Podcast – The Samcast Network

Samuel and Jacob revisit The Girl Who Waited, one of the Eleventh Doctor era’s most emotionally brutal character pieces. They break down Amy’s decades of isolation, Rory’s impossible choice, the Doctor’s darker and more calculating side, and why the episode’s emotional payoff works so well—even when the setup starts falling apart under closer inspection. Highlights: … Continue reading Going...

Samuel and Jacob take a trip into the dollhouse for Night Terrors, as the Eleventh Doctor answers a frightened child’s call for help. They discuss the episode’s creepy concepts, the effectiveness of the peg dolls, and how George’s fears shape the story. Along the way, Samuel brings a counseling perspective to the episode’s portrayal of … Continue reading Going Through Who 20.7: Night Terrors...

Samuel and Jacob return to Doctor Who Series 6 with Let’s Kill Hitler, an episode whose provocative title quickly gives way to a much bigger story about River Song, Amy, Rory, and the Doctor. They discuss the episode’s risky use of Hitler, the introduction of the Teselecta, Rory’s increasingly heroic streak, and the major revelations … Continue reading Going Through Who 20.6: Let’s Kil...

Samuel and Jacob dive into A Good Man Goes to War, the explosive midseason finale of Doctor Who Series 6. They discuss Rory’s transformation into the Last Centurion, the Doctor assembling an army and confronting the frightening reputation he has built across the universe, the introduction of Vastra, Jenny, and Strax, and the long-awaited revelation … Continue reading Going Through Who 20.5:...

Samuel and Jacob continue their journey through Doctor Who with “The Almost People.” They explore the episode’s questions about identity, prejudice, empathy, and what it would mean to encounter a perfect duplicate of yourself. Along the way, they discuss the Doctor’s elaborate deception, Rory’s unwavering compassion, Amy’s treatment of the Flesh Doctor, and the shocking … Continue reading Go...

Samuel and Jacob dive into The Rebel Flesh, the first half of a thought-provoking Doctor Who two-parter exploring identity, personhood, and what happens when artificial duplicates inherit a person’s memories and personality. They discuss the episode’s clever setup, the Doctor’s suspicious behavior, Rory’s growing confidence and empathy, and the moral conflict between the factory workers … Co...

Samuel and Jacob discuss The Doctor’s Wife. They explore the emotional relationship between the Doctor and the TARDIS, the revelation that she chose him just as much as he chose her, and the tragedy of their first true conversation. The discussion also covers the episode’s production history, the terrifying power of House, Amy and Rory’s … Continue reading Going Through Who 20.2: The Doctor&...

Samuel and Jacob set sail into Series 6 with The Curse of the Black Spot. They discuss the episode’s evolving mystery, the clever reveal behind the Siren, Hugh Bonneville’s performance as Captain Avery, and why this well-constructed adventure works better as a mystery than as a full-fledged pirate story. Episode Highlights: Why the story is … Continue reading Going Through Who 20.1: The Curs...

Going Through Who takes one small step into Doctor Who Series 6 with “Day of the Moon,” the second half of the Silence two-parter. Samuel and Jacob break down the episode’s horror atmosphere, the terrifying concept of the Silence, River Song’s action-hero moments, Canton’s role in the plan, Nixon’s awkward place in the story, and … Continue reading Going Through Who 19.13: Day of the Moon &#...

In this episode of Going Through Who, Samuel and Jacob begin their coverage of “The Impossible Astronaut,” the opening story of Doctor Who Series 6. They discuss the episode’s shocking cliffhanger, the mystery of the Doctor’s death, River Song’s emotional role in the story, and how the episode sets up major season-long questions while still … Continue reading Going Through Who 19.12: The Imp...

Samuel and Jacob dive into Doctor Who’s “A Christmas Carol” and make the case for why it stands as one of the very best Christmas specials the series has ever done. They talk about Michael Gambon’s incredible performance, the episode’s clever use of time travel, its emotional core, and why this festive sci-fi remix of … Continue reading Going Through Who 19.11: A Christmas Carol →

Samuel and Jacob dive into The Big Bang, the explosive finale of Doctor Who’s fifth modern series. They talk through the episode’s clever time-travel structure, emotional character moments, Rory’s unforgettable devotion, and the Doctor’s complex dynamic with River Song. Along the way, they also celebrate wrapping up Eleven’s first season with a live cookie taste … Continue reading Going Thro...

Samuel Lewis and Jacob Carpenter dive into “The Pandorica Opens,” the first half of Doctor Who’s explosive Series 5 finale. They talk through the episode’s huge returning-monster lineup, River Song’s perfectly in-character moments, the creepy effectiveness of the Cybermen, Rory’s dramatic return, and why this cliffhanger remains one of the most intense in modern Doctor … Continue reading Goi...

The Doctor gets stuck on Earth when the TARDIS can’t land, so he winds up flat-sharing with Craig — and accidentally playing matchmaker between Craig and Sophie while investigating a mysterious “upstairs” that shouldn’t exist. Samuel and Jacob dig into why this episode works so well as a lighter palate-cleanser before the season finale, highlight … Continue reading Going Through Who 19.8: Th...

Samuel and Jacob dive into one of Doctor Who’s most emotionally powerful episodes, “Vincent and the Doctor” (original airdate: June 5, 2010). They celebrate the craft behind the story—Tony Curran’s performance, Richard Curtis’s approach to treating Vincent with empathy, and the episode’s blend of whimsy and heartbreak—while also having a candid conversation about mental health, … Continue re...

In this episode of Going Through Who, Samuel and Jacob dig into Cold Blood and unpack why it’s a solid story that still feels wonky in execution. They talk pacing issues common to Modern Who two-parters, character “switch flips” that feel abrupt, and how some standout performances (especially the Rory moment) help carry the episode’s … Continue reading Going Through Who 19.6: Cold Blood &#85...

Samuel is in the final week of his break before jumping back into master’s work, and he’s using the downtime to fine-tune his systems and reset his mindset for the year ahead. He shares a few takeaways from How to Take Smart Notes—especially around linking ideas—and talks about building out Stream Deck workflows that speed … Continue reading Samuel’s Thoughts 174: The Year of Balance →

Samuel and Jacob kick off 2026 by returning to Going Through Who with part one of the Silurian two-parter, “The Hungry Earth.” They run the Matrix (trivia + production notes), then dig into why this first half works as a character-driven setup: competing perspectives, escalating misunderstandings, and a conflict where neither side feels purely “evil” … Continue reading Going Through Who 19.5...

Samuel is back behind the mic for a catch-up episode, talking about how his master’s program has taken over schedule-wise, why he had to step away from his job working with kids, and how he’s rebuilding his space and systems to better support his brain, his projects, and his people. Along the way he plugs … Continue reading Samuel’s Thoughts 173: Hard Decisions and a Second Brain →

GTW is going on hiatus for the month of December to celebrate the holidays and a special time for Jacob and his wife Rebecca! We will be back at it in January. Have a happy holidays and a happy New Year!

In this episode of Going Through Who, Sam and Jacob step into Amy’s Choice and unpack why this Eleventh Doctor story hits so hard—mixing creepy killer pensioners, dreamy cottages, and a full-on exploration of the Doctor’s darker side. They dig into how the Dream Lord forces Amy to choose between village domesticity and TARDIS adventure, … Continue reading Going Through Who 19.4: Amy’s Choice...

SummarySamuel and Jacob dive into a breezy, monster-of-the-week romp that doubles as Rory’s first real outing as a companion. They unpack why the “vampires” aren’t really vampires, nerd out over Eleventh Doctor set-pieces and production trivia, and debate the morality of the villain’s survival plan—all while tracking subtle steps in the Amy–Rory–Doctor dynamic and the … Continue reading Goin...

In this episode, Samuel and Jacob dive into Flesh and Stone, the thrilling conclusion to the two-parter featuring the Weeping Angels. They unpack how Steven Moffat weaves suspense, character dynamics, and psychological horror into the story, while also reflecting on River Song’s mysteries, Amy’s pivotal role, and the Doctor’s defining moments. Along the way, they … Continue reading Going Thr...

Samuel and Jacob kick off a two-parter with The Time of Angels. They dig into behind-the-scenes trivia, River Song’s return, and new twists on the Weeping Angels. From Matt Smith and Karen Gillan’s first filming day to the infamous Graham Norton banner mishap, it’s a mix of production insights, canon debates, and character moments. Highlights: … Continue reading Going Through Who 19.1: The T...

On this episode the crew covers Victory of the Daleks with a talk on Dalek design, how fans react to things in pop culture and if it’s always a positive thing, love of a Winston Churchill portrayal, a scientist with a plot twist, and personal experiences the episode brings up in us both. To find … Continue reading Going Through Who 18.13: Victory of the Daleks →