The Doctor's Beard Podcast

Production 6D: "Snakedance" (January 18-26, 1983) - Classic Doctor Who Season 20 Review The Fifth Doctor discovers that Tegan Jovanka has been involuntarily manipulating the TARDIS coordinates, steering them toward the peaceful planet Manusa - homeworld of the Sumaran Empire Federation and the historical site where the malevolent Mara was supposedly destroyed centuries ago. But the snake-like entity was never truly vanquished, and it once again seizes control of Tegan's mind in a terrifying possession, threatening to plunge the unsuspecting civilization of Manusa into chaos and darkness as it prepares for its prophesied return during the ceremony celebrating its ancient defeat. Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they master time and space, delivering comprehensive reviews of every Classic Doctor Who serial. In this chilling sequel to Season 19's "Kinda," they analyze the Fifth Doctor's deepening concern and protectiveness for the traumatized Tegan following her previous Mara possession, celebrate Nyssa's stunning new costume that finally gives Sarah Sutton a more practical outfit, spotlight the television debut of British comedy legend Martin Clunes in his very first professional acting role as the spoiled Lon, and explore the fascinating thematic parallels between "Snakedance" and earlier Doctor Who stories involving mind control and ancient evil. Writer Christopher Bailey returns to expand his Buddhist-influenced mythology with director Fiona Cumming bringing psychological horror to life. The countdown to Doctor Who's monumental 20th anniversary continues as Season 20 follows producer John Nathan-Turner's mandate to bring back classic monsters and villains from the show's illustrious history. The Mara returns as part of the nostalgic callbacks celebrating two decades of time travel adventures! Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms. Connect with our passionate Whovian community by emailing us at thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or joining our active Facebook and BlueSky discussions for exclusive Doctor Who content, character analysis, and fan theories. Become a Patreon member today for early episode access, bonus behind-the-scenes content, exclusive deep-dive Doctor Who analysis, and special multimedia reviews covering comics, audio dramas, and music. Your support helps us continue our complete journey through Classic Doctor Who! Hashtags: #DoctorWho #ClassicDoctorWho #FifthDoctor #PeterDavison #Snakedance #Season20 #TheMara #TeganJovanka #JanetFielding #Possession #Nyssa #SarahSutton #MartinClunes #ActingDebut #ChristopherBailey #FionaCumming #Kinda #SequelStory #Manusa #SumaranEmpire #DoctorWho1983 #JohnNathanTurner #20thAnniversary #ReturningMonsters #DoctorWhoReview #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #TARDIS #Whovian #BuddhistThemes #PsychologicalHorror #MindControl #AncientEvil #BBC #BritishSciFi #DoctorWhoFandom #CompanionTrauma #ClassicWho #DoctorWhoVillains #DoctorWhoHistory #SciFiTV #DoctorWhoMonsters

Episode Title: "Colin Baker Fans Unite!" - Attack of the Cybermen Review THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! Recorded on January 14th, the anniversary was January 13th! Three years of The Doctor's Beard Podcast! The Early Days: "I wonder how many people were listening back then?" Only a couple dozen, mostly friends. "How many of those people are still with us?" Patreon Originals: Shout-out to Dawn, Jameson, and Jamie Girl who've been there from the beginning! THE OPENING QUESTION: John: "What did you think of the season opener for Season 22?" JIM'S RESPONSE: "I'M A HAPPY CAMPER." "This is a world of difference. A universe of difference. I'm even rolling with the stuff that's not that great." THE BIG DECLARATION: "I think this is my second favorite Cyberman story." Why Jim Loves It: Colin Baker has settled into his Doctor "He's smoothed over some of the rougher edges already" The Cybermen's scheme isn't dumb - it's BIG and makes sense Foundation is reasonable: self-preservation Connects with Tomb of the Cybermen John's Agreement: "I give you all that. Colin, his performance, and even Peri." PRODUCTION DETAILS: Production Code: 6T Air Dates: January 5-12, 1985 (not 1986 as John mistakenly said last episode!) Writer: Paula Moore (Paula Woolsey, Eric Saward's girlfriend) Director: Matthew Robinson (last directed Resurrection of the Daleks) THE WRITING CONTROVERSY: Three Claims: Paula Woolsey: Got the credit Eric Saward: Most say he wrote it; this was a workaround to BBC rules Ian Levine: Claims HE wrote the story, Saward just wrote the script Saward's Version: Levine contributed to continuity help, didn't write anything Jim's Reaction to Levine News: "You shouldn't have told me that. I'm down on it." John's Defense: "You appreciate these continuity things. That's what Levine brings to the table." Why the Strong Opening? "Hey, the Cybermen are back! It's the new season!" BBC did 4-5 different promos (unprecedented). Possibly Nicola Bryant cheesecake photos helped. NOSTALGIA CENTRAL: THE COMPANION NAME-DROPS: Peri's Line: The Doctor's called her Tegan, Zoe, Susan... and strangely, Jamie. Jim's Point: "Really dumb thing to say - as we in particular know on this podcast, Jamie can be used for both male and female. It's like Peri's never met a female named Jamie?" The List: Tegan, Zoe, Susan, and Jamie THE TERRIBLE ZODIN: Jim: "How do you remember that?" The Running Joke: Started in The Five Doctors - Patrick Troughton listing enemies fought, mentions "the terrible Zodin." Brigadier: "Who?" Peri's Confusion: She seemed to act like it was a companion or ally. "Although the 'terrible' part should have tipped her off." TOTTERS LANE: The Landing: No specific reason other than for us, the audience John's Theory: "There seems to be more of a nod to the 20th anniversary with these references. Companions, Totters Lane, we're getting The Two Doctors with Patrick Troughton, another story where Jon Pertwee's Doctor is referenced. This felt more like walking down memory lane." The Set vs. Location: Originally a set, now actual location shot. "Doesn't exactly match up, but probably thinking 'It was 20 years ago, who the heck would remember what it looked like?'" The Availability Problem: At that time, you couldn't watch An Unearthly Child if you wanted to - not available on VHS or anything. Only if you caught The Five Faces of Doctor Who a couple years earlier. Jim's Sadness: "It's sad they would have had to rely upon an outside source to help with historical things of the show. Doctor Who is still a pretty big, important part of the BBC. Odd there wouldn't be anybody around who would be the keeper of the flame." PERI'S FIRST OUTFIT: Jim's Complaint: "Horrible. Dumb. Peri, you're obviously having a lot of problems running when the Doctor starts running. Is this really the best choices you're making here? And the color!" Why It's There: "But I know why it's all there. I get it." (For the male viewers) GUEST STARS: Brian Glover (Griffiths): Former wrestler and English teacher turned actor. No relation to Julian Glover. David Banks: Cyber Leader (same as Earthshock) Michael Kilgarriff: Cyber Controller (same as Tomb of the Cybermen THE CYBER HIERARCHY: Jim's Confusion: "Is this the first time we've actually seen this Cyber Controller?" The Difference: Cyber Leader: Always in the field directing Cybermen in action Cyber Controller: The big boss they check in with PART ONE PRAISE: John: "I always love anytime we've got the Doctor in contemporary setting - going back to Pertwee, but definitely Troughton and Hartnell with War Machines. Here we have Peri and Doctor just roaming the streets tracking the signal. Loved it. I'm looking at the houses." The Date: Aired January 5-12, 1985. Set in 1985 to jive with The Tenth Planet (1986). The Realization: "Whoever came up with this idea realized 'We're coming up on the year the Cybermen first arrived. We should do something with that.'" THE TIME CRAFT MYSTERY: The Questions: Where did it come from? Whose planet is doing this? Was the Doctor sent off course to stop use of time ship? Is mission to stop Cybermen from changing history or to get time ship? The Concern: "How many times over past 20 years has there been any other race with time craft other than Time Lords? The Daleks, for one..." John's Point: "That should be of fairly great concern by Time Lords. They should know everybody everywhere in the whole universe who has time travel capability." Jim: "Why did they want the TARDIS when they already had a time craft?" THE WEB OF TIME: Jim's Note: "I always love the conversation about history of Mondas, the whole 1986 thing. I circled this - mentioned more than once, I don't think the term has been used before. The web of time." The Phrase: Used very formally as if that's what it's really called. The concept has been there, but not the phrase. PERI'S SECOND OUTFIT: Jim: "Much better outfit once Cybermen force her to change clothes." The Question: "Did they stand there as she changed to make sure?" John: "They'd do it passively. No passion. They'd just be like—" Jim: "Oh right, yeah. I can just see 'You've got to turn your back.' 'There's no significance to us having to turn our back.'" TOMB OF THE CYBERMEN LOVE: Jim: "I love all the references to the tombs, Tomb of the Cybermen. That whole thing. I love that concept. That's one of the reasons I like Tomb of the Cybermen. Really glad that was pulled back into cyber mythology." THE KRYONS: Jim's Uncertainty: "I don't know what to think about the Kryons and their design. Interesting it's all women who play the roles. Don't know if we were supposed to think anything of that - is their race entirely female, or were there males but the males perished?" John's Theory: "More my thinking - there's nothing suggesting 'we're the last women' or 'we were only women.'" The Appreciation: "Makes them more exotic. I appreciated all the actresses - really got into the hand movements thing. Right out of the 60s!" THE SENSORITES CONNECTION: Jim: "Everything about the Kryons is right out of the Sensorites playbook. They are so early 60s. The translucent pieces of plastic film cut up and pasted on them." The Head Pieces: "Weirdly, their eye holes are so big you can see the actresses' eyes. Then I saw there's an actual lens over that - some smooth, some segmented which really made it hard for actresses to see. I realized they weren't trying to say those were their organic heads but helmets they wear." Ice Warriors Comparison: "Reminded me of Ice Warriors - those aren't necessarily their heads but helmets. Made me wonder what the Kryons actually looked like." The Follow-Up: "There's no way nobody has not followed up - they've returned in a book, comic, or Big Finish and answered some questions." John: "Do you know off the top of your head?" / Jim: "I don't. They don't return in the show." SONIC LANCE VS. SONIC SCREWDRIVER: Jim's Frustration: "Why have an ersatz sonic screwdriver? Just have a sonic screwdriver! They call it a sonic lance. Why does JNT not want his cake but he's going to eat it too? You want to get rid of sonic screwdriver, yet you have a device that is everything but a sonic screwdriver except for the name." The Theory: "Possible Eric Saward himself was either testing waters or trying to put his mark on it." The Problem: "We won't see it again. Because it had a lot of use - chameleon circuit, closeups, handed around." Modern Context: "I get it - at this moment, sonic screwdriver's not anything like today where it's indispensable. Almost too much in modern Doctor Who - almost overboard, like he couldn't live without it." LYTTON'S TORTURE: Jim: "Wow, that was pretty extreme. But I have to say, I was glad for it. Not necessarily that somebody gets tortured, but I think it's a good moment. Makes the Cybermen seem like a threat." THE DOCTOR'S HUMANITY: Jim's Appreciation: "I really liked and appreciated how much the Doctor's humanity comes through. You might've gotten the idea with earliest moments of Colin Baker's Doctor we weren't going to see anything like that. But no - he's got one hell of a streak of humanity." The Balance: "My goodness, did they balance that character in the span of one story! They somewhat softened his sarcasm and cutting remarks, but not completely. The ego is still there, but then they play up the humanity. It's a nice balance. I really like him." COLIN BAKER'S VOICE: Jim: "I haven't said this before - I like Colin Baker's accent. Every Doctor is from somewhere different in the UK. I don't know exactly where Colin Baker's from, but I liked the way he speaks. Something about his voice I like." The Comparison: Tom Baker had the most distinctive voice Davison's kind of wasn't a pleasure to listen to Loved Hartnell's accent Troughton's just kind of bland "My God, I love the way Pertwee talked" "I'm finding I really like to listen to Baker, Colin Baker, give lines" Born in London, moved to Lancaster

Episode Title: "I Am The Doctor, Whether You Like It Or Not" - The Twin Dilemma Review THE GREAT REVERSAL: After three seasons of John defending Peter Davison against Jim's criticisms, the tables turn completely. Jim embraces Colin Baker. JIM'S SHOCKING TAKE: "I don't usually line up with Doctor Who fans because I did not like Caves of Androzani and I liked this. I liked Baker. If it's not what the show needed at this moment in time, it's definitely what I needed. I needed a Doctor who was more awake and doing things... larger." THE TWIN DILEMMA (March 22-30, 1984) Writer: Anthony Steven (first and only Doctor Who story - oldest writer at 67!) Director: Peter Moffatt (returning) The Legend: Doctor Who Magazine 2009 poll - Caves of Androzani came in #1. The Twin Dilemma came in #200... DEAD LAST. The Rift Begins: Saward wasn't happy with Baker's casting (thought he was miscast), didn't like JNT's stunt casting focus, and objected to JNT comparing Doctor Who to comedy show "Morecambe and Wise." THE DAVISON SLAM: The Shocking Lines: "I never really liked him anyway" "He had a sort of feckless charm" Definition of feckless: "Lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible" The Culprits: Either JNT (getting back at Davison for leaving?), Saward (who did the heavy rewrite), or Steven - but those lines don't get through without approval. Jim's Theory: "I can't see JNT being happy with Davison leaving after three years. This could be him being petty." STORY BREAKDOWN: Mathematical geniuses Romulus and Remus are abducted by mysterious Edgeworth and taken to Mestor on asteroid Titan Three. The newly regenerated, unstable Doctor picks a new outfit, declares himself "unregenerate," and plans to become a hermit with Peri. The twins' father alerts authorities. Police commander scrambles fighters to investigate the freighter - only survivor is pilot Hugo Lang who accuses the Doctor of the attack. The twins are forced to do calculations for Edgeworth (revealed as Azmael, a Time Lord and the Doctor's old teacher). Mestor plans to move two planets into Jaconda's orbit as "larders" to replenish the wasting planet. The Doctor realizes the calculations are off - the worlds will crash into the sun, destroying everything but scattering Mestor's gastropod eggs throughout the universe. Mestor demonstrates mind-possession on Azmael, threatening to take the Doctor's body. The Doctor destroys Mestor's slug body. Azmael dies exorcising Mestor's mind. Jacondans are freed. Lang stays to help with mop-up. The Doctor returns the twins to Earth. CHARACTER ANALYSIS: The Sixth Doctor - Every Previous Doctor Combined: Hartnell's there (not the lead initially, Peri has more agency) Troughton: "We must find this evil and destroy it!" Pertwee: Says "Eureka!" Tom Baker: The ego is BACK and turned up to 11 Davison: The violence continues, referenced regeneration fears New Affectation: Repeating words three times when incredulous or angry ("Sweet, sweet, sweet") Hugo Lang - The Space Dirty Harry: Jim's Justice League addition! "You might reach that gun before I can kill you" - classic action hero dialogue. Stays on Jaconda at the end despite having "no one to go back to." Kevin McNally plays Hugo (later Pirates of the Caribbean's Gibbs!) Azmael: Time Lord, the Doctor's favorite teacher (sorry, Borusa!). Controls Jaconda, calls them "my people" (why does a Time Lord want to rule a planet?). The Death Scene: John loved it - touched and warm between Azmael and the Doctor. "The finest teacher I ever had." Mestor: Giant slug with mind-control powers and embolism ray ("little bubbles, not good"). Finds Peri "pleasing" so doesn't kill her immediately (second ugly being attracted to Peri after Sharaz Jek). PRODUCTION DETAILS: New Title Sequence: Sparkly! Logo curved! Colin's face transitions from serious to smiling! The TARDIS: Has a chair! The Doctor calls the outside "hideous" - setup for attempting to fix chameleon circuit next story Trans-Mat Love: Jim adores that this technology persists throughout Who history. The Doctor turns it into a time travel device ("just a few little adjustments") Old Who Connections Everywhere: Braveheart Tegan reference Azmael knew Fourth Doctor Wine at the fountain (Big Finish goldmine!) Space police headquarters "straight out of Troughton's time" The Video Games: The twins face each other with what look like handheld gaming consoles - repurposed 1970s electronic games! John searched everywhere to identify them. Actor Notes: Maurice Denham returns in Pertwee BBC audio "The Paradise of Death" and appeared with Roger Delgado in "The Slide" Edwin Richfield (Mestor) was Captain Hart in "The Sea Devils" The twins' real father played a gunrunner in "Caves of Androzani"! THE ENDING - "WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT": The Lines: "Wait a bit before criticizing my new persona" "I am the Doctor, whether you like it or not" The Delivery: Spoken directly to camera, directly to the audience. Then both smile - a wink? Softening the harshness? Jim's Question: "Why put that in there? You don't just have something like that unless you already felt you were getting pushback." The Speculation: Was it in original script or added during filming? Did it start as Doctor-to-Peri dialogue that got strengthened and shifted to Doctor-to-audience? The Challenge: "People will be like 'All right, let me give it another try.' This has been the thing about doing review shows - stuff I thought was garbage as a kid is really good now, and vice versa. The Meta Moment: Lots of meta at beginning and end - the story knows it's a transition. NEXT TIME: Patreon Exclusive #152 - Music, Colin Baker's comic debut, Season 21 Retrospective (the good, bad, and ugly), spoiler card revealing something about Season 22, Memory TARDIS spin, and a longer-than-usual episode! Then: Peter Davison Retrospective (Patreon) and 1970s Doctor Who retrospective (main feed hiatus episode)! Colin Baker fans - write in! "We need to hear from more people who like Colin Baker's Doctor. Drop us a line or leave a voicemail!" Subscribe on all platforms. Email thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com. Support at patreon.com/thedoctorsbeardpodcast for $3/month. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #TheTwinDilemma #SixthDoctor #ColinBaker #Regeneration #Peri #NicolaBryant #Season21Finale #NewDoctor #ExplosionInARainbowFactory #TechnicolorDreamcoat #WhetherYouLikeItOrNot #IAmTheDoctor #PeterDavison #Azmael #Mestor #Gastropods #HugoLang #Jaconda #AnthonyStevenGastropods #EricSaward #PeterMoffat #MoodCat #CatBadge #BipolarDoctor #ManicDepressive #ControversialDoctor #UnlikeableDoctor #CharacterArc #DavisonSlam #Feckless #ClassicWho #1984 #WorstDoctorWhoStory #Number200 #TablesTurned #JohnsRevenge #JimsStruggle #UnregeneratedDoctor #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #Whovian #PodcastCommunity #DefyingExpectations #RebelSpirit

Episode Title: "I Need My Pain" - The Caves of Androzani Review & The Fifth Doctor's Regeneration THE CAVES OF ANDROZANI (March 8-16, 1984) Writer: Robert Holmes (returning!) Director: Graeme Harper (debut - directing from studio floor, not control room) PRODUCTION NOTES: The Fake Title: JNT put "The Doctor's Wife" on the production board deliberately to catch office leaks (ironic foreshadowing of Matt Smith's episode!) Graeme Harper's Innovation: Highly innovative direction with unrestricted camera movement - energetic, personal style directing from the floor instead of control room. Peter Davison said if there had been more directors like Harper and writers like Holmes, he'd have stayed for a fourth season. The Strike: Recording interrupted, cutting two sequences including the Doctor explaining his blown glass bottle collection from different planets (why they're visiting Androzani Minor for sand) Nicola Bryant's Frostbite: Developed mild frostbite on first day filming because her lower legs were bare in actually cold conditions The Dream Casting That Never Was: Sharaz Jek was offered to Tim Curry, David Bowie, and Mick Jagger! Christopher Gable was Harper's first choice, Bowie his second. Only Bowie had a reason for declining (Serious Moonlight tour). STORY BREAKDOWN: The TARDIS lands on Androzani Minor where the Doctor and Peri investigate caves and step in raw Spectrox - the most valuable substance in the universe. They're caught between multiple factions fighting over Spectrox: business magnate Morgus, General Chellak's forces, gun-runner Stotz, and the mysterious masked Sharaz Jek controlling an android army. Both contract Spectrox toxemia - the only cure is bat's milk from the lower caves where a magma beast hunts. THE FACTIONS DEBATE: Jim struggles with the convoluted plot involving approximately four factions. John helps clarify: Morgus controls everything from Androzani Major, supplying guns to Jek through Stotz while also backing the military against Jek. Nobody to root for - they're all "nasty, nasty people." STANDOUT MOMENTS: Peri & The Doctor's Chemistry: Their banter is finally warm and funny! John notes Peri complains differently than Tegan - more innocent, not sharp-edged or world-weary. The Star Trek Connection: The military forces sport Star Trek colors (blue, red, gold) matching departments, and uniform design echoes later TNG/DS9 style! First "Droid" Usage: Doctor Who uses the term "droid" for the first time (George Lucas trademarked it, but the term originated with Mary Wolfe in 1952's "Robots of the World, Arise!") Direction Showing Off: The vid-screen conversations where Morgus walks behind the hologram and creative camera angles - "Someone's really showing off here, but in a good way" Morgus's Aside: John Normington misunderstood stage directions and spoke his inner thoughts directly to camera. Everyone loved it, so they kept it! Could've been the Deadpool of Doctor Who if used throughout. CHARACTER ANALYSIS: Sharaz Jek - A Cut Above: The most twisted, dark villain in Doctor Who history. Could give Davros a run for his money in maniacal madness. Shakespearean dialogue, obsessed with Peri's beauty in deeply cringy ways. The mask reveal? A letdown - "not worthy of the build-up at all." Morgus - Standard Bureaucrat Behaving Badly: Rat bastard who murders the President by pushing him down an empty lift shaft. His defeat is Jim's "moment of joy" - well-deserved! The Magma Beast: As awful as the Myrka from Warriors of the Deep, maybe worse. THE VIOLENCE: Brutal for Doctor Who - no comic book foundation anymore. The gun-runner scuffle was "nasty, nasty, nasty stuff." THE REGENERATION: Most Extensive Ever: The Doctor says "feels different this time" (David Tennant would echo this line in his bi-regeneration). All companion cameos newly filmed: Matthew Waterhouse (Adric) - the Doctor reacts most strongly Sarah Sutton (Nyssa) - had chicken pox! Janet Fielding (Tegan) - "Brave heart, Tegan" Mark Strickson (Turlough) Anthony Ainley (The Master) - "Die, Doctor!" The Psychology: John theorizes the hallucinations represent the Doctor's psyche - companions urging him to live vs. the Master (part of himself) wanting to die. Colin Baker's Entrance: Nervous during setup, but in command once cameras rolled. Dressed in Davison's outfit (as it should be!). Two takes - said "egotistical" in final cut, "egocentric" in first. End credits gave Colin Baker top billing immediately. JIM'S CONFLICTED FEELINGS: HOPE FOR THE FUTURE: Jim admits Colin Baker's brief scene gave him hope: "He's very different from Davison... the polar opposite. He immediately insults Peri and he's large and in charge. I can almost put up with a real jerk if there's just some real agency going on in the character." The Agency Theory: Jim yearns for the days of Enemy of the World when the Doctor had real agency, was right in the middle of everything. He identifies with Pertwee's sarcasm and hopes Baker will deliver. ROBERT HOLMES APPRECIATION: Both hosts wish Holmes had been brought in sooner to establish Davison's character. His dialogue elevates everything - Jek's "I have to live among androids because they do not see like we see." FINAL THOUGHTS: Jim: "I'm somewhat encouraged by that tiny little scene with Colin Baker. It gave me some hope... I can almost put up with a real jerk if there's just some real agency." John: "I think that's fair to say there will be agency." The marshmallow Doctor era ends. The loud, arrogant era begins. One more story to round out Season 21... NEXT TIME: The Twin Dilemma - Colin Baker's full premiere! Jim handles narration for the four-parter. What could possibly go wrong with starting a new Doctor's era? Subscribe on all platforms. Email thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com. Support at patreon.com/thedoctorsbeardpodcast for $3/month. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #CavesOfAndrozani #FifthDoctor #PeterDavison #Regeneration #ColinBaker #SixthDoctor #Peri #NicolaBryant #RobertHolmes #GrahamHarper #SharazJek #Morgus #Spectrox #AndrozaniMinor #ClassicWho #Season21 #BestDoctorWhoStory #Controversy #GreatestOfAllTime #CompanionCameos #Adric #Nyssa #Tegan #Turlough #TheMaster #MagmaBeast #Androids #1984 #Regenerations #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #INeedMyPain #TablesTurned #JohnsSadness #JimsVictory #MarshmallowDoctor #TheEndOfAnEra #Whovian #PodcastCommunity #FeelsDifferentThisTime

Episode Title: "From Carnage to Cleavage" - Planet of Fire Review PLANET OF FIRE (February-March 1984) Writer: Peter Grimwade (his final Doctor Who work) Director: Fiona Cumming (her last story, dating back to The Highlanders) Location: Lanzarote, Canary Islands - chosen after Cumming promoted it with holiday photos! THE SHOPPING LIST EPISODE: Peter Grimwade faces an enormous writing burden with his final Doctor Who script - a literal checklist: Introduce Perry, reintroduce Kamelion (and write him out), fill in Turlough's background, bring back the Master and kill him off, and oh yes, set it all in Lanzarote because we want a holiday! PERI: The accent is terrible, the acting is broad, the costumes are... strategic. But she's a complete 180 from Tegan, which makes her "a refreshing change" in Jim's words. Also: Why does Fiona Cumming, a female director, go along with the obvious cheesecake shots? THE QUESTION: Why was Turlough sent to Earth instead of being on the ship with the others? THE DEATH: The Doctor hesitates as the Master burns in the flames. Both hosts question whether he could've saved him (echoing the Davros dilemma from Resurrection). KAMELION'S END: The prop finally works by having Kamelion transform into Howard (Perry's stepfather) and then the Master. Jim asks the obvious: "Why didn't they just do that all along?" THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WOUND THEORY: Jim theorizes that while previous Doctors showed physical deterioration before regeneration, Davison is being psychologically and mentally wounded - all the ethical dilemmas (Davros, the Master, Kameleon) are wearing him down, setting up the regeneration. LOCATION WORK: Both hosts praise the Lanzarote filming and volcanic landscapes doubling for Sarn. Jim wanted more of the shipwreck dive sequences. The café scene where the Doctor leaves alien money behind stands out as atypical behavior. THE SOPHIE ALDRED ACE PODCAST UPDATE: John reports the interviews barely discuss Doctor Who - Sylvester McCoy talks about pissing off Richard Burton and friendship with Ian McKellen; Katy Manning discusses life philosophy ("Every day is a blessing"). The hosts approve: "We've heard all the Doctor Who stuff for years!" NEXT TIME: The Caves of Androzani - "Once daily Androzani! Major and minor!" The end of Peter Davison, the introduction of Colin Baker, and the return of Robert Holmes! Subscribe on all platforms. Email thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com. Support at patreon.com/thedoctorsbeardpodcast for $3/month. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #PlanetOfFire #FifthDoctor #PeterDavison #Turlough #PerryBrown #NicolaBryant #MarkStrickson #TheMaster #AnthonyAinley #Kamelion #PeterGrimwade #FionaCumming #Lanzarote #CanaryIslands #TurloughOrigins #Trion #MiniMaster #TissueCompressionEliminator #CrispyMaster #1984 #ClassicWho #Season21 #Sarn #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #FromCarnageToCleavage #Cheesecake #PinkBikini #Speedo #80sTV #Whovian #CompanionDebut #CompanionExit #PodcastCommunity

Episode Title: "Throwing Daleks Out the Window" - Resurrection of the Daleks Review with The Irredeemable Shag SPECIAL GUEST ALERT: The Irredeemable Shag joins from the Fire & Water Podcast Network for what he calls "The Tegan Jovanka Appreciation Podcast!" A lifelong Davison-era fan who started watching in 1982 at age 10, Shag brings 500+ Doctor Who books worth of knowledge and passionate defense of the Fifth Doctor era. THE STORY: "Resurrection of the Daleks" (February 1984) Writer: Eric Saward (script editor writing his own script) Director: Matthew Robinson Originally filmed as 4-parter, edited to two 45-minute episodes due to Winter Olympics scheduling London 1984 meets space station carnage as the Daleks attack a prison holding Davros in cryogenic suspension. With duplicates, time corridors, Commander Lytton's creepy constables, and the Movellan virus, this becomes the most violent Doctor Who story yet - estimated 70+ deaths! THE BIG QUESTIONS: Should the Doctor Have Killed Davros? The hosts debate the story's central moral dilemma when the Doctor picks up a gun to execute Davros. Jim declares it completely out of character ("That's not the Doctor"). Shag argues Eric Saward wrote declarative statements without explanation. John appreciates the Genesis of the Daleks callback but questions the execution. The Batman/Joker parallels emerge - can heroes cross that line? Terry Nation's Absence: Nation is in America (possibly producing MacGyver) but still approving everything. JNT reveals Nation insisted Davros appear in every Dalek story after Genesis. This is the fourth non-Nation Dalek script (after Whitaker's two, Lewis Marks, and now Saward). The Dalek Civil War Begins: First time Daleks mention Gallifrey! Is this the Time War's origin? The Supreme Dalek versus Davros's renegade faction sets up ongoing Classic Who Dalek continuity. SHAG'S BREAKTHROUGH THEORY: "This is not a Doctor Who story at all. This is the Daleks - which just happens to guest star the Doctor this episode. If you think of this as an ongoing series of Dalek stories where the Doctor guest stars, this whole thing makes perfect sense." The theory revolutionizes the hosts' perspective, raising ratings across the board! ICONIC MOMENTS: Daleks thrown out second-story windows (exploding unnecessarily but fantastically) "My vision is impaired! I cannot see!" Davros going "full spitting Hitler" The Doctor bloodthirstily shooting the Kaled mutant Creepy constables casually slaughtering then chitchatting Stein's stutter disappearing when programming activates That unfortunate foam party when Davros releases the Movellan virus TEGAN'S DEPARTURE - UNIVERSAL AGREEMENT: All three hosts agree: Tegan is completely justified leaving after this massacre. "It's stopped being fun, Doctor." The emotional farewell works despite Jim's overall Tegan fatigue. Janet Fielding's performance is universally praised. The "Braveheart Tegan" callback and the Doctor's "I must mend my ways" provide powerful closure. Shag's observation: JNT specifically chose an emotional departure for Janet after knowing two companions were leaving, wanting each exit to feel different. FIND THE IRREDEEMABLE SHAG: Fire & Water Podcast Network shows: JSA Presents (Justice Society 1990s-2000s) Who's Who: The Definitive Podcast of the DC Universe Marvel Star Wars: From Empire to Jedi Once Upon a Geek NEXT TIME: Planet of Fire - the penultimate Fifth Doctor story! Plus Patreon Exclusive #149 with Four Dimensional Vistas Part 5, music discussion, Memory TARDIS, and John finally reviews Sympathy for the Devil Unbound audio! Subscribe on all platforms. Email thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com. Support at patreon.com/thedoctorsbeardpodcast for $3/month. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #ResurrectionOfTheDaleks #FifthDoctor #PeterDavison #Daleks #Davros #TerryMolloy #EricSaward #TeganJovanka #JanetFieldding #BraveheartTegan #TeganDeparture #DalekCivilWar #CommanderLytton #TimeWar #Gallifrey #KaledMutant #DoctorWhoViolence #1984 #TheIrredeemableShag #FireAndWater #SpecialGuest #ClassicWho #Season21 #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #Whovian #ThrowingDaleksOutWindows #DalekShow #MoralDilemma #Turlough #MarkStrickson #DoctorWhoHistory

"The Hamster Wheel of Science Fiction Television" - Frontios Review STORY DETAILS: "Frontios" (January 16 - February 3, 1984) Production Code: 6N Writer: Christopher H. Bidmead (former script editor, Logopolis and Castrovalva) Director: Ron Jones (Arc of Infinity, future Colin Baker stories) CAPSULE REVIEW: Jim: "Doctor Who in 1984 is the hamster wheel of science fiction television shows. It just keeps going round and round and doesn't go anywhere." PLOT SUMMARY: The TARDIS is drawn to Frontios in the far future, where Earth has been destroyed and desperate colonists survive constant meteorite bombardment. The Doctor insists they leave (invoking Time Lord non-interference), but the TARDIS appears destroyed by meteors. Captain Revere's son Plantagenet leads the failing colony while second-in-command Range and science officer Brazen navigate political tensions. NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW: Resurrection of the Daleks (two 45-minute parts) with special guest Shag Matthews (The Irredeemable Shag Podcast) - "Now it's going to be two against one!" PATREON PLUG: "Nothing says I love you like a Patreon subscription to The Doctor's Beard" - $3/month gets early access, bonus content, comic strip discussions, Memory TARDIS wheel spins, Doctor Who news coverage, and music theme variations. Current Patreon Exclusive #148 covers Part 4 of "Four Dimensional Vistas" (Meddling Monk + Ice Warrior team-up). SPECIAL APPEAL: Jim asks listeners in Marietta, Georgia area to support Dr. No's Comics after catastrophic power loss from truck taking down lines during Christmas season. Shop running on generator, needs community support through devastating loss of holiday revenue. Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major platforms. Email thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or join our Facebook community. Support via Patreon at patreon.com/thedoctorsbeardpodcast. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #Frontios #FifthDoctor #PeterDavison #Season21 #Tegan #JanetFielding #Turlough #MarkStrickson #ChristopherHBidmead #RonJones #Tractators #TheGravis #ColonyShip #TARDIS #TARDISDestroyed #RecycledPlots #HamsterWheel #SheenaEaston #80sFashion #Plantagenet #TractatorPTSD #RacialMemory #GravityMotor #TimelordNonInterference #JNT #JohnNathanTurner #ColinBaker #SixthDoctor #ClassicDoctorWho #1984 #BBCOne #ProductionCode6N #MonsterOfTheWeek #Woodlice #TargetBooks #AndrewSkilleter #Novelizations #BookCovers #DrNosComics #Marietta #Georgia #ComicShop #ChristmasSeason #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #PodcastReview #Whovian #DoctorWhoFandom #VintageWho #RetroTV #80sTV #SciFiTV #BritishTV #ClassicTV

"Two Is Too Few, Four Is Too Much" - Production 6M: "The Awakening" (January 19-20, 1984) - Classic Doctor Who Season 21 Review The Fifth Doctor brings Tegan to 1984 Little Hodcombe so she can visit her grandfather, Andrew Verney. But the TARDIS materializes in an unstable church during an English Civil War reenactment organized by the local magistrate, Sir George Hutchinson. When Tegan's grandfather goes missing and they encounter Will Chandler—a genuine 17th century peasant pulled through time—the Doctor discovers something sinister beneath the village: the Malus, an alien war machine feeding on psychic energy from the staged battles. Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they master time and space, delivering comprehensive reviews of every Classic Doctor Who serial. In this Season 21 analysis, they debate whether three episodes would be the perfect Doctor Who story length, discuss the rushed pacing versus Jim's feeling it dragged, and explore themes of companion family visits and the show's grounded Earth-based budget-cutting era. Cast Fatigue: By this point, both Peter Davison and Janet Fielding had announced departures (Mark Strickson would follow soon). Jim declares: "I am totally ready for a new Doctor and new companions." The energy has drained after 20 years, with JNT himself seeking other opportunities but trapped by industry circumstances. Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms. Connect with our passionate Whovian community by emailing us at thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com, leaving voicemails at thedoctorsbeardpodcast.com, or joining our active Facebook discussions. Check out Jim Beard's creative work and visit thedoctorsbeardpodcast.com for John's new Target novelization review blog series starting with "An Unearthly Child"! Become a Patreon member today for early episode access, bonus content, and support our complete journey through Classic Doctor Who! Hashtags: #DoctorWho #TheAwakening #ClassicDoctorWho #FifthDoctor #PeterDavison #Season21 #TeganJovanka #JanetFielding #Turlough #MarkStrickson #TheMalus #EnglishCivilWar #WillChandler #KeithJayne #EricPringle #TwoPartStory #BaseUnderSiege #PsychicEnergy #CompanionFamily #TeganGrandfather #LittleHodcombe #1984 #DoctorWhoReview #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #TARDIS #Whovian #ProductionDesign #ChurchSet #LocationFilming #DoctorWhoHistory #ClassicWho #BBC #BritishSciFi #DoctorWhoFandom #Kamelion #DeletedScenes #BehindTheScenes #ColinBaker #SixthDoctor #CompanionDeparture #CastFatigue #JNT #JohnNathanTurner #TargetNovels

"There Should Have Been Another Way" Production 6M: "Warriors of the Deep" (January 5-13, 1984) Classic Doctor Who Season 21 Premiere Review In the year 2084, the Fifth Doctor, Tegan, and Turlough materialize at Sea Base Four, a military installation staffed with personnel on high alert due to tensions that could trigger World War III. An unknown object lurking in the waters proves to be a Silurian battlecruiser seeking to revive suspended animation Sea Devil warriors stored in underwater chambers. The reptilian cousins plan to manipulate the base's weapon systems to start a nuclear war, wiping out humanity so they can reclaim Earth as their ancestral home. Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they master time and space, delivering comprehensive reviews of every Classic Doctor Who serial. In this Season 21 premiere analysis covering this notorious production, they discuss: Production Nightmare Behind the Scenes: Margaret Thatcher's election sabotage - The 1983 UK general election announcement created BBC studio space demands, costing Doctor Who two weeks of production time and forcing rushed filming with minimal rehearsal The infamous Myrka disaster - The creature costume was still being sculpted and painted an hour before shooting, with wet paint and adhesive fumes getting one operator high. The poorly-fitted suit left performers uncomfortable and unable to rehearse, resulting in slow-motion movements that destroyed any sense of menace Johnny Byrne's disappointment - The writer envisioned dark, Alien-inspired sets with the Myrka glimpsed briefly in shadows, not brightly-lit corridors showcasing every flaw. He vowed never to work for Doctor Who again Character and Story Analysis: The Doctor's uncharacteristic violence - Jim questions Byrne's characterization showing the Fifth Doctor as naive, foolish, and suddenly engaging in unnecessary hand-to-hand combat Tegan and Turlough's evolving dynamic - The companions finally bond over eye-rolling about the Doctor, though both still don't want to be traveling in the TARDIS. Tegan suffers through another story of being trapped, taken hostage, and reduced to damsel-in-distress after her previous action hero moments The moral dilemma arrives too late - Part 4's ethical debate about genocide feels rushed when it should have been developed earlier. Jim controversially argues the Doctor was wrong to hesitate using the hexachromite gas with billions of lives at stake Base Under Siege formula exhaustion - After 21 years, this well-worn plot structure offers no surprises: the paranoid commander, the likable female officer, the traitors within, the invaders, the giant creature. Viewers who've watched for two decades have seen it all before Design and Direction Problems: Moon Base Alpha aesthetic - The overly-bright, sterile sets fail to convey an underwater atmosphere despite occasional model shots of the Silurian ship Dr. No radiation suits - The guards' helmets appear identical to the 1962 Bond film's radiation gear (the wiki claims they're the actual costumes, though Jim remains skeptical) Laughable battle sequences - No muzzle flashes or laser beams, just actors pointing rifles in extreme slow motion. Quick cuts could have salvaged excitement, but Roberts' clumsy direction makes conflicts feel like rehearsals rather than life-or-death struggles Skirt Gate - The famous blooper where a falling door clearly weighs nothing as Janet Fielding's every tiny movement lifts it Ingrid Pitt's karate vs. the Myrka - The former Hammer horror star (playing Dr. Solow) deliberately aged herself up and performed unconvincing martial arts against the creature in an obvious first-take Reptilian Reunion: First team-up of Silurians and Sea Devils - Despite being "cousins," the two reptilian species look nothing alike, with Sea Devils acting as subservient warriors to Silurian scientists Redesigned Sea Devils - New helmets with Asian-influenced design reminiscent of Buck Rogers' Draconians, with illuminated third eyes solving the mouth-movement problem Jim argues this represents Doctor Who's aging fanbase problem - like 1980s comics, the show wasn't attracting new young viewers, leaving only "cranky old fans" who'd seen every trope before. The hosts debate whether the Doctor's final moment of regret will carry into the next serial, with John insisting it must affect the character going forward. Extended Listener Mail Segment: The episode features six emails discussing The Five Doctors, providing retrospective thoughts on the anniversary special, Tom Baker's absence, Richard Hurndall's performance, and various behind-the-scenes details. Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms. Connect with our passionate Whovian community by emailing us at thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or joining our active Facebook and BlueSky discussions for exclusive Doctor Who content, character analysis, and fan theories. Check out Jim Beard's latest creative release - a beautiful blank journal book "Snowball Strums a Story" featuring an original sketch from Jim himself, perfect for Whovians and creative writers! Available now on Amazon for only $7.99 with 200 pages of lined and blank pages: https://www.amazon.com/Snowball-Strums-Story-Thinkin-Journal/dp/B0FTVDVD45 Become a Patreon member today for early episode access, bonus behind-the-scenes content, exclusive deep-dive Doctor Who analysis, and special multimedia reviews covering comics, audio dramas, and music. Your support helps us continue our complete journey through Classic Doctor Who! 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"Orange Whip, Orange Whip, Orange Whip" - Production 6K: "The Five Doctors" (November 23/25, 1983) - Classic Doctor Who 20th Anniversary Special Review The ultimate Doctor Who celebration arrives! To commemorate two decades of time travel adventures, all five incarnations of the Doctor are mysteriously pulled out of time and transported to the Death Zone on Gallifrey - the ancient forbidden wasteland where Time Lords once staged gladiatorial games. The First Doctor (Richard Hurndall) and granddaughter Susan, the Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Sarah Jane Smith, and the Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison) with companions Tegan and Turlough must navigate deadly traps, face classic enemies including Daleks, Cybermen, and a Raston Warrior Robot, and ultimately reach the Dark Tower to discover who has orchestrated this temporal kidnapping. Meanwhile, the Fourth Doctor remains trapped in a time eddy. The Master receives a presidential pardon to help, Lord President Borusa harbors dark secrets about immortality, and the fate of all Gallifrey hangs in the balance in this 90-minute anniversary extravaganza. Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they master time and space with an incredible lineup of special guests! From The Flopcast, the Mayor of Chickentown herself, Felicity Kusinitz returns to claim the Second Doctor. From The OSI Files podcast, artist extraordinaire Jerry Lange champions the Fourth Doctor (despite Tom Baker's controversial absence). And from the late Doctor Who Gives a Bleep podcast and current host of The Bat77 podcast, JB Anderton takes on the First Doctor role. In this comprehensive anniversary special analysis, the hosts discuss: The Tom Baker controversy - Why the Fourth Doctor was reduced to archive footage from the unfinished "Shada" serial, theories about his refusal (too soon after leaving, not wanting to share the spotlight, conflicting theatre commitments with "Educating Rita"), and whether the public knew beforehand Richard Hurndall's remarkable performance - How the replacement First Doctor exceeded expectations and created wonderful chemistry with both Carol Ann Ford's Susan and surprisingly, Tegan Robert Holmes' rejected script - The original "Six Doctors" concept featuring a robot First Doctor and Cybermen becoming "Cyber-Lords" (a concept Chris Chibnall would eventually use) Perfect companion pairings - Sarah Jane with the Third Doctor and the Brigadier with the Second Doctor as happy accidents that became highlights Production challenges - The Eye of Orion footage damage requiring Mark Strickson's emergency recall ("Strickson phone home!"), the abandoned hang glider sequence replaced by the zip line, and Elizabeth Sladen's unfortunate costume choices Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee's minimal aging - Both looking remarkably like their original incarnations despite years away from the role The balance of multiple Doctors - How the script successfully gave each incarnation meaningful moments without anyone overpowering the others American vs. British viewing experiences - PBS broadcasting it two days before the BBC on the actual anniversary during the Chicago convention Jim declares this "a lot of fun" and "almost everything I wanted" - a breath of fresh air with excellent character interactions, though Tom Baker's absence remains the only significant downbeat. The panel agrees that all actors played their roles straight without mugging or winking, creating a sincere celebration rather than a farce. This landmark special aired November 23, 1983 on American PBS stations (particularly WTTW Chicago during the massive "Visions" convention) and November 25, 1983 on BBC1 during Children in Need. Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms. Connect with our passionate Whovian community by emailing us at thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or joining our active Facebook and BlueSky discussions for exclusive Doctor Who content, character analysis, and fan theories. Check out Jim Beard's latest creative release - a beautiful blank journal book featuring an original sketch from Jim himself, perfect for Whovians and creative writers! Available now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Snowball-Strums-Story-Thinkin-Journal/dp/B0FTVDVD45 Become a Patreon member today for early episode access, bonus behind-the-scenes content, exclusive deep-dive Doctor Who analysis, and special multimedia reviews covering comics, audio dramas, and music. Your support helps us continue our complete journey through Classic Doctor Who! Hashtags: #DoctorWho #TheFiveDoctors #20thAnniversary #AnniversarySpecial #ClassicDoctorWho #FirstDoctor #WilliamHartnell #RichardHurndall #SecondDoctor #PatrickTroughton #ThirdDoctor #JonPertwee #FourthDoctor #TomBaker #FifthDoctor #PeterDavison #SarahJaneSmith #ElisabethSladen #BrigadierLethbridgeStewart #NicholasCourtney #Susan #CarolAnnFord #TeganJovanka #Turlough #TheMaster #AnthonyAinley #Borusa #Gallifrey #DeathZone #DarkTower #Cybermen #Daleks #RastonWarriorRobot #Shada #TerenceDicks #PeterMoffatt #JohnNathanTurner #DoctorWho1983 #MultiDoctor #ChildrenInNeed #PBS #WTTW #ChicagoConvention #DoctorWhoReview #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #SpecialGuests #FelicityKusinitz #TheFlopcast #JerryLang #TheOSIFiles #JBAnderton #TARDIS #Whovian #TimeLords #DoctorWhoHistory #LandmarkEpisode #DoctorWhoFandom #MultiDoctorStory #BluesBrothers #OrangeWhip

Production 6J: "The King's Demons" (March 15-16, 1983) - Classic Doctor Who Season 20 Finale Review The TARDIS fails to reach Turlough's promised homeworld of Trion, instead materializing in Medieval England during March 1215 - the crucial period leading to the signing of the Magna Carta, one of history's most important constitutional documents. The Fifth Doctor, Tegan, and Turlough arrive at Fitzwilliam Castle to discover King John behaving extraordinarily out of character, acting with uncharacteristic cruelty and tyranny that threatens to derail the entire timeline. The erratic monarch appears to be under the sinister influence of Sir Gilles Estram, a mysterious French nobleman whose features look disturbingly familiar to the Doctor. Investigating this temporal anomaly, the Doctor uncovers a devastating plot orchestrated by his oldest and most persistent nemesis - the Master (Anthony Ainley) has traveled back in time to prevent the Magna Carta from ever being signed, fundamentally altering Earth's democratic history and destabilizing the entire future of human civilization. At the center of this scheme is Kamelion, a shape-shifting android with extraordinary abilities who becomes a pawn in the Master's game and an unexpected addition to the TARDIS crew. Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they master time and space, delivering comprehensive reviews of every Classic Doctor Who serial. In this Season 20 finale analysis, they dissect the complicated behind-the-scenes story of Kamelion - the ambitious shape-changing robot companion whose technical malfunctions plagued production and limited future appearances, critique how writer Terence Dudley once again relegates both Tegan Jovanka and Turlough to passive bystander roles with minimal character development or meaningful participation, and argue that this two-part story desperately needed additional episodes to properly develop its ambitious historical premise and Master plot. This episode features a remarkably candid conversation about the Fifth Doctor himself. Jim comes clean about his ongoing struggle to connect with Peter Davison's interpretation - after twenty episodes, he still isn't feeling this incarnation and openly wonders if he ever will warm to the Fifth Doctor's gentle, vulnerable characterization. John empathizes completely with Jim's perspective while defending his own position: Peter Davison remains John's absolute favorite Doctor precisely because of the understated qualities Jim finds frustrating - his compassion, emotional accessibility, and fallible heroism rather than commanding authority. "The King's Demons" concludes Season 20's uneven journey toward the monumental 20th Anniversary Special that awaits in November 1983. Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms. Connect with our passionate Whovian community by emailing us at thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or joining our active Facebook and BlueSky discussions for exclusive Doctor Who content, character analysis, and fan theories. Check out Jim Beard's latest creative release - a beautiful blank journal book featuring an original sketch from Jim himself, perfect for Whovians and creative writers! Available now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Snowball-Strums-Story-Thinkin-Journal/dp/B0FTVDVD45 Become a Patreon member today for early episode access, bonus behind-the-scenes content, exclusive deep-dive Doctor Who analysis, and special multimedia reviews covering comics, audio dramas, and music. Your support helps us continue our complete journey through Classic Doctor Who! Hashtags: #DoctorWho #ClassicDoctorWho #FifthDoctor #PeterDavison #TheKingsDemos #Season20Finale #TheMaster #AnthonyAinley #Kamelion #ShapeShiftingRobot #RobotCompanion #Turlough #MarkStrickson #TeganJovanka #JanetFielding #MagnaCarta #KingJohn #MedievalEngland #HistoricalDoctor #1215AD #TerenceDudley #DoctorWho1983 #20thAnniversary #SeasonFinale #NewCompanion #TimeTravelParadox #DoctorWhoReview #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #TARDIS #Whovian #PeterDavisonDebate #FavoriteDoctor #DoctorWhoOpinions #MasterPlan #ClassicWho #BBC #BritishSciFi #DoctorWhoFandom #DoctorWhoHistory #SciFiTV #ConstitutionalHistory #DoctorWhoVillains #JimBeard #CreativeJournal #ProductionIssues #BehindTheScenes

Production 6H: "Enlightenment" (March 1-9, 1983) - Classic Doctor Who Season 20 Review The Black Guardian Trilogy reaches its spectacular conclusion as the TARDIS materializes aboard an elegant Edwardian racing yacht - but this is no ordinary vessel. The ship sails not across Earth's oceans, but through the infinite void of space itself, crewed by the mysterious Eternals - immortal beings who exist outside normal time, observing mortal "Ephemerals" with detached fascination while desperately seeking meaning in their endless existence. These god-like entities have organized a cosmic race across the solar system, with ships styled after various historical periods competing for the ultimate prize: Enlightenment itself, a crystallized form of absolute knowledge and truth. Caught between the manipulations of both the White Guardian and Black Guardian, Vislor Turlough must finally choose his allegiance - will he murder the Doctor to save himself, or reject the Black Guardian's promised rewards? Meanwhile, Tegan Jovanka finds herself the unwilling object of affection from Captain Striker, an Eternal who cannot comprehend human emotions yet is fascinated by her temporal existence. The Fifth Doctor races to prevent catastrophe as the competition reaches its climax and the true nature of Enlightenment is revealed. Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they master time and space, delivering comprehensive reviews of every Classic Doctor Who serial. In this Black Guardian Trilogy finale analysis, they explore writer Barbara Clegg's philosophical concepts behind the Eternals and their parasitic relationship with mortal consciousness, debate the story's frustratingly anticlimactic and unsatisfying resolution that undermines the trilogy's buildup, and examine the fascinating dynamic where Turlough emerges as the voice of pragmatic reason compared to the Doctor's more reckless heroism - reversing their expected character roles. This episode addresses two crucial questions: Where did John and Jim ultimately land in their numerical rating for this ambitious yet flawed conclusion to the season-spanning Black Guardian arc? And at this pivotal halfway point through Peter Davison's tenure as the Fifth Doctor, has Jim's skepticism about this incarnation softened, or does he remain unconvinced by Davison's understated performance style? Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms. Connect with our passionate Whovian community by emailing us at thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or joining our active Facebook and BlueSky discussions for exclusive Doctor Who content, character analysis, and fan theories. Check out Jim Beard's latest creative release - a beautiful blank journal book featuring an original sketch from Jim himself, perfect for Whovians and creative writers! Available now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Snowball-Strums-Story-Thinkin-Journal/dp/B0FTVDVD45 Become a Patreon member today for early episode access, bonus behind-the-scenes content, exclusive deep-dive Doctor Who analysis, and special multimedia reviews covering comics, audio dramas, and music. Your support helps us continue our complete journey through Classic Doctor Who! Hashtags: #DoctorWho #ClassicDoctorWho #FifthDoctor #PeterDavison #Enlightenment #Season20 #BlackGuardian #BlackGuardianTrilogy #TrilogyConclusion #WhiteGuardian #Eternals #Ephemerals #Turlough #MarkStrickson #TeganJovanka #JanetFielding #BarbaraClegg #CosmicRace #SpaceYacht #CaptainStriker #PhilosophicalSciFi #ImmortalBeings #DoctorWho1983 #20thAnniversary #CharacterDevelopment #MoralDilemma #DoctorWhoReview #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #TARDIS #Whovian #CompanionRedemption #GuardiansOfTime #ClassicWho #BBC #BritishSciFi #DoctorWhoFandom #DoctorWhoHistory #SciFiTV #ConceptualSciFi #DoctorWhoPhilosophy #JimBeard #CreativeJournal #PeterDavisonDebate

Production 6G: "Terminus" (February 15-23, 1983) - Classic Doctor Who Season 20 Review The TARDIS crew faces heartbreak as beloved companion Nyssa of Traken makes her emotional departure from the Doctor's travels. After narrowly escaping the Black Guardian's schemes in the previous adventure, the Fifth Doctor, Tegan, and newly-arrived Turlough find themselves trapped aboard Terminus - a massive deteriorating space station serving as a quarantine facility and leper colony for victims of the incurable and dreaded Lazar's disease (also known as Lazars' Syndrome). This plague causes horrific decay and degeneration, with sufferers banished to Terminus where the mysterious robotic Vanir administer inadequate treatment using controlled doses of radiation from the station's unstable engines. As the Doctor investigates Terminus's terrible secret - that the station sits at the exact center of the known universe and may have caused the Big Bang itself - compassionate Nyssa witnesses the suffering of countless Lazar victims denied proper care. In a stunning character-defining moment, Sarah Sutton's Nyssa chooses to leave the TARDIS forever, dedicating her scientific knowledge and Trakenite healing abilities to finding a genuine cure for Lazar's disease and providing humane treatment to the abandoned plague victims. Her selfless sacrifice represents one of Classic Doctor Who's most noble companion exits. Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they master time and space, delivering comprehensive reviews of every Classic Doctor Who serial. In this bittersweet Season 20 analysis, they discuss the poignant farewell to Nyssa after two and a half seasons of adventures, critique how writer Stephen Gallagher and script editor Eric Saward frustratingly sideline both Turlough and Tegan throughout the serial (reducing them to passive observers despite being featured cast), and highlight the desperate need for stronger script editing to tighten Steve Gallagher's ambitious but unfocused and meandering narrative that struggles to balance cosmic mythology with human drama. Jim candidly admits he will genuinely miss Nyssa's presence and Sarah Sutton's consistently excellent performances, but acknowledges her departure feels appropriately timed - her character role had been significantly diminished throughout Season 20 as the crowded TARDIS team left insufficient story material for her scientific expertise and compassionate nature to shine. The Black Guardian Trilogy continues with cosmic stakes and emotional consequences. Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms. Connect with our passionate Whovian community by emailing us at thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or joining our active Facebook and BlueSky discussions for exclusive Doctor Who content, character analysis, and fan theories. Check out Jim Beard's latest creative release - a beautiful blank journal book featuring an original sketch from Jim himself, perfect for Whovians and creative writers! Available now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Snowball-Strums-Story-Thinkin-Journal/dp/B0FTVDVD45 Become a Patreon member today for early episode access, bonus behind-the-scenes content, exclusive deep-dive Doctor Who analysis, and special multimedia reviews covering comics, audio dramas, and music. Your support helps us continue our complete journey through Classic Doctor Who! Hashtags: #DoctorWho #ClassicDoctorWho #FifthDoctor #PeterDavison #Terminus #Season20 #Nyssa #SarahSutton #NyssaDeparture #CompanionExit #FarewellNyssa #Turlough #MarkStrickson #TeganJovanka #JanetFielding #BlackGuardianTrilogy #LazarsDisease #LazarsSyndrome #SpaceStation #BigBang #UniverseOrigin #StephenGallagher #EricSaward #ScriptEditor #DoctorWho1983 #CompanionFarewell #TrakenCompanion #DoctorWhoReview #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #TARDIS #Whovian #EmotionalExit #SelflessSacrifice #DoctorWhoCompanions #ClassicWho #BBC #BritishSciFi #DoctorWhoFandom #DoctorWhoHistory #SciFiTV #JimBeard #CreativeJournal #OriginalArt #DoctorWhoMerchandise #20thAnniversary

Production 6F: "Mawdryn Undead" (February 1-9, 1983) - Classic Doctor Who Season 20 Review The Fifth Doctor experiences a bittersweet reunion with his dear friend Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart - but something is terribly wrong. The retired UNIT commander has completely lost all memory of the Time Lord and their adventures together defending Earth from alien threats. Investigating this troubling amnesia, the Doctor discovers the Brigadier's memory loss stems from a catastrophic temporal paradox involving two different versions of the Brigadier meeting simultaneously in 1977 and 1983. At the center of this crisis is the tragic Mawdryn, leader of a group of exiled scientists who attempted to steal the secret of Time Lord regeneration but instead became hideously mutated, unable to die yet condemned to an eternity of agonizing transformations. As the Doctor navigates this complex temporal puzzle, he must confront the limitations of his own regenerative abilities and the sacred twelve-regeneration cycle that governs all Time Lords. Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they master time and space, delivering comprehensive reviews of every Classic Doctor Who serial. In this pivotal Season 20 episode analysis, they welcome special guest Felicity Kusinitz from The Flopcast podcast for an engaging three-way discussion. The trio celebrates the triumphant return of Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart after a five-year absence, analyze the mysterious introduction of new companion Vislor Turlough (Mark Strickson) - whose true allegiance remains hidden, and explore writer Peter Grimwade's expansion of Time Lord mythology cementing the canonical twelve-regeneration limit that would define Doctor Who lore for decades. In a delightful segment, Felicity and John attempt to convert the skeptical Jim - who remains unconvinced about the Fifth Doctor - by passionately defending Peter Davison's vulnerable, compassionate portrayal and explaining why this incarnation resonates so deeply with longtime fans despite his more understated heroism. "Mawdryn Undead" launches producer John Nathan-Turner's ambitious Black Guardian Trilogy, a season-spanning story arc featuring the return of Valentine Dyall's cosmic villain seeking revenge against the Doctor. This trilogy format represented innovative serialized storytelling in Classic Doctor Who's traditionally episodic structure. Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms. Connect with our passionate Whovian community by emailing us at thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or joining our active Facebook and BlueSky discussions for exclusive Doctor Who content, character analysis, and fan theories. Become a Patreon member today for early episode access, bonus behind-the-scenes content, exclusive deep-dive Doctor Who analysis, and special multimedia reviews covering comics, audio dramas, and music. Your support helps us continue our complete journey through Classic Doctor Who! Hashtags: #DoctorWho #ClassicDoctorWho #FifthDoctor #PeterDavison #MawdrynUndead #Season20 #BrigadierLethbridgeStewart #TheBrigadier #NicholasCourtney #UNIT #Turlough #MarkStrickson #NewCompanion #BlackGuardian #BlackGuardianTrilogy #ValentineDyall #TimeLordMythology #RegenerationCycle #Twelve Regenerations #PeterGrimwade #JohnNathanTurner #DoctorWho1983 #20thAnniversary #TemporalParadox #TimeTravel #DoctorWhoReview #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #SpecialGuest #FelicityKusinitz #TheFlopcast #BrigadierReturns #TARDIS #Whovian #UNITFamily #CompanionIntroduction #DoctorWhoLore #TimeLord #Gallifrey #BBC #BritishSciFi #DoctorWhoFandom #ClassicWho #StoryArc #DoctorWhoHistory #SciFiTV #DoctorWhoCanon

Production 6E: "Arc of Infinity" (January 3-12, 1983) - Classic Doctor Who Season 20 Premiere Review Omega, the legendary renegade Time Lord and architect of Gallifreyan time travel, makes his shocking return with a desperate plan to escape his antimatter prison and re-enter the positive matter universe. Using the Arc of Infinity as his gateway, Omega hijacks the Fifth Doctor's biodata pattern to create a physical duplicate body - but his scheme becomes entangled with companion Tegan Jovanka's search for her missing cousin Colin Frazer in the picturesque streets of Amsterdam, leading to an explosive confrontation in the heart of the Dutch capital. Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they master time and space, delivering comprehensive reviews of every Classic Doctor Who serial. In this Season 20 premiere analysis, they celebrate Nyssa's remarkable character development and maturation beyond her sheltered Trakenite origins, explore how the Fifth Doctor finally demonstrates genuine agency and authority compared to his earlier passive characterization, and Jim shares his candid disappointment with Tegan's controversial new costume design that replaced her beloved air stewardess uniform. The hosts also examine writer Johnny Byrne's ambitious return to Doctor Who mythology, producer John Nathan-Turner's bold decision to film on location in Amsterdam, and the return of Michael Gough to Doctor Who. This episode marks an exciting new chapter as Season 20 begins the countdown to Doctor Who's monumental 20th anniversary celebration later in the year! Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms. Connect with our passionate Whovian community by emailing us at thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or joining our active Facebook and BlueSky discussions for exclusive Doctor Who content, character analysis, and fan theories. Become a Patreon member today for early episode access, bonus behind-the-scenes content, exclusive deep-dive Doctor Who analysis, and special multimedia reviews covering comics, audio dramas, and music. Your support helps us continue our complete journey through Classic Doctor Who! Hashtags: #DoctorWho #ClassicDoctorWho #FifthDoctor #PeterDavison #ArcOfInfinity #Season20 #SeasonPremiere #Omega #TimeLords #Gallifrey #Nyssa #SarahSutton #TeganJovanka #JanetFielding #Amsterdam #OnLocation #DoctorWho1983 #JohnnyByrne #JohnNathanTurner #EricSaward #RenegadeTimeLord #AntimatterUniverse #DoctorWhoReview #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #TARDIS #Whovian #20thAnniversary #CompanionDevelopment #CharacterAnalysis #DoctorWhoAmsterdam #BBC #BritishSciFi #DoctorWhoFandom #TimeLordMythology #GallifreyStory #ClassicWho #DoctorWho20 #DoctorWhoHistory #SciFiTV #ColinFrazer #DoctorWhoVillains

Production 6C: "Time-Flight" (March 22-30, 1982) - Classic Doctor Who Season 19 Finale Review The Fifth Doctor's planned visit to London's Great Exhibition takes a dramatic detour when the TARDIS becomes trapped in a mysterious time corridor alongside missing Concorde supersonic aircraft, leading to an unexpected encounter with prehistoric Earth and ancient mysteries. Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they master time and space, delivering in-depth reviews of every Classic Doctor Who serial. In this compelling season finale analysis, they welcome special guest Alan J. Porter (renowned author and podcaster) to explore the emotional aftermath of Adric's shocking death, celebrate the triumphant return of the Master, and dissect the devastating season-ending cliffhanger that leaves companion Tegan Jovanka stranded at Heathrow Airport. Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms. Connect with our passionate Whovian community by emailing us at thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or joining our active Facebook and BlueSky discussions for exclusive Doctor Who content and fan theories. Support our thriving Patreon community for early episode access, bonus behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive deep-dive Doctor Who analysis from your favorite hosts. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #ClassicDoctorWho #FifthDoctor #PeterDavison #TimeFlight #Season19Finale #TheMaster #TeganJovanka #AdricDeath #CompanionExit #Concorde #TimeTravel #DoctorWhoReview #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #TARDIS #Whovian #SciFi #BBC #DoctorWhoClassic #DoctorWho1982 #SeasonFinale #DoctorWhoAnalysis #AlanJPorter #SpecialGuest #DoctorWhoFandom #TimeLord #Gallifrey #DoctorWhoHistory #BritishSciFi #HeathrowAirport #CompanionDeparture #CliffHanger

Production 6B: "Earthshock" (March 8-16, 1982) - Classic Doctor Who Review The Doctor's TARDIS materializes on a future Earth where the Cybermen orchestrate their most devastating plan yet - bombing a galactic conference to destroy world leaders and reshape the universe's destiny. Join podcaster John S. Drew and acclaimed writer/editor Jim Beard as they become masters of time and space, delivering comprehensive reviews of every Classic Doctor Who serial. In this emotional episode analysis, they dive deep into Eric Saward's masterful scriptwriting, examine the shocking departure of beloved companion Adric, and explore how this serial revolutionized the Cybermen's deadly new tactics in the Whoniverse. Subscribe to The Doctor's Beard Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms. Connect with fellow Whovians by emailing us at thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or joining our vibrant Facebook and BlueSky communities for exclusive Doctor Who discussions. Support our Patreon community for early episode access, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive bonus material featuring deep-dive Doctor Who analysis. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #ClassicDoctorWho #FifthDoctor #PeterDavison #Cybermen #Earthshock #Adric #CompanionDeparture #EricSaward #DoctorWhoReview #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #TARDIS #Whovian #SciFi #BBC #DoctorWhoClassic #DoctorWho1982 #CybermanStory #DoctorWhoAnalysis #DoctorWhoFandom #TimeLord #Gallifrey #DoctorWhoHistory #BritishSciFi

Production 6A March 1-2 1982 The TARDIS lands in 1922 where Cranleigh Hall is being haunted by a mysterious figure and dead servants that only the Doctor apparently sees. Podcaster John S. Drew and writer/editor Jim Beard join forces once again to become the masters of time and space as they watch and review every single episode of the Classic Doctor Who series. In this episode, they are joined by artist Jerry Lange. Together, they discuss the stopping of the bickering among the crew, the obvious mystery, and the humor of the story. In addition, we have additional commentary from our Patreon subscribers who joined us to hear the podcast recorded live. Please make sure you are subscribed to our podcast via any of the major popular podcasting apps. You can write and comment or ask questions of us via email at thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or by joining our Facebook community. Join our Patreon community where your sponsorship earns you early access to new episodes as well as exclusive content. Click on the link here to take you to the Patreon page.

Production 5X February 15-23, 1982 The TARDIS lands near London in 1666, where the Doctor manages to stop an alien invasion, but burns down London in the process. Podcaster John S. Drew and writer/editor Jim Beard join forces once again to become the masters of time and space as they watch and review every single episode of the Classic Doctor Who series. In this episode, they discuss the argumentative nature of the companions, the lack of essential Doctor in Davison's portrayal, and the wonder of Richard Mace. Please make sure you are subscribed to our podcast via any of the major popular podcasting apps. You can write and comment or ask questions of us via email at thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or by joining our Facebook community. Join our Patreon community where your sponsorship earns you early access to new episodes as well as exclusive content. Click on the link here to take you to the Patreon page.

Production 5Y February 1-9, 1982 As Nyssa recuperates in the TARDIS, the Doctor, Tegan and Adric explore the world of Deva Loka where an Earth exhibition have uncovered the Kinda, but do not know the deadly secret these peaceful people hide. Podcaster John S. Drew and writer/editor Jim Beard join forces once again to become the masters of time and space as they watch and review every single episode of the Classic Doctor Who series. In this episode, they discuss the sidelining of Nyssa, the performance of Janet Fielding and Jim's pinning who this Doctor is. Please make sure you are subscribed to our podcast via any of the major popular podcasting apps. You can write and comment or ask questions of us via email at thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or by joining our Facebook community. Join our Patreon community where your sponsorship earns you early access to new episodes as well as exclusive content. Click on the link here to take you to the Patreon page.