This Week in Time Travel (Doctor Who)

Jody Houser and Rachael Stott interviewed; Gallifrey One recap; Farewell - One week out from Gallifrey One, it’s time to take stock of what we saw at the family reunion. We bid farewell to an iconic carpet and take one last look at a convention every Doctor Who fan should experience at least once. We catch up with Jody Houser and Rachael Stott for more about their Thirteenth Doctor comic, and then we wrap things up with an important announcement. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Rachael Stott and Jody Houser.

A former skeptic's guide to Big Finish audio drama - There’s no better guide to the worlds of Big Finish productions of Doctor Who and other great properties than a former skeptic about audio drama. We welcome Radio Free Skaro’s Warren Frey as we take a criminally overdue deep dive into Doctor Who for the ears instead of the eyes. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Warren Frey.

Gallifrey One convention geekery - We beg your indulgence, but this podcast is 100% about Alyssa, Chip, and Rachel geeking out about the upcoming Gallifrey One convention. If you don’t have a ticket, well, we regret that it’s sold out and encourage you to come back next week for our Big Finish episode. Coming to Gally? We’ll preview some of our panels, give advice for newcomers, and relax our broadcast standards for one very important F-bomb. Sorry, canon-obsessed fanboys: “It’s never f—-ing Susan!” Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Rachel Donner.

Segun Akinola's Series 11 music - Shannon Dohar, friend of TWiTT, co-host of the Deeper Cuts album review podcast, and frequent Reality Bomb contributor, flexes her musical muscles and discusses with us Segun Akinola’s music from Episode 1 to the New Year’s Special. What makes him the right composer for today’s Doctor Who, and how hard was it to make the transition from 10 seasons of Murray Gold? Regenerations can be challenging—but this new soundscape is worthy of celebration…. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Shannon Dohar.

Academic Fandom revisited; Gallifrey One Academic Track preview - A bite-sized episode revisits academic fandom with a look at the dedicated programming track at this year’s Gallifrey One convention. Organizers Joy Piedmont and Paul Booth take us through what it means to look at Doctor Who through a scholarly lens. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Joy Piedmont and Paul Booth.

Titan's 13th Doctor comics series reviewed - The TV series may be over for now, but we can still see Team TARDIS in action! We’re three issues into Jody Houser’s and Rachael Stott’s Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor from Titan Comics. Chip and Alyssa dive in to this delightful and faithful adaptation while catching up with the news of the week and arguing over whether Chip can will a meme into existence. (Alyssa: “It would have to be a better meme.”) Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

"Resolution" reviewed - Yup, it was the Daleks all right. If we consider this the proper end of Series 11, then it absolutely ended with a bang. Jodie Whittaker’s first standoff with the pepper pots is properly epic, but Alyssa and Chip wrestle with some of the lingering issues with the season… Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

Series 11: What worked? What didn't? What next? - That’s a wrap for 2018, This Week in Time Travel, and Series 11! Rachel Donner and Riley Silverman join us to sort out the brilliant and the tragic, the groundbreaking and the played-too-safe. Find out where we stand and what we’re looking forward to in Series 12, and tune in again when we return for the New Year’s special! Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Rachel Donner and Riley Silverman.

"The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos" reviewed - Bang, whimper, or something in between? Did you guess right about, “I know that voice”? (You probably did.) Which characters got to tie off a satisfying arc, and which characters have yet to launch one? Alyssa and Chip tackle the good and the meh about “The Battle of Rask—”…hang on, “The Battle of Barsoom—”…wait, that’s not right… Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

"It Takes You Away" reviewed - One froggy universe, two grieving husbands, one mystery woodland menace, a kajillion moths, and one question from Alyssa: who’s allowed to be selfish in grief? Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

"The Witchfinders" reviewed - Zombies? Check. Sci-fi prison? Check. Historical figure? Check. Prestige casting? Check. Commentary on the human condition, drawing analogies to our current crisis of confidence in ourselves and our tendency to blame and persecute the other in response? Check. Houdini reference? Check. “The Witchfinders” tried to cover all the bases. Let’s see if it succeeded. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

“Kerblam!” reviewed - Happy Thanksgiving! Alyssa and Chip had some extra time to consider “Kerblam!”—whether it didn’t have enough of a point of view or too many, whether the first 40 minutes made up for the last few, and whether it might have gone over better in the U.S. if Amazon hadn’t been especially juggernauty in the last few weeks. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

"Demons of the Punjab" reviewed - Thanks to travel schedules and Alyssa’s exhaustion after helping to Save Democracy As We Know It, we had a few extra days to consider “Demons of the Punjab”: whether it got the balance of SF and family drama right, how it treated history compared to “Rosa,” and how (and whether) our grandparents’ stories get told. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

"The Tsuranga Conundrum" reviewed and barely pronounced correctly - The Doctor's curiosity gets the best of her, and she finds herself and her friends in a disaster movie against, well, basically, Stitch without Lilo. Rachel Donner joins me for a quick trip on a Red Cross spaceship while Alyssa's on assignment. Join us for a discussion on the merits of, well, plotting, where the Doctor's newly developed empathy comes from, and more casting and directorial celebrations. Stick around for the end, if you like, for a plea for Americans to go to the polls Tuesday and a SPECIAL MUSICAL GUEST: Delta Rae and their women's empowerment anthem, "Hands Dirty." (Provided by permission of the band.) Host Chip Sudderth and Rachel Donner.

"Arachnids in the UK" reviewed - It’s eight-legs vs. two-legs again, but unlike 1974’s Planet of the Spiders these arachno-invaders are simply the very confused coincidental by-product of a business empire led by someone who’s TOTALLY NOT TRUMP. NO SIR. Alyssa and Chip discuss whether (1) the plot holds up, (2) Yaz plays on Alyssa’s team, (3) Grace’s appearance opens wounds for Graham AND viewers, and (4) we know now just who the Doctor is. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

"Rosa" Reviewed - This was the episode that we held our breath for. Could British writers do justice to the woman who inspired the Montgomery bus boycotts, and fairly reflect the movement for civil rights? Spoiler alert: we think the answer is a resounding yes. We delve into why this historical story reminiscent of early ’60s Doctor Who spoke so clearly to us, and was very much the kind of Doctor Who story we all needed on Oct. 21, 2018. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

"The Ghost Monument" Reviewed - In addition to the world’s fastest news buffet, we journey to the Planet of Desolation in search of the Doctor’s ride. Has Jodie Whittaker fully inhabited the role? Are Yaz, Graham and Ryan gelling as a TARDIS team? Can you do a sight gag in a podcast? Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

"The Woman Who Fell to Earth" reviewed - The Thirteenth Doctor is finally here, and (absent one rather concerning story beat) her timely debut was exactly what Alyssa and Chip were hungry for. “This new nose is SO reliable.” “Danger of death. Do not climb.” “Every day’s a learning day!” Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

Paul Cornell's final-final Doctor Who work; returning to Doctor Who fandom with Whittaker and Chibnall - It’s the eve of new Doctor Who and we couldn’t be more ready. Titan Comics is celebrating with a virtual giveaway of $300 worth of comics, including Paul Cornell’s last (he means it this time) work on Doctor Who. We talk to Paul, go over the news of the week, and compare notes on what it’s like to leave and return to Doctor Who fandom. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Rachel Donner, Paul Cornell and Shannon Sudderth.

The long road to a woman Doctor - It wasn’t a new idea, but it took a long time for the powers that be to take it seriously. Alyssa traverses the twists and turns that brought the notion of a female Doctor to reality. Chip reflects on the best thing about being a Doctor Who fan, and the best TIME to be one. Plus the news, in the penultimate week before Jodie Whittaker takes the stage. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

Problematic Faves: River Song, and more Season 11 news - Comedian and writer Riley Silverman joins Alyssa to celebrate, consider and critique the controversial River Song. Also, the Doctor Who PR juggernaut marches on while still managing to say VERY LITTLE before the premiere date! Will Thursday’s DWM break that trend? Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Riley Silverman.

Sunday, Oct. 7 premiere; Whittaker makes the news rounds - Chip demonstrates he’d be a rubbish time traveler because he can’t even manage simple time zones. Alyssa melts through the floor over Jodie Whittaker’s Marie Claire UK photoshoot. And there’s plenty of actual news to talk about, including that premiere date announcement video that doesn’t just break a glass ceiling, but also breaks new ground. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

Remembering Michael Pickwoad; defining "problematic faves" - ALYSSA: (talks to Chip about her suggestion for a series about Problematic Faves) CHIP: (dictates a response via Siri, which changes the text to ‘Problematic Babes’) ALYSSA: “Yup, there’s our episode title.” We return from our unexpected hiatus in time travel bringing you Rachel Talalay, who joins Alyssa to celebrate the late Michael Pickwoad. Also, we launch a new segment about those episodes that we both enjoy and cringe at, simultaneously. Reality Bomb’s Joy Piedmont and Verity!’s Deb Stanish are here to help us define Problematic Faves. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Rachel Talalay, Joy Piedmont and Deborah Stanish.

Alyssa's Black Archive book about "Hell Bent" and the news of the week - Alyssa’s first book is out! We take time to talk about “The Black Archive #22: Hell Bent” and the themes Alyssa explored from the Series 9 finale. Plus: the SDCC afterglow, the LFCC record, and more publications and articles that tell us we may be on the verge of a Doctor Who Golden Age… Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

SDCC highlights - Alyssa and Chip retreat to the memory palace and enjoy the highlights of the new Doctor Who era’s and Jodie Whittaker’s debuts in San Diego. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

Teaser trailer, magazine exclusives, and more news - News floodgates opened before Comic-Con! Entertainment Weekly got an exclusive, then the Radio Times got another one! Fans selected their favorite episodes for a BBC America marathon, prompting Chip to play his one note just a little louder. There are toys! And Daleks with tiny plungers! In this, one of the most economical and efficient This Week in Time Travel episodes ever. (So much so, you’ve got time to check out our friend Tom Dickinson’s new podcast, The Moment, as well. Two thumbs up.) Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

Does the Doctor have a core, consistent personality? - Over the last half a century, the most consistent thing about Doctor Who has been the least consistent thing: the character of the Doctor. Regeneration after regeneration, is the Doctor reinvented top to bottom, or is there still something that we can point to, at any time from 1963 to today, and say, “That’s who the Doctor is”? Rachel Donner returns for the news and a dive into the psyche of a Time Lord. Host Chip Sudderth and Rachel Donner.

New composer; new 13th Doctor comic; fan reaction to the leaked scene - We thought we might take the weekend off of TWiTT, because SURELY there wouldn’t be news about Doctor Who before Comic-Con, right? Chip’s theory was found wanting: New composer! New comic! New…uh…leak! (Which we will NOT spoil for you.) Alyssa and Chip tackle all of the news while recovering from the Families Belong Together rally. (Has Doctor Who ever inspired you to action, either personal or political? Let us know on Twitter or Facebook!) Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

Fandom Perspectives: Fan Art - OK, we know that fan art is a visual medium. And podcasts are…not. But we’ve brought along some fan artists who’ve made a real impact. Nathan Skreslet and Ly Cao from Pixel Who are here to talk about the fan artist community in Doctor Who, what it’s like to reinterpret the show, and what it takes to make a business of it. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Nathan Skreslet and Ly Cao.

Fandom Perspectives: Academic Fandom - Kara Dennison and Derek Kompare join us as our Fandom Perspectives series takes a look at aca-fans—those fans for whom deep dives of exploration into themes and cultural criticism make the Doctor Who experience all the richer… Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Kara Dennison and Derek Kompare.

What "Canon" Really Means in Doctor Who - Your two fried cohosts take a quick tour through the news of the week and bring you an in-depth conversation about what “canon” in Doctor Who really means with rabid fan and New Testament scholar Mark Goodacre, in an archive recording from Chip’s Two-minute Time Lord Podcast, episode 316. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Mark Goodacre.

Fan videos from Head Over Feels; Twitch's first week; missing episodes in limbo - For every character, for every dramatic plotline, for every ship: there’s a fanvid. Kim and Sage of Head Over Feels return to This Week in Time Travel to talk about their expertly curated collections of fan-edited videos guaranteed to make you swoon or swear. Plus: Erika and Liz from Verity! stop by with a report from Twitch’s first week of streaming classic Doctor Who episodes, and Chip and Alyssa have strong feelings about Radio Free Skaro’s scoop that some missing episodes may be in the hands of private collectors. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Kim Rogers, Sage Young, Erika Ensign and Lizbeth Myles.

News roundup: Twitch, Bookwyrm, video greetings for 13, FanX - It’s a short, live-and-in-person walk through the news of the week including a new venue for classic Doctor Who, a new book series about Doctor Who book series, your chance to welcome Jodie Whittaker, and another fan convention setting the wrong example. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

Fandom Perspectives Part 2: Fanfiction - Some fans are content to consume stories. Others want to expand on them, or even transform them. Part two of our Fandom Perspectives series is about fanfiction, a creative outlet that may even have contributed to the return of Doctor Who. Paul Cornell joins us to talk about fanfic’s role in the wilderness years, and Shannon Sudderth and Alyssa compare notes on fanfic in the RTD years and today. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Paul Cornell and Shannon Sudderth.

The World of Doctor Who Cosplay - At its best, fandom culture is all about participation! We begin our Fandom Perspective series by looking at cosplay with friend and East Coast costumer Amanda-Rae Prescott. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Amanda-Rae Prescott.

Free Comic Book Day; Time Team; Big Finish Masters vs. River Song - It’s a snack-size edition of This Week in Time Travel looking at Free Comic Book Day, the new Time Team, and the eternal question: can the Eric Roberts Master drezzzz for the occasion in audio? Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

The Twelfth Doctor Retrospective - Our Doctor retrospective series concludes with, of course, the Twelfth Doctor. It’s a giant-size, Series 10-hair-size, celebration of everything he brought to the role courtesy of the Hugo-finalist Verity! podcast’s moderator, Deb Stanish! Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Deborah Stanish.

Reconstructions of missing episodes; The Macra Terror - Alyssa promised that she would make Chip watch his very first reconstruction of a missing classic Doctor Who episode, as chosen by a random #WhoAgainstGuns donor. Thanks to David H. Adler, it’s time for “The Macra Terror” in living color…well, not color, but in living motion…well, not motion. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

The Eleventh Doctor's Hour - Let’s go back to 2010 and welcome the worldwide goodwill ambassador from the BBC, the Eleventh Doctor, who ushered Doctor Who into even greater global popularity. Radio Free Skaro and Lazy Doctor Who’s Steven Schapansky joins us! Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Steven Schapansky.

The Tenth Doctor Revisited - He launched the show to new heights and became one of the most beloved Doctors of all of time and space—but he had his share of detractors! Shannon Sudderth helps us discuss David Tennant’s Doctor. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Shannon Sudderth.

The Ninth Doctor celebrated - Ninth Doctor, we hardly knew you! Rachel Donner rejoins the This Week in Time Travel team for a jam-packed episode celebrating Christopher Eccleston and his pivotal year in the role. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Rachel Donner.

The Eighth Doctor Revisited - The Eighth Doctor was truly the “Fans’ Doctor.” Not because fandom created him, but because thanks to novels and especially Big Finish, fans of Doctor Who got to know Paul McGann’s Doctor while the wider world missed out. Alyssa and Chip talk about his arc from the TV movie to “Night of the Doctor” while preparing for their live show at (Re)Generation Who with Rachel Talalay on Saturday, March 24! Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

The Seventh Doctor revisited; #whoagainstguns raises $15K! - The master of the Hat Trick, Sylvester McCoy’s Seventh Doctor, falls under the watchful eye of returning guest Kathleen Schowalter. There’s a bumper crop of news, too, including the outcome of the main #WhoAgainstGuns campaign push, Series 11 casting, and more! Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Rachel Donner and Kathleen Schowalter.

The Sixth Doctor: unjustly maligned? - Our fearless leader Jason Snell joins us to discuss the brightest and brashest of the Doctors: Colin Baker’s Sixth Doctor. Plus, we have an update on #WhoAgainstGuns, some details and controversy over Series 11, and a look ahead to our live show at Regeneration Who! Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Jason Snell.

Interviews with Rona Munro, Jenny Colgan, Hayley Nebauer and Alisa Stern ("Doctor Puppet") - It’s an interview spectacular! Writers Rona Munro and Jenny Colgan, costume designer Hayley Nebauer, and stop-motion puppeteer Alisa Stern (“Doctor Puppet”) all talked with us at Gallifrey One. PLUS: Alyssa and Chip review the new Doctor Who branding with considerable glee, and discuss the shocking surprise news of Target-style novelizations of new-series episodes. We never saw that coming. Support #whoagainstguns and get access to an epic commentary podcast featuring many of your favorite Doctor Who podcasters and special guests. Find out more at realitybombpodcast.com/whoagainstguns. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Jenny Colgan, Hayley Nebauer, Alisa Stern and Rona Munro.

#MeToo and the women of Doctor Who, Gallifrey One con recap, and news - Women’s voices rang powerfully and true at the end of the 29th Gallifrey One convention. Alyssa looks back on a profound #MeToo moment as Doctor Who actors, writers and other creators talked about their struggles within the entertainment industry. We take some time to honor their testimony while also celebrating the other highlights of a very successful con weekend. There was also a lot of news from the comics, visual effects, and Riverdale (???) fronts! Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

The Fifth Doctor examined - Graeme Burk rejoins us to rhapsodize about the beige-est of Doctors, the Fifth! Plus, loads of news and “news” as Chip and Alyssa prepare for convention season. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Graeme Burk.

Fourth Doctor Tom Baker revisited - None more iconic: Tom Baker strode across Doctor Who as a giant for seven years, and we have comedian Riley Silverman here to celebrate him. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Riley Silverman.

The Third Doctor revisited - It’s time to reverse the polarity and introduce the Brig to the concept of Women’s Liberation. Bring back the opera capes and the short short skirts! It’s time to talk about the Third Doctor. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke.

Analyzing the Second Doctor - We’re joined by author, editor and zombie mathematician Robert Smith? as we discuss the Second Doctor’s place in the canon. Plus: Peter Capaldi’s surprise post-tenure appearance at an upcoming East Coast con, (Re)Generation Who 4! Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Robert Smith?.

The First Doctor revisited; David Fisher remembered - Doctor Who: The Writers’ Room co-host Erik Stadnik was the perfect guest this week. Not only does he adore the First Doctor, making him a great pick to kick off our weekly survey of the Doctors, but he was also on hand to review the career of Fourth Doctor scripter David Fisher who passed away this month. Host Chip Sudderth and Alyssa Franke with Erik Stadnik.