The Metebelis Two - a Doctor Who podcast

We are joined in this podcast by writer Lena Barkin and pianist Jess Jurkovic to chat about the upcoming Gallifrey One 33 convention to be held in February in Los Angeles. Ben, Lena, and Jess will all be panelists. Lena will present "Want You or Want to Be You: Companion Relationships in New and Classic Who" as part of the Tardis Talks Academic Symposium . She'll also be a panelist on " Coats of M...

The Abominable Snowmen Doctor Who animation is the centerpiece of this episode's discussion that ranges from the recent animation choices made by Gary Russell and Digitoonz to the original story by Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln. Together they make a complex juxtaposition of early 2020s progressive sensibilities and late 1960s reactionism. What works and what, for lack of better words, is more S...

We are trapped in a time loop in an "elf" storage in Manchester this podcast and are back on New Years Day 2022 to discuss the holiday special, Eve of the Daleks. David likes how Chris Chibnall writes his Dalek specials, but wonders why Nick was written to be so creepy. The name "Nick" certainly must have been a production team joke. Ben wonders what it is like to be killed by a Dalek, repeatedly....

'Tis the time of giving gifts and Sutekh Claus has a sleighful of presents for Doctor Who fans! Ben and David exchange twelve things they're thankful for in the world of Doctor Who and its fandom. Opening music is a mash-up of Bernard Archer's Marcus Scarman and Bing Crosby's White Christmas. Closing music is from Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody". We recorded this episode on 27 November 2022.

Can the show Doctor Who work without Doctor Who? In this episode, David suggests that Doctor Who is not required and that the real only constant needed for the series is the TARDIS and a crew. Ben entertains this thesis and we discuss what such a show would be like and how it could work and its limitations. We ask if the show has evolved to such a place where the Doctor may be superfluous… or mayb...

Jodie Whittaker's final episode tears the lid off the Doctor's companion's life after leaving the TARDIS. Ben and David discuss the former companions banding together to support one another and pitch ideas for an expanded Whoniverse series. We share our reactions to seeing former Doctors Who again and what we think of the return of David Tennant to the lead role. Opening music is the "The Thirteen...

We talk about The Flux in one marathon podcast. What worked for us, what didn't capture our imagination, and what we would have done differently; including conversation about Sontarans, Weeping Angels, the teeth of Dan Lewis, understanding Scouse, Ben's dislike of dogs, Thasmin, and not letting Jo Martin have more screen time. Opening and closing music is from the soundtrack of Flux by Segun Akino...

After a month's hiatus due to travels and Ben's bout with COVID, we're back talking about Jodie Whittaker headlining the GaliffreyOne convention next year and a look at her finale trailer. What are Tegan and Ace up to? Is the Master using his CTE on the Doctor's friends? Is that the UNIT logo or an upside down Death Star? Much speculation about what it all could mean and possibly even spoilers if...

In a wide-ranging discussion, Ben and David talk about the use of colo(u)r in Doctor Who and elsewhere in television and film. We also reflect on our own experiences watching black and white Doctor Who episodes on television and VHS. We also debate whether or not 1960s stories should be officially colourised. Opening music is "Technicolour Dreams" by Status Quo. Closing music is a song by Mihâly V...

To mark the sad passing of Bernard Cribbins, we journey back to 1966 to look at his first role associated with Doctor Who, which was PC Tom Campbell in Daleks' Invasion of Earth 2150 A.D. Ben reflects how Cribbins and Ray Brooks, who played David, were the voices of his childhood. Cribbins voiced all of the Wombles and Brooks narrated the Mr Benn animated shorts. When watching the movie as a child...

The Metebelis Two are excited to welcome Brian Jacob and Jess Jurkovic back to the podcast for a discussion about the return of Russell T Davis as showrunner and Ncuti Gatwa as Doctor Who. We share our thoughts and concerns about RTD's second chance and wonder what 2023 will bring for our favorite Time Lord. (Also, to help support season two of the Dudley Simpson IS Doctor Who Project , please vis...

It's the summer lull! So what better time to persuade their respective better halfs to sit down with them to watch the 1965 movie adaptation of the first Dalek adventure known by all as Dr. Who and the Daleks, starring Peter Cushing as the inventor, Dr. Who. Along with his granddaughters Susie Who, played by Roberta Tovey, and Barbara Who, played by Jennie Linden. They are joined by Barbara's boyf...

Father's Day! To mark our sixth anniversary of podcasting, we discuss fathers in Doctor Who. We talk about the fathers in the show who made the most memorable appearances for us. We ask what is the role of dads in Who throughout the show's history? Can Davros be considered as a father and was he a good dad? We briefly note that some fathers on screen acted alongside their children from time-to-tim...

Eighteen months have passed since Revolution of the Daleks was first broadcast. Has Ben's opinion of it changed over time? Having just watch the story for the first time, David could relate with the Doctor when she felt "mostly angry" about the Timeless Children. We say hello again to Jack Robertson and say our goodbyes to Ryan and Graham. Mostly we just ask each other, why does Chris Chibnall kee...

The floodgates of Doctor Who recording news were opened with the casting announcement of Jasmin Finney as Rose mk 2 and the return of David Tennant as the Doctor and Katherine Tate as Donna. We speculate about what changes RTD has in store for the viewers and lament the end of the Whittaker era and the overall lack of buzz during the Chibnall era. Opening music is "Hanging on the Tablaphone" and c...

Fresh off Beltane, we discuss stories with the occult in Doctor Who. After a brief background of the folk horror in British cinema, we dive into The Dæmons and other stories looking for common themes and tropes that are used in Who. Opening and closing music is of the Morris dancers from The Dæmons soundtrack. We recorded this episode on 8 May 2022.

Our reaction to Ncuti Gatwa being cast by Russell T Davies as the next Doctor Who. Opening music is "I Can Change" by Ezra Furman. Closing music is Segun Akinola's arrangement of the Doctor Who Theme. We recorded this episode on 8 May 2022.

Returning monsters are a hallmark of Doctor Who from Sea Devils to Daleks, we look at the second act of popular monsters of the classic era. We talk about which monster return worked and how to villains and monsters intersect. And, speculate on some missed opportunies of monsters that had one-and-done outtings. Opening music is "We're Doing a Sequel" from the 2014 film Muppets Most Wanted. Closing...

Ben, having recently installed an art exhibit at Balmoral Castle, has been pondering the great impact that Scotland and the Scots have made on Doctor Who. David was surprised to learn that the Brigadier wasn't always Scottish and it was director Douglas Camfield that gave Col. Lethbridge his hyphenated surname Stewart. Jamie McCrimmon, Amy Pond, and three Doctors Who from Scotland, plus one showru...

Yeti menacing the London underground — one of the most iconic images of Doctor Who in the 1960s; and we discuss The Web of Fear in this podcast. Ben recalls how the Target cover by Chris Achilleos for The Abominable Snowmen with its yeti with a hint of fang helped confuse him when he first saw the mark 2 version. David fell in love with this story after hearing the narrated soundtrack and dreams a...

After recording 199 podcasts together, do Ben and David know each other well enough to correctly pick which stories are on one another's top ten list of Doctor Who stories? Let's hope so! Opening music is is "Strangers When We Meet" by The Smithereens and closing music is from "Space Time Music, part 1" composed by Wilfred Josephs. We recorded this episode on 27 February 2022.

Ben is joined this episode by two very special guests, Lena Barkin and Jess Jurkovic , in the middle of the hustle and bustle of LobbyCon during the waning hours of 32nd Gallifrey One! Everyone is in a jovial mood and celebrating with friends the conclusion of another great Doctor Who convention. The video of Lena's pitch for the 60th anniversary special can be viewed on Vimeo . Opening music is f...

Ben reports in live from Day 2 of the 32nd Gallifrey One convention in the City of Weeping Angels. Ben talks about the Kaffeeklatsch with Matthew Sweet, the British broadcaster and journalist, Big Finish news, what and when to expect with The Abominable Snowmen animation, seeing Jo Martin, Mandeep Gill, and Sacha Dhawan in a crowded Hall A, and how "fried" is the flavour of the food trunks this ye...

Ben reports in live from Day 1 of the 32nd Gallifrey One convention in sunny Los Angeles, California. Ben talks about meeting Michael Jayston, hearing Sacha Dhawan, the Blu-Ray panel, cosplay, and more! Opening music is from The Claws of Axos and closing music is by Blink-182. We recorded this episode on 18 February 2022.

We are joined this podcast by Lena Barkin and Jess Jurkovic for our Gallifrey One pre-panel! We chat about the whole con experience from meeting people, being on panels, cosplay, the dealers' room, our hopes and expectations, and more! Opening music is from "Jet Airliner" by the Steve Miller Band and closing music is an alternative take of "Day Tripper" by The Beatles. We recorded this episode on...