Who's Who

The final episode of a television series is a dramatic thing. Do we get a resolution to the stories that we've become so invested in? Do we finally learn the answers to the questions we've been asking over the years? Do we look back on the series as having been a satisfying trip from beginning to end? ... Or do we get a weird underground lair, the yourself-as-your-enemy allegory and a surprising over-use of Dem Bones ?

It's funny how true to the pattern things can be - a good episode of the series and a bad episode of the series, and somehow they always end up next to each other, paired up for us to cover simultaneously. Show notes and links: "The Prisoner" The Girl Who Was Death (TV Episode 1968) (imdb.com) "The Prisoner" Once Upon a Time (TV Episode 1968) (imdb.com) The Prisoner - behind the scenes (youtube.com) The documentary we will be watching together with _Fall Out_ for our next, and final, episode.

In words more befitting a review of Doctor Who than The Prisoner, this week we go back to the Wild West and take part in an adventure that eventually turns out to have scientifically advanced machinations behind it. Then - paranoia upon paranoia - as paranoid people do paranoid things to make the paranoid even paranoider.

Looks like I forgot to publish this one. Yeah, that's what happens when you're in crunch mode and every living minute goes to the code on the screen in front of you. You pass in and out of consciousness, the days begin to melt into each other and eventually you find out that you've forgotten to publish a podcast. Don't start developing, my children. Being a developer means never being happy with your code.

It's funny how one of the worst episodes and one of the best episodes of The Prisoner arrive the same week. But that's what they did. Still; it's not all bad. We learned a new phrase this week; "Don do rodo-roi."

A month can seem like such a short time when you're having fun - but when you're waiting for another podcast episode of Petter and Breki talking about The Prisoner - an entire month is just way too long to wait. But wait no more! The episode. It is here. Show notes and links: The Prisoner (TV Series 1967–1968) - Full Cast & Crew (imdb.com) Peter Brace - IMDb (imdb.com) This link has no title (imdb.com) John Castle - IMDb (imdb.com) The Prisoner - The General (youtube.com) Peter Bowles - IMDb (imdb.com) Annette Carell - IMDb (imdb.com) Katherine Kath - IMDb (imdb.com) Colin Gordon - IMDb (imdb.com)

Another Wednesday, another deep dive into The Prisoner. This week, we're looking at Checkmate and The Schizoid Man, two episodes where Number Six gets closer than ever to winning.. Show notes and links: Prisoner Convention Portmeirion Six of One McGoohan Home Page (portmeiricon.com)

In our second week of this mid-season extra mini-series, we tackle the next two episodes of The Prisoner, namely Dance of the Dead and Chimes of Big Ben. Deep philosophical discussions ensue.

On this very special episode of Who's Who, we're launching our mini-mini series, Who Is Number One?, a look at the good old television series The Prisoner. We'll be back to Doctor Who in just a few weeks, don't worry. Here's the episode order we'll be doing them in (Our current plan, at least): (This Episode) Arrival + Free For All Dance of the Dead + Chimes of Big Ben Checkmate + The Schizoid Man The General + A. B. and C. Many Happy Returns + It's Your Funeral. A Change of Mind + Do Not Forsake Me Oh My My Darling Living In Harmony + Hammer into Anvil The Girl Who was Death + Once Upon a Time Fall Out

It's been a wild journey, but we're finally done with the classic Doctor Who stories. Let's take a look back at what got us from there to here - and let's talk about what comes next.

So it's come to this. Dec 3, 2013 - that's when we released the first episode of this show... And today, April 28th, 2018, we're releasing the final episode ... of Season one. Because we've just finished the Doctor Who TV movie and are done with "classic" Doctor Who ! It's been an amazing journey, folks, and we have lots more to come, so stay tuned! Show notes and links: Doctor Who (TV Movie 1996) (imdb.com)

So; it's come to this. After starting the show all the way back in December of 2013, we never thought we'd get this far - but here we are... At the very end of the series. And boy, oh boy, was this a disappointment. Don't get me wrong; there have been some great things along the way, and most of the final couple of seasons were really good! ... But then it ends on this ... thing. This ... Survival; the Serial of Suck ...

It's the penultimate serial. It's the last serial with a non-Master villain. It's the last time we get to see the Doctor and Ace solving a viking-related mystery. So many lasts.

It's the third from the last serial in classic Who, and we're really beginning to feel the panic. What will our lives look like after we run out of show? What will we do with our lives? It will be so ... so empty. Show notes and links: "Doctor Who" Ghost Light: Part One (TV Episode 1989) (imdb.com) "Doctor Who" Ghost Light: Part Two (TV Episode 1989) (imdb.com) "Doctor Who" Ghost Light: Part Three (TV Episode 1989) (imdb.com)

You know, the anagram for this serial's name is "It fell at bed", which is alot more amusing and entertaining than anything that happens in this serial ... unfortunately.

While this episode might not be the greatest show in the galaxy, it's definitely way up there. There's all kinds of goodness here, even a rap by none other than your host, Breki! A must-listen.

As far as nemesises ... nemesees... namesisses... Neemeesees ... Enemies .. go. You'd really want one made of silver. It's a malleable metal and has a relatively low melting point, so the enemy has a lot of weak points for you to attack. ... Which is a pretty good description of how we feel about this episode, too. Show notes and links: "Doctor Who" Silver Nemesis: Part One (TV Episode 1988) (imdb.com)

On one level, this is another silly episode of Doctor Who, featuring a mode of execution that involves drowning people in candy syrup and a villain who is literally made of Basset Allsorts. On another level, this is a triumphant standpoint against Thatcherism and the anti-gay laws being passed in the United Kingdom. On a third level, this serial is a meditation on the being - or not being - of happiness as a state in and of itself, restricted in a sense by not knowing alternate states... This serial is, perhaps, both of these things. And so much more. Don't be put off by the cover when you read this book. Show notes and links: The Happiness Patrol - Wikipedia (wikipedia.org) BBC - Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide - The Happiness Patrol (bbc.co.uk) The Happiness Patrol: Doctor Who classic episode #16 | Television & radio (theguardian.com) Doctor Who S25 E2 "The Happiness Patrol" / Recap (tvtropes.org)

Remember the Daleks? No? Well; The Doctor does. He even has a long and exposition:y scene in the second episode that's all about the Daleks and his history with them. What follows is then another two and a half episodes of greatness. Really. This was a really good serial.

In an episode with no real dragons and very little fire to speak of, we're left wondering if it's truly as ace as they say it is. Maybe ... Just maybe ... It's a little bitt naff? Show notes and links: "Doctor Who" Dragonfire: Part One (TV Episode 1987) (imdb.com) Patricia Quinn - IMDb (imdb.com) Mel Bush Page: Head Games (tetrap.com) BBC - Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide - Dragonfire (bbc.co.uk)