with mop-up. The Doctor returns the twins to Earth. CHARACTER ANALYSIS: The Sixth Doctor - Every Previous Doctor Combined: Hartnell's there (not the lead initially, Peri has more agency) Troughton: "We must find this evil and destroy it!" Pertwee: Says "Eureka!" Tom Baker: The ego is BACK and turned up to 11 Davison: The violence continues, referenced regeneration fears New Affectation: Repeating words three times when incredulous or angry ("Sweet, sweet, sweet") Hugo Lang - The Space Dirty Harry: Jim's Justice League addition! "You might reach that gun before I can kill you" - classic action hero dialogue. Stays on Jaconda at the end despite having "no one to go back to." Kevin McNally plays Hugo (later Pirates of the Caribbean's Gibbs!) Azmael: Time Lord, the Doctor's favorite teacher (sorry, Borusa!). Controls Jaconda, calls them "my people" (why does a Time Lord want to rule a planet?). The Death Scene: John loved it - touched and warm between Azmael and the Doctor. "The finest teacher I ever had." Mestor: Giant slug with mind-control powers and embolism ray ("little bubbles, not good"). Finds Peri "pleasing" so doesn't kill her immediately (second ugly being attracted to Peri after Sharaz Jek). PRODUCTION DETAILS: New Title Sequence: Sparkly! Logo curved! Colin's face transitions from serious to smiling! The TARDIS: Has a chair! The Doctor calls the outside "hideous" - setup for attempting to fix chameleon circuit next story Trans-Mat Love: Jim adores that this technology persists throughout Who history. The Doctor turns it into a time travel device ("just a few little adjustments") Old Who Connections Everywhere: Braveheart Tegan reference Azmael knew Fourth Doctor Wine at the fountain (Big Finish goldmine!) Space police headquarters "straight out of Troughton's time" The Video Games: The twins face each other with what look like handheld gaming consoles - repurposed 1970s electronic games! John searched everywhere to identify them. Actor Notes: Maurice Denham returns in Pertwee BBC audio "The Paradise of Death" and appeared with Roger Delgado in "The Slide" Edwin Richfield (Mestor) was Captain Hart in "The Sea Devils" The twins' real father played a gunrunner in "Caves of Androzani"! THE ENDING - "WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT": The Lines: "Wait a bit before criticizing my new persona" "I am the Doctor, whether you like it or not" The Delivery: Spoken directly to camera, directly to the audience. Then both smile - a wink? Softening the harshness? Jim's Question: "Why put that in there? You don't just have something like that unless you already felt you were getting pushback." The Speculation: Was it in original script or added during filming? Did it start as Doctor-to-Peri dialogue that got strengthened and shifted to Doctor-to-audience? The Challenge: "People will be like 'All right, let me give it another try.' This has been the thing about doing review shows - stuff I thought was garbage as a kid is really good now, and vice versa. The Meta Moment: Lots of meta at beginning and end - the story knows it's a transition. NEXT TIME: Patreon Exclusive #152 - Music, Colin Baker's comic debut, Season 21 Retrospective (the good, bad, and ugly), spoiler card revealing something about Season 22, Memory TARDIS spin, and a longer-than-usual episode! Then: Peter Davison Retrospective (Patreon) and 1970s Doctor Who retrospective (main feed hiatus episode)! Colin Baker fans - write in! "We need to hear from more people who like Colin Baker's Doctor. Drop us a line or leave a voicemail!" Subscribe on all platforms. Email thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com. Support at patreon.com/thedoctorsbeardpodcast for $3/month. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #TheTwinDilemma #SixthDoctor #ColinBaker #Regeneration #Peri #NicolaBryant #Season21Finale #NewDoctor #ExplosionInARainbowFactory #TechnicolorDreamcoat #WhetherYouLikeItOrNot #IAmTheDoctor #PeterDavison #Azmael #Mestor #Gastropods #HugoLang #Jaconda #AnthonyStevenGastropods #EricSaward #PeterMoffat #MoodCat #CatBadge #BipolarDoctor #ManicDepressive #ControversialDoctor #UnlikeableDoctor #CharacterArc #DavisonSlam #Feckless #ClassicWho #1984 #WorstDoctorWhoStory #Number200 #TablesTurned #JohnsRevenge #JimsStruggle #UnregeneratedDoctor #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #Whovian #PodcastCommunity #DefyingExpectations #RebelSpirit

Episode Title: "From Carnage to Cleavage" - Planet of Fire Review PLANET OF FIRE (February-March 1984) Writer: Peter Grimwade (his final Doctor Who work) Director: Fiona Cumming (her last story, dating back to The Highlanders) Location: Lanzarote, Canary Islands - chosen after Cumming promoted it with holiday photos! THE SHOPPING LIST EPISODE: Peter Grimwade faces an enormous writing burden with his final Doctor Who script - a literal checklist: Introduce Perry, reintroduce Kamelion (and write him out), fill in Turlough's background, bring back the Master and kill him off, and oh yes, set it all in Lanzarote because we want a holiday! PERI: The accent is terrible, the acting is broad, the costumes are... strategic. But she's a complete 180 from Tegan, which makes her "a refreshing change" in Jim's words. Also: Why does Fiona Cumming, a female director, go along with the obvious cheesecake shots? THE QUESTION: Why was Turlough sent to Earth instead of being on the ship with the others? THE DEATH: The Doctor hesitates as the Master burns in the flames. Both hosts question whether he could've saved him (echoing the Davros dilemma from Resurrection). KAMELION'S END: The prop finally works by having Kamelion transform into Howard (Perry's stepfather) and then the Master. Jim asks the obvious: "Why didn't they just do that all along?" THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WOUND THEORY: Jim theorizes that while previous Doctors showed physical deterioration before regeneration, Davison is being psychologically and mentally wounded - all the ethical dilemmas (Davros, the Master, Kameleon) are wearing him down, setting up the regeneration. LOCATION WORK: Both hosts praise the Lanzarote filming and volcanic landscapes doubling for Sarn. Jim wanted more of the shipwreck dive sequences. The café scene where the Doctor leaves alien money behind stands out as atypical behavior. THE SOPHIE ALDRED ACE PODCAST UPDATE: John reports the interviews barely discuss Doctor Who - Sylvester McCoy talks about pissing off Richard Burton and friendship with Ian McKellen; Katy Manning discusses life philosophy ("Every day is a blessing"). The hosts approve: "We've heard all the Doctor Who stuff for years!" NEXT TIME: The Caves of Androzani - "Once daily Androzani! Major and minor!" The end of Peter Davison, the introduction of Colin Baker, and the return of Robert Holmes! Subscribe on all platforms. Email thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com. Support at patreon.com/thedoctorsbeardpodcast for $3/month. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #PlanetOfFire #FifthDoctor #PeterDavison #Turlough #PerryBrown #NicolaBryant #MarkStrickson #TheMaster #AnthonyAinley #Kamelion #PeterGrimwade #FionaCumming #Lanzarote #CanaryIslands #TurloughOrigins #Trion #MiniMaster #TissueCompressionEliminator #CrispyMaster #1984 #ClassicWho #Season21 #Sarn #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #FromCarnageToCleavage #Cheesecake #PinkBikini #Speedo #80sTV #Whovian #CompanionDebut #CompanionExit #PodcastCommunity

Episode Title: "Help Me! - Oh No, Don't Hurt My Daleks!" - The Monstrons Defeat & Problematic Depictions - Patreon Exclusive Sample HOLIDAY GIFT TO OUR LISTENERS: The Doctor's Beard Podcast delivers another Patreon Exclusive featuring comics discussion! Join John (as Kenix of the Monstrons) and Jim (as the Golden Emperor Dalek) as they tackle Bill Mevin's Doctor Who strip and confront a troubling but emotionally powerful Dalek comic. DOCTOR WHO STRIP: "ENTER THE GO RAY" (October 25 - November 15, 1965) Writer/Artist: Bill Mevin Jim's opening assessment: "I like the art. All right, next." The TARDIS crew lands on a world straight out of Oz novels - inhabitants roll on single wheels instead of feet! Accused of stealing pile-cardium that powers the city, the Doctor races against time in radiation suits to provide mercury as an alternative power source while the Go Rays pound on the door. John's highlight: "They look like gingerbread cookies on wheels in the end." THE DALEKS: "MENACE OF THE MONSTRONS" (October 23 - December 4, 1965) Writer: David Whitaker (from Terry Nation's concepts) Artist: Richard Jennings ⚠️ Content Warning: The hosts must address the strip's deeply problematic visual depiction of the Monstrons as offensive African stereotypes. Jim expresses discomfort and surprise at such imagery appearing in 1965, creating "a weird dichotomy" - the characters are portrayed as highly intelligent and capable (defeating the Daleks), yet drawn in extremely unflattering stereotypical ways. The Story Itself: An alien race with "Engibrain" android soldiers kicks the Daleks' "shiny metal asses" (to quote another robot from pop culture). The Monstrons arrive using the same conquest playbook as the Daleks, setting up base in a volcano, and capturing Daleks as souvenirs after believing they've destroyed the race. Both hosts admit they were rooting for the Daleks throughout, celebrating when they finally turn the tide. UPCOMING TEASE: The 12-part Dalek Master Plan begins next! John warns about the infamous Part Six (which "does not hold up" and could be removed without affecting the story), but promises excitement after Mission to the Unknown. Only three episodes exist: Parts 2, 5, and 10 - everything else remains missing with no BBC animation. LOVE WHAT YOU HEARD? Comics discussions, novel reviews, live watch parties, and more await! Support the show for just $3/month at patreon.com/thedoctorsbeardpodcast Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major platforms. Email thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or join our Facebook community. Happy Holidays from The Doctor's Beard Podcast! Hashtags: #DoctorWho #DoctorWhoComics #PatreonSample #HolidayEpisode #TVComic #TVCentury21 #FirstDoctor #BillMevin #EnterTheGoRay #JillianCount #22WordBalloons #PowerRunning #ThoughtBalloon #Daleks #DalekChronicles #MenaceOfTheMonstrons #Monstrons #DavidWhitaker #RichardJennings #ProblematicDepictions #RacistImagery #1965Comics #ContentWarning #VillainProtagonists #RootingForDaleks #EmotionalDaleks #BraveLittleDalek #GoldenEmperor #Engibrain #Androids #Skaro #VolcanoBase #DalekMasterPlan #MissingEpisodes #ClassicDoctorWho #VintageComics #RetroComics #BritishComics #ComicReview #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #PatreonExclusive #FreeEpisode #HolidayGift #Whovian #SupportThePodcast

Episode Title: "18 Word Balloons and Doctor Genocide!" - New Artist Bill Mevin Debuts & The Daleks Fight the Rust Plague - Patreon Exclusive Sample HOLIDAY GIFT TO OUR LISTENERS: The Doctor's Beard Podcast unwraps another special Patreon Exclusive episode for the holiday season! Join John (as Demeter Thor) and Jim (as Emperor Dalek) as they celebrate a double feast - new creative talent on the Doctor Who strip AND the return to form for their beloved Dalek comics! OUT WITH THE OLD: Both hosts agree they're not upset to see Neville Main depart after his uninspired run. "You can tell he wasn't inspired by what he was doing. It was just a job, and we needed new blood." DOCTOR WHO STRIP: "THE ORDEALS OF DEMETER" (September 27 - October 18, 1965) Writer/Artist: Bill Mevin (NEW!) New Format Alert: The strip now crosses over two pages with noticeably improved art and coloring. Mevin captures Hartnell's likeness better than Main, seemingly working from publicity stills more effectively. The Story: The TARDIS crew lands on planet Demeter during an alien attack. The Doctor pulls out a symbol of peace and they're welcomed to a feast - until bombardment interrupts. Racing to help, the Doctor and John forget Jillian entirely. THE DALEKS: "PLAGUE OF DEATH" (September 4 - October 16, 1965) Writer: David Whitaker (from Terry Nation's concepts) Artist: Richard Jennings The Story: A radiation leak merges with rust from a hole in the roof, creating a deadly plague that infiltrates Skaro's atmosphere. The Daleks - our protagonists - must fight for survival as the rust plague spreads. Patient Zero: the Black Dalek. Historic First: This story begins the next adventure at its conclusion - the first time the Dalek strip has done continued storytelling rather than standalone tales. "Very Doctor Who-ish." WHY THE DALEK STRIP WORKS BETTER: David Whitaker's involvement means they're taking cues from what works on TV. The strip feels closer to televised Daleks despite lacking the Doctor and TARDIS. The Doctor Who strip, meanwhile, struggles with basic characterization. UPCOMING CONTENT TEASED: Next Patreon Exclusive: Discussion of Missing Adventures novel The Sorcerer's Apprentice featuring Susan, Ian, and Barbara LOVE WHAT YOU HEARD? This is another sample of exclusive Patreon content! For just $3/month: Early access to reviews Complete comic strip discussions Novel deep dives Live watch parties And so much more! Visit patreon.com/thedoctorsbeardpodcast - "Lips will sail this ship!" Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major platforms. Email thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or join our Facebook community. Happy Holidays from The Doctor's Beard Podcast! Hashtags: #DoctorWho #DoctorWhoComics #PatreonSample #HolidayEpisode #TVComic #TVCentury21 #FirstDoctor #WilliamHartnell #BillMevin #NewArtist #TheOrdealsOfDemeter #JohnAndGillian #JillianCount #JillianWatch #RecordBreaking #18WordBalloons #Genocide #PlagueOfDeath #Daleks #DalekChronicles #DavidWhitaker #RichardJennings #Skaro #EmperorDalek #BlackDalek #RustPlague #HoverBout #VillainProtagonists #RootingForDaleks #1965Comics #VintageComics #RetroComics #BritishComics #ClassicDoctorWho #DoctorWhoHistory #ComicReview #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #PatreonExclusive #FreeEpisode #HolidayGift #Whovian #DoctorWhoFandom #PodcastSample #SupportThePodcast #DalekGenocide #TimeAndSpace