Episode 242 – Letting Go is So, So Hard

Episodes discussed: Doctor Who Series 10 & Buffy Season 7 Recaps.

Time Stamp: Buffy starts 1:17:15

Doctor Who Series 10 Recap

We wrap up our discussion of Series 10 and look at the broader themes and character development of the Moffat and Capaldi eras. Discussion points include:

• A less celebrated era?
• Series 10: arcs vs. episodes
• The evolution of the Twelfth Doctor
• The Doctor who moved on
• Bill and Clara
• Looking forward to the next era

Buffy Season 7 Recap

We wrap up our discussion of Season 7 and look at the broader themes and character development of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a whole.Discussion points include:

• Buffy‘s legacy
• Comedy and tragedy with Anya and Andrew
• Have our perspectives changed?
• Cultural impact
• Buffyspeak lives on
• The story continues (elsewhere)

Next time: Angel 5×1 Conviction and Class 1×1 For Tonight We Might Die.

Episode 240 – Who Has Been Stealing the Faces of the Dead?

Episodes discussed: Doctor Who 2017 Christmas Special Twice Upon a Time and Buffy 7×21 End of Days

Time Stamp: Buffy starts 2:02:00

Twice Upon a Time

Written by Steven Moffat; Directed by Rachel Talalay

The Doctors face regeneration alongside a World War I soldier on the Western Front.  Discussion points include:

• Nominations and novelizations
• The Western Front and the birth of modern fantasy
• A glass jar filled with memories
• 709 episodes ago…
• Twelve’s final lesson
• A glimpse of Thirteen

End of Days

Written by Jane Espenson & Doug Petrie; Directed by Marita Grabiak

The Scoobies reconvene to prepare for their final battle. Discussion points include:

• The significant scythe
• An easy reconciliation
• The First whispers in Spike’s ear
• Caleb’s impotence
• The Guardians
• Andrew and Anya’s decision to fight

Next time: Buffy 7×22 Chosen.

Episode 239 – Maybe There’s No Point to Any of This At All

Episodes discussed: Angel Season 4 Recap and Doctor Who 10×12 The Doctor Falls

Time Stamp: DW starts 1:20:20

Angel Season 4 Recap

We discuss the broader themes and character development of season 4 of Angel. Discussion points include:

• The behind-the-scenes drama of season 4
• Accolades for the season
• Unfulfilled promise
• Angel’s fantasy
• The disappointment of Cordy’s ending
• Connor’s new life

The Doctor Falls

Written by Steven Moffat; Directed by Rachel Talalay

Lilah makes the group a bizarre, but tempting, offer. Discussion points include:

• A new world to defend
• Nardole’s dedication
• Sympathy for Bill
• Missy vs. the Master
• Cosmic pixie dream girls
• The Doctor’s last stand

Next time: DW 2017 Christmas Special Twice Upon a Time and Buffy 7×21 End of Days.

Episode 238 – A Positive Attitude Will Help with the Horror to Come

Episodes discussed: Doctor Who 10×11 World Enough and Time & Angel 4×22 Home

Time Stamp: Angel starts at 1:04:00

World Enough and Time

Written by Steven Moffat; Directed by Rachel Talalay

The TARDIS crew are met with a disastrous situation in a spaceship trying to escape a black hole. Discussion points include:

• Bringing back some old foes
• Black hole physics and time dilation
• Missy Who
• Bill’s shocking fate
• Razor’s kindness and cruelty
• The Cyberman who waited

Home

Written and Directed by Tim Minear

Lilah makes the group a bizarre, but tempting, offer. Discussion points include:

• A new era
• The fear of selling out
• Gunn and the black panther
• Super secret archives and evil R&D
• Angel and Connor’s choices
• Cordy wakes up in a coma

Next time: Angel Season 4 Recap and DW 10×12 The Doctor Falls.

Episode 237 – Time to Fight Your Fight

Episodes discussed: Buffy 7×20 Touched and Doctor Who 10×10 The Eaters of Light

Time Stamp: DW starts at 1:04:00

Touched

Written by Rebecca Rand Kirshner; Directed by David Solomon

Buffy and the Scoobies reel from the decision to eject Buffy from the group. Discussion points include:

• The immediate effect of Buffy leaving
• Tender moments with Spike
• Meet the new boss…
• The Mayor returns
• Everyone pairs off
• The scythe in the stone

The Eaters of Light

Written by Rona Munro; Directed by Charles Palmer

The Doctor and Bill travel to Roman-occupied Scotland to settle a debate. Discussion points include:

• Some background on the episode
• The Ninth Legion & the Picts
• Bill’s ongoing learning curve
• “Robbery, slaughter, plunder”
• A bunch of children
• Missy’s release

Next time: DW 10×11 World Enough and Time Angel 4×22 Home.

Episode 236 – Finding Reasons to Fight

Episodes discussed: Doctor Who 10×9 Empress of Mars and Angel 4×21 Peace Out

Time Stamp: Angel starts at 1:10:00

Empress of Mars

Written by Mark Gatiss; Directed by Wayne Yip

Victorian soldiers attempt to colonize Mars. Discussion points include:

• The weirdest cameo ever
• Nardole’s participation
• Martian history
• Imperialist attitudes
• Godsacre & Catchlove
• Yas, Queen

Peace Out

Written by David Fury; Directed by Jefferson Kibbee

Connor searches for Cordy while Angel and crew take on the Jasminites. Discussion points include:

• The name and the word
• Does Jasmine believe her own fantasy?
• Let’s debate Connor’s beliefs
• Jasmine’s defeat
• Lilah’s reappearance
• Now what?

Next time: Buffy 7×20 Touched and DW 10×10 The Eaters of Light.

Episode 235 – They Just Have to Band Together

Episodes discussed: Buffy 7×19 Empty Places and Doctor Who 10×8 The Lie of the Land

Time Stamp: DW starts at 1:42:50

Empty Places

Written by Drew Z. Greenberg; Directed by James A. Contner

Buffy clashes with the group on how to proceed with investigating Caleb and the First. Discussion points include:

• Xander’s sacrifice
• A failure to communicate
• Of bikes and onion blossoms
• Anya’s helpfulness
• The airing of grievances
• Buffy’s departure

The Lie of the Land

Written by Toby Whithouse; Directed by Wayne Yip

The Monks have taken over Earth, and only Bill can remember that they’re intruders. Discussion points include:

• The Doctor’s propaganda
• Is the Doctor elitist?
• In on the joke
• Thought-police
• Bill’s agency
• Missy helps out

Next time: DW 10×9 Empress of Mars and Angel 4×21 Peace Out.

Episode 234 – You Better Get My Planet Back

Episodes discussed: Doctor Who 10×7 The Pyramid at the End of the World and Angel 4×20 Sacrifice

Time Stamp: Angel starts at 57:16

The Pyramid at the End of the World

Written by Peter Harness & Steven Moffat; Directed by Daniel Nettheim

The Monks arrive on Earth and begin their invasion. Discussion points include:

• Morris or Adams?
• All roads lead to Turmezistan
• The Doomsday Clock
• The Monks as strongman politicians
• “Consent must be pure”… Okay…
• The Doctor’s blindness

Sacrifice

Written by Ben Edlund; Directed by David Straiton

Connor sticks with Jasmine while the rest of the crew are chased across L.A. Discussion points include:

• Cordy: still in a coma
• Cordy’s arc
• Connor: immune to the blood or sold on the fantasy?
• In the sewers with a bunch of kids
• The chatty spider monster
• Angel crosses over

Next time: Buffy 7×19 Empty Places and DW 10×8 The Lie of the Land.

Episode 233 – Are You Secretly a Badass?

Episodes discussed: Angel 4×19 The Magic Bullet and Doctor Who 10×6 Extremis

Time Stamp: DW starts at 57:16

The Magic Bullet

Written and Directed by Jeffrey Bell

Fred is all alone as the world falls under Jasmine’s spell. Discussion points include:

• The cult of Jasmine
• The chosen few
• Fred alone
• How I learned to stop worrying and love Jasmine
• Fred’s badassery
• Reconversion depression

Extremis

Written by Steven Moffat; Directed by Daniel Nettheim

The Vatican asks for the Doctor’s help reading a very dangerous text called Veritas. Discussion points includes:

• The episode’s baroque structure
• The execution of Missy
• Guarding the vault
• Another sort of religious commentary
• Bill’s passivity
• The Monks are coming

Next time: DW 10×7 The Pyramid at the End of the World and Angel 4×20 Sacrifice.

Episode 232 – I Think I’ve Got Some Spare Eyes Somewhere

Episodes discussed: Doctor Who 10×5 Oxygen and Buffy 7×18 Dirty Girls

Time Stamp: Buffy starts at 1:15:40

Oxygen

Written by Jamie Mathieson; Directed by Charles Palmer

The Doctor and crew test the limits of physical endurance and economics on a space station without oxygen. Discussion points include:

• Meet the suits
• Capitalism in space
• Preaching to the choir
• LeGuin & Heinlein as counter-examples of political sci-fi
• Serious consequences
• Nardole’s moral authority

Dirty Girls

Written by Drew Goddard; Directed by Michael Gershman

Faith joins up with Buffy’s group of Potentials while a dangerous ally of the First also arrives in Sunnydale. Discussion points includes:

• Slut-shaming and battle cries
• Another unemployed Firefly actor as a Big Bad
• Caleb’s fervent misogyny
• The group begins to question Buffy
• “And if your eye causes you to stumble…”
• Faith’s return

Next time: Angel 4×19 The Magic Bullet and DW 10×6 Extremis.