Gridlocked

It’s time for another Underrated Gem — this time from Deb! Join Deb, Erika, Lynne, and Tansy as we discuss a story that one Verity describes as “a good mid-level rollercoaster.”

Do you think this story is an Underrated Gem? Why or why not? Drop us a tweet or let us know in the comments!

^E

Happy Things:

• Tansy
  • Making lists for Liz doesn’t have to — Top 20 First Doctor Stories!
  • The Radio Times is doing polls on top Big Finish Stories!
• Lynne – Two Doctor Who themed doormats from DamnGoodDoormats via Etsy:
  • TARDIS Doormat!
  • RIVER SONG Doormat!
• Erika – Dunkaccino but it’s a reconstructed Doctor Who episode from the 1960s!
• Deb – Listener Justin took the Big Finish plunge!

Paradise Towers Kickstarter (now complete)
Extra-special thanks to this week’s editor, Steven Schapansky of Castria!
Support Verity! on Patreon

Download or listen now 

Episode 233 – Midnight on the Firing Line

Today’s recording is as cozy as the episode. Join Deb and Erika as they discuss another story that often lands near the top of the Doctor Who polls. Is “Midnight” as good as its rep? We dig in!

Have you watched this story recently? If so, what did you think, and how did that compare with how you felt about it in the first place? Drop us a tweet or let us know in the comments!

^E

Shared happy thing: CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON RETURNS TO DOCTOR WHO in 12 new 9th Doctor stories for Big Finish!!!

Extra-special thanks to this week’s editor, Steven Schapansky of Castria!
Support Verity! on Patreon

Download or listen now (runtime 1:03:57) 

Episode 229 – Do Blink

Time for more hindsight. Join Deb, Erika, and Katrina as we dip back and see if “Blink” is really all that or if our views have changed over the years.

Have you revisited this story recently? If so, what did you think, and how did that compare with how you felt about it in the first place? How do you feel about it as a Doctor Who intro story? And has that changed? Let us know in the comments!

^E

Happy things:

• Erika was thrilled to hear Dan Starkey say her name during a #DoctorWhoQuiz for The Lily Foundation!
• Kat enjoyed Staged with David Tennant and Michael Sheen!
• Kat and Deb both loved Jodie Whittaker and David Tennant on The Late Late Show with James Corden!

Erika’s post on “Blink” as a Doctor Who starter story
Extra-special thanks to our editor, Steven Schapansky of Castria!
Support Verity! on Patreon

Download or listen now (runtime 1:02:22) 

208 – 7 Nation Army of Ghosts/Doomsday Tripper

Okay, this “7” is a stretch but we made it work. Join Deb, Lynne, and Tansy as we dissect the rollicking, emotional, and devastating story duo of “Army of Ghosts” and “Doomsday”.

We give credit to 8 y.o. RTD (the obvious creator of the Dalek v. Cyberman smackdown) while calling out the emotional manipulation he inflicted upon both Jackie and Rose. But we all come together in our adoration Yvonne Hartman’s confidence (and tailoring) and Mickey Smith’s swagger.

What are your favorite bits of this, literally, epic two-parter? Or was the emotional manipulation just a bit too much? Let us know what you think in the comments!

^D

Happy things:

• Lynne is beyond thrilled that Arthur Darvill has been announced as a guest at next months’ Chicago TARDIS!
• Tansy is filled with maternal pride that her youngest bought their first sonic screwdriver – and it’s the 13^th Doctor’s!
• Deb is still recovering from seeing Christopher Eccleston at NYCC. She live-tweeted the experience in case you missed it!

Extra-special thanks to this week’s guest editor, Steven Schapansky of Castria!
Support Verity! on Patreon

Download or listen now (runtime 1:15:48) 

203 – The Unicorn and the Wasp’s Nest

This week is another “Lucky 7” with the seventh episode of series 4. Join Deb, Erika, Katrina, and Lynne as we talk about mysteries, celebrity historicals, classism, racism, and how we deal with media created by people with views we abhor.

What do you think of “The Unicorn and the Wasp”? And how do you deal with stories created by people whose views harm you and/or people you love? Let us know in the comments!

^E

Happy things:

• Kat has some delicious new Doctor Who – Good Omens headcanon, thanks to tumblr!
• Erika celebrates the return of Two-minute Time Lord, with really really excellent guest essays!
• Lynne is thrilled by the existence of Big Finish action figures!
• Deb boosts Freema Agyeman’s laudable fundraising effort for Sleep Out: Stage and Screen!

The Incomparable Ep 166 – I Assume Everyone Is Awful
Support Verity! on Patreon

Download or listen now (runtime 1:15:12) 

193 – The Idiot’s Lantern Down for What

It’s another “lucky 7”! Join Deb, Erika, Lynne, and Tansy as we discuss the seventh episode of series two, “The Idiot’s Lantern”. This story didn’t age as well as some of us hoped, but it does leave us with a lot to talk about.

How do you feel about this episode? Let us know in the comments!

^E

Happy things:

• Lynne met David Tennant!!!
• Tansy continues her dive into Big Finish with The Eighth of March!
• Erika admires how the vendors like PixelWho, ATB, and others have banded together online after the cancellation of ReGeneration Who!
• Deb is excited about Big Finish bringing four Masters together in Ravenous 4!

Support Verity! on Patreon

Download or listen now (runtime 1:24:01) 

Episode 159 – A Perfect (Roman) Match

2018 brings another new Verity! feature: Perfect Match, in which a Verity selects a classic Who story and a modern Who story that go together…for whatever reason. Join Erika, Lynne, and Tansy as we compare and contrast Tansy’s perfect match: “The Romans” and “The Fires of Pompeii”.

What ties do you see between these two stories? How has storytelling evolved between these two tales, and how does that affect the show? Let us know what you think in the comments!

^E

Also covered:

• Lynne loves seeing David Tennant say nice things about Jodie Whittaker!
• Tansy can’t wait for series 11 with its women writers!
• Erika pre-ordered Paul Cornell’s novelisation of Twice Upon a Time!

Bonus links:
Lazy Doctor Who Covers “The Romans”
New Who novelisations
The Fires of Vulcan from Big Finish

Download or listen now (runtime 1:11:27) 

Episode 149 – Here Come the Drums Here Come the Drums

Our year of loves and lasts hits another love. Join Deb, Erika, Katrina, and Lynne as we discuss an episode that Kat really loves: “The Sound of Drums”. Yes, you read that right. Kat loves a 10th Doctor episode, and we find out why! We also talk about why the rest of us like it. There are numerous reasons, including Jack and the Master and good old Martha.

Why do you love (or not love) this ep? Let us know in the comments!

^E

Also covered:

• Lynne
  • has a Doctor Who room in her new house! And it’s not also the dining room!
  • has the new book Doctor Who: Paper Dolls by Simon Guerrier and Christel Dee!
• Kat
  • interviewed Dominic Glynn on Start the Music!
  • enjoys the heck out of Dominic’s Doctor Who: The Happiness Patrol Remixes EP (with or without internet videos of cats)!
  • plays Adric in the 5th Doctor series of Doctor Who’s Line, Is it? … Anyway!
• Erika listened to (and enjoyed) The Movellan Grave by Andrew Smith!
• Deb looks forward to the upcoming anthology Doctor Who: The Missy Chronicles!

Bonus links:
Our ep that covers “The Five Doctors”
Our ep about Martha’s last (proper) episodes

Download or listen now (runtime 1:03:45) 

Episode 146 – The Pit of the Impossible Satan Planet

Now that series 10 is over, our year of loves and lasts continues with a love. A lot of love. Two episodes of love, in fact! Join Deb, Erika, and Tansy as we dip back into series 2 with a two-parter that Deb just loves: “The Impossible Planet” and “The Satan Pit”.

Do you love these eps like we do? Do you find the same bits a tad uncomfortable? Other bits? No bits? Let us know in the comments!

^E

Also covered:

• Tansy’s household is squeeful over the trailer for the Xmas special–especially because BILL IS BACK!
• Erika recommends a couple videos from San Diego ComicCon:
  • the BritBox classic Doctor Who panel hosted by our pal Kyle!
  • Empire Magazine’s interview with Steven Moffatt, Peter Capaldi, and Mark Gatiss!
• Deb
  • mourns the loss of Deborah Watling, but is gladdened by the outpouring of love from the fan community.
  • thanks our commenters for showcasing fandom at its best!

Bonus link:
Erika prepares to watch “The Satan Pit”

Download or listen now (runtime 1:09:29) 

Episode 128 – Lynne’s Love: Frocks and Fireplaces

It’s high time we started on the love part of our year of love and lasts. Join Deb, Erika, Liz, and Lynne as we cover Lynne’s love, “The Girl in the Fireplace”. Liz and Deb do some LJ fanthropology, Erika has a change of heart, and Lynne gushes about France and frocks. Of course we do our usual random-tangent thing too. X-men fighting leprechauns, anyone?

What did (and do) you think of this ep? Do you love it like Lynne or hate it like an old-school Rose/10 shipper? Or somewhere in between? Let us know in the comments!

^E

Also covered:

• Lynne is delighted to learn that Chicago TARDIS will welcome Sophie Aldred and Peter Davison to this year’s convention!
• Liz can’t wait to read the next (and sadly last-of-the-miniseries) Third Doctor comic by Paul Cornell and Christopher Jones!
• Erika
  • is utterly squeeful about the return of The October Girl by Matthew Dow Smith!
  • cannot wait for the Gallifrey One convention!
• Deb
  • is also excited for Gally (in part because she’s bringing LEGO-Verity decals)!
  • appreciates the new “podcast for the resistance”, The 451 and encourages folks to donate to their Patreon!
  • adores Head Over Feels and highlights their Patreon as well!

Download or listen now (runtime 1:16:38)