Did Moffat or RTD’s era have the best Christmas specials? 🎅 Doctor Who Debate

Did Steven Moffat or Russell T Davies have the better Doctor Who Christmas specials? Two opposing sides battle this question out in a Doctor Who Debate!

For this debate, we tackle the question of which era of Christmas specials were superior, the 2006-2009 David Tennant Christmas specials from Russell T Davies, or the 2010-2017 Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi Christmas specials from Steven Moffat. Each side makes two arguments for their position, before a final conclusion and rebuttal. Many points are raised, many sources are pointed to, many takes are shared — but it’s up to you to let us know what you think, and who won the debate!

TORCHWOOD: God Among Us (Series 6) | Discussion & Review Podcast

God in Cardiff, politics of villains, faith & the devout, twists & a fake-out, & plenty more about Torchwood series 6 is discussed here!

An Essay on TORCHWOOD: GOD AMONG US (Series 6)

Neo’s written essay on TORCHWOOD: GOD AMONG US (series 6).
How does this series treat faith? What statement does it make about systems of self-appointed leadership? How are storytelling fakeouts used? And what makes this series work in so many ways the last didn’t?
Plus a ranking of the twelve episodes!

An Essay on TORCHWOOD: ALIENS AMONG US (Series 5)

Neo’s written essay on TORCHWOOD: ALIENS AMONG US (series 5).
How does following up four TV series with an audio series work? How coherently was the chaos in Cardiff realised? Between alien refugees, police brutality, sex viruses, and a recurring motif of fake representation, just what did the series come together to say?
Plus a ranking of the twelve episodes!

TORCHWOOD: Aliens Among Us (Series 5) | Discussion & Review Podcast

2007 v 2017, new characters in a new Cardiff, the gig economy, artifice and mystery, returns and reinvention…this ‘series 5’ (of a sort) provides much to discuss!

An Essay on TORCHWOOD: MIRACLE DAY (Series 4)

Neo’s written on essay on TORCHWOOD: MIRACLE DAY (series 4).
Why did the season feel like it was plotted for five episodes, when it was actually plotted for thirteen? Was going to America an iterative move forward, or a misstep? What kind of social commentary was at play? And just how involved was Chris Chibnall?
Plus a ranking of the ten episodes!

TORCHWOOD: Miracle Day (Series 4) | Discussion & Review Podcast

Cardiff v America, the nuke-launching finale we never got, death pathologising, Jack’s character regression, & so – much – more…including very rarely-discussed revelations of RTD’s!

An Essay on TORCHWOOD: CHILDREN OF EARTH (Series 3)

Neo’s written essay on TORCHWOOD: CHILDREN OF EARTH (Series 3).
How did the UK’s parliamentary expenses scandal inform the reception of CHILDREN OF EARTH? How did Russell T Davies cope with using a writer’s room? Was the five-episode series a clean break from its predecessors, or a natural outgrowth of what came before? How consistently explored were the themes of muddled distinctions between humanity and inhumanity, and the unsustainability of systems that ‘pass the buck’?
Plus a ranking of the five episodes!

TORCHWOOD: Children of Earth (Series 3) | Discussion & Review Podcast

Who Cares about Torchwood: Children of Earth? A Capaldi character in chaos in Cardiff, a deep dive into Ianto’s background+sexuality+Twilight parallels, plus 456 different takes on totalitarianism & exceptionalism & more!

An Essay on TORCHWOOD: Series 2

Neo’s written essay on TORCHWOOD: Series 2.
The show gained more consistency in its second series – but what did it lose? What did the finale mean for the show? What did it mean to cast Spike from BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER? Was the focus on open communication and relationship maintenance a worthwhile iteration over the previous year’s consideration of heartfelt mundanity and work/life balance? Did Chris Chibnall write the most nuanced script of a series?
Plus a ranking of the thirteen episodes!