Neil Gaiman’s sophomore effort is one of the most divisive in the history of new Doctor Who, with some fans adoring his take on the Cybermen and others viewing precocious children and speedy metal men with disdain. But what did the Three Who Rule think? What are Chris’s views on the Proper Use of the Pimp Hand? Was Steven his usual cheery self, and did Warren find time to admonish his fellow nerds for overexcitement? Mix in stats, leaked Series 7 DVDs, fake Target book covers, and more, and you’ve got yourself a veritable jambalaya of Doctor Who conversation for slightly less than an hour! |
| Show Notes:
- Nightmare…In Silver! |
New Doctor Who! And given such an auspicious occasion, it was no surprise that the Three Who Rule yammered on at length about “The Bells of Saint John,” and then further prognosticated on the news that David Tennant and Billie Piper will in fact return for the 50th anniversary special. Debate on the proper levels of fanwankiness for the special, speculation on the many hints and tidbits Moffat has seeded throughout his tenure leading up to November 23rd, 2013 and other wishes and dreams for the upcoming season were all grist for the fevered (and possibly insane) minds of the RFS crew. All this and various other tidbits of news, and more importantly, no stats. (Don’t worry, stats will be back in full force next week). |
| Show Notes:
- The Bells…Of Saint John! |
The Three Who Rule took almost as long to talk about “The Power of Three” this week as the (admittedly truncated) episode itself took to play out on UK television screens. So what did Steven, Warren and Chris think of the slow invasion of the world by an Ikea fever dream? Did they enjoy the emergence of a new generation of UNIT leadership or the strengthening of emotional bonds between the Doctor, the Ponds, and Pond Sr? Or did they think it was all a load of stapled-on Gallifreyan fairy tales sealed by a bit of wand-waving? You’ll just have to listen to find out! Also, don’t miss stats, more stats, arguments about the canonical nature of Bill Baggs videos, pedanting, prequeldanting, and more! |
| Show Notes:
- The Power…Of Three! |
Steven returns this week to the Radio Free Skaro fold after spending the previous week in a Doctor Who-less desolation in the form of the lakes area of Northern Wisconsin. A completely different desolate location (namely, Almeria, Spain) served as the backdrop of Episode Three of Series 7a of Doctor Who, A Town Called Mercy, a sharp-looking homage to the many spaghetti Westerns that were filmed in its environs. The Three Who Rule were surprisingly all on the same page when it comes to how well writer Toby Whithouse, director Saul Metzstein, and the rest of the team brought this episode to being… Also, an unexpected deluge of viewing figures dominates the news list, but is punctuated by the unqualified ratings success of Doctor Who on SPACE in Canada and the gradual realization that what has always been a niche show north of the 49th parallel is becoming part of the mainstream. And, no, we don’t know how to deal with that, either. |
| Show Notes:
- A Town Called…Mercy! |
With the furore and fascination of Eurovision now over with (oh, the excitement! The whimsy!), the Three Who Rule turn their gaze towards one of the most prolific directors in the new series, Euros Lyn, in this week’s Miniscope. Lyn was credited with directing an astonishing eleven episodes across nine stories, including some stunning work on Tooth and Claw, and some questionable decisions on the David Tennant/RTD finale The End of Time. Also discussed in this week’s podcast is Radio Free Skaro’s upcoming appearance at Westercon 66 in July 2013, and some exciting news on the DVD front in the months to come. All in all, this week’s episode is worth more Euros than money can buy! |
| Show Notes:
- Westercon…66! Miniscope: |
The RFS team is scattered hither and yon this week with Steven in Madison, Wisconsin, and Warren scooping up cross-border deals in Seattle, but they still manage to crank out another episode of Radio Free Skaro for your listening delight. This week, Steven and Chris postulate on the news that was, including a discussion on the wonderful Tales of Television Centre documentary that aired on BBC Four this past week, but all of the Three Who Rule are there to commentate over the final three episodes of Inferno, the 1970 Jon Pertwee classic. It’s the end of the world as we know it… |
| Show Notes:
- Script to Screen…2012! Commentary: |
On the same weekend that The Doctor’s Wife, along with The Girl Who Waited and A Good Man Goes To War, was nominated for a Hugo Award, it was fitting that we discuss the assorted works of that episode’s director, Richard Clark, in the Miniscope. The Three Who Rule also give a good going over to the other three episodes that Clark helmed, namely Gridlock, The Lazarus Experiment, and Night Terrors, all the while comparing Clark to such diverse geniuses as Stanley Kubrick and George Martin. Also, a slow news week does at least contain some juicy tidbits about Series 7, which is currently going before the cameras in Cardiff. And just you wait to find out who we randomly draw for the next Miniscope… |
| Show Notes:
- Chris Chibnall…Writes More Of Series 7! Miniscope: |
After five and a half years of middling Doctor Who talk and wildly inaccurate discussion about the programme and those who create it, The Three Who Rule reach the amazing milestone of their 300th episode of Radio Free Skaro. It’s been an epic ride from virtual obscurity for our first two years of existence to where we are today, and what better way to celebrate this event than the return of the Miniscope! In this instalment, we discuss the work of minor director Nicholas Mallett, whose Doctor Who output ranged from the very worst (“Paradise Towers”) to the very best (“The Curse of Fenric”), and everything in between (“The Mysterious Planet”). Given Warren’s rampant distaste for the Sylvester McCoy era, surely this will be a painful experience for him…or will it? This is the type of intrigue that has kept this show going for 300 episodes, and will push it into the future for at least a couple more. |
| Show Notes:
- Fictitious…Saturn Award Nominations! Miniscope: |
GALLY! It’s the most wonderful time of the year once again, a glorious three-days-to-a-week where thousands of Doctor Who fans descend on the LAX Marriott in Los Angeles and bathe in glorious nerdery (and also sip a snifter of port on occasion.)
Our annual tradition is to run through the convention schedule before we arrive, glossing over panels that we know nothing about (cosplay, crafts, Buffy fandom and Gay Agendas) and lionizing panels we think are cool (Steve Roberts, stuff we’re moderating, podcasting chinwags, and Steve Roberts.) While we strive to inform and entertain, Gally guests are well advised to check out both the website at www.gallifreyone.com and read their program guide upon arrival, which will soon become your Holy Text as you navigate past Tiki Daleks and Femmy Sixes. As always, the Three Who Rule will be releasing daily podcasts and interviewing many of the luminaries of new and Classic Who, but we’ll also be opening the convention with our live show, “Radio Free Skaro and the World of Tomorrow” on Friday, February 17th. at 12:00 p.m. If you’re going to be at #gally, we’d love for you to attend our live show for 90 minutes of fun and frivolity with Camille Coduri, Toby Haynes, Barnaby Edwards, Gary Russell and Simon Fisher-Becker. Gallifrey is one of the highlights of the year for the Three Who Rule and 2012 promises to be the best Gally yet. See you there! |
| Show Notes:
- Radio Free Skaro…And The World Of Tomorrow! |
A simple commentary about “Closing Time,” which gave the Three Who Rule ample time to discuss the great chemistry between Matt Smith and guest star James Corden, instead devolved into a simply rancid discussion on babies and their propensity to poop on this episode of Radio Free Skaro. Our choice of topic says more about us than it does about the episode at hand, which was a delightful romp penned by Gareth Roberts and not at all a treatise on infants and their digestive habits. But leaving the puerile giggling aside for the moment, weighty matters as fictitious awards, possibly crappy video games and the life and quick death of Doctor Who Insider were also covered. All this and backhanded compliments aimed at Eric Roberts, and you’ve got yourself approximately an hour of a podcast of some sort! |
| Show Notes:
- Radio Free Skaro…And The World Of Tomorrow! Commentary: |














