A Hamster With a Blunt Penknife - a Doctor Who Commentary podcast

Joe & Si; and the Si Hart synopsis! What do Doctor Who designers have an obsession with? Will we hear The Hand of Peace? Will Chela be joining the TARDIS crew?

Joe & Si; and the worst examples of exposition in Doctor Who! We discuss the infamy of part threes and whether this one manages to avoid the usual traps. Doe the plot stop? Is there too much explanation? Have the characters stopped revealing new shades? 

Joe & Mark; retooling Doctor In Distress for the 80s, piling more blame on Saward and then lauding his stories, deciding who should have a longer era and singing every 80s song that comes to mind! Thanks for the questions, guys!

Hamster Extra Sneak Peek! Joe & Rob talking all things The Storyteller! Puppets, folk tales, movie directors, John Hurt…Jim Henson’s The Storyteller is a prestige dark fantasy anthology mini series. Check this out, then check it out.

Mark asks Joe questions from Twitter about 80s Doctor Who. So much to discuss from script editors, companions, innovation, reputation, what could have been and what was and worked (and didn’t work).

Joe & Si; and the Frazer faces of delusion! There's no sign of this thoughtful story running out of steam and the character work is just getting better and better. Why was Si so alarmed by this as a child? 

Joe & Si; in our garden, silly! The most psychologically frightening episode of Doctor Who for Si, which turns into a conversation about what Doctor Who we find scary as adults. This is just sublime, and we detail all the reasons we find it so. 

Joe, Mark & Luke; scared of what the hell is under the bed. The ultimate hidden threat, the Floof? Is this Capaldi’s first grasp of greatness? What is the best joke?

Joe & Luke; off to a gay gypsy bar mitzvah. Is this where series six goes off the rails? Is it the most self confident episode of Doctor Who? And what does Doc Oho think?

Joe & Luke; having a grand old time disagreeing, flirting and outrageously enjoying this Steven Moffat tent peg episode. Joe couldn’t be happier discussing this episode that he dislikes, Luke tells him why he is wrong.

Joe, Si & Frazer; being frightened to death by our deepest, darkest secrets coming out. Why does Frazer prefer this episode? Who does Si fancy more than pretty much anybody in Doctor Who? And why is this truly frightening for children? 

Joe, Si & Frazer; the pit is open...and the opinions are free! Can Joe survive the onslaught of opinions about Rose Tyler? Can he make a case in her defence? Is this the spookiest New Series story? And what does everybody think of the Ood? 

Joe & Dylan; staying up all night with the girls! An episode that means a lot to me, and a season that Dylan re-evaluating to enormous acclaim. This is peak dramatic Doctor Who, beautifully realised.

Joe & Nathan; determined not to make this the shortest ever episode of Hamster! Is this a duff final episode, or insane farcical fun? What is Meglos’ motivation? And will Karis and Deedrix get their happy ending?

Joe & Nathan; watching a long reprise and ten minutes of new material. Is this a terrible studio jungle? Is Romana the Doctor now? Is Lexa redeemable?

Joe & Nathan; facing lush, aggressive vegetation! How do you get out of a chronic hysteresis? How much business can the pirates indulge in? And is Meglos scary?

Joe & Nathan; setting the record straight on this neglected, insane, hilarious gem. It has a giant rubber cactus, a time loop, comedy pirates and scene sync. What could go wrong?

Joe & Frazer; disagreeing agreeably. Can he do it? Can Frazer convince Joe that The Time of the Doctor has some merit? Is this pure self indulgent wank? Or a beautiful study of the 11th Doctor Who?

Joe, Daniel, Lucy & Dave; ‘the Doctor has done it!’ Prentis is out, but Sorenson is alive, the creature is abated and Sarah is off to London. What could go wrong? Daniel Knight moderates.

Joe, Lucy, Daniel & David; cowering together as things get more claustrophobic! Sorenson is getting hairy, the planet is angry and Tom is deadly serious. Lucy McCaul narrates.

Joe, Dave, Daniel & Lucy; doing the Maloney love! We dissect this story’s direction in some depth, and afford some time for the sets and atmosphere. Dave Rennie moderates.

Joe, Lucy, David and Daniel; keys in the pot, it’s the first 🐹 foursome! We’re heading to Zeta Minor on a Morestran ship to face antimatter monsters! Joe moderates episode one.

Joe & Frazer; and our last triumphant effort to spread the love for this much derided story. What was Quickie’s ultimate adventure? Who’s that on location with the bomb? And is this the most explosive of climaxes?

Joe & Jack; together again! Why had this Christmas special gathered such a terrific reputation over the years? The best River Song story? An improving director?

Joe & Frazer; pondering if this is the best Jamie story of season six! Who shot Balon? Who will win the ultimate face off between Rago & Toba? And can you invade without an appointment?