Overall Statistics

The Ood Cast

The Ood Cast
Description:
This post is ending. But the blog never ends.

Homepage: http://theoodcast.com

RSS Feed: http://theoodcast.com/feed/

The Ood Cast Statistics
Episodes:
82
Average Episode Duration:
0:0:27:57
Longest Episode Duration:
0:1:10:23
Total Duration of all Episodes:
1 days, 14 hours, 11 minutes and 16 seconds
Earliest Episode:
26 May 2020 (6:40pm GMT)
Latest Episode:
26 March 2020 (6:34pm GMT)
Average Time Between Episodes:
35 days, 14 hours, 34 minutes and 57 seconds

The Ood Cast Episodes

  • The Ood Cast S08E09 - Be Kind

    26 March 2020 (6:34pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 6 minutes and 57 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing Message from the Doctor


  • The Ood Cast S08E07 - Chib Changes Everything

    6 March 2020 (3:18pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 10 minutes and 23 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing the 2-part Finale


  • The Ood Cast S08E07 - Ghost Sandwich

    1 March 2020 (5:57pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 42 minutes and 1 second

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing The Haunting of Villa Diodati


  • The Ood Cast S08E06 - Panic Attack

    15 February 2020 (6:21pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 35 minutes and 39 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing Can You Hear Me?


  • The Ood Cast S08E05 - Flipping the Bird

    15 February 2020 (2:08pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 31 minutes and 57 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing Praxeus


  • The Ood Cast S08E04 – Breaking Glass

    7 February 2020 (4:23pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 38 minutes and 6 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror


  • The Ood Cast S08E03 – A Sting in the Tale

    24 January 2020 (3:54pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 32 minutes and 38 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror


  • The Ood Cast S08E02 – Benni Harder

    17 January 2020 (9:00am GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 36 minutes and 14 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing Orphan 55


  • The Ood Cast S08E01 – Doctor Yes

    11 January 2020 (8:11pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 46 minutes and 0 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing Spyfall


  • The Ood Cast S07E11 - The Battle of Ra's al Ghul

    14 December 2018 (2:24pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 28 minutes and 4 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos


  • The Ood Cast S07E10 - Doctor Hygge

    7 December 2018 (4:36pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 25 minutes and 17 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing It Takes You Away


  • The Ood Cast S07E09 - Which?

    30 November 2018 (10:13pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 41 minutes and 25 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing The Witchfinders


  • The Ood Cast S07E08 - Kerpow!

    23 November 2018 (12:00am GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 32 minutes and 8 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing Kerblam!


  • The Ood Cast S07E07 - Assassins in Need

    16 November 2018 (3:34pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 33 minutes and 9 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing Demons of the Punjab


  • The Ood Cast S07E06 - Angry Grey Zombie Potato

    9 November 2018 (12:43am GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 29 minutes and 28 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing The Tsuranga Conundrum


  • The Ood Cast S07E05 - Spider-Van

    2 November 2018 (11:41pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 35 minutes and 16 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing Arachnids in the UK


  • The Ood Cast S07E04 - Racist Fonz

    26 October 2018 (12:38am GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 37 minutes and 50 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing Rosa


  • The Ood Cast S07E03 - Snakes & Ladders

    19 October 2018 (10:45pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 40 minutes and 20 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing The Ghost Monument


  • The Ood Cast S07E02 - Ood Looks Like A Lady

    12 October 2018 (3:10pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 32 minutes and 56 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing The Woman Who Fell to Earth.


  • The Ood One Out - The Doctor Falls

    7 July 2017 (6:23pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 52 minutes and 41 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing The Doctor Falls.


  • The Ood One Out - World Enough and Time

    30 June 2017 (2:49pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 36 minutes and 44 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing World Enough and Time.


  • The Ood One Out - The Eaters of Light

    23 June 2017 (9:22pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 27 minutes and 54 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing The Eaters of Light.


  • The Ood One Out - Empress of Mars

    16 June 2017 (4:08pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 24 minutes and 28 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing Empress of Mars.


  • The Ood One Out - The Lie of the Land

    9 June 2017 (10:42pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 21 minutes and 1 second

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing The Lie of the Land.


  • The Ood One Out - The Pyramid at the End of the World

    2 June 2017 (11:11am GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 31 minutes and 30 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing The Pyramid at the End of the World


  • The Ood One Out - Extremis

    26 May 2017 (10:59am GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 49 minutes and 47 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing Extremis.


  • The Ood One Out - Oxygen

    19 May 2017 (11:59am GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 37 minutes and 58 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Reviewing Oxygen.


  • The Ood One Out - Knock Knock

    12 May 2017 (8:16pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 37 minutes and 45 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Chris Sigma and Angus review Knock Knock.


  • The Ood One Out - Thin Ice

    5 May 2017 (9:56am GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 32 minutes and 23 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Join Chris, Emily and Andy as they review Thin Ice.


  • The Ood One Out - Smile

    28 April 2017 (8:00am GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 25 minutes and 23 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    Sigma and Alpha reunite to review Smile – a sort-of spiritual sequel to Blink in that both titles revolve around things you can do with your face.


  • The Ood One Out - The Pilot

    21 April 2017 (9:27pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 27 minutes and 7 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    This week Chris Sigma is joined by long term co-host (and excellent life-partner) Laura Mead to review the Doctor Who Series 10 opener – The Pilot.


  • Los Angeles, CA - May 16

    6 November 2015 (6:12am GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds

    buy tickets

    The Troubadour
    Doors 7pm
    Set 11pm
    DJ set by The Narrator

    More info: Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur



  • Philadelphia, PA - May 21

    6 November 2015 (6:08am GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds

    buy tickets

    Johnny Brendas
    Doors 7pm
    Set 9pm
    Special Guests Kiss Me Deadly

    More info: Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur



  • Brooklyn, NY - June 11

    19 August 2015 (1:22am GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds

    buy tickets

    Music Hall of Williamsburg
    Doors 8pm
    Set 10pm
    Special Guests The End of the World

    More info: Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur



  • The Ood Cast S06E07 - Space Hustle

    31 May 2015 (9:56pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 31 minutes and 33 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    “It was a bit like Sean Connery trying to do an American accent through an electrified sock…”

    In which we dive into hazelnut syrup, mash circuit boards into our faces and both accents and clones get murdered.

    Reviews: Time Heist
    Air Date: 20th September 2014
    Song: “Spoon Forehead” based on “Goldfinger” by Shirley Bassey
    Additional notes: This episode was recorded in the present day of 2015. Next week we return to 2014 – yes, our brains hurt too.



  • The Ood Cast S06E06 - Plastic Army

    14 May 2015 (11:21pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 34 minutes and 4 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    “This is like the Sharon Stone’s crotch of monsters…”

    In which we help listeners to stalk us, discuss childhood trauma and pooing into a sieve and Chris Alpha is incredulous about the prospect of a female master (ha)!

    Reviews: Listen
    Air Date: 13th September 2014
    Song: “Listen” based on “Real Love” by John Lennon
    Additional notes: This is the first episode after Chris Sigma returned from his three month sabbatical to the States. We had to edit out the snogging.*

    *true



  • The Ood Cast S06E05 - Ood-e-lally

    30 April 2015 (7:06pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 27 minutes and 21 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    “He had a bouquet of quivering fronds…”

    In which everything is a spaceship, Robin Hood is a fox and Jeremy Clarkson gets hit in the face during a sketch.

    Reviews: Robot of Sherwood
    Air Date: 6th September 2014
    Song: “Ood-e-lally” based on “Oo-De-Lally” by Roger Miller
    Additional notes: We recorded this during the week that “Robot of Sherwood” went out and then promptly forgot to release it until April 2015. So we did the sketch about Jeremy Clarkson BEFORE he actually got fired for punching someone. Timey, and indeed, wimey.



  • The Ood Cast S06E04 - Star Trek Into Dalek

    18 September 2014 (12:34am GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 33 minutes and 5 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    “Talk to the plunger coz the eyestalk ain’t listening…”

    In which daleks find various things incredibly beautiful, we reference a minor character in a niche sitcom and mercifully no-one attempts a Scottish accent.

    Reviews: Into the Dalek
    Air Date: 30th August 2014
    Song: “A Dalek Called Rusty” based on “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits
    Additional notes: What of the absent Ood Sigma? He was actually in Texas this week and completely forgot to record a review or write any sketches. This is why the discussion is a little more highbrow and intellectual than normal.



  • The Ood Cast S06E03 - A Bout de Souffle

    6 September 2014 (6:51am GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 42 minutes and 36 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    “This is a Doctor who doesn’t really care if people like him.”

    In which promises are broken, monster encounters are simulated and the Doctor orders a pepperoni pizza.

    Reviews: Deep Breath
    Air Date: 23rd August 2014
    Song: “Brand New Face” based on “Super Bass” by Nicki Minaj
    Additional notes: Sigma wasn’t actually in Texas during his segments. He was in Chicago. This is why he mentions eating “Chicago Mix” popcorn and not a massive slab of barbecue beef brisket. Cheese and caramel really do go together incredibly well.



  • The Ood Cast S06E02 - Time Gentleman, Please

    27 July 2014 (5:52pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 43 minutes and 18 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    “It’s a wonderful idea. The Doctor stops running is a wonderful idea.”

    In which we wonder why daleks can’t shoot straight, bring Christmas to July, invent new kinds of cybermen & experiment with Scottish accents.

    Reviews: The Time of the Doctor
    Air Date: 25th December 2013
    Song: “It’s Time (of the Doctor)” based on “It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons
    Additional notes: This was the first time we had recorded together for 6 months. It was so lovely to all be in the same room again and we had a cracking time. Laura’s impression of Handles was so funny that we kept spoiling the take by laughing over the top of her recording. We are professionals.



  • The Ood Cast S06E02 - Time Gentleman, Please

    27 July 2014 (5:52pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 43 minutes and 18 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    “It’s a wonderful idea. The Doctor stops running is a wonderful idea.”

    In which we wonder why daleks can’t shoot straight, bring Christmas to July, invent new kinds of cybermen & experiment with Scottish accents.

    Reviews: The Time of the Doctor
    Air Date: 25th December 2013
    Song: “It’s Time (of the Doctor)” based on “It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons
    Additional notes: This was the first time we had recorded together for 6 months. It was so lovely to all be in the same room again and we had a cracking time. Laura’s impression of Handles was so funny that we kept spoiling the take by laughing over the top of her recording. We are professionals.



  • The Ood Cast S06E01 - The Day of the Ood Cast

    7 July 2014 (1:03am GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 57 minutes and 1 second

    Direct Podcast Download

    “I punched the air in delight!”

    “No, that was my face.”

    In which we make noises like guinea pigs, create a surprising new French dessert, decorate a cake in an unorthodox way and thwart some evil doppelgangers.

    Reviews: Day of the Doctor
    Air Date: 23rd November 2013
    Additional notes: This episode was recorded in January 2014 which is an embarrassingly long time after the anniversary episode aired. However we didn’t publish the podcast until July 2014 so the whole January thing isn’t looking so bad now, is it?



  • The Ood Cast S06E01 - The Day of the Ood Cast

    7 July 2014 (1:03am GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 57 minutes and 1 second

    Direct Podcast Download

    “I punched the air in delight!”

    “No, that was my face.”

    In which we make noises like guinea pigs, create a surprising new French dessert, decorate a cake in an unorthodox way and thwart some evil doppelgangers.

    Reviews: Day of the Doctor
    Air Date: 23rd November 2013
    Additional notes: This episode was recorded in January 2014 which is an embarrassingly long time after the anniversary episode aired. However we didn’t publish the podcast until July 2014 so the whole January thing isn’t looking so bad now, is it?



  • In Praise of... The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe

    19 December 2013 (5:12pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds

    So it starts with the Doctor, falling through the atmosphere and climbing into an impact suit just in time. It's followed by a few moments of slapstick, as he tries to get up and walk away. Eventually, he is helped by someone we'll inevitably get to know in the next hour.

    Then the Doctor pretends to be the caretaker of a country house, where he attempts to help a family about to receive bad news have a happy time to soften the bad to come.

    I will assume you all remember the details.

    It isn't by any means perfect, and I won’t pretend otherwise. But it tries to capture the magic of having a show like Doctor Who - which can go anywhere at anytime - at Christmas.

    That said, there are a couple of brilliant guest stars who are criminally (and slightly pointlessly) underused. There are confusions. There's an over-stretched metaphor for love, and a slightly odd environmental angle too. But this is Christmas!

    And besides, there's also living trees (that MAKE Christmas decorations - that then hatch into something nasty and run off), fun tricks and the Doctor does what, let's face it, we've all wished for at some stage: he makes their Christmas.

    The "love of a mother" even guides the kids' about-to-die father home to land his previously-doomed Lancaster bomber in their front garden. And if that didn't make you sob with joy, the Doctor then runs off to reunite with the Ponds and enjoy Christmas dinner.

    It possibly makes more sense emotionally if you are a parent - from both perspectives of the story, and the Doctor's heartbreakingly accurate summary of why Madge keeps shouting at the children is absolutely spot on.

    This story has more humanity in it's otherworldliness than any number of soap operas. The love of a mother CAN transform a life, just as the absence of it can. And it shows the Doctor's compassion, especially when it comes to humans themselves.

    It has a beautiful heart to it - like an Enid Blyton adventure wrapped in tinsel. The spirit is right for Christmas day - it's harmless, and the reverse of the arc-laden dramatic story currently going on with the rest of the series. It's relief.

    It isn't hard sci-fi, it isn't the most incisive, witty, and cleverly-conceived Who story of all-time. But it shouldn't be. This is for Christmas Day. The one day of the year where it's more likely that whole families will be watching - when smaller children are allowed to stay up and watch things they probably shouldn't, while sipping a glass of Port they would definitely not be allowed any other time and are grimacing while trying to convince everyone that they actually like it.

    It should be joyful and silly and cheering and heart-warmingly, tear-jerkingly feel-good.

    If nothing else, this story should be a lesson that sometimes, when you're a fan of something like Doctor Who, it becomes hard to see the wood for the (Christmas) trees.



  • Ding Dong Gallifrey on High!

    18 December 2013 (5:05pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds

    Classic Doctor Who never really had to deal with Christmas - except for 1965.

    Some context. The story that was running at the time was "The Dalek Masterplan" - a 12 episode epic which was to continue until the end of January 1966, and had been preceeded by "Mission to the Unknown", a one-episode prologue introducing some of the necessary characters. As episode seven of "Masterplan" was to air on Christmas Day, the production team decided that it should be a lighter, comedic instalment, not really involving the original plot. They thought that viewers would either not be watching or wouldn't want to see the next part of the dark Dalek adventure.

    The result, by all accounts, is daft, and included a slapstick chase scene through a Charlie Chaplin film set, as well as a chance meeting with Bing Crosby, but it finished with a rare breaking of the "fourth wall", with the Doctor turning to the camera in the closing moments to wish everyone at home a merry Christmas. This was a Christmas episode meant to bring a little cheer, a relief from the dramatic and controversial events (companions, DYING, on telly!) in the story. This, it achieved.

    Since then, the show has been constantly searching for a Christmassy balance between continuing the story and just being fun.

    When the show came back in 2005, television had changed - Christmas specials were no longer simply for light entertainment, they were for everything that was big news. And Who was finally big news once again.

    We'd had a brand new Doctor, who'd already been and gone, with a new one unveiled. Christmas day was when we'd find out about him. It was like an extra present – it immediately became event TV. But goodness it was a mixed bag - exciting (A new Doctor! Sword-fighting! With aliens! On a spaceship shaped like a rock!), shocking (Oh, Harriet Jones - Prime Minister), and intriguing (blood-control, girl having to confront nasty aliens on her own). There was a satsuma to save the day. There were plenty of ideas to keep us going, and it was fun.

    The next few years have brought varying results - 2 relatively lean years with a shouty cockney runaround with added big spidery things (The Runaway Bride) and the slightly underwhelming pinching of a Douglas Adams idea (Voyage of the Damned). Then there was The Next Doctor - an interesting and fun story, the shine taken off only by the impotence of the modern cybermen and their ridiculous Statue-of-Liberty-from-Ghostbusters-2 moment (and the assumption that the people of London should be grateful for their benevolence - just before they had their houses crushed by a falling giant metal thing).

    The End of Time. Was bonkers. That's all. Properly bonkers.

    But then. Oh, then. A Christmas Carol. With it's token inclusion of the companions as a reason to get the Doctor into the story, and a beautiful snowy mix of morals and lack of morals. Yes, there are questionable bits, and a non-acting singer as a guest star, but it looks lovely, there are floating sharks, and it is suitably Christmassy.

    Then we get to 2011, and the Doctor's Wardrobe. There are problems, of course there are. But for all the annoyed criticism it received, I really rather enjoyed it. It probably won't appear in anyone's Top 10 lists, but it wasn't as bad as all that. It was fun, fairly meaningless in terms of the main show, and a bit magical - which is what Christmas telly is all about.

    I'll post something more about that one tomorrow, maybe.

    Last year we got a better balance - probably partly because the Doctor himself was at a crossroads. The Snowmen was a rollicking ride through a Victorian Christmas tale, which also pulled together a monster from the past AND a new companion's story. And lord alone knows what Moffatt's kitchen has cooked up for us this time round.

    But it better be Christmassy.



  • First Meeting

    23 November 2013 (6:56pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds

    A nicely clanky flight
    of shiny metal stairs.

    A handful of figures
    in spray-painted clothes.

    A curious, unaware small boy,
    pyjamas on, sandwich on lap,

    switches on a boxy old TV,
    stares at the flickering screen.

    Silvery boots climb,
    metal stairs thunk.

    Boy stops chewing.
    Checks behind his chair.

    More steps clatter,
    an unceasing flow

    of metallic warriors
    swarm, fill the screen.

    He cannot look away
    from encroaching threat,

    frozen, open-mouthed.
    Half in fright, half love.

    The spray-painted men
    are taking control.

    He puts the plate down,
    the food not finished.

    An army awakes before him,
    but not one he recognises -

    not like his khaki plastic men
    with their feet fused still.

    His armies have expressions,
    fixed, but present.

    These silver shapes don’t.
    Staring. Like him.

    The kind man (who obviously plays
    cricket and is therefore good)

    seems helpless, watching
    as they overwhelm.

    And then there’s music,
    ending, thrilling, summing.

    They boy doesn’t move.
    Even when dad talks.

    That’s why he turns the TV over,
    and why, some time later

    the sandwich is finally
    all gone.



  • Who's 50? (The Doctor is...)

    22 November 2013 (4:37pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds

    Tomorrow is the anniversary of Doctor Who. 50 years old. Or young. Or something. It’s REALLY VERY EXCITING! We've not been around for a while, and while we're gearing up for a big event and our own return to recording shows, I thought I'd get the ball rolling, with a book review.

    There are hundreds of books out there about the series. Absolutely blooming loads. And sometimes it's really hard to see what's good and what's just opinionated and uninformed twaddle - I've been burned by that before. Can you tell?

    But Who’s 50 looked different to me – written by a couple of authors who have produced a guide to Doctor Who before (Who Is The Doctor), but that was a guide to the new series, whereas this seems intended to be a starting place, and an attempt to add some context to finding your way into the WHOLE of Doctor Who – across all 50 of the years.

    And the difference is that there was a need for this book. In their introduction, Graeme Burk and Robert Smith? point out that there are 3 questions they were asked over and over again at launches and conventions when promoting their previous book: Which classic series Doctor Who should I watch if I've never seen it before? What stories would you suggest to people who have never seen Doctor Who? What Doctor Who stories would you suggest I get on DVD? The book is their way of answering those questions.

    The authors have chosen 50 stories (my increasingly addled geek brain still refuses to call them “episodes”) to reflect the best, and worst, of the series – talking points and a true reflection rather than a blinkered best-of collection.

    And this is a large part of the book's success, for me. Doctor Who fandom isn’t a group of people blindly agreeing and universally loving everything that appears on the screen, and the authors don’t flinch from that. There are differences of opinion between them, and you’ll disagree with some selections they make and arguments they put forward too. But that's OK – they make no pretence that this is some kind of definitive guide to the stories, and I seem warm to people the moment I detect a complete lack of arrogance about them – so let’s just say I got off on the right foot with this book.

    What they do try to do though, is help you understand the context in which the stories were made – and even (in the case of the Key to Time season) point to what the programme was trying to achieve, and suggest reasons why perhaps it didn't quite work.

    The “tips for newbies” sections are a neat idea and makes a few good suggestions on how to appreciate the older stories – like taking it one episode at a time (despite the remarkable temptation). That’s advice I should really take too - it's way too easy to press Play All and be exhausted by it by episode 3! It does give good hints on how to enjoy and adjust between different eras and evolutions of the series.

    Each story is discussed at some length – there’s a broad summary of plot, then a list of references and influences (which I thought was particularly great – a nice little reminder that no element is ever new, just recycled) and then some historical context in terms of the show. There’s a section on continuity, and a little check on where the characters of the Doctor and his companions are at too. There’s a celebration of the joyous moments, acknowledgment of the cringe worthy and the nonsensical too, as well as (of course, no Doctor Who book is complete without it) trivia. Then there’s opinion, which, as always, is subjective, but both authors have a say, and while that does inevitably lead to some conflict, it also means we get a more rounded picture of the story, it’s impact and meanings.

    whos50-catalogue-2

    Who’s 50
    by Graeme Burk and Robert Smith? (published by ECW Press)

    Extra context is added through the little vignettes peppered throughout – side-tracks which look at wider subjects that affected the making of the series, such as what the shooting conditions were like in Lime Grove Studio 4, The Doctor’s Name and background on the actors.

    In style, I suppose this falls somewhere between the classic Target guide, The Making of Doctor Who and Virgin’s The Discontinuity Guide - it’s a serious guide to these stories, well worth paying attention to, but it’s irreverent too. And on top of that, I think they make a good job of explaining what Ghost Light is all about – by unpicking the relationship between the central characters, which is a sizeable achievement in itself, some would say.

    So, in short: I’m off out to buy this. Yes, I have a preview copy, but I want a proper one. It’s worth it. Particularly if you have someone in your life who keeps asking you the questions that prompted the book, or you’ve been asking them yourself…

    Chris Alpha (@alphaood)



  • The Ood Cast Extra - In The Whoop!

    4 August 2013 (11:02pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 16 minutes and 51 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    "Like mayflies, we are! Fluttering around with no mouths…"

    In which we eat a chocolate K9, steal some tinsel from the BBC, tape oven gloves to Steven Moffat’s hands & do a dance with Zoe Ball (really).

    Reviews: Doctor Who Live – The Next Doctor
    Air Date: 4th Aug 2013
    Additional notes: Peter Capaldi is credited in mega zombie flop “World War Z” as W.H.O Doctor. Did the producers have a secret portal to the future? Probably not, judging from box office receipts…



  • Boom

    26 June 2013 (10:20am GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds

    Hello.



  • The Ood Cast S05E19 - Gregory McCaramel

    31 May 2013 (10:51pm GMT)
    Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 37 minutes and 9 seconds

    Direct Podcast Download

    "I find the sight of a man begging for the lives of his friends... quite sensual."

    In which we meet a fellow with a strange new face, remember former glories, podcast telepathically & Chip doesn’t kill anyone.

    Reviews: The Name of the Doctor
    Air Date: 31st May 2013
    Additional notes: This episode, our season finale, contains our most ambitious sketch to date with 17 podcasters from 3 separate continents getting involved. Thanks to The Doctor Who Podcast, The Tin Dog Podcast, Radio Rassilon, Doctor Who: The Writer’s Room, The Doctor Who Book Club, Two-minute Time Lord, Radio Free Skaro and Verity! for their wonderful vocal stylings. Happy summer everyone (or winter).



 
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