The Writers' Room
Episode 36 - Ian Briggs & Rona Munro

We've reached the end of another calendar year and that, apparently, means it's time to do more Seventh Doctor writers. This month, Erik and Kyle are talking about two writers who collectively wrote three stories all about the character of Ace. Ian Briggs introduced Ace in "Dragonfire" and then dealt with her mother issues in "The Curse of Fenric," and Rona Munro's sole contribution to the Doctor Who canon just happens to be the last story of the classic series, as well as one that deals with the idea of home and refusing violence. Good stuff this month, folks.

Direct download: Episode_36_-_Ian_Briggs__Rona_Munro.mp3
Category:Doctor Who -- posted at: 12:20pm EDT

Episode 35 - John Lucarotti This month, we talk about one of the most legendary writers in Doctor Who history, that being John Lucarotti. Why legendary? Well anyone who writes "The Aztecs" deserves that title, but lately a lot of people have been talking about his first story, "Marco Polo," with a lot of reverence. Is it worth that reverence? And finally, he wrote "The Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Eve," which was then heavily rewritten. So, like, what's the deal with Johnny Lukes?
Direct download: Episode_35_-_John_Lucarottii.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:30pm EDT

Episode 34 - Johnny Byrne

Oh, hello, the 1980s. How are you this month? Erik and Kyle have remained in the decade of JNT and are looking at the three stories written by prolific TV writer Johnny Byrne, whose contributions to Doctor Who are "The Keeper of Traken," "Arc of Infinity," and "Warriors of the Deep." These three stories don't normally have the highest approval rating, but that's not specifically fair in some of the cases. Can Byrne's writing save stories with a polystyrene statue that can walk, a chicken monster with a ray gun, and a giant pantomime lizard? We'll find out today!

Direct download: Episode_33_-_Johnny_Byrne.mp3
Category:Doctor Who -- posted at: 1:41pm EDT

Episode 33 - Peter Grimwade

We've finally made it through the lengthy (though highly enjoyable if you ask us) jaunt with Hulke and Nation and we're celebrating by heading with Doctor Who into the future! All the way to the 1980s, that is. This month, we're talking about the three stories written by Peter Grimwade, the production assitant turned director turned writer. While we certainly do talk about his stint directing stories, we obviously focus on his authorial work, which consists of "Time-Flight," "Mawdryn Undead," and "Planet of Fire," all of which during the Peter Davison years. Well, at least we START with "Time-Flight," but there's also much talk about timelines and overcrowded storylines and TARDISes used for everything under the sun. 

Direct download: Episode_33_-_Peter_Grimwade.mp3
Category:Doctor Who -- posted at: 12:19am EDT

Episode 32 - Destiny of the Dinosaurs (Hulke and Nation Finale)

After a whopping 8 months(!) of talking about the Doctor Who stories of Malcolm Hulke and the Dalek stories written by Terry Nation, Erik and Kyle are wrapping up both writers in one episode, talking about both of their final stories, and both of them seem to be good encapsulations of what their whole career on the show was like. For Hulke, we have "Invasion of the Dinosaurs" and for Nation we have "Destiny of the Daleks." Is it necessarily fair to pair these two stories up in one episode? NOPE! But we did it anyway.

Next month, we'll be back to business as usual with a writer who can be entirely covered in one episode.

Direct download: Episode_32_-_Destiny_of_the_Dinosaurs.mp3
Category:Doctor Who -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Episode 31 - Genesis of the Daleks

This month is another of our single-story episode, and while it's not as long as "The War Games" or "Dalek's Master Plan," it's definitely got some gravitas to it. This is, of course, Terry Nation's 1975 Doctor Who story, "Genesis of the Daleks," his final script for a number of years and Tom Baker's first fracas with the rolling tank things. However, as Erik and Kyle discover, it's not so much about the Daleks as it is about their creator, the insane and immeasurably fascinating Davros. This script is known for having some amazing dialogue scenes, but does the rest of the story hold up as well? 

Direct download: Episode_31_-_Genesis_of_the_Daleks.mp3
Category:Doctor Who -- posted at: 11:54pm EDT

Episode 30 - Malcolm Hulke Part 3

After a pretty lackluster Terry Nation month, we return with a pretty impressive Malcolm Hulke month, discussing the "... in Space" Duology of Season 8's "Colony in Space" and Season 10's "Frontier in Space." One depicts the struggle of settlers against a mining corporation, the other depicts the Cold War between two great empires, and they both have the Master showing up a few episodes into it and proving what an opportunist he is. One of these stories ranks as one of Hulke's best; can you guess which?!

Direct download: Episode_30_-_Malcolm_Hulke_Part_3.mp3
Category:Doctor Who -- posted at: 1:00am EDT

Episode 29 - Terry Nation Part 3

This month, Erik and Kyle are still in the midst of their alternating looks at two of the most prolific and influential writers in all of Doctor Who - Malcolm Hulke and Terry Nation. For this episode, it's a discussion of Nation's two stories fom the Jon Pertwee era, "Planet of the Daleks" and "Death to the Daleks." The first is almost always cited as "Terry Nation's Greatest Hits," which the second is often said to be Nation doing something slightly (but not entirely) different. Do the fellas agree with this summation?

Next month: Malcolm Hulke's "Colony in Space" and "Frontier in Space."

Direct download: Episode_29_-_Terry_Nation_Pt_3.mp3
Category:Doctor Who -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Episode 28 - Malcolm Hulke part 2

This month we return to looking at the work of Malcolm Hulke with his two Homo reptilia stories, "Doctor Who and the Silurians" from Season 7 and "The Sea Devils" from Season 9. Both involve a hyper-advanced reptile race that ruled the globe long before humanity, but as Kyle and Erik determine, were Hulke coming at the concept from completely different angles. They discuss military might, government bureaucracy, the Doctor's disdain for all authority even at the cost of hindering progress, and why neither Liz nor Jo had anything to do.

Thanks for listening to our Bracket Special at the beginning of the month. Winners announced herein. 

Direct download: Episode_28_-_Malcolm_Hulke_pt_2.mp3
Category:Doctor Who -- posted at: 3:34am EDT

The Doctor Who Spring Insanity Tournament of Episodes Bracket Podcast Mash-Up Special

Here it is, folks! For your listening pleasure, a special tournament special bracket special of special specialness in which Kyle and Erik of this here podcast (The Writers' Room, obvs) get together with Steven Schapansky of Radio Free Skaro and The Memory Cheats, Erika Ensign of Verity!, and Josh Zimon of The Memory Cheats and Mostly Harmless Cutaway to determine once and for all what the best Doctor Who episode/story of all time is.

Basing the discussion on the top 64 stories from the Doctor Who Magazine poll from June of 2014, the five panelists will vote based purely on personal preference in a seeded system that ranks the stories in quadrants. You'll get the idea once we get going.

Please enjoy, and let us know what you think! We'll resume regular episodes in a fortnight. 

Direct download: Doctor_Who_Bracket_Tournament_Special.mp3
Category:Doctor Who -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Episode 27 - The Daleks' Master Plan

Another look at a super long stoy, but this time, unlike "The War Games," it's one neither Kyle nor Erik had seen (heard) before. Yep, the gents are back in the realm of Terry Nation for part two of our look at the Dalek creator with the massive 13-episode run comprising "Mission to the Unknown" and all of "The Daleks' Master Plan," on which he split writing duties with Dennis Spooner. And you know what? It shows! Companions, both pseudo and regular, get talked about extensively, as does whether the Daleks work in the context of old timey space opera. Or, for that matter, in any context at all. There's not even any real indication they even had a master plan to begin with.

Direct download: Episode_27_-_The_Daleks_Master_Plan.mp3
Category:Doctor Who -- posted at: 1:00am EDT

Episode 26 - Malcolm Hulke Pt 1 w/ Paul Cornell

Recorded LIVE (and quietly) at the LAX Marriott following Gallifrey One 2015, Erik and Kyle are joined by writer, author, scholar, and Doctor Who expert to talk about the beginnings of Malcolm Hulke's time on the series, writing "The Faceless Ones" in 1967 with David Ellis, and ghost-rewriting David Whitaker's "The Ambassadors of Death" for Terrance Dicks. These be fun conversations, and we're pleased Paul was here to help.

Direct download: 26_Malcolm_Hulke_part_1.mp3
Category:Doctor Who -- posted at: 3:46pm EDT

Episode 25 - Terry Nation Part 1

It's 2015 and Erik and Kyle have lost their minds. It was bound to happen some time, but they've decided to finally delve into the infamous Dalek-filled writings of Doctor Who's only writer ever to get filthy stinking rich from writing the show, Terry Nation. Because he wrote so much for the show, it's going to take us a while to get through it all, but we better start now. This month, we begin with his first three Dalek stories, "The Daleks," "The Dalek Invasion of Earth," and "The Chase." 

Direct download: Episode_25_-_Terry_Nation_pt_1.mp3
Category:Doctor Who -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

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