Following his last night with River Song (24 years in Earth time), the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) returns to Earth with a plan in mind. However, in the process he meets young Grant Gordon (Logan Hoffman) in an encounter that would lead directly to the emergence of a superhero in New York City, going by the name of THE GHOST (Justin Chatwin).

During TARDISblend 99, we reunite after one full year without Doctor Who, discuss our reactions to the 2016 Christmas Special, and take an in depth look at what’s coming next year with Doctor Who Series 10.

In Doctor Who 9.6 “The Woman Who Lived,” on the trail of a dangerous artifact, the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) arrives in England 1651, and crosses paths with Ashildr (Maisie Williams). The pair team up to chase down the gem known as the Eyes of Hades – but the artifact turns out to be more than expected; and the Doctor’s concern for Ashildr is rising…

During TARDISblend 91, we discuss the second appearance of Maisie Williams as Ashildr (or “Lady Me”) in a story that may have implications on the overall story arc of this season of Doctor Who.

All this and more on the latest TARDISblend podcast!

Doctor Who
Season 9, Episode 6 “The Woman Who Lived”
Directed by Ed Bazalgette
Written by Catherine Tregenna
Starring Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman, Maisie Williams, Rufus Hound
BBC America
Air date: Saturday, October 24, 2015

If I talk to my mother about growing old, one of the things she reports about getting old is the annoying sensation of seeing people make the same mistakes over and over again. It is that sort of insight that raises questions about immortality in Doctor Who 9.6, “The Woman Who Lived.” How do you deal with the fear and ignorance of those around you? How do you form relationships with individuals whose status can only be transient? Do you have children when you know that you may see them grow old and die? How do you react to a world that seems to lurch often backward and only occasionally forward? These are all tremendously fertile questions to examine through drama, and while the episode frequently does a more than competent examination, it is let down by some uninspired elements that pop up in its last half.

Arriving in medieval Scandinavia, the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) are captured by a raiding group of Vikings. Returning to their village, the Vikings are confronted by a being claiming to be Odin. But tragedy is imminent, and the Doctor must work out a way to save the villagers.

During TARDISblend 90, we are joined by special guest Andrew Sorcini of The Drill Down. We discuss the first appearance of the wonderful Maisie Williams as Ashildr in this season of Doctor Who, and the references and call-backs to previous episodes and seasons of the show. We have a look at the comedic elements of the story, and how the overall plot of this episode (9.5 “The Girl Who Died”) pays homage to Akira Kurosawa‘s Seven Samurai.

All this and more on the latest TARDISblend podcast!

Doctor Who
Season 9, Episode 5 “The Girl Who Died”
Directed by Ed Bazalgette
Written by Jamie Mathieson & Steven Moffat
Starring Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman, Maisie Williams, David Schofield, Simon Lipkin
BBC America
Air date: Saturday, October 17, 2015

I’ll say this up front: watch this episode.

I guess I could stop there, but it wouldn’t be much fun to do that, now would it? Doctor Who Episode 9.5 “The Girl Who Died” is a pocket symphony running at tempo molto vivace. It deconstructs and reconstructs the themes behind modern Doctor Who at the same time. It takes what could have been a significant guest star part and turns in the best episode of the season so far. It reveals something of the Doctor’s past and finally brings this current incarnation of the Time Lord into sharper focus. It is, in short, the best that I think Steven Moffat-era Doctor Who can offer.

I’ve been a bit of a hard case on Doctor Who so far this season. Where I know other reviewers on the Internet have spoken about the first, third, and fourth episodes of this season in strong terms, I deliberately played up the negatives. Episode 1 was shock and awe, but it gave little solid ground for viewers to stand on. Episodes 3 and 4 were praised for their strong performances and paced, economic storytelling, but I thought they veered a little too close to formula. I thought that only episode 2, with its carefully constructed constraints, represented a strong offering for this season.