The classic era of Doctor Who has come to a close, but before Dan and Mike move forward to the modern era, they take one last (and long) look at everything that's come before. Mixed in with a slew of listener e-mails are discussions of the stories they revisited, as well as plenty of lists chronicling their favorite Doctors, companions, cheesy moments, themes, quotes, and so much more! And some of the entires on these lists are guaranteed to surprise you!
In the second Bigger on the Inside Special, Dan sat down with his friend Libby to discuss "City of Death!"
Doctor Who: The Movie, an often-overlooked entry in the life of The Doctor, is indicative of its time and network, and it suffers for it. That said, both Dan and Mike agree that Paul McGann is a wonderful Doctor. Eric Roberts' portrayal of The Master, however, they're not so keen on. That may not be his fault, though. Before closing out the episode the guys also look at the comedy sketch "Doctor Who and the Curse of Fatal Death," and the documentary More Than 30 Years in the TARDIS.
The With "The Curse of Fenric" and "Survival," the classic era of Doctor Who has come to a close, and so ends a major chapter for Bigger on the Inside. Join Dan and Mike as they discuss what Sylvester McCoy brought to the program and what he was lacking, Ace's impact on viewership and future companions, as well as Anthony Ainley's legacy as The Master and his charm. Before the episode ends, however, the guys also dig into the "Search Out Space" episode from the children's program Search Out Scie...
The immortal sorceress Morgaine and her wicked son Mordred seek to claim Excalibur as their own ("Battlefield"), then The Doctor aims to better Ace by forcing her to face an evil she felt in her youth ("Ghost Light"). Also: Dan gives The Doctor a rather unassuming name, Mike calls one of these two stories his new favorite, and both Ian Wilson and Tom Deja make appearances.
The Cybermen, a woman from 1638, and a Nazi want to get their hands on an all-powerful weapon The Doctor seemingly created ages ago ("Silver Nemesis"). Then The Doctor and Ace visit a deadly circus where they become the acts ("The Greatest Show in the Galaxy"). Also, Mike doesn't understand the titles of British sitcoms, the perils of white men in their 30s writing rap, and Dan's greatest secret is revealed!
The Doctor's role as the master manipulator begins to shine through as his earliest adventure on Earth is retconned into something rather sinister in "Remembrance of the Daleks." And in "The Happiness Patrol," The Doctor and Ace are far from happy when they discover an emotionally oppressed society run by a tyrant and her candy-skinned assassin! Before starting this episode, keep the following questions in mind: what will Dan and Mike have to say about The Doctor's final act against Skaro, did M...
Firstly, roving gangs, killer machines, cannibal grannies, and an undying architect plague The Doctor and Mel ("Paradise Towers"). Then genocidal mercenaries hunt an alien queen to Earth, in an effort to destroy her and her rapidly growing spawn ("Delta and the Bannermen"). And lastly, a dragon holds the key to an icy madman's freedom ("Dragonfire"). Additionally, Dan teaches Mike a new word, Mel leaves The Doctor to take up with Sabalom Glitz, Ace debuts, and Dan believes the 24th season just m...
In "Time and The Rani," Sylvester McCoy, the final classic-era Doctor, makes his not-so-grand debut by wearing a Colin Baker wig, pratfalling, playing the spoons, screwing up common phrases, and stopping The Rani by letting her escape. Also, Dan has feelings about the opening credits (and they're not warm or fuzzy), and an old friend returns to the show.
Colin Baker's final season of Doctor Who begins and comes to an end in this episode of Bigger on the Inside. In the 14-part "The Trial of a Time Lord," The Doctor must fight for his remaining lives against a supposedly immortal robot ("The Mysterious Planet"), a returned Sil ("Mindwarp"), vulgar-looking plant-monsters ("Terror of the Vervoids"), and his accuser: The Valeyard ("The Ultimate Foe")! As Dan and Mike say goodbye to Peri and Colin Baker, they greet Mel, have fun with the Vervoid costu...
The 22nd season of Doctor Who comes to a close as The Doctor prevents a mutant from committing genocide ("Timelash"), and then he steps in as Davros attempts to turn humans into the new Dalek race ("Revelation of the Daleks"). From there the guys discuss the mini-episode "A Fix with Sontarans," the 18-month hiatus, and, sigh, "Doctor in Distress." Also, Peri does something useful, and Dan has an epic rant.
After spending five minutes gushing about a podcast, Dan and Mike close out 2011 by banging their heads against the wall while discussing "The Mark of the Rani" (with a character-damaging appearance by The Master) and "The Two Doctors" (with Patrick Troughton spending the bulk of his time strapped into or on things).
Using an ill-gotten time machine, the Cybermen plan to destroy Earth in 1985, thus saving Mondas one year before their very first encounter with The Doctor ("Attack of the Cybermen"). Then, a dying TARDIS needs a rare ore to survive, but to acquire it The Doctor and Peri must withstand the endless traps of a mindlessly violent television show ("Vengeance on Varos").
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Depending on which host you ask, "The Twin Dilemma" is either rote or enjoyable. However, once Colin Baker is factored in, they agree rather mightily on his awesomeness! Also, the 21st season is examined, and Mike reacts poorly to the results of a Doctor Who Magazine poll.
"Planet of Fire" and "The Caves of Androzani" bring Peter Davison's era to an end with "the best story of the 48 year history of Doctor Who," a truly emotional performance, and a stunning regeneration. Before Davison leaves, however, we also say goodbye to Turlough and Kamelion, and hello to Peri.
As the guys speed to the end of Peter Davison's era as The Doctor, both the violence and quality of the series begins to pick up. In "Frontios," despite his reservations, The Doctor comes to the aid of an Earth colony besieged by weaponized meteorite showers. Then in "Resurrection of the Daleks," Davros is freed by his creations because they need him to cure a deadly virus, but it all leads to a Dalek civil war. And the ensuing carnage, bloodshed, and death causes Tegan to flee from her life wit...
With only a few minor spoilers, the guys briefly discuss "The Wedding of River Song." Then a listener tells a tale of a Doctor Who-related prank that nearly went wrong. As for the two stories, first, in "Warriors of the Deep," the Silurians and Sea Devils are back, and are up to their old man-eradicating ways. And in "The Awakening," a long-buried alien force takes control of a village during a reenactment of the English Civil War. Mixed in with the green paint of the Myrka are lots of truly ran...
As four-ish of the five Doctors try to save their very existence, a traitor is revealed on the High Council of Time Lords! Say it ain't so, Rassilon! This is it! Join Dan and Mike as they gush over "The Five Doctors," a special 20 years in the making!
As a group of immortals sail around our solar system seeking enlightenment, the Black Guardian makes his final move against The Doctor ("Enlightenment"). Then, in an effort to prevent parliamentary democracy from ever forming, The Master attempts to stop King John of England from signing the Magna Carta ("The King's Demons"). As for the two most recent modern episodes of Doctor Who ("The Girl Who Waited" and "The God Complex"), there are spoilers between 3:40 and 13:40. Vroom! Vroom!
As The Doctor attempts to save his own life from a small group of undying mutants ("Mawdryn Undead"), and then the lives of those suffering from a leprosy-like disease ("Terminus"), Turlough is introduced as the Black Guardian's sort-of-unwilling lackey / assassin, a retired Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart makes his return, and Nyssa bids the TARDIS and her friends farewell.
Outside of Colin Baker making his Doctor Who debut (in which he gets to shoot and later execute The Doctor), there's not much to say about "Arc of Infinity" and "Snakedance." Well, obviously that's not true. The episode is an hour long, so the guys had stuff to say, such as comments on Nyssa's new outfit, a villain's resemblance to a child actor, and puppets. Lots of puppets.
In this somber episode of Bigger on the Inside, Dan and Mike mourn the loss of a companion who's been with The Doctor since his last incarnation. That's right, Tegan, the brash Australian woman with dreams of becoming a stewardess has left the TARDIS to fulfill her career path. We'll miss you, Tegan. Also, as the 19th season comes to a close, Adric gets totally obliterated to much laughter ("Earthshock"), and The Master does something but the guys aren't sure what it is ( "Time-Flight" ).
With a plot about an alien attempting to eradicate all life on Earth, "The Visitation" is a rather rote Doctor Who story. However, the serial is saved by Richard Mace (AKA Mr. Awesome), who Mike suggests might be related to another one-off companion from one of Tom Baker's most beloved stories. Then, in the two-part "Black Orchid," The Doctor is accused of murder, and a family secret prevents someone from corroborating The Doctor's alibi. Before all that, however, Chris Johnson drops by to deliv...
The guys lament getting old, talk about how marriage changes one's ability to splurge on DVDs, and they address Peter Davison's costume. Also, Dan and Mike can't agree when it comes to "Four to Doomsday" and "Kinda." Meow!
Virus-infected computers, snobby IT guys, and YouTube posters get the guys bleeping bleep right out of the gate. After that, though, they calm down to discuss Peter Davison's first adventure as The Doctor: "Castrovalva."
After seven seasons on Doctor Who and nearly 10 months of coverage on Bigger on the Inside, Tom Baker departs the role of The Doctor during the four-part serial "Logopolis." Join Dan and Mike as the speak about the man whose impossibly long scarf and wild mane made him a worldwide icon who's still synonymous with the role all these years later. This episode also looks back at the 18th season of Doctor Who, as well as the two most recent modern stories: "The Almost People" and "A Good Man Goes to...
On the final leg of their journey through E-Space, The Doctor and his friends set a race of time-sensitive slaves free ("Warriors' Gate"). Then The Doctor must prevent an old foe from claiming a near-limitless power as his own ("The Keeper of Traken")! We also say goodbye to Romana and K-9, and herald the return of The Master!
Beginning the three-part E-Space trilogy is "Full Circle," in which a group of humanoids are on the run from Marshmen, but little does anyone know the true secret of the aquatic aliens. Then The Doctor and Romana put an end to the Time Lord / Vampire war in "State of Decay." At the top of the show, however, Dan discusses his issues with "Day of the Moon," and Mike his problems with "The Curse of the Black Spot." And throughout the show, the duo eviscerate The Doctor's newest companion: Adric.
Dan and Mike start off Tom Baker's final season of Doctor Who with "The Leisure Hive" and "Meglos," two rather forgettable stories. Before that, however, they briefly speak about "The Impossible Astronaut," Mike's new stupid theory about River Song, and Doctor Who-themed cat names. And, of course, they touch on the passing of Elisabeth Sladen.
