The War Machines

The Tenth Planet

Ice ice baby! The TARDIS lands at the Snowcap space tracking station in Antarctica in 1986 and shortly afterwards the Cybermen appear! A very serious Gerry Anderson-style space mission is interrupted by Earth’s twin planet Mondas showing up uninvited to the party. We’re excited by the global ambition and international cast, especially the cool spacemen and the important work of the (sort-of) UN, despite some hit-and-miss accents. We’re worried about the Very Angry General’s lack of curiosity - the gang show up in their loveliest winter coats and none of the soldiers seem to care. The wonderfully creepy Cybermen are Sarah’s highlight and she loves their fully-fledged backstory but gets confused by everyone's motivations by the end of the story.  Who wants to do what to which planet? And which Spice Girl would you call on in an emergency? And suddenly, that's it. The Hartnell era is over. Sarah and David sum it all up and discuss their favorite moments, the eps they've had to reevaluate and the ones they'll be glad never to watch again! Join us in September when we'll be back to continue the ramble through the Troughton years. Firsts: our first regeneration (only it doesn't have the name yet) and our first glimpse of Patrick Troughton, near-future base under siege, Cybermen!

The War Machines

The TARDIS arrives in 1966’s London and the Doctor investigates the new super computer housed in the ultra-modern Post Office Tower. The doctor slips past security and blags himself a scientific advisor role with WOTAN, a computer that can think and never makes mistakes. Uh-oh! They've only gone and invented a techbro AI bot with his army of boxy machines. But he's got to phone you to make you his slave. Hello? It's WOTAN. Is Dodo in? We both praise an incredibly modern, well-crafted and pacey first episode, and marvel at how the writers make us care even for the most minor characters. We agree that Dodo is done dirty but we are enamored with the new companions, especially the fabulous Polly.  And there’s another singing warning here Ramblers, because there's an irresistible song for the war machines. Less singing when we get to Troughton? We can’t make any promises! Firsts: proper contemporary Earth story, use of a real TV newsreader Kenneth Kendall,  first time we see the TARDIS in a proper street setting.

The Savages

The gang land on a nameless idyllic plant. So that’s all good then? No! Civilized Elders maintain their advanced society by draining and transferring to themselves the life-force of the defenceless Savages and the Doctor is outraged. The Doctor is flattered seduced by his lovely hosts who think he’s the GOAT.  He gets a fancy robe and the companions get whatever the Elders have in stock. Definitely regifted. The Emerald City is a pretty shitty city and Dodo & co uncover the real story here. We love the Doctor’s very first overthrow of a corrupt regime - he won’t be getting cancelled by association and he refuse to become their rechargeable battery! We’re excited about outsider art and worried this whole city are on study drugs. And, as you’d expect, we’re very sensible about the mention of the Doctor’s reacting vibrator. Watch out for the thirsty aquarium and stay away from the lava lamps! Firsts: individual story to be commissioned by Innes Lloyd, the individual episode titles are no more, first entirely animated story (unless we get some more missing ones back!), lowest rating!

The Gunfighters

Howdy Ramblers. In the lead-up to the famous fight at the OK Corral our Doc gets his tooth pulled by Doc Holliday in Tombstone while Dodo and Steven sing for their lives. Consider yourself warned; there’s more singing in this podcast than ever before but I’d argue less wearing than The Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon sung by Lynda Baron aka Nurse Gladys Emmanuel from Open All Hours - knowing this makes us like the song slightly more. We are thoroughly entertained by the costumes, the attempt at accents and the saloon sing-along, less so by the story. And we are in love with Holliday’s fabulous girlfriend Miss Kate, the incredible genre direction & camerawork and the Doctor having a miserable time in the dentist’s chair. Would you wear denim or silk in the Wild West? And if you look like Doc Holliday would you continue to do so for four full episodes? It’s time to choose! Firsts: deliberate parody of another genre, first musical framing device, new lowest audience index so far!

The Celestial Toymaker

The TARDIS lands in the domain of the Toymaker, who forces the Doctor, Dodo and Steven to play a series of childish games, with deadly consequences if they lose. Do you want to play a game? No thanks! Please, pull up a chair! Absolutely no way buddy. Sarah gets excited about a classic camp baddie and wonders why The Toymaker, The Master and The Doctor can’t be pals. And apparently it’s ok to not turn up to your own ultimate showdown? Where is the verbal sparring and general bitchiness? David loves the companion’s outfits and, against his better nature, has nice things to say about the lovely animation details. But like Steven he’s run out of patience with Dodo. And we both love to hate Billy Bunter. It’s pantomime meets Strictly and we can’t wait for it to be over! First: appearance of the Toymaker, first use of flashbacks from previous episodes, first use of slurs, lowest audience index so far.