Doctor Who: The Metebelis 2
- Description:
- The Metebelis 2 is a transatlantic conversation about "Doctor Who" with Ben the Brit and David the American. Follow along as two old friends talk about their lifelong fandom of Doctor Who dating back to the 1970s and 1980s into the 21st century.
RSS Feed: http://metebelis2.com/metebelis2.rss
- Episodes:
- 301
- Average Episode Duration:
- 0:0:47:28
- Longest Episode Duration:
- 0:2:07:10
- Total Duration of all Episodes:
- 9 days, 22 hours, 5 minutes and 28 seconds
- Earliest Episode:
- 19 June 2016 (7:32pm GMT)
- Latest Episode:
- 9 April 2024 (7:15am GMT)
- Average Time Between Episodes:
- 9 days, 11 hours, 16 minutes and 53 seconds
Doctor Who: The Metebelis 2 Episodes
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#139 - Cheese and Pickle Sandwiches and Laser Shoes
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 48 minutes and 26 secondsIn which Ben deals with the cold, harsh reality that the Kasaavin really weren't the Vardans in disguise and David dwells on founding fathers of Gallifrey and how it could relate to the United States. Yes, this week the conclusion of Spyfall is discussed this week complete with historical cameos from Charles Babbage and almost replacement fam: Ada Lovelace, and Noor Inayat Khan. Plus Ben reads Sacha Dhawan's lovely Instagram post where he wrote about being cast as the Master. Opening music is by Segun Akinola from the Spyfall, part 2 soundtrack. Closing music is the timeless "Master's Theme" composed by Dudley Simpson.
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#138 - Get That Beard Growing
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 42 minutes and 40 secondsWith 2020 upon us all, it is great to see the return of Doctor Who to BBC One with a new adventure, Spyfall, part one! Ben explains his reasoning why he thinks those shimmery aliens are Vardans, while a skeptical David suggests perhaps they're Gallifreyans from an alternative universe; and is time and space big enough for both Lenny Henry and Sacha Dhawan? Opening and closing music is from the Spyfall soundtrack by Segun Akinola.
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#138 - Get That Beard Growing
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 42 minutes and 40 secondsWith 2020 upon us all, it is great to see the return of Doctor Who to BBC One with a new adventure, Spyfall, part one! Ben explains his reasoning why he thinks those shimmery aliens are Vardans, while a skeptical David suggests perhaps they're Gallifreyans from an alternative universe; and is time and space big enough for both Lenny Henry and Sacha Dhawan? Opening and closing music is from the Spyfall soundtrack by Segun Akinola.
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#137 - The Meddling Nun
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 54 minutes and 52 secondsIt's series 12 trailer day on Metebelis Two. Ben and David almost go frame-by-frame over the two trailers and speculate on what awaits us in series 12. Should the Doctor be working for MI-6? Are those really Vardans? Is Lenny Henry the Doctor's friend or nemesis? Has the Meddling Monk regenerated into the Meddling Nun? All this and more as we nibble at breadcrumbs that have fallen from Chibnall's high table. Opening Music is "It's a Good Day to Save the World" from the Danger Twins. Closing Music is "This New Nose Is So Unreliable" by Segun Akinola.
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#137 - The Meddling Nun
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 54 minutes and 52 secondsIt's series 12 trailer day on Metebelis Two. Ben and David almost go frame-by-frame over the two trailers and speculate on what awaits us in series 12. Should the Doctor be working for MI-6? Are those really Vardans? Is Lenny Henry the Doctor's friend or nemesis? Has the Meddling Monk regenerated into the Meddling Nun? All this and more as we nibble at breadcrumbs that have fallen from Chibnall's high table. Opening Music is "It's a Good Day to Save the World" from the Danger Twins. Closing Music is "This New Nose Is So Unreliable" by Segun Akinola.
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#136 - The Holly Terror
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 44 minutes and 41 secondsIt wouldn't be Christmas without Mrs Baddeley's plum pudding and so Ben and David travel along with the Doctor and Charley to an old Edwardian mansion in 1906 to hear The Chimes of Midnight. What makes this story tick? Is this merely a ghost story, or does writer Rob Shearman have more to say about class, horror, the line between fantasy and reality? Plus Ben, keeper of the tome, cracks open the Big Book of Big Finish and relays behind the scene details of the story's production. Tick-Tock, Bing-Bong
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#136 - The Holly Terror
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 44 minutes and 41 secondsIt wouldn't be Christmas without Mrs Baddeley's plum pudding and so Ben and David travel along with the Doctor and Charley to an old Edwardian mansion in 1906 to hear The Chimes of Midnight. What makes this story tick? Is this merely a ghost story, or does writer Rob Shearman have more to say about class, horror, the line between fantasy and reality? Plus Ben, keeper of the tome, cracks open the Big Book of Big Finish and relays behind the scene details of the story's production. This episode's opening and closing excerpts is from the Chimes soundtrack with music by Russell Stone, sound design by Andy Hardwick, and humming featuring Louise Rolfe. Tick-Tock, Bing-Bong.
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#135 - Sutekh's Twelve Christmas Gifts
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 57 minutes and 13 secondsIn a twisted mash-up of Osirian gift giving and the twelve days of Christmas, the Metebelis Two bring you Sutekh's twelve gifts of Christmas to all Whomanity. Yes kiddos, Sutekh Claus is coming to town. What gifts is he going to bestow? Opening and closing music are also a bit of a mash-up of the Pyramids of Mars and Christmas music from first Elvis and then Jimmy McGriff. Ho Ho Ho.
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#135 - Sutekh's Twelve Christmas Gifts
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 57 minutes and 13 secondsIn a twisted mash-up of Osirian gift giving and the twelve days of Christmas, the Metebelis Two bring you Sutekh's twelve gifts of Christmas to all Whomanity. Yes kiddos, Sutekh Claus is coming to town. What gifts is he going to bestow? Opening and closing music are also a bit of a mash-up of the Pyramids of Mars and Christmas music from first Elvis and then Jimmy McGriff. Ho Ho Ho.
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#134 - Moor Fougous Please
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 53 minutes and 32 secondsThe Brigadier reunites with the Doctor in this week's journey into Big Finish's back catalogue with The Spectre of Lanyon Moor. This is a story mines a rich vein of classic 1970s Who to tell a new, but familiar story perfect for tea time. Was how this story written the secret to the sixth Doctor's character's rehabilitation? Are round-trip holidays to Athens that short? And, why is British electricity better? Answers to these questions in more in this weeks' podcast. Music this episode is from Alistair Lock's score from The Spectre of Lanyon Moor.
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#134 - Moor Fougous Please
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 53 minutes and 31 secondsThe Brigadier reunites with the Doctor in this week's journey into Big Finish's back catalogue with The Spectre of Lanyon Moor. This is a story mines a rich vein of classic 1970s Who to tell a new, but familiar story perfect for tea time. Does this story hold the secret to the sixth Doctor's character's rehabilitation? Are round-trip holidays to Athens that short? And, why is British electricity better? Answers to these questions in more in this weeks' podcast. Music this episode is from Alistair Lock's score from The Spectre of Lanyon Moor.
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#133 - The Vardan Agenda
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 39 minutes and 35 secondsThe series 12 trailer dropped this past weekend, so what better time for the Metebelis Two to give their quick take on what they thought. Maddeningly though, no broadcast date was given so we speculate about possible rumoured air dates; which, in turn, leads to discussing some of the other trolling rumours swirling around series 12, and ultimately, the fate and future of Doctor Who at the BBC. Opening music is from Segun Akinola's series 11 soundtrack. Closing music is from Alistair Lock's score from the Spectre of Lanyon Moor.
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#133 - The Vardan Agenda
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 39 minutes and 35 secondsThe series 12 trailer dropped this past weekend, so what better time for the Metebelis Two to give their quick take on what they thought. Maddeningly though, no broadcast date was given so we speculate about possible rumoured air dates; which, in turn, leads to discussing some of the other trolling rumours swirling around series 12, and ultimately, the fate and future of Doctor Who at the BBC. Opening music is from Segun Akinola's series 11 soundtrack. Closing music is from Alistair Lock's score from the Spectre of Lanyon Moor.
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#132 - Some Kind of Wonderful
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 37 minutes and 31 secondsThis week we chat about the magical meeting that took place during this year's Children in Need special, when Anastasia, a young Who fan, met her amazing Doctor, Jodie Whittaker. Then we discuss the announcement of series 12 writers and directors and speculate on what Chibnall has planned for our favourite show in 2020? Opening and closing music is from Segun Akinola's series 12 soundtrack; including excerpts from "Sonic Screwdriver" and "Me and My Mates".
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#132 - Some Kind of Wonderful
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 37 minutes and 31 secondsThis week we chat about the magical meeting that took place during this year's Children in Need special, when Anastasia, a young Who fan, met her amazing Doctor, Jodie Whittaker. Then we discuss the announcement of series 12 writers and directors and speculate on what Chibnall has planned for our favourite show in 2020? Opening and closing music is from Segun Akinola's series 11 soundtrack; including excerpts from "Sonic Screwdriver" and "Me and My Mates".
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#131 - Wonderfully Silly Aliens
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 46 minutes and 0 secondsWe review Invaders from Mars, the Big Finish Main Line release from 2002 featuring Paul McGann as Doctor Who. Ben and David laugh along with this fun story written and directed by Mark Gatiss and set at Halloween 1938. Gatiss creates a joyful pastiche from 1930s radio drama, gangster films, and a hearty dose of 1950s popular sci-fi done with the sketch-comedy stylings of The League of Gentlemen. Ben enjoyed listening to this with fresh ears nearly 18 years after its release and David wondered if the time fallout from Charley would have confused listeners as much as it did for him. Opening and closing music is by Alistair Lock's sound design for the story.
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#131 - Wonderfully Silly Aliens
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 46 minutes and 0 secondsWe review Invaders from Mars, the Big Finish Main Line release from 2002 featuring Paul McGann as Doctor Who. Ben and David laugh along with this fun story written and directed by Mark Gatiss and set at Halloween 1938. Gatiss creates a joyful pastiche from 1930s radio drama, gangster films, and a hearty dose of 1950s popular sci-fi done with the sketch-comedy stylings of The League of Gentlemen. Ben enjoyed listening to this with fresh ears nearly 18 years after its release and David wondered if the time fallout from Charley would have confused listeners as much as it did for him. Opening and closing music is by Alistair Lock's sound design for the story.
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#130 - Cosmically Horrible
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 52 minutes and 25 secondsThe Metebelis Two talk briefly about the two "missing" Troughton stories that will be released as animations next year. David wonders if Deborah Watling's likeness be successfully realized? Was that Emil Keller or Rev. Magister in the Faceless teaser trailer? Then in our main feature, Ben serves as our guide to 13 spooky and horrible Doctor Who stories to watch. What does Ben choose and what did he pass over? Discussion about when is the proper time to watch spooky stories? Halloween like in the America or Christmas like in Britain? And is the encroachment of Halloween in the UK lessening Guy Fawkes night? This episodes music is from Carey Blyton's score for "Death to the Daleks".
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#130 - Cosmically Horrible
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 52 minutes and 25 secondsThe Metebelis Two talk briefly about the two "missing" Troughton stories that will be released as animations next year. David wonders if Deborah Watling's likeness be successfully realized? Was that Emil Keller or Rev. Magister in the Faceless teaser trailer? Then in our main feature, Ben serves as our guide to 13 spooky and horrible Doctor Who stories to watch. What does Ben choose and what did he pass over? Discussion about when is the proper time to watch spooky stories? Halloween like in the America or Christmas like in Britain? And is the encroachment of Halloween in the UK lessening Guy Fawkes night? This episodes music is from Carey Blyton's score for "Death to the Daleks".
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#129 - Unintentionally Scary
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 51 minutes and 31 secondsWe continue on with our discussion of spooky Doctor Who and try to answer whether horror truly works in the confines of the show. Does more realistic effects detract or enhance the storytelling of spooky stories? Is Ben a horror snob and what makes David a fan of theatre? Opening music is "Mysteries" composed by Don Harper from "The Invasion" and closing music is "Keeler's Transformation Begins" composed by Geoffrey Burgon from "The Seeds of Doom".
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#129 - Unintentionally Scary
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 51 minutes and 31 secondsWe continue on with our discussion of spooky Doctor Who and try to answer whether horror truly works in the confines of the show. Does more realistic effects detract or enhance the storytelling of spooky stories? Is Ben a horror snob and what makes David a fan of theatre? Opening music is "Mysteries" composed by Don Harper from "The Invasion" and closing music is "Keeler's Transformation Begins" composed by Geoffrey Burgon from "The Seeds of Doom".
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#128 - Remission
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 49 minutes and 8 secondsThe Metebelis Two remember Stephen Moore and his role of Marvin the Paranoid Android from the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Followed by speculation on what the next 1960s Who animation will be, which then leads to a conversation of the University of Lancaster's recent restaging of Mission to the Unknown. Should more missing Who be restaged? Who would the two cast as the Doctor? Opening music is "Marvin" sung by Stephen Moore and interstitial stings and closing music is by Trevor Duncan and was from the soundtrack of Mission to the Unknown.
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#128 - Remission
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 49 minutes and 52 secondsThe Metebelis Two remember Stephen Moore and his role of Marvin the Paranoid Android from the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Followed by speculation on what the next 1960s Who animation will be, which then leads to a conversation of the University of Central Lancashire's recent restaging of Mission to the Unknown. Should more missing Who be restaged? Who would the two cast as the Doctor? Opening music is "Marvin" sung by Stephen Moore and interstitial stings and closing music is by Trevor Duncan and was from the soundtrack of Mission to the Unknown. (Note: Our sincere apologies that throughout the podcast we mistakenly referred to the wrong university and not University of Central Lancashire.)
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#127 - Eccles Con
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 47 minutes and 58 secondsChristopher Eccleston is embracing Doctor Who fandom in a big way with appearances at Rose City and New York Comic Cons. Ben is exited that Eccleston is the headliner at next year's Gallifrey One. Ben references two stores in The Guardian. 20 questions with Eccleston and Sylvester McCoy modeling scarves. The two anticipate the screening of the Univesity of Lancaster's recreation of Mission to the Unknown and David pitches an idea for "Who in the Park" loosely based off of "Trek in the Park". Ben suggests "Who in the Quarry" may be more of a fit. Then the two close with thoughts on spooky versus scary Doctor Who stories and suggest it will be the theme of the podcast this month. Opening music is "The Doctor's Theme" and closing music is "Clockwork TARDIS", both composed by Murray Gold for Series 1.
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#127 - Eccles Con
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 47 minutes and 58 secondsChristopher Eccleston is embracing Doctor Who fandom in a big way with appearances at Rose City and New York Comic Cons. Ben is excited that Eccleston is the headliner at next year's Gallifrey One. Ben references two stores in The Guardian. 20 questions with Eccleston and Sylvester McCoy modeling scarves. The two anticipate the screening of the Univesity of Central Lancashire's recreation of Mission to the Unknown and David pitches an idea for "Who in the Park" loosely based off of "Trek in the Park". Ben suggests "Who in the Quarry" may be more of a fit. Then the two close with thoughts on spooky versus scary Doctor Who stories and suggest it will be the theme of the podcast this month. Opening music is "The Doctor's Theme" and closing music is "Clockwork TARDIS", both composed by Murray Gold for Series 1.
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#126 - The Professional
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 50 minutes and 3 secondsThis week we pay our respects to Terrance Dicks, the script editor and writer, who made such an enormous impact on Doctor Who and, in turn, our lives. From Target novelisations, to script editing, to original stories, Terrance Dicks was the quintessential professional who lent credibility to every Who-related project he was associated with. Also please donate to Save the Children, in memory of Terrance. Opening this episode is Dicks describing the Doctor's character from the 1993 documentary "Thirty Years in the TARDIS". Closing music is "Eye of Orion" composed by Peter Howell for "The Five Doctors" and followed by former producer Barry Letts asking Dicks how he'd would like to be remembered from "Terrance Dicks: Fact & Fiction" and a brief riff from Dudley Simpson from "Carnival of Monsters".
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#125 - Crimes Against Whomanity
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 10 minutes and 8 secondsThe Metebelis Two discuss the Pertwee stories that fell in the lower half of the last Doctor Who Magazine (#474) reader's poll and why these stories may deserve reappraisal. With nine stories in all to cover, Ben and David question whether fan wisdom is right on these "lesser"Pertwee outings. Along the way, Ben admires the great man's wardrobe and David must choose between Season 10 and Season 11's Dalek stories. Plus why Bill Filer should return to Doctor Who. All this and more, much more! Opening music is the "Dalek March" from Cary Blyton's score for Death to the Daleks. Closing music is "II" from Tristram Cary's score for The Mutants.
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#124 - Ogrons are Hilarious
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 58 minutes and 4 secondsThe concluding episode of the Metebelis Two's three-part celebration of the Jon Pertwee centenary focusing on seasons 9 through 11. Ben explains how first reading Target novilisations made the actual viewing of the stories a bit anticlimatic. BBC productions values of the early 1970s could not compete with the vivid memories of an 8-year-old's imagination, Ingrid Pitt's costume in The Time Monster aside. Then the two do a deep dive into how Omega's guards are pronounced. Is it with a /g/ sound like with gar or a /j/ sound like with jar; on-the-fly research was done and sources were cited. A brief sidebar about the new action figures for Big Finish / Character Option, including Harry Sullivan. Were Ogrons the classic series Judoon? Why was the Master having a bit of laugh in Roger Delgado's final story? Did Mac Hulke not like Pertwee's usual outfits? These questions and more! Opening music is from Dudley Simpson's score for the Frontier in Space and closing music is from his score for Planet of the Spiders.
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#123 - In the Company of Regulars
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 53 minutes and 41 secondsThis is the second episode of our three-part Jon Pertwee centenary celebration. We begin by discussing Pertwee's career post-Who and wonder about Worzel Gummidge. What was the appeal for Jon and the audience? We briefly touch upon his recording career and his tenure as a quiz show host. (Ben, fiercely loyal to Pertwee as Doctor Who, boycotted it all!) Then we begin a retrospective of seasons 7 and 8 and talk about how having a regular company or family of actors on the who probably helped out actors like Pertwee and Nick Courtney. We wrap up singing Roger Delgado's praises and how much his untimely death altered the course of Who forever. Opening music is "Dover Caste" composed by Dudley Simpson. Closing music is "I am the Doctor" with Jon Pertwee.
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#122 - The Lord of Time
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 49 minutes and 19 secondsIn this, the first of our three-part Jon Pertwee centenary celebration, we talk about the man who played the Third Doctor and his legacy. Ben notes that Pertwee's Doctor is the first Time Lord and contrasts Pertwee's aristocratic portrayal of the Doctor to the more working-class character of the Doctor that Patrick Troughton gave. David comments on how there is a Pertwee revival now happening in fandom over the past few years. Opening music is "The Axons Approach" composed by Dudley Simpson and performed by Brian Hodgson. Closing music is "Silurians" composed by Carey Blyton. The clip at the end is of Pertwee being interviewed on Pebble Mill by Gloria Hunniford.
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#121 - Jungle Daleks of Jungolus
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 38 minutes and 16 secondsThe Metebelis Two Ace retrospective continues this week with a discussion about The Genocide Machine, which was the second Big Finish release to feature Ace. The story is very reminiscent of a Terry Nation story with all that entails. So, a jungle planet with Daleks and rather one-dimensional supporting characters. With the Daleks return for the first time since Remembrance was this story able to deliver? The opening sound is a gentle rain fall. Closing music is the Eurythmics' song "Here Comes the Rain Again" from 1983.
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#120 - Twenty Years Ahead of Its Time
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 47 minutes and 43 secondsWe continue our journey with Ace and Doctor Who after the programme ended on BBC One with The Fearmonger. Written by Jonathan Blum and released by Big Finish in 2000, this story is quite relevant to the political climate of today with its anti-immigrant politics and increasingly mainstream fascism. Upon its release, Ben recalls that it seemed a bit farfetched, but giving it a fresh listen to now 19 years later it really stands out as a significant story. David likes how this is a finely crafted mystery and Blum's love for and knowledge of this era is well on display. Both praise how well Ace and the Doctor work together as a team throughout this story. Beautify written, this is a must-listen-to story. Opening music is "First Shooting" from Alistair Lock's score for The Fearmonger. Closing music is the 1978 song "Power in the Darkness" by the English punk band Tom Robinson Band, which stylized fist on its cover was the inspiration for Clayton Hickman's CD cover design.
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#119 - Vacuum Packed Fungus
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 56 minutes and 16 secondsWith Doctor Who in seemingly perpetual hiatus at the BBC, how were fans supposed to get their next fix? Well, the Virgin New Adventures, of course! Ben and David leap back in time to the fag end of Thatcher's Britain and talk about Love and War, Paul Cornell's 1992 novel featuring Ace and introducing Bernice Summerfield. What captured Ben's fancy so long ago that he bought the book? And, why did David never read a NA novel until this past week? Travellers, fungus, hair, and more in this podcast episode. Opening music is from the end of Surivial, "...and Somewhere Else, The Tea's Getting Cold," composted by Dominic Glynn. Closing music is "One Man Rock And Roll Band," writtne and sung by Roy Harper, recorded at the BBC in the late 1970s and which he played at the last Stonehenge Free Festival in 1984.
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#118 - Dudley Simpson for Piano
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 59 minutes and 15 secondsThis week The Metebelis Two remember the Doctor Who contributions of Paul Darrow and Stephen Thorne, both men, who recently have passed into the Matrix. Then discussion about the auction of colour set and behind-the-scenes photographs of The Power of the Daleks taken by its designer, Derek Dodd; the just announced animation of The Faceless Ones; the Jon Pertwee centenary; and Judoon returning to the show for series 12. Then a feature interview with Jess Jurkovic of the fabulous The Dudley Simpson is Doctor Who Project. Jess has transcribed the Who compositions of Simpson for solo piano and he talks with David about Simpson's music and the art of arrangement. Opening and closing music this week was composed by Simpson and arranged by Jurkovic.
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#117 - The Magic of Suburbia
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 49 minutes and 11 secondsThere's nothing wrong with Perivale. Ben theorizes that Rona Munro is channeling the myth of Herne the Hunter as inspiration for the Cheetah people revealing the magic that is hidden in suburban London. Not so much the Cockney urchin that Ace likes to pretend she is, the trip back to Perivale reveals that she perhaps is a spoiled middle class kid whose making a big deal about not much of anything. David notes this story feels much more London than anything London in the modern Who era. Proving that setting is more than just a few set dressings of buses and phone boxes. All-in-all, Survival is a praiseworthy Doctor Who story and sadly the last of the classic era. Opening music is from the score of Survival by Dominic Glynn. Glynn also composed the closing music, "...and Somewhere Else, The Tea's Getting Cold." At the very end, to help celebrate the old western feel to Glynn's score, we ultimately close with the Cellar Set's 2007 interpretation of the theme in "Spaghetti Who."
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#116 - Like a Blue Rotten Lion
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 57 minutes and 23 secondsWe podcast again time lord! We've reached the penultimate story in the classic series as we continue on with our Ace retrospective. The Two discover how the Ultima machine could be carried aboard a Russian rubber boat, but get confused about Fenric's bottle and find the Ancient One a tad too cuddly while Ace's awkward attempts of seduction is a bit more scary. Green goo, vikings, vampires, and English weather! What more could you want in a Doctor Who story? Opening and closing music was composed by Mark Ayres for The Curse of Fenric.
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#115 - Infotextual
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 51 minutes and 1 secondWhat do the Metebelis Two make of the last classic Who story ever to be recorded? Is Ghost Light the complex, bewildering puzzle that received fan wisdom would have it, or is it just a rewrite and an episode short of brilliance? The Two speculate on why Nimrod, the Neanderthal butler, could have been a great companion for the Doctor and how dramatising some flashbacks for Ace could strengthen the story's narrative. While David questions how scientifically accurate Marc Platt's explanation of evolution is, Ben suggests the story is more about the misinterpretation of evolutionary theory, or as he calls it the 'fun' type of evolution, than real science. Plus he is quick and ready with plenty of interesting infotext factoids. Toward the end, the Two suggest a visit to Hans Geiger around 1908 would make for a nifty historical episode. Music this episode was composed by Mark Ayres for Ghost Light.
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#114 - Aaronovitch's Scabbard
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 49 minutes and 55 secondsThere will be no podcast today! Heh, hardly! This week the Metebelis Two review Battlefield, the season opener in the last season of classic Who. Once again Ben Aaronovitch does as pastiche of the Pertwee era inspired by Camelot 3000. He introduces as mysterious scabbard that, unlike Chekhov's gun, never returns after the first part. This is the story where the Brig was supposed to die. Instead, director Michael Kerrigan nearly kills Sophie Aldred (and the production crew) instead! Somehow everyone manages to survive, including the Brig, who by doing so undoes much of the point of having Nick Courtney return to the role. Unless, of course, that was to flit about in a helicopter. So instead we discuss speaking Czechoslovakian to how scenes with padded out with extended sequences of maniacal laughter and quoting Tennyson. Excalibur! Opening and closing music is by Keff McCulloch from his score to Battlefield with a little help from Dead or Alive.
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#113 - The Gods of Whim-Wham or Flibble-Flobble
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 56 minutes and 23 secondsThe Metebelis Two find themselves on the planet Segonax to visit the Psychic Circus. A wide ranging discussion this week on interstellar junk mail, clowns in hearsts, lucking out with a big tent, Lovejoy, werefoxes, fandom, the Doctor's character, and more! Opening and closing music is by Mark Ayers from his score for The Greatest Show in the Galaxy.
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#112 - Macrobes and the Land of Confusion
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 45 minutes and 31 secondsIt's a Metebelis Twofer this week! First up, Ben and David review the new animation of The Macra Terror and discuss what it means now that Macra exist. The Two the release suitable for ming-mongs of all tastes. The second half is a podcast that was going to be the ol' Metebelis look at The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, which would have been part of our Ace retrospective, but David derailed Ben from the get-go and instead they spent their time talking about Brexit and the future of Doctor Who. So, instead of putting out the podcast with not much Doctor Who talk on it, we're adding it as a bonus. Listen to it or give it a skip -- totally up to you! Opening and closing/intermission music is by Brian Hodgson from the Macra soundtrack. Brexit music is from the 1986 single from Genesis, "Land of Confusion."
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#111 - Jazzman vs Cybermen
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 45 minutes and 16 secondsIn this episode, Ben and David try to sort out the mess that is Silver Nemesis. In what seemingly has become a Metebelis Two tradition, the two try to pitch story alternatives to improve upon this 25th anniversary story. This is story is a grab bag of a bit of everything from straight-blowing Jazz to black magic to the boys of Brazil to mysterious chess games to Cybermen to aging starlets, but what it is not is coherent. Ace is great though! Opening music is the tail end of "No Greater Love" and closing music is the beginning of "Just You, Just Me" from Courtney Pine's excellent 1989 LP "The Vision's Tale."
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#110 - Based on a Pub Lunchtime Conversation
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 57 minutes and 38 secondsBen and David talk about Scratchman! It has been over forty years since Tom Baker and Ian Marter had lunch in the pub and came up with the idea for a Doctor Who movie in which our hero would battle the Devil. Does the novel based on these boozy mid-1970s ideas that Tom wrote with James Goss hold up? How does it compare to what has been previously published about the script? Listen in as David discusses listening to Tom read his story and compare notes with Ben who read it himself off the printed page. Opening music is from Simon Power's sound design for the Scratchman audio book. Closing music is from the Grateful Dead's "Friend of the Devil."
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#109 - Student Theatre
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 48 minutes and 26 secondsBen and David are glad to visit Terra Alpha to see the Candyman. Will happiness prevail? Ben is reminded of the many student plays he saw during the 1980s with minimalist sets, elaborate costumes, and hints of Kafka mixed with a rather subtly riff on Thatcher in this 1988 story. David, for his part, can barely remember watching this in 1990 and finds in this rewatch the story is better than the little he could recall and could potentially is due for a remake. Opening and closing music is from Dominic Glynn's score for The Happiness Patrol.
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#108 - Loaded with Fanwank
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 11 minutes and 34 secondsIn this flashback podcast, the Metebelis Two discuss Ace's second story, Remembrance of the Daleks. From a strong B-movie opening to crane lowering Dalek shuttle crafts into the courtyard of Coal Hill School to the wobbly Dalek battle in the streets of London, Ben and David share their thoughts on this classic McCoy story from 1988 set in London, 1963. Spoiler though, Ben is firmly in the Renegade Dalek camp and shares is disgust with the trashy white and gold Imperial Daleks. David shares his thought about the Cartmel Master Plan and how this story works within the history of the show in this 25th anniversary season.
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Metebelis 2 #107 - GallifreyDone
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 54 minutes and 59 secondsA tired Ben and David recount and reflect on their first GallifreyOne experience. Recorded Sunday night in a room at the convention hotel a few hours after the closing ceremony. Opening music is "Kerblam" and closing music is "Made a New Friend", both composed by Segun Akinola for Series 11 of Doctor Who.
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Metebelis 2 #106 - Have Pod - Will Travel
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 25 minutes and 29 secondsThis week the Metebelis Two are a bit distracted by our upcoming trip to Los Angeles for Gallifrey One 30, so Ben and David discuss the convention, the panels they're on, and what they hope to see. Plus, they talk about their exclusive, collectable blue "Metebelis Two" ribbons. Opening music from "Escape and Recapture" by Geoffrey Burgon from the "Seeds of Doom" soundtrack. Closing music is "This Time Tomorrow" a song released in 1970 by the Kinks.
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Metebelis 2 #105 - More Glitz
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 57 minutes and 17 secondsSo Dragonfire: Ace's debut story with more Glitz action then you thought possible. Ben and David share their thoughts about Ian Brigg's first Doctor Who story and explain what worked for them and what didn't. Poor Mel. We hardly knew you. Is Doctor Who: The Unfolding Text the best book to give a new writer for the show? And why would an ice vampire open a frozen food store on a moon he was exiled upon? Why are the crystals in the ice world set better than those in the series 11 console room? And does Syl's ice acting work if everyone else in the cast has traction boots on? All-in-all a rather inauspicious start to one of the programme's most popular companions... Ace! Opening music from T'Pau's 1987 single, "China In Your Hand". Closing music is from Dominic Glynn's score for Dragonfire.
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Metebelis 2 #104 - The Arena of the Unwell
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 51 minutes and 7 secondsIf you can remember the 1980s, you weren't really there... and this week Ben and David try to prove they really were part of the 1980s. Ben and David try to recall memories of Doctor Who through the JN-T era when they were busy with their young adult lives and not so interested in their favourite show. Is there a connection between tele-fantasy and sci-fi? Is playing Dungeons & Dragons a prerequisite for being in 1980s Doctor Who fandom? Was BBC Controller Michael Grade's decision to cancel, then put the show on hiatus a good thing? Did he fire the right man? And, do the Two even remember the hiatus happening or the casting of McCoy and Aldred as the last Doctor-companion duo of the programme's original run? Opening is from The Trial of the Time Lord: The Mysterious Planet score and closing music is from Dragonfire score, both composed by Dominic Glynn.
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Metebelis 2 #103 - Watching Through Rough Patches
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 51 minutes and 37 secondsA bit introspective this week as Ben and David talk about watching Doctor Who during times when the show is not much to their liking. Prompted by Ben finally purchasing the DVD for Time and the Rani and a listener asking why do we still watch if Series 11 wasn't much to our liking? Ben takes a paternalistic view of Who and David reflects on what first got him hooked on Who during Tom Baker's run on PBS, such as cliffhangers and the location filming. What looked exotic and otherworldly for David growing up in the Midwest United States was the comforting and familiar for Ben growing up in Britain. We talk about the new Scratchman book and how it might be a bit of a car crash, if articles in DWM are any indication, but then we are the target demographic for such a book and its nice that something other than senior housing is being prepared for men of a certain age. Plus discussion on what's to come in upcoming weeks on M2P. Opening and closing music is by Keff McCulloch from his score for Time and the Rani.
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Metebelis 2 #102 - The Da Vinci Kaled
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 56 minutes and 27 secondsBen and David conclude that Resolution was the true finale to series 11. Great to watch on News Year Day, but the wheels begin to fall off the bus upon subsequent viewings. Great one-off design on a Dalek. Dalek-controlled Lin also gets high marks from the lads. Discussion on moving from a crowded TARDIS to the overflowing TARDIS. Is Chibnall writing the Doctor as a 'scold'? More horror about the console room set and the moving crystals, but praise for the funny looking Victorian sewers. David explains that he's been "trainspotting" Sheffield architecture. And why have random troops at the expense of Brexiting UNIT? What are the magical powers of Chekhov's microwave? Plus the Metebelis Two's usual what-ifs and could'ves story notes on how to expand the story and fill the plot holes. Opening is from Resolution soundtrack. Closing music is "Sonic Screwdriver" by Segun Akinola from series 11.