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 241 – So What Do You Guys Wanna Do Tomorrow?

Episodes discussed: Buffy 7×22 Chosen

Chosen

Written and Directed by Joss Whedon

Buffy and the Scoobies face the First in their final showdown in Sunnydale.  Discussion points include:

• Getting to the end
• What do we want in a series finale?
• Evil is never really defeated
• Buffy refuses to commit
• Sharing the power
• Even Joss can’t ruin Buffy
• Spike and Willow: Hero and goddess
• Robin and Faith
• Anya and Andrew
• “There’s one in Cleveland…”

Next time: The big Buffy and Doctor Who Recap.

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 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 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 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.

Episode 228 – Knowledge Comes from Crafted Bindings and Pages

Episodes discussed: Doctor Who 10×1 The Pilot and Buffy 7×17 Lies My Parents Told Me

Time Stamps: DW 00:00-1:20:30; Buffy 1:20:30to the end

The Pilot

Written by Steven Moffat; Directed by Lawrence Gough

While lecturing at a university, the Doctor begins tutoring a member of the cafeteria staff. Discussion points include:

• Starting Capaldi’s final season and introducing Mackie
• New beginnings
• The tutor-student relationship
• Bill the sci-fi fan
• “A star in her eye”
• Memories again

Link: Friend from the Future – Pearl Mackie’s introduction video

Lies My Parents Told Me

Written by David Fury & Drew Goddard; Directed by David Fury

Spike and Robin’s complicated relationships with their mothers are explored. Discussion points includes:

• Spike vs. Nikki
• Spike’s… close relationship with his mother
• Curing Spike of the trigger
• Mothers’ love
• Another Slayer with family and friends
• Buffy’s disillusionment

Next time: Angel 4×16 Players and DW 10×2 Smile.

Episode 224 – We Are Gods. We Are As Gods.

Episodes discussed: BSG 4×23 Daybreak: Part 3 and Buffy 7×16 Storyteller

Time Stamps: BSG 00:00-1:35:55; Buffy 1:35:55 to the end

Daybreak: Part 3

Written by Ronald D. Moore; Directed by  Michael Rymer

As the Battlestar Galactica finally breaks apart, . Discussion points include:

• The breaking of the truce
• The fulfillment of destiny
• “It’s Earth”
• Regression & recursion
• Rounding out the character arcs
• The Epilogue

Storyteller

Written by Jane Espenson; Directed by Marita Grabiak

Andrew films a documentary about the Scooby gang for posterity. Discussion points includes:

• The three cameras
• Andrew’s “detached journalism”
• The inversion of “Superstar”
• Commentary on director-geek Whedon?
• Buffy’s story
• Xander and Anya’s future

Next time: Angel 4×13 Salvage and the BSG Season 4 & Series Recap.

Episode 223 – I’m Not Crossing That Line

Episodes discussed: Buffy 7×15 Get it Done and BSG 4×22 Daybreak: Part 2

Time Stamps: Buffy 00:00-1:07:10; BSG 1:07:10 to the end

Get It Done

Written and Directed by Doug Petrie

Buffy learns more about the origins of the First Slayer. Discussion points include:

• “Call me Robin”
• Drill sergeant Kennedy
• The First targets Chloe
• Buffy toughens up
• Stop holding back
• The origin myth

Daybreak: Part 2

Written by Ronald D. Moore; Directed by  Michael Rymer

The mission to rescue Hera gets underway. (Note: Part 2 pauses at 1:14:16 in the feature-length Blu-ray version.)Discussion points includes:

• The big, action climax
• Adama’s character assassination
• The CIC’s transformation
• Baltar’s BS saves the day
• Touched by an angel
• Farewells to supporting characters

Next time: BSG 4×23 Daybreak: Part 3 and Buffy 7×16 Storyteller.

Episode 221 – Everyone Is Hearing the Drumbeat

Episodes discussed: Buffy 7×14 First Date and BSG 4×12 Islanded in a Stream of Stars

Time Stamps: Buffy 00:00-58:40; BSG 58:40 to the end

First Date

Written by Jane Espenson; Directed by David Grossman

Buffy and Principal Wood grow more interested in each other, in more ways than one. Discussion points include:

• “He’s hot, but he could be evil”
• Another Slayer with family and friends
• Of course, Xander’s new flame is demonic
• The end of standalones
• The big date
• Andrew’s baby steps

Islanded in a Stream of Stars

Written by Michael Taylor; Directed by Edward James Olmos

As the Galactica continues to fall apart, Baltar exposes Kara’s secret. Discussion points includes:

• Hera’s predicament
• Forgiveness for Boomer & Tyrol
• Adama & BSG’s symbiosis
• Helo’s plea
• Kara’s rut
• Baltar is doing all right

Next time: BSG 4×21 Daybreak: Part 1 and Angel 4×12 Calvary.