Doctor Who: Mutter's Spiral Podcast

Will and John give a quick recap on the festivities at GallifreyOne from Friday and look ahead to their Saturday, including Christopher Eccleston and This or That by Sage and Kim from Head Over Feels. 

We've returned, and the moment wasn't prepared for. Will and John finally break out of where they've been waiting since GallifreyOne 2019. They give a brief update on the pod, and summarize what they're looking forward to for GallifreyOne 2020. Thanks for listening!

It’s Sunday Afternoon at GallifreyOne, North America’s premiere Doctor Who fan convention, and John and Will look back at an eventful and fun Saturday, with panels and performances from Catherine Tate, John Barrowman, Head Over Feels moderating This or That, The Babylon 5 25th anniversary panel, and so much more. 

It’s a groggy morning for John and Will as we review the first (very) full day of the GallifreyOne convention. We talk about the Academic Track, the Cornell Collective, and all the other highlights from the very packed Friday. 

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast continues previewing the 2019 Gallifrey One convention, this time with our great friends from HeadOverFeels.com, Kim Rogers & Sage Young!  It's become a pre-Gally tradition to visit with Sage & Kim before the convention to get the rundown on all the cool things they're participating in at Gally! We will talk about the epic upcoming "This or That" panel session with Pearl Mackie, Nicola Bryant, and Rosie Jane.  "This or That" was a favorite of everyone (including the guest participants) at last year's Gally, and this year's edition should be a blast!  (Saturday 1 pm in Program A) We will also talk about another HoF-led favorite, the Fan Video Happy Hour - Sage & Kim always pick a fantastic crop of emotional and fabulous videos put together by some amazingly talented folks.  Bring your tissues! (Friday 4 pm Program E) We'll then cover the individual panels that the ladies will be on - Sage is on the "Doctor Who Crossover: Musicals Edition" panel (with another friend of the show, Susan Stanton) at 6 pm Friday in Program C.  This should be a fun and interactive panel where the panel of ardent fans of Broadway musicals recast various works with Doctor Who characters playing parts.  Kim is moderating the "Midnight in the Garden of Who and Evil" at 11 pm Saturday in Program C.  This 18+ panel will focus on the world of fan fiction and will include some dramatic readings of works created by the panelists and by the audience.   This is a fun conversation with Kim & Sage, and it's a definite sign that Gally is ALMOST HERE!  Come have a listen!

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is back with another preview of the 2019 edition of the Gallifrey One Convention - today focusing on the Academic Track - titled "Time Lord Timelines: An Academic Symposium"!  We're thrilled to be joined by Joy Piedmont and Paul Booth, who have organized a wide-ranging and interesting collection of topics and speakers. We'll talk to Joy and Paul about how the Symposium came about (this is the 2nd edition), what types of subjects and topics they look for, and how they chose this year's presenters.  We'll then dive deep into the schedule and go over each presentation (including one that John is keenly interested in and had even thought of suggesting himself!) individually to get a bird's-eye view of what can be expected. It's a terrific and interesting conversation with Joy & Paul that really gives the full rundown on what to expect.  Please have a listen! Schedule and description of topics for the Symposium here

It is indeed the MOST WONDERFUL TIME... OF THE YEAR!  That's right, the annual Gallifrey One Convention, the world's largest (and best) Doctor Who Convention is just around the corner, and MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast will be previewing the convention in full this week!  It's the 30th edition of the con; it's John's 15th and my 13th (and the podcast's 9th!); and it looks to be another corker of a weekend!  We'll talk all about the great guests (Including CATHERINE TATE, PEARL MACKIE, JOHN BARROWMAN, COLIN BAKER, and many more!), the fantastic fan panels (including the 2 John will be on), and of course the many other amazing highlights to come (THIS or THAT, FAN VIDEO HAPPY HOUR, IN DEFENSE OF, the ACADEMIC TRACK, and so much else).   It's our annual deep dive into and through the schedule.  We're super excited for Gally, and we hope to give listeners a taste of what's to come this year!  Also,  John finds out what game, featured in a panel at this year's Gally, that I've NEVER played, which stuns him while i promise to maybe, perhaps, possibly try to participate in one of the other great games.  So, it's chock full of Wibbly-Wobbly Timey-Wimey Stuff! We will also be doing 2 more previews of Gally: one with Joy Piedmont and Paul Booth, focused on the "Time Lord Timelines: An Academic Symposium", the Academic Track that they've put together (dropping Thursday); and one with our great friends Kim Rogers and Sage Young of HeadoverFeels.com for next week that'll discuss in detail THIS or THAT, FAN VIDEO HAPPY HOUR, the FanFic panel, the Doctor Who/Musicals crossover panel and more.  

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast returns with our review of Series 11 of Doctor Who - we talk about the highs and the lows; our expectations before the series vs. our feelings now; and where we hope to go into the future.  We also have some news as well as detailing our plans for the podcast in 2019 (and, shockingly, it involves actually podcasting regularly).  Please have a listen! Next up - our previews of Gallifrey One 30 will start dropping, as the convention is just over a month away!

Happy New Year from MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast!  And there's no better way to start 2019 than with a smashing new Doctor Who episode - "Resolution" (written by Chris Chibnall & directed by Wayne Yip)!  John and I talk all about this reintroduction of the Doctor's oldest and most deadly (and famous) foes (or a singular foe, in this case).  We will go in depth on this story as well as discussing where the show is now that we are one full year into the Chibnall/Jodie era (and as we head into a LONG break between stories).  We'll talk about the Ryan/Aaron resolution (see what we did there) as well as talking about all of the various "Chekhov's ______" from this episode (Kate Stewart, where are you?).  Plus, there's trivia and even some New Year's Resolutions!  Please have a listen!

It's DOCTOR WHO Series 11 finale time, and MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast has returned to discuss "The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos.  John and I explain how we felt about the episode and how it encapsulates the entire series.  There's some good, but also some elements that disappoint and frustrate us.  We talk about this new iteration of the show and how it has certainly satisfied some viewers while leaving others, like us, feeling slightly (John) or even moreso (me) let down.  We extol the great cast while lamenting the less stellar writing and direction.  We dive into it all. Plus, there's trivia and news (about the show's future and how the podcast will handle ANOTHER huge hiatus between series coming up).  Please have a listen!

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast travels to Norway (not literally) to talk about "It Takes You Away" (written by Ed Hime, Directed by Jamie Childs), the 9th episode of Series 11 (37) of DOCTOR WHO.  It's perhaps my least favorite episode of the season (along with "Kerblam!"), and while John liked it more, he still had some issues with various story elements.  We'll dive into all of those, as well as talking about things that did work or interesting ideas that were presented.  We'll also discuss my feelings of fatigue and frustration as the series has progressed and as we move towards the last episode of this run.  Of course, there's also trivia, including a classic Who question that I'm ashamed to say I totally choked on.  So there's that to look forward to!  Please have a listen!  Thanks!

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is back to talk about "The Witchfinders", written by Joy Wilkinson and directed by Sallie Aprahamian, the 8th episode of Series 11.  Join John and I as we talk about this trip back to Jacobean times - what we liked about the story (many things - writing, acting, direction, pretty much everything) and what didn't work as well (not a whole lot).  It's an episode that I've grown more fond of with each viewing, and John was in at the start - so we have a good discussion about an episode that was a highlight of the season for us both.  Plus, we'll talk news, and there's trivia, OF COURSE!  Please have a listen!  

KERBLAM! ... is the name of the 7th episode of the 11th Series of Doctor Who - written by Pete McTighe and directed by Jennifer Perrott, and it's the subject of this week's podcast.  John and I will discuss how we felt about this story (both a bit Meh) and where it dropped the ball, in our eyes.  We'll also evaluate our ever-evolving feelings about this series.  And, of course, there's trivia!  Please have a listen!

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is back (a few days late this week, our apologies) to talk about "Demons of the Punjab" (written by Vinay Patel and directed by Jamie Childs), the sad and affecting 6th episode of Series 11 of DOCTOR WHO.  We'll talk about what worked (Lots, it's a beautiful hour of television) and what didn't work (we did have some issues, though, especially concerning the Doctor) for us in the episode.  Plus, we'll speculate about the rest of the Series, including the finale; talk news (New Year's Day!) and ratings; and of course, there's trivia!  Please have a listen!

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is back to talk about the solution to "The Tsuranga Conundrum", episode 5 of Series 11 of DOCTOR WHO, written by Chris Chibnall and directed by Jennifer Perrott.  We discuss what worked really well for both of us as well as what might not have hit the mark.  We'll look at where things may be going, given that we're now at the halfway point of the series.  As always, we'll have trivia, ratings, and lots of other PTINGS!  Please have a listen!

MUTTER'S SPIRAL is crawling back into your eardrums to discuss "Arachnids In The U.K." (Written by Chris Chibnall, directed by Sallie Aprahamian) the 4th episode of Series 11 of DOCTOR WHO.  We'll talk all about those spiders, Chris Noth's all-too-recognizable evil American tycoon, and TEAM TARDIS!  We'll discuss what worked for us, as well as talking about the loose ends, left dangling like so many spider legs.  We'll also have TRIVIA and news, so please have a listen!

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is back to talk about "Rosa", the amazing 3rd episode of Series 11 of Doctor Who, written by Malorie Blackman and Chris Chibnall and directed by Mark Tonderai.  The episode is really well-done, and John and I discuss it in detail.  We'll also talk about the ongoing mysteries of Series 11, how we feel about this TARDIS team, and more.  Plus, there's trivia and ratings news.  Please have a listen!

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast 160 talks about "The Ghost Monument", episode 2 of Series 11 of DOCTOR WHO, written by Chris Chibnall and directed by Mark Tonderai.  We'll talk about what we liked, loved, and were less thrilled with by the episode, plus, just what is The Ghost Monument?  We'll talk about the team, and how we are enjoying this "stronger together" theme to the new season.  We also realize that CHIBNALL LIES, and that's ok, since surprises are good!  We will also talk ratings and do some trivia, of course!  Please have a listen!

The DOCTOR Is back; Jodie Whittaker IS THE DOCTOR; and Mutter's Spiral Podcast is here to talk all about her debut episode, "The Woman Who Fell To Earth", the start of the Chris Chibnall-as-showrunner era.  John and I discuss what we thought of the episode and the new Doctor; how it compares to other Doctoral debuts; how we found all of the changes to the show, both on-screen and off-; and what worked best and less well for us.  We both really enjoyed the episode and our chat about it, and we hope that transmits to you, dear listeners!  OF COURSE, there's TRIVIA (John came up with some terrific questions) and a whole lot of excitement and joy at having our new DOCTOR and our favorite show back on our screens.  Please have a listen!

DOCTOR WHO is almost back, so MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is back to excitedly preview it!  John and I dust off our little-used microphones to do a short preview of Series 11 and the beginning of the JODIE WHITTAKER era as the 13th Doctor and of the Chris Chibnall era of DOCTOR WHO!  We'll discuss what we know about the new series and what we're hoping for.  We're both very excited and can't wait for the DOCTOR to arrive on Sunday!  Plus, there are some Sheffield-centered trivia questions, one from each of us!  Please have a listen!  THE DOCTOR IS ALMOST HERE!

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast has awakened from its offseason slumber to discuss the Steven Moffat Era of DOCTOR WHO!  We talk all things Moffat - what we think of when we think of his stories; what's his legacy likely to be; and just exactly where does he stand all time in the Doctor Who Pantheon (Panopticon?).  He's the most prolific writer in Doctor Who history, and we'll discuss whether we rate him at the very top, or just near it. We'll also touch briefly on the leaking of footage of Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor (that's early on, and we stay un-spoilery), the naming of Segun Akinola as the new Composer, and the airing of classic Doctor Who episodes on Twitch. We hope you enjoy it!  And THANK YOU, STEVEN MOFFAT!

MUTTER’S SPIRAL Podcast is back, and we are FINALLY finishing our discussion of the PETER CAPALDI Era of Doctor Who!  Part 1 was back in episode 151, and after a short hiatus, we will wrap up our dive into Capaldi.  We'll talk about where we feel he ranks in the pantheon of Doctors; how his seasons stack up against others in the modern era; and go in detail about companions, other favorite stories, and anything else we can think of!  John especially has some really eloquent points that he makes about the Capaldi era, so that's worth a listen right there! We also give a wrap up of the #WhoAgainstGuns campaign and talk about the Target Novelizations that have just been released in the UK and on Kindle, although the physical US release isn't until June. We hope you enjoy it!

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is back, and we're talking about our involvement in #WhoAgainstGuns:   http://www.realitybombpodcast.com/whoagainstguns/ .  We're very honored to be taking part in raising money to help combat the epidemic of gun violence.  For a donation of $10, you will get a link to a podcast commentary of the classic Doctor Who story "The War Games" done by over 40 Doctor Who writers, podcasters, and fans.  As if that's not enough, STEVEN MOFFAT and PHILIP HINCHCLIFFE have also recorded commentaries on episodes !  If you donate at higher levels ($25 and $50 or more), you'll be eligible to win giveaways of SO MUCH AMAZING Doctor Who swag!  Full details at the site above, please check it out, if you haven't already! On this podcast, we'll discuss the episodes we did and what the recording was like, including the other amazing people on our sessions, as well as give some more details on the project. Donations will be accepted through the end of March, so please go to the site above to learn more and donate to a GREAT cause and give yourself the opportunity to enjoy some GREAT Doctor Who content!

John and I are proud to be a part of the #WhoAgainstGuns project, put together by many in the Whovian community in response to the horrific shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and the epidemic of mass shootings and gun violence in the United States.  Attached is a 2 minute recording describing the project.  For more information, please go to : http://www.realitybombpodcast.com/whoagainstguns/

It's a few days late, but MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is back to wrap up the final day of 2018's edition of the amazing Gallifrey One convention.  It was a day that transcended, due to an amazing panel called "Gallifrey Waits No More" featuring all of the ladies of Doctor Who (in front and behind the camera) at the convention (and moderated by the amazing Deb Stanish) that turned into a cathartic and harrowingly real and emotional session.  We talk about that and our reactions on this podcast (and we'll go in more detail on this and Gally in general with guests in the weeks to come).  Also, we talk about Alyssa Franke's heartfelt recap of the panel, and there's a link here to that post: Whovian Feminism on GWNM.   We'll also talk about the great Kaffeeklatsch with Rachel Talalay and Sarah Dollard that we were fortunate enough to attend; Will's meet-and-greet with Jemma Redgrave; and all of the rest of the Sunday goings-on. Please have a listen!  

A very rusty Will and John check in from Sunday Morning at GallifreyOne. We talk about the highlights from Saturday, including "This or That" with Jemma Redgrave, Camille Coduri and Sage and Kim from Head Over Feels," Moffat commentaries, RealityBomb live recording, panels, the miracle moderator that is Deb Stanish and much much more. Listen, won't you? 

Will and John check in late Friday night from GallifreyOne, North America's premier Doctor Who convention. Special guests Morgan Danger and Susan Stanton join us as we talk about our Friday highlights, including Moffat, Cornell, Talalay, Redgrave, panels and more! Listen, won't you? 

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year on the MUTTER’S SPIRAL Podcast!  We have our great friends Kim Rogers & Sage Young of HeadOverFeels.com back with us for our Annual PREVIEW of GALLIFREY ONE, the amazing DOCTOR WHO convention upcoming this Feb. 15-18 in Los Angeles!  Gally looks to be EXTRA amazing this year with special guests headlined by STEVEN MOFFAT as well as SO MANY more actors, writers, directors, and more, plus great panels with brilliant fans of every description! One of the MOST exciting parts will be Sage and Kim bringing their "This or That" panel to the main stage at Gally with guests Jemma Redgrave & Camille Coduri!  We'll talk about how this came about along with their curation of a FAN VIDEO HAPPY HOUR at Gally, also.  Plus, we'll talk about their other panels, John's panels, and all of the OTHER panels and podcasts and symposiums that we are so excited to see!   It's a family reunion weekend for all of us, and that sense of community is what keeps bringing us back every year (well, sure, the amazing guests and programming help, too!).  As Sage said on the podcast, this podcast is always a favorite for all of us, because it means GALLY is ALMOST HERE!   We cover what to look for if it's your first time at Gally, what panels we are anticipating most, and hopefully many other helpful tips for first-timers and veterans alike!  We hope you enjoy it!

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is back, and we've got a double shot of guests this week - the Sisterhood of Burt!  Our friend and great guest Kayti Burt returns, and she's not alone - her sister Jen joins us as well!  We will talk all about the idea of fan entitlement, especially as it relates to changing narratives in fandom.  We'll talk Doctor Who, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Twin Peaks, X-Files, and other properties, so it's a wide-ranging conversation this week!  We will first get their Doctor Who origin stories and find out their favorite stories of the Capaldi Era.  We also get into Gallifrey One briefly, as the upcoming convention is their first.  Also, I'll do a ribbon reveal, as the ribbons that John and I ordered happened to arrive right as recording started.   It's an entertaining and thoughtful discussion, and Jen & Kayti are great and fun guests!  Twitter information for them: For Kayti, it's @KaytiBurt and for Jen, it's @ourownstrings .  You can get a link to their brand new podcast from their twitter feeds, too! We hope you enjoy this podcast! BTW, Capaldi Era pt 2 coming soon, as well as our annual GALLIFREY ONE preview podcast!  

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is back, and we are talking about the PETER CAPALDI Era of Doctor Who!  It's the first part of our deep dive into the time when the Doctor was him.  On this week's episode, we do a broad overview, then we dive into ranking his 3 seasons and why (John does a good job of changing my mind in the process).  We then give our own personal top 5 episodes (or 6 in my case, plus, i cheat again and intentionally don't list what i think is the best, just because I know John will pick it, too).  It's 90 minutes of Talkin' Who!   Next week, we'll dive into some other favorite episodes, missed opportunities, favorite characters and monsters, and anything else we can think of!   We had a lot of fun recording this and discussing the greatness that is Peter Capaldi and the awesomeness of his Doctor.  We hope you enjoy it!

Happy New Year!  MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is back for its 150th episode, a discussion of the DOCTOR WHO Series 6 (32) episode, "The God Complex", written by Toby Whithouse and directed by Nick Hurran.  We missed this episode on its original airing, during one of our (many) hiatus... hiatuses... hiati?, and it dovetails nicely with #148 on "The Horns of Nimon", so it gets that coveted spot as the sesquicentennial podcast! "God Complex" is an intriguing mix of creepy mystery/horror combined with a philosophical examining of our core faith/beliefs (be it in religion or other outside forces, or, in the case of Amy, the Doctor himself).  It features a Minotaur at the center of a maze, but a very different one from classic Greek Mythology (or even "Nimon", which is namechecked in this story, thus the idea to link this with "Horns of Nimon").   We dive deep in the story and its various elements, discussing what worked and what could have been fleshed out more.  We talk about the excellent guest cast, the denouement with the Doctor saying goodbye (apparently) to Amy & Rory, and even discussion about what the Doctor saw, which was a mystery at the time, but is actually revealed in the episode in a very clever way (and ultimately very clearly revealed in "The Time of the Doctor"). John has some great trivia as well, which is such a key part of our podcast!  It's a really fun discussion that we hope you'll enjoy!

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is back, and we're talking about the emotional farewell to Peter Capaldi, the end of the Steven Moffat Era, "Twice Upon A Time"!  This team up of the 12th and 1st Doctors, set in frozen time just before their regenerations, was a heartfelt and moving journey which made for a fitting denouement to Peter's time as the Doctor as well as a great distillation of the last six seasons of Doctor Who under the leadership of Steven.   We will dive deep into the episode talking in great depth (we DO like to talk) about what we loved (there were many things) and even one or two parts that didn't work quite as well.  The story was rich with emotion, and we felt all of that and more.  It was a really fun conversation about what we both love about Doctor Who and this team that has brought so much joy to us.  We'll also excitedly look forward to the NEW DOCTOR, Jodie Whittaker, as we discuss her brief but BRILLIANT first appearance.  We both cannot wait until we see her first episode in full as the Doctor!  John came up with some great trivia, of course, so there's that to look forward to as well!  Please join us as we wax rhapsodic about this wonderful story. 

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is back, and we're discussing the CLASSIC story from the Tom Baker era, "The Horns of Nimon"!  Now, Nimon isn't in a class with the very best Baker stories (Genesis of the Daleks, City of Death, Deadly Assassin, Ark in Space), but it's one that likely made an indelible impression if you've ever seen it.  It takes a classic story from Greek Mythology; puts a Whovian Sci-Fi spin on it; yet really and truly shows the limitations of classic Who and how sometimes, things JUST.  DON'T.  WORK.  From a truly dodgy envisioning of the Nimon to middling pacing to spectacularly over-the-top performances - both Graham Crowden (who was almost the 4th Doctor!) as Soldeed and Malcolm Terris as the Co-Pilot are chewing scenery by the mouthful, Nimon shows how a Who story can fail, yet still be glorious, campy fun, if you're in the right mood.  John and I will discuss all of this and more.  If it's a story you've seen, you can nod and laugh along with us (hopefully).  If you have NOT seen it, maybe we'll convince you to give it a try!   Plus, Nimon-related trivia and some news!  Have a listen, won't you?  Happy Holidays!

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is back with a final wrap-up of LI Who 5 as well as some news about the upcoming Gallifrey One 29 and the new guest announcements for it (MOFFAT and MURRAY GOLD!) .  It's a quick chat talking about those topics as well as some squeeing about the teaser for TWICE UPON A TIME that was shown during the Children in Need special in the UK this past week! We'll be off next week and back the week after with a new pod--- NO, REALLY, I MEAN IT, WE WILL DO ONE .. -cast, likely focusing on a classic Series story and the modern one that featured the same Aliens, from a story we missed first time around.

A sleep-deprived and gravely-voiced John, flying solo, checks in with a mini-podcast from the Monday morning after LI Who. He talks about the panels and events from Sunday. We'll be with you soon with an overview of the weekend's activities as we gear up for the upcoming Christmas special. 

Join Will and John as they check in from Saturday night at LI Who. Ingrid Oliver, Frazier Hines, getting "Stanished," the catharsis of Head Over Feels fanvid "Happy Hour," and winning the 100k Pyramid from The End of the Earth. Who won? Who lost? Who tells our story? Only one way to find out. 

Join Will and John as they check in from their Friday night of Long Island Who. They walk and talk West Wing style and talk about the panel Ingrid Oliver has called "the best panel she's ever been on."  We also discuss Doctor 13's recently revealed costume and the shot from the next series' filming.    Listen won't you? 

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is back, and we're previewing the upcoming Long Island Who 5 convention, taking place this weekend in Islip, New York!  We'll look back at last year (our first LI Who) and then dive into what we're most anticipating about this year's edition - guests (McCoy!  Hussein!  Ward!  Manning!  Oliver!  Hines!) and seeing our Doctor Who family, plus all those fun game shows and panels!  We will also discuss some news, but there's no trivia this week. We'll be doing mini-podcasts from the convention this coming weekend, so look for those as well!   Take a listen, won't you?  Thanks!

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is BACK!  After a 3 month hiatus, John and I are back to discuss the announcement of the new "TARDIS Team" - NOT COMPANIONS, MIND YOU - made by the BBC earlier this month.  We'll discuss what we know about each of the actors joining the cast, either in full-time roles (Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill, Tosin Cole) or in a 'returning' role (Sharon D. Clarke).  We'll talk about the notable absence of the word "companion" from the press release and speculate on what this might mean (if anything). We'll also discuss our recent guest appearance on the GALLIFREY PUBLIC RADIO podcast to discuss the Pertwee classic "The Time Monster" and also preview upcoming podcasts, mostly focusing on the upcoming LI Who 5 convention. We are excited to be back, so won't you please join us?  Thanks!

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is excited to have Kayti Burt, Associate Editor of Den of Geek, join us to discuss her time at this year's San Diego Comic Con!  2017 SDCC featured a great Doctor Who panel with Peter Capaldi, Pearl Mackie, Matt Lucas, Michelle Gomez, Mark Gatiss, and, of course, head writer and showrunner Steven Moffat. They discussed the upcoming Christmas special "Twice Upon a Time" as well as the end of their era of Doctor Who.  Kayti was at the panel AND did press interviews with everyone, so we're thrilled to have her back to share her experiences!   We'll also talk about the Britbox Classic Doctor Who panel with Colin Baker, Sophie Aldred, and Peter Davison, all of whom she interviewed, and the controversial remarks from Mr. Davison about the naming of the new Doctor, Jodie Whittaker. Kayti will share her thoughts about Jodie Whittaker's taking over the reins of WHO, plus we'll talk about some of other shows she covered at SDCC, including Outlander, The Expanse, and BIG FAVORITE of both John and me, WYNONNA EARP. It's a really fun and informative interview, and we hope you enjoy it! This episode sadly starts on a more somber note, as we note the passing of two important members of the Whovian family - Deborah Watling, who delighted us all as Victoria Waterfield, companion to Second Doctor, and Trevor Baxter, Professor George Litefoot of "The Talons of Weng-Chiang" as well as the highly successful audio series  "Jago & Litefoot" for Big Finish. We'll have additional tributes to Ms. Watling over the next two weeks, as we will be both reposting our review of "Tomb of the Cybermen", one of her most famous stories, as well as posting a new review of "Web of Fear".

It's a double shot of DOCTOR WHO discussion this week on the MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast!  We have our great friends Kim Rogers & Sage Young of HeadOverFeels.com back with us to discuss their thoughts on Series 10 of DOCTOR WHO - they liked a lot (Sarah Dollard, Rona Munro, Peter Capaldi, Pearl Mackie, Michelle Gomez), but they were also really disappointed with how the character of Bill was handled and treated.  They pull no punches in their critique, which is great - their love for the show and for Bill is evident in their high expectations and honest appraisal of how it all went.   BUT, before the series 10 recap, we jump FORWARD in time to discuss the naming of JODIE WHITTAKER as the 13th Doctor with KIM (flying solo this time) - we get her reactions and thoughts on how Jodie will do, plus Kim gives a great and impassioned exhortation about the need for more women of color in the Whoniverse as well as her dream for DOCTOR WHO to be an incubator of new and diverse talent, both on screen and off. SO - it's 36 minutes with Kim on Jodie Whittaker followed by an hour of Kim & Sage on Series 10 - a double-header of WHO content this week! NOTES: This episode has some EXPLICIT language, so be warned. :)  That "E" is there for a reason this week!  

JODIE WHITTAKER is the 13th DOCTOR!  This exciting news was announced this past Sunday by the BBC, and we're back on this episode of MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast to discuss, expound, and squee joyfully about it!  We talk about our reaction, including our joyous shock that the exciting choice was made - to select a staggeringly talented young FEMALE actor to take over the iconic role.  We'll talk about Jodie's CV, our experience with her work, and also how much of the Steven Moffat era led to this momentous choice.  Please have a listen!

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is back with its review of Series 10 of DOCTOR WHO!  We'll talk all about what we loved (Capaldi, Pearl, Michelle Gomez, Sarah Dollard, Rona Munro) in Series 10 as well as what we did NOT care for (THE MONKS, the BBC publicity department who spoiled John Simm's return).  We'll dive into our favorite episodes and moments while also talking about those that left us wanting.  We'll also talk a bit about expectations for the Christmas special.  Please have a listen! NOTE: This was recorded BEFORE ep 137 that was posted on Monday.

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is STILL talking about "The Doctor Falls", and this time we've got our friend Kathleen Schowalter joining us to offer her insights and viewpoints!   We loved talking Who with Kathleen in her first appearance on the podcast, so this seemed like a great time to have her back on, in the wake of the finale.  She brings up some areas of discussion that John and I didn't go over (or just missed) in our recap, and her intelligence and perspective is a great catalyst for conversation!  We really enjoyed making this episode, and it should be a fun and thought-provoking experience for you, dear listener!  So, please check it out!!

Well, that was quite a finale, wasn't it?  MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast will talk all about the epic "The Doctor Falls", written by Steven Moffat, directed by Rachel Talalay, and of course starring the glorious cast of Peter Capaldi, Pearl Mackie, Matt Lucas, Michelle Gomez, and John Simm, on this week's episode.  We'll discuss what we loved, liked and didn't care for in the story while talking about how it fit in the season as a whole as well as the entire Moffat canon.  We will gush a lot (as we do), but we'll also discuss some of the more problematic elements.  Of course, there's also trivia!   Please have a listen!

OMG!  WTF?  WHAT?  WHAT?  MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is AGOG over the action-packed jaw-dropping penultimate episode of Series 10 (and part 1 of the series finale) "World Enough and Time", written by Steven Moffat and directed by Rachel Talalay!  We will discuss all of the amazing goings-on from this shattering episode.  John was mesmerized by the impact of the story, while the amount of pre-episode spoilage I'd suffered muted my reactions to a varying degree.  We'll go over everything - the great performances and direction, the surprises, the revelations, and where we think the finale will go from here.  Plus, there's trivia, as always! Please have a listen!  

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast this week talks all about "The Eaters of Light", episode 10 of Series 10 (or 36) of DOCTOR WHO.  This episode marks the return of classic series writer Rona Munro (Writer of "Survival", the final 7th Doctor story, which was also the final story of the first run of the series) to the WHO family.  It's a story of Picts and Romans and Crows and Locusts which we both quite enjoyed.  We'll talk about what we liked as well as what could have been a bit better for us.  We'll also talk about how things stand heading into the HUGE 2-part finale that starts next week.  Plus, there's trivia and a bit of news! Please have a listen!

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast this week talks all about "Empress of Mars", Series 10, Episode 9 written by Mark Gatiss, a delightful homage to Classic Doctor Who.  The story has Ice Warriors, Victorian Soldiers on Mars, and even a cameo by Alpha Centauri herself!  Plus, some interesting Missy interaction to discuss and ponder what it could mean for the rest of the season.  Plus, there's trivia (including a failure on my part that still has me marinating in shame) and news. NOTE/CORRECTION on the NEWS bit - we talk about Russell T Davies giving a quote about the next Doctor.  I got the quote wrong on the podcast - I read it as "I know who HE (the next Doctor) is" instead of the correct "I know who IT is" (that has been cast as the next Doctor).  So, that's my screwup (based on my belief that the BBC will go male AGAIN, due to their hidebound stodginess), and I apologize.  My hope is that I'll be proven wrong about the BBC (and to be fair, I'm OFTEN WRONG) and can happily proclaim as much in the future. Please have a listen!  

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast this week addresses "The Lie of the Land", the finale to the Monks trilogy, written by Toby Whithouse and directed by Wayne Yip.  We were both less than enthused by this episode individually as well as in its role as the culmination of the three-part story.  We will go in depth about what didn't work at all for us (as well as some stuff we did like - Missy, Bill's Mom).  John also makes some good points about how and why the trilogy doesn't hold together for him (nor me).  I lament the loss of the early-season momentum and express my dislike of the Monks in general as foes for the Doctor.  There's also trivia, of course!  

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast 131 talks all about "The Pyramid at the End of the World", written by Peter Harness & Steven Moffat, directed by Daniel Nettheim.  It's part 2 of the "Monks" trilogy, and, candidly, it's not our favorite.  John and I discuss what worked, what didn't, and the big flaws we each found in the episode.  We will go into various theories we have, as well as real world issues that affected the creation of this episode, while holding out hope that Part 3 next week (and Toby Whithouse) can save this story. There's also discussion of the first batch of guests announced for 2018's Gallifrey One convention - classic stars, new series stars, writers, directors, and annual favorites of us all!  Gally may be 9 months away, but we are already eagerly anticipating it! Of course, there's trivia (7 questions this week), a brief news recap, and a cat named Puncher makes his podcast debut!  Please take a listen!   Music: http://www.purple-planet.com

MUTTER'S SPIRAL Podcast is back, and we're discussing the mind-bending new DOCTOR WHO Episode "Extremis", written by Steven Moffat & directed by Daniel Nettheim (S 10 Ep 06).  We will dive into the episode and look at it from every angle we can - both the flashbacks with Missy & Nardole (proxy for River) as well as the main thread of the story with Bill, Nardole, the Pope, Cardinal Angelo, CERN, et al.  We pick at the details that tripped us up, potentially, and John gives me a great solution for one of the main troubles I had!  We puzzle over how we'd react if we were in such a situation, as well.  There's also of course trivia (and a puntastic opening). Plus... We have new theme music!  It's a track called "Ecstasy" from Purple Planet: Music: http://www.purple-planet.com Check out their site, lots of cool stuff! Have a listen, won't you! PS - Sorry for the lateness this week - a cold got John!  He's all better now.