Doctor Who: Watchers in the Fourth Dimension

We reach the end of the Key to Time saga, where the production team decided to put the finale in the hands of a “safe pair of hands” – Bob Baker & Dave Martin (wut?). Anyway, they give us a bonkers story where two planets are fighting a deadly nuclear war, a shadowy figure manipulates things from in between the two planets, there’s a rogue Time Lord who presents as a used car salesman (ummmm… oooookay!), and the final segment o...

Big Methane, Swampies, the legendary Philip Madoc, and Brussell Sprout-looking Giant Squid-Gods? It’s that time Season 16 where things start to drop off a bit, as we get to The Power of Kroll! There’s some drama behind the scenes on this one – including actors being turned green for much longer than planned, and script writer Robert Holmes being a little petulant!

Join us as we discuss elaborate uniform designs for rig workers, c...

We’re off to the planet Tara, where we encounter a medieval society that has electric crossbows, electric swords, and androids. And may possibly be aware of alien life? It’s confusing. Anyway, there’s a dastardly plan afoot by the cunning Count Grendel to seize the throne and then…? Well, it’s not high stakes, but it’s a lot of fun. It’s The Androids of Tara!

Join us as we talk about the Doctor’s reluctance to actually be involve...

Oh wow! It’s the 100th Doctor Who serial! For those who don’t know, that’s The Stones of Blood – a story featuring more women that we’ve seen in a long time (including possibly the greatest batty old lady that we’ve seen to date!), a return to the gothic setting before pivoting to a space courtroom drama, and magnificent stone monoliths made out of polystyrene. What more could you possibly want in a story!?

Join us as we discuss ...

Bafflegab! We’re off to Calufrax (or is it Xanak?) in search of the second segment of the Key to Time, where a cybernetic old pirate and a decaying old Queen are busy declaring new golden ages of prosperity and destroying other planets. That’s right, we’re discussing Douglas Adams’ first contribution to Doctor Who with The Pirate Planet!

Join us as we discuss Douglas Adams’ outstanding dialogue and ability to build big plot conce...

The Watchers universe became so out-of-balance during the turbulent times of Season 15 that the White Guardian has summoned us all and instructed us to find the Key to Time so that we may bring balance back to fandom! That can only mean one thing: we’re kicking off Season 16’s Key to Time saga with The Ribos Operation!

Join us as we discuss our new companion(!), Holmesian double-acts, the smart use of the Shrivenzale, the touchin...

It’s our customary season retrospective, as we take a look back at Season 15. If you’ve been following the podcast as we’ve talked through each story, you’ll know that we’ve fully embraced our controversial era: disliking the stories that fandom loves, and loving the stories that the fandom hates – but how will they all stand-up to our usual blend of awards, metrics, and questions from our followers?

Join us as we talk about why ...

It’s time for our seasonal Big Finish bonus episode! Join us as we discuss The Fate of Krelos and Return to Mondas – four episodes featuring the Fourth Doctor, Leela, the Second Doctor, Jamie, and the Cybermen!

Join us as we talk about the dream of a Leela/Jamie team-up (and the disappointment of it not happening), the transformation of the Cybermen into the Borg, how fantastic Frazer Hines is, the strange emotional impact of K9 ...

Gallifrey, Vardans, AND Sontarans!? What is this madness!? Well, The Invasion of Time, apparently. Join us, the Watchers in the Fourth Dimension (of Rassilon) as we pick apart the Doctor’s latest return to his ancestral homeland for run-ins with high-ranking Time Lords, the introduction of exciting Time Ladies, and goodbyes to two beloved companions.

Join us as we talk about continuity errors, Tom Baker’s out-of-control ego, enor...

Questionable physics, enormous amounts of CSO, and shamelessly riffing on Greek mythology in a way that hasn’t been done since Season 9? Yeah, it can only be Underworld – widely touted as the worst story of the Tom Baker era. But is it really as bad as its reputation suggests, or will the Watchers find plenty to forgive? We ARE in our controversial era, so ANYTHING is possible!

Join us as we discuss budget sofas, surprisingly goo...

Are you an outgoing script editor? Do you have a grievance against a government agency? Is it specifically the tax authority? Well, why not write an entire serial of a kids’ show about the unfair burden of taxes? It’s a sure-fire winner, right?!? Right!?!? Even if not, it’s what happened for us to get The Sun Makers. Good job, Robert Holmes. Thankfully, your three favourite members of Watchers in the Fourth Dimension are here to di...

We continue our journey through all of Doctor Who, as we discuss the third serial of Season 15: Image of the Fendahl. Received fan wisdom has this as being one of the better stories of the season… however, we’re in our controversial era this season – will we find gothic Who’s final story be a worthy last hurrah, or will we find it to be as limp as a salt-covered leech? Listen in to find out!

Join us as we discuss Benedict Cumberb...

It’s time for a bonus episode! We are joined by our wonderful friend Diana Birney as we return to the very beginning, to discuss the recent re-edited, re-scored, and colourised version of The Daleks!

Join us as we talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of this. And there’s probably more bad and ugly than good, to be honest… still, even though they cut the “Baebara” storyline and removed any actual tension from the story, at l...

We (finally) say hello to the legendary robotic pooch known as K9, while we also take on a giant, aggressively randy space prawn virus (yes, seriously!) which just wants to infect everyone and then BREED in The Invisible Enemy. We’ve been crying out for the weird lately… but not like this!

Join us as we discuss cheap (but actually surprisingly good) sets, the disrespect that Leela receives, the good and the bad of the model work,...

Surprise bonus episode drop! We are joined by our good friend Robert Lloyd as we do the inevitable and revisit The Underwater Menace in the light of the recent animation. Suffice to say, nuzzink in the vorld can schtopp us now!

Join us as we discuss Professor Zaroff’s carefully curated brand, the wonderfully snarky octopus, whether Jamie has been eating a bit too much haggis, counter-culture hippy vibes, BBC animation budgets, an...

We kick off a brave new era as Graham Williams takes the reins of the show with the Season 15 opener, Horror of Fang Rock. This story features our only ever sighting of a Rutan – the mortal enemy of the Sontarans. It also features… rich people? Ugh. Ok, whatever, guys.

Join us as we discuss Leela’s bloodlust, Terrance Dicks’ love of the green, whether this story suffered from overspending at the end of the previous season, the ab...

As has become our custom, we wrap up the season with a bonus episode featuring a Big Finish story set during the season we’ve just discussed. For Season 14, we’re heading back to Tom Baker’s first release for Big Finish with Destination: Nerva!

Join us as we discuss *the squish*, actors getting older, unnecessary back stories, how the storytelling gives a sense of grand scope, yet another plot ripping off The Thing, and spreading...

It’s time for our all-singing, all-dancing Season 14 retrospective! Except, there’s no singing, and no dancing. Just the usual format, with your three erstwhile hosts having an absolute blast recapping one of the most iconic seasons of the classic show.

Join us as we talk about the departure of Sarah and the arrival of Leela, blowing the budget on Talons, the lack of women in the Hinchcliffe era, and whether Tom Baker has by this...

Oh boy… it’s time for us to cover The Talons of Weng-Chiang! For a long time considered one of the greatest Doctor Who stories of all time, but more recently faced with accusations of racism, you just know that this is going to be a wild ride of a discussion!

Join us as we talk about Britbox trigger warnings, John Bennett in yellowface, creepy AF puppets with pig brains, classic Holmesian double acts, Victorian London, time cabin...