Episode 99 – We Are Forever

Episodes discussed: Buffy 4×21 Primeval and the 2012 Doctor Who Christmas Special The Snowmen

Primeval

Written by David Fury; Directed by James A. Contner

Buffy and her friends must unite (literally) to defeat Adam. Discussion points include:

• Putting the Soul Triptych Theory to the test
• “Trouble was stir-uppable”
• Mind, Spirit, Heart, and Hand
• Adam: Not so big or bad
• Spike, the great hedger of bets
• The end of the Initiative

The Snowmen

Written by Steven Moffat; Directed by Saul Metzstein

Mourning the loss of the Ponds, the Doctor seeks solitude in Victorian London and encounters a rather familiar governess. Discussion points include:

• The Great Intelligence
• Another Clara fake-out
• Clara’s spunk and skepticisim
• Fate and coincidence
• Matt Smith’s evolving performance
• The Paternoster Gang

Prequels to “The Snowmen”

The Battle of Demon’s Run: Two Days Later

The Great Detective

Vastra Investigates

Next time: A special anniversary and 100th Episode Bonus Debate!

Episode 98 – Don’t Count On Any Long Goodbyes

Episodes discussed: Doctor Who 7×5 The Angels Take Manhattan and Angel 1×20 War Zone

The Angels Take Manhattan

Written by Steven Moffat; Directed by Nick Hurran

The Doctor and the Ponds follow clues in a hard-boiled detective novel to 1930’s New York which the Weeping Angels have overwhelmed. Discussion points include:

• A case of diminishing returns?
• Hard-boiled film noir tropes
• The Ponds enter their thirties!
• Amy & Rory “live to death”
• Is the suicide problematic?
• Does the Doctor understand time as well as he says?

Link: Tie-in novel The Angel’s Kiss: A Melody Malone Mystery

Prequel Storyboards: “P.S.” by Chris Chibnall

War Zone

Written by Gary Campbell; Directed by David Straiton

Angel and his gang encounter the economic spectrum of Los Angeles through a nerdy billionaire and a gang of homeless teenagers. Discussion points include:

• The introduction of Gunn and David
• The social spectrum of L.A.
• Infantile David and his vampiric friends
• The charismatic but reckless Gunn
• Angel/Gunn parallels
• Subverting the superhero tropes

Next time: Buffy 4×21 Primeval and the 2012 Doctor Who Christmas Special The Snowmen.

Episode 97 – Too Many Places I’ve Gotta See

Episodes discussed: Buffy 4×20 The Yoko Factor and Doctor Who 7×4 The Power of Three

The Yoko Factor

Written by Douglas Petrie; Directed by David Grossman

Spike clears the way for Adam’s plan by turning the Scoobies against each other.  Discussion points include:

• Losing its way or coming together?
• Breaking up the band
• What’s up with Adam and Riley?
• Angel and Buffy reconcile
• Spike’s tenacity and Giles’ insecurity
• Who is the most wronged?

The Power of Three

Written by Chris Chibnall; Directed by Douglas Mackinnon

When billions of plain black cubes suddenly appear on Earth, the Doctor is forced to take the slow path to discover their origin. Discussion points include:

• The Slow Invasion
• Real life vs. Doctor life
• The significance of three
• The Doctor who waited
• “The first face this face saw”
• The reintroduction of UNIT

Next time: Doctor Who 7×5 The Angels Take Manhattan and Angel 1×20 War Zone.

Episode 96 – We All Carry Our Prisons with Us

Episodes discussed: Doctor Who 7×3 A Town Called Mercy and Angel 1×19 Sanctuary

A Town Called Mercy

Written by Toby Whithouse; Directed by Saul Metzstein

The Doctor and the Ponds find themselves pitted against a Gunslinger in the Old West.  Discussion points include:

• Fairy, folk and tall tales
• Mercy’s angel
• The Doctor goes dark
• Comparing alien Doctors
• The idealized Sheriff and restrained Gunslinger
• Hardened Rory and merciful Amy

Sanctuary

Written by Tim Minear & Joss Whedon; Directed by Michael Lange

Angel and his friends and foes debate how to handle the newly-reformed Faith. Discussion points include:

• Faith’s moment of clarity
• “It’s the thought that counts”
• Angel breaks free of Buffy
• L.A. misfits
• The thuggish Watchers
• Wesley’s journey and Kate’s temptation

Next time: Buffy 4×20 The Yoko Factor and Doctor Who 7×4 The Power of Three.