65: "Once, Upon Time" (S13E3)

Merry Christmas! The Ncuti Gatwa era begins! We judge this episode as a Christmas special, as a Doctor introduction, as a jumping-on point for new viewers, and as the last new “Doctor Who” we’ll see until May. Jason Snell, Erika Ensign and Chip Sudderth.

What Russell wants, Russell gets! We say goodbye to David Tennant and hello to Ncuti Gatwa and also hi-how-are-you to Neil Patrick Harris! Is the Toymaker living in an original Star Trek episode? It’s the end of the 60th anniversary celebration, but the moment has been prepared for. Special guest Annette Wierstra joins Jason and Chip to break it all down. See you in two weeks for the Christmas special with a lightly-used new Doctor! Jason Snell, Erika Ensign and Chip Sudderth with Annette Wierstra.

Off we go for a discussion of rusty robots, long spaceships, creepy doubles, the merits of a U-shaped season, the two kinds of Russell T. Davies scripts, and our love of Bernard Cribbins! Jason Snell, Erika Ensign and Chip Sudderth.

“Doctor Who” is back and your Doctor Who Flashcast returns too, regenerated and rejuvenated. Jason, Erika and Chip discuss Russell T. Davies return to the series, the tricky balance of creating a 60th anniversary reunion show that plays the hits, while also starting production on a whole new era of “Doctor Who.” We’re so excited that it’s back that we talked for a long time! Jason Snell, Erika Ensign and Chip Sudderth.

It’s the end! We break down the end of the Jodie Whittaker/Mandip Gill/Chris Chibnall era. The plot left us mostly cold, but the emotional beats and fan service kept us very warm indeed. And who’s this new Doctor, anyway? Jason Snell with James Thomson, Annette Wierstra and Chip Sudderth.

If it feels like a regular episode, can it be called a special? In any event, the 2022 Easter Special of Doctor Who has arrived. Pirates! Sea Devils! Plot machinations! Interpersonal relationship… developments? It’s the last stop before the final episode of the Chibnall/Whitaker era, and we’ll spend a lot of time wondering (again) how today’s Doctor Who might not be like tomorrow’s Doctor Who. Jason Snell with Steven Schapansky and Chip Sudderth.

It’s a time loop with killer robots with stupid names! We give our quick reactions to this year’s festive “Doctor Who” special, which features time loops and Daleks and comic relief and a little bit of set-up for the remainder of the Chibnall era. Happy New Year, everyone! Jason Snell with Antony Johnston, James Thomson and Chip Sudderth.

The “Flux” season reaches its end. Erika Ensign enjoyed the ride, Annette Wierstra is in the middle, and Jason’s frustrated by all the loose ends. We try to break down an episode jam-packed with plot points, lore, spaceships, and cinematic wipes. Jason Snell with Erika Ensign and Annette Wierstra.

Verity! podcaster and Big Finish writer Lizbeth Myles joins Jason to discuss “Survivors of the Flux,” the penultimate episode of this short, interlinked season. This is an episode that has to do a lot of work setting up for the grand finale, and one-third of the story has to do all that heavy lifting—but with an intriguing emotional aspect to things. What worked? Did we spot all the references? What’s in store for next week? And more broadly, how are we feeling about the Chibnall Masterplan? Jason Snell with Lizbeth Myles.

A lot of stuff happens in this episode. Angels in basements! Angels in tunnels! Angels in a fireplace! Angels in graveyards! If you want Weeping Angels, where else to go but the village of the angels? More broadly, Houman Sadri and Antony Johnston join Jason to discuss how the season is shaping up, where the show may be going from here, and at the end, some particularly wild fan theories—and Jason even invents one of his own. Jason Snell with Antony Johnston and Houman Sadri.