Episode 26 – Never Say Never-Ever

Episodes discussed: Doctor Who 2×11 Fear Her Buffy 2×13 Surprise

Fear Her

Written by Matthew Graham; Directed by Euros Lyn

On the way to watch the 2012 London Olympics, the Doctor and Rose investigate the sinister goings-on in a suburban London neighborhood.  Discussion points include:

• Why are the fathers in Doctor Who so lousy?
• Nightmares, imagination, and pod people
• The Doctor and Rose’s differing views on child-rearing
• “I was a dad once”: The Doctor’s lost family
• Lonely aliens: The Doctor and the Isolus
• Innocence and experience

Surprise

Written by Marti Noxon; Directed by Michael Lange

Spike and Drusilla work to revive an indestructible demon while Buffy celebrates her 17th birthday. Discussion Points Include:

• The indestructible Judge
• The villains who “reek of humanity”
• Gypsy Jenny and sadistic Angelus
• Weighted and ominous statements
• Oz’s initiation
• Cordy’s hesitation

Next time: Buffy 2×14 Innocence and Doctor Who 2×12 Army of Ghosts

Episode 25 – We Forget Because We Must

Episodes discussed:  Buffy 2×12 Bad Eggs Doctor Who 2×10 Love & Monsters

Bad Eggs

Written by Marti Noxon; Directed by David Greenwalt

Buffy and her friends contemplate parenthood, sex and procreation while babysitting a bunch of eggs for health class.  Discussion points include:

• The legacy of parasite aliens in horror stories
• Are the bezoars really monsters?
• Motherhood, sex and procreation
• The Gorches: Red herring vampires
• Checking in with Buffy and Joyce’s relationship
• Physical Xander and conflicted Cordelia

Love & Monsters

Written by Russell T. Davies; Directed by Dan Zeff

Ordinary guy Elton Pope becomes obsessed with finding the origin of the mysterious Doctor who appeared in his house when he was a child. Discussion Points Include:

• Starring Marc Warren as Elton Pope
• The popular and critical reception of the episode
• “Doctor Lite” and the beneficial limitations of Doctor Who
• Non-linear storytelling, meta-narrative, and breaking the fourth wall
• LINDA: The Doctor’s fan club
• Elton’s oblique angle on the Doctor

Next time: Doctor Who 2×11 Fear Her Buffy 2×13 Surprise

Episode 24 – Doesn’t Fit My Rules

Episodes discussed: Doctor Who 2×9 The Satan Pit Buffy 2×11 Ted

The Satan Pit

Written by Matt Jones; Directed by James Strong

Rose continues the fight against the possessed Ood while the Doctor encounters the Beast in the pit.  Discussion points include:

• The questionable servility of the Ood
• Questions without answers
• The Beast and Tolkien’s refracted light theory
• The truly agnostic Doctor
• “The urge to fall”: Exploration and temptation
• Rose and the Doctor’s belief in each other

Ted

Written by David Greenwalt and Joss Whedon; Directed by Bruce Seth Green

Joyce brings home her new boyfriend Ted, who bothers Buffy on multiple levels. Discussion Points Include:

• Ted: The Stepford boyfriend
• The victim-blaming of Buffy
• Buffy’s “homicide”
• Ted’s condescension and motivations
• Joyce’s blame and ignorance
• Couples and supporting characters

Next time: Buffy 2×12 Bad Eggs Doctor Who 2×10 Love & Monsters

Episode 23 – I Mock You With My Monkey Pants

Episodes discussed: Buffy 2×10 What’s My Line? (Part 2) and Doctor Who 2×8 The Impossible Planet

What’s My Line? (Part 2)

Written by Marti Noxon; Directed by David Semel

Buffy and Kendra team up to stop Spike from killing Angel and restoring Drusilla to health.  Discussion points include:

• How can there be two Slayers?
• Unconventional Buffy and by-the-book Kendra
• “What’s wrong with my case?”: What makes Buffy special?
• Soulful vampires
• Angel, Spike and Dru: One big, incestuous family
• Budding romance

The Impossible Planet

Written by Matt Jones; Directed by James Strong

The Doctor and Rose encounter a group of scientists on a planet poised precariously over a black hole. Discussion Points Include:

• The (possible?) planet and pseudo-science
• Mythology, “The Bitter Pill,” and Lovecraft
• The Cabin Scenario
• The satanic Beast and the odd Ood
• The human impulse to explore
• Rose and the Doctor talk domesticity

Next time: Doctor Who 2×9 The Satan Pit Buffy 2×11 Ted