TARDIS Rubbish: A DOCTOR WHO Podcast

S3E3 - AN ABSOLUTE JOY: Series 2 Post-Mortem with JOHN HIGGS

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 07:01:00 -0000

Exterminate/Regenerate author JOHN HIGGS rematerializes at the console to do a post-mortem on series 2, Ncuti Gatwa’s tenure as the Doctor…and the RTD2 era as a whole?

Visit www.johnhiggs.com to SUBSCRIBE to his Substack BUY Exterminate/Regenerate PRE-ORDER Lynchian: The Spell of David Lynch

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S3E2 - EXTERMINATE/REGENERATE: An Interview with John Higgs

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 07:01:00 -0000

Timothy Leary. William Blake. The 20th-freakin-century. Just some of the topics that writer John Higgs has tackled in his career as an author. And now—almost inevitably!—he turns his eyestalk on Doctor Who in his latest book, EXTERMINATE/REGENERATE: The Story of Doctor Who which comes out April 10. Listen to Josh talk to one of his favorite writers from across the pond, Mr. John Higgs.

More from John: www.johnhiggs.com Order the book: https://geni.us/ExterminateRegenerate

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S3E1 - The Redundant Vestiges of its Function: CITY OF DEATH

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 15:23:31 -0000

It's Paris, 1979! Something of a table wine, really. As we wait between seasons of NewNuWho, we revisited one of the old favorites...it's CITY BWOING OF DEATH!

📖 CHAPTERS

00:01:20 Why City of Death?
00:01:53 John's Impressions as a New Series Fan 00:07:09 The Classic Who Experience
00:13:26 Michael’s Love for the Serial
00:19:32 Douglas Adams’ Influence
00:25:54 The Humor and Tone
00:30:58 The Paris Setting and On-Location Filming
00:35:34 Julian Glover is a Treasure 00:40:06 Fan Backlash and John Nathan-Turner’s Response
00:46:06 A Doctor Who/Star Trek Connection
00:50:42 The Art Heist Plot and Story Structure
00:55:02 Doctor Who Fandom’s Influence
01:00:01 Douglas Adams’ Legacy and Speculating on His Future Views
01:04:18 AI, Computer Pictures, and the Future of Creativity
01:07:46 Final Thoughts and Episode Ratings

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S2E7 - The 'T' Stands for Troll: EMPIRE OF DEATH

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 17:17:55 -0000

Better late than never! Recorded the day after Empire of Death first dropped, Josh, Michael A. Nixon, and Riley Silverman shared their thoughts on the capper of Ncuti Gatwa’s first season as the Doctor. Learn what we thought about the return of Sutekh, the resolution of Ruby Sunday's backstory, and whether this season succeeded as an entry point for new viewers.

📖 CHAPTERS

00:00:00 Guest introductions 00:01:26 Overall thoughts on "Empire of Death" 00:05:06 Discussion of Ruby Sunday's backstory resolution 00:14:52 Critique of Sutekh as the villain 00:25:29 Analysis of the episode's emotional logic and structure 00:31:45 Comparison to previous Doctor Who finales 00:37:43 Discussion on succession planning for Doctor Who showrunners 00:44:29 Speculation about Mrs. Flood's identity 00:49:37 Debate on the effectiveness of universe-ending stakes 00:55:29 Reflection on the season as a whole 01:08:12 Discussion of the season finale's cliffhanger 01:14:24 Thoughts on individual episodes throughout the season 01:18:32 Side discussion on UNIT and Kate Stewart 01:21:05 Speculation on potential spin-offs 01:22:42 Concluding remarks and teaser for Christmas special

See you all at Christmas! (If not sooner... ;)

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S2E6 - Who's Your Mummy? THE LEGEND OF RUBY SUNDAY

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 14:12:00 -0000

Join the TARDIS Rubbish crew as they discuss "The Legend of Ruby Sunday," the penultimate episode of Doctor Who Season 14/1/40. Josh, John, Michael, and Adrienne share their thoughts on Russell T Davies' penultimate episode, diving deep into the revelations, callbacks, and theories about what's to come in the finale.

📖 CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro and overall thoughts 5:45 Russell T Davies' writing and storytelling approach 12:30 Susan Foreman and the Doctor's past 18:15 Sutekh reveal and classic Who connections 25:00 Tech billionaires and societal commentary in Doctor Who 32:30 The Doctor's role in humanity's development 39:45 Ruby's character growth and emotional moments 45:30 Davies' recommended watch list and Pyramids of Mars 52:15 Engaging with classic Doctor Who episodes 58:45 Doctor Who's unique development as a series 1:05:00 Final thoughts and looking ahead to the finale

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S2E5 - You're a Beautiful Woman, Probably: ROGUE

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:30:06 -0000

Join our messy TARDIS crew as we dive into "Rogue,” episode 6 of Doctor Who Season 14/1 — a story that feels like a "D&D one-shot campaign" with its Regency era setting, shapeshifting villains, and the Doctor falling hard for the charming but mysterious Jonathan Groff.

We analyze the Doctor's emotional journey from avoidant to uninhibited, the significance of the first on-screen queer romance and kiss, and speculate on Rogue's true identity. We also heap praise on Millie Gibson's Ruby, who continues to prove she was perfectly cast.

S2E4 - The Man Trap: DOT AND BUBBLE

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 17:30:00 -0000

We dive into the latest Doctor Who episode, "Dot and Bubble," exploring its cutting commentary on social media and classism (among other things). Join Josh and special guests Guy, John, and Riley Silverman for discussions of:

The unsettling portrayal of an influencer-driven society
The chillingly casual monsters
The powerful ending that foregrounds the Doctor's race

📖 CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions 01:04 Riley's Favorite Doctor and Personal Connection 06:56 John's Analysis of Dot and Bubble 11:42 Riley's Thoughts on Dot and Bubble 9:08 Guy's Perspective on Dot and Bubble 33:39 Doctor Lite Episodes: Clever Solutions 34:20 Spoilers and Racism in the Ending 35:06 Comparing Chibnall and Davies' Approaches 36:00 ComparingDoctor Lite Episodes 36:47 Casting and Racial Commentary 43:21 Intersectionality and Social Commentary 47:11 Algorithm and AI Commentary 50:23 Ncuti's Performance and Emotional Impact 56:42 Real-World Reflections and Personal Stories 01:06:50 Concluding Thoughts

🔗 LINKS

Riley’s interview with David Tennant, Matt Smith, and Jodie Whittaker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP3GYK2N7m0

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S2E3 - Never, Ever Tell Me the Rules: 73 YARDS

Wed, 29 May 2024 12:30:00 -0000

The Rubbish crew was bowled over by this Doctor-lite episode, which focuses entirely on new companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) as she finds herself abandoned by everyone she cares about...while stalked by a mysterious woman who maintains her titular distance.

Topics covered:

Overall thoughts on this dark, grounded horror episode
Ruby's fear of abandonment and how the episode explores it
The lack of The Doctor and Ruby having to solve problems on her own
The prime minister storyline as political commentary
Questions around the mechanics of the time loop and Ruby's nature
The use of old age makeup (or lack thereof)
Magic in the Whoniverse and whether it will continue to play a role

Plus, in a Tardis Rubbish tradition, Kelly and Michael reveal their favorite Doctors.

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S2E2 - Capitalist Landmines: BOOM

Wed, 22 May 2024 12:15:00 -0000

Former Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat is back with "Boom," and the TARDIS Rubbish crew is here to break it all down! Join Josh, John, and Michael as they dive deep into this explosive episode. Discussions include:

Moffat's trademark tight plotting and balance of tones
Ncuti Gatwa's powerhouse performance as the Doctor
Themes of faith, capitalism, and the power of stories
How modern Who relates to shows like Lost & Game of Thrones
...and of course, a "Moffat Bingo Card" of recurring tropes!

And somebody interrupts our time stream...and the love fest.

NEXT WEEK: Russell's best work? We'll be the judge of that! It's 73 YARDS!

Note: Josh forgot to ask Michael his favorite Doctor, as is our tradition with guests on their first appearance. This will be remedied forthwith!

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S2E1 - Baby's in Black and I'm Feeling Blue: SPACE BABIES & THE DEVIL'S CHORD

Thu, 16 May 2024 22:33:54 -0000

At the TARDIS Rubbish console this week is Josh, John, Guy, and Adrienne on the occasion of Ncuti Gatwa's first proper season as the 15th Doctor! In this episode we react to the first two episodes: "Space Babies" and "The Devil's Chord."

We explore the ambitious concept of talking space babies, Ncuti's infectious enthusiasm, and the subtext surrounding the abortion debate. We also delve into the unsettling performance of Jinx Monsoon as the Maestro and the existential dread it brings to the show.

And meta elements take center stage as we theorize about the Doctor's place in the Pantheon, the mysterious "One Who Waits," and the increasing prominence of fourth-wall breaking moments.

NEXT WEEK: Boom!

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S1E4 - The Doctor Dances Again: THE CHURCH ON RUBY ROAD

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 11:30:00 -0000

Join Josh, John, Guy, and Jack as they pilot the TARDIS through a discussion of the 2023 Doctor Who Christmas Special "The Church on Ruby Road." We talk theories about new characters like Ruby and Mrs. Flood, first impressions of Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor, and lingering questions around those ominous apartment cracks. We'll break down standout scenes like the hilarious goblin musical number and the Doctor's brilliant deductions. Expect closer analysis on topics ranging from how this special compares to past Davies and Moffat eras, to whether it can appeal to wider mainstream audiences.

Along the journey you'll discover each host's favorite Doctor, the nostalgic elements that had them cheering, their biggest hopes for 2023’s Series 1, and whether this episode lived up to the hype and legacy of Christmas specials past. Is "The Church on Ruby Road" a new holiday classic or a lump of coal? Grab your sonic screwdrivers and hop aboard the TARDIS to find out!

0:02 Introduction and Welcome 0:20 Meet the Panel 1:00 Favorite Doctors Discussion 1:55 Guy's Overall Impression of "The Church on Ruby Road" 5:02 John's Perspective on Doctor Who Special 9:09 Jack's Analysis of Doctor Who Christmas Episode 15:39 Viewing Experiences 25:00 Accessibility of Doctor Who 2005 Reboot 27:35 Accessibility Expectations for New Doctor Who 30:47 Introducing Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor 33:14 Diversity Casting Risks in Doctor Who 35:08 Significance of the 13th Doctor's Cultural Moment 37:13 Addressing Woke Criticism in Doctor Who 39:39 The Foundling: Plot Analysis 40:19 Exploring the Chibnall Era and its Impact 41:15 Critique of the Chibnall Era 42:16 The Vitriol Against the Chibnall Era 45:37 The Return of Russell T. Davies 46:10 Christmas Special as Doctor Who Entry Point 46:46 The Depth of Good Storytelling 47:59 Reflections on the Chibnall Era 49:02 The Impact of Ruby's Family 58:37 Theories on Mrs. Flood 1:04:39 Reflections on the Chibnall Era and the New Doctor 1:08:16 Comparing Ruby Sunday to Clara Oswald 1:10:49 Role of Coincidence and Luck in Doctor Who 1:11:47 Theories on the Mysterious Mother Figure 1:14:36 The Doctor's Swagger and the Upcoming Season

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S1E3 - Ze Giggle

Sat, 16 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Join Josh and guests James, John, and Guy for an in-depth breakdown of the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special "The Giggle." Topics covered include:

Initial reactions to the celebratory special and how it provides closure while setting up exciting new adventures
Analyzing the complex "bi-regeneration" plot device that splits the 14th Doctor in two
Appreciating Ncuti Gatwa's debut performance as the exuberant 15th Doctor
Discussing the Toymaker as an unsettling yet whimsical villain and Neil Patrick Harris's scene-stealing portrayal
Exploring the thought-provoking thematic threads about trauma, anger, guilt, and healing
Assessing how these specials compare in scope and impact to the 50th anniversary episode
Speculating on story elements and characters seeded in this special to pay off in future seasons

Join us after Christmas as we review the Fifteenth Doctor's first full adventure, "The Church on Ruby Road!"

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S1E2 - Wilf Blue Yonder

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 13:00:00 -0000

Join hosts Josh, John, and Guy discuss the second Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Special, "Wild Blue Yonder."

The trio analyzes the unexpected stand-alone adventure style of this special, praising showrunner Russell T. Davies' ability to craft an emotionally impactful "haunted house in space" story with just the core cast. They explore the horror and existential elements of the episode, comparing it to classic stories like "Midnight" and "The Ark in Space."

The hosts also discuss the cameo appearance of Wilf and what his character has meant to them and the show. They speculate on the significance of plot elements like the song "Wild Blue Yonder" and the mysterious being known as "The Boss."

As they look ahead to the final special, "The Giggle," Josh, John, and Guy share their hopes for a bittersweet farewell to the 14th Doctor and Donna Noble as well as an answer to the lingering question "Why this face?"

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S1E1 - The Star Beast Awakens!

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 18:30:00 -0000

TARDIS Rubbish: A Dive into 'The Star Beast' and the Future of Doctor Who

In the inaugural episode of 'TARDIS Rubbish', Josh, James and John react to the first new Doctor Who in over a year, discussing the regeneration of The 14th Doctor, the nostalgia in the episode, the fun and heartwarming moments, and the bold statements on gender representation. They also speculate what's in store in the upcoming specials.

00:02 Introduction and Welcome 00:40 Who is Your Doctor? - Panel Discussion 04:41 The Star Beast - Initial Reactions 10:08 Doctor Who's Audience and Representation 21:39 Exploring the Theme of Identity 25:49 The Doctor's Choice and Future Speculation 27:20 The Emotional Connection to Characters 27:23 The Evolution of the Doctor 29:45 The Balance of Drama and Comedy 31:18 The Magic of Doctor Who 31:58 The Impact of Budget on Production 32:30 The Cheesy Factor in Doctor Who 32:58 The Future of Doctor Who 36:35 The Importance of Consistent Release 38:36 The Potential for Spinoffs 40:55 Predictions for Upcoming Specials 49:13 The Evolution of Doctor Who Over Time 49:55 Closing Thoughts and Hopes for the Future

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