Fifteen years ago, The Doctor had to wipe Donna Noble's mind or else the knowledge of a Time Lord would burn her up. While he put in a failsafe to make sure that she would never remember him, fate has returned the face of the 10th Doctor and reunited him with Donna and her family. Can he save her life, and protect the world from the return of the Toymaker? Vinnk and Sean review the three specials that comprise Doctor Who's 60th Anniversary - The Star Beast, Wild Blue Yonder, and The...

It was only a year into the Doctor Who revival of 2005 that David Tennant took over as the titular Time Lord. Would the show survive changing its lead so soon when it had barely found its feet? Four years later, we scarcely had to wonder, as arguably the most popular incarnation of the new era (and possibly all time) said goodbye. (Well, technically he said "I don't want to go", but still...) With David Tennant set to return, albeit briefly, as the 14th Doctor in 2023's three-part 60th...

In the near future of 2033, Nathan is working on a free version of the software that runs the digital afterlife, only to be uploaded to one of the poshest versions around after his self-driving care malfunctions and crashes. Nora is an "Angel" who works at Lakeview, in charge of Nathan's comfort and digital appearance in his forever-after. Sparks fly! And we're not talking about the crashed car. As a relative investigates the circumstances about Nathan's death, Nora discovers that some of...

You can't go back to Schmigadoon. So when Josh and Mel find out that their happy ending got them stuck in a rut, they wind up in the land of Schmicago, but populated with a lot of familiar faces, and -- if you're a music fan -- familiar leitmotifs. For the first time ever, Vinnk and Sean review a new season of a show that was previously reviewed on the podcast. How does Schmigadoon's sophomore outing stack up against the original, a show that wasn't even called "season 1" when it came...

When The Super Mario Bros. Movie was first announced with scant details except an all-star cast, rumors ran wild. Will they try live action again, or is it animated? Will they try one of the many recent video game plots, or will this be an all-new story? Is this a complete and utter financial folly, with $300 million in development and promotion? Vinnk and Sean review the highest-grossing film of 2023, and (so far) the 19th top grossing film of all time, point out every visual and audio...

Doctor Who tried to come back in the '90s, but it didn't take. Christopher Eccleston's short 13-episode run re-ignited the show into a new cultural powerhouse, which also spawned two concurrent spin-off series. Vinnk and Sean, along with guest host Miles (from sister podcast Casual Trek) examine what made the 2005 relaunch successful, areas where Davies wasn't so strong, and some of what we can look forward to (or are dreading) when he returns as Doctor Who showrunner in...

Originally Broadcast 2022/12/05: Last week we took a look at the beginning the current era of Doctor Who. This week, our friends at Casual Trek break down the end of the Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall era of the show. Once more we throw ourselves into very un-Casual waters as Miles tries to tell Charlie whether or not it's worth Charlie's time to watch Jodie Whittaker's final episode of her tenure as Doctor Who. Will Charlie watch and have an opinion of his own? Jump to TIMECODE 53:00...

When Doctor Who relaunched in 2005 on the BBC after a failed (but serviceable) Fox US movie/pilot barely a decade earlier, many of us didn't know what to expect. We didn't expect Christopher Eccleston, and we certainly didn't expect Russel T Davies and his eccentric touch, but both rocketed the franchise into a new golden age the likes of which could only have been imagined by fans of the classic series. Vinnk and Sean, along with guest host Miles (from sister podcast Casual Trek) relive...

Johnny Lawrence is long past his glory days, estranged from his son and mother of his child. That is, until he encounters a kid who needs help. Fortunately, Johnny is still bad-ass, and beats up a bunch of minors Miyagi-style. Miguel Diaz becomes the first student of the new Cobra Kai dojo, where Johnny teaches him how to deal with the bullies from West Valley High. Miguel has eyes for Sam, daughter of Johnny's long-time rival and successful auto dealer Daniel LaRusso, who is not very...

Originally Broadcast 2022/11/04: Originally released 2022/11/04 on the Famicom Dojo Video Game Podcast feed! Since it's (mostly) about TV shows, and a game that's really an interactive movie, we thought the episode would do just as well on this podcast. We've talked before about movies based on video games, and video games based on movies (sometimes themselves based on video games; looking at you, Street Fighter: The Movie The Game!), but have we talked about TV shows inspired by video...

Welcome to Gravity Falls, a sleepy Oregon woodland, backwater town with its own kitschy roadside, supernatural attractions... that are totally real. Dipper and Mabel Pines spend an adventure-packed summer with their great uncle "Grunkle" Stan trying to uncover the mysteries of the town, and just who wrote the mysterious journals chronicling all of the strange goings-on. Vinnk has been waiting for Sean to watch this show since we started this podcast, and we review both seasons and the...

Lumon Industries has developed a technology to protect its business secrets by severing the minds of some of its employees between their work and home lives. The "outie" only needs to commute to and from work, never experiencing in-office life, and having no idea what they do every date. Their "innie", in contrast, is effectively born the basement of the office building, and from their perspective never gets to leave. Workplace culture is replaced by an a religious reverence for the...

In the wake of the modern day Star Trek explosion, and especially Strange New Worlds featuring the crew of Captain Christopher Pike, it only seemed appropriate to journey back five decades to where it all began to compare and contrast without the rose colored glasses. Vinnk and Sean discuss how Star Trek got its second chance with its new pilot, Where No Man Has Gone Before, comment on the costume and character changes that happened slowly (or sometimes very quickly), and review some...

Sometimes a superhero show comes along that is so beloved, the only thing left to do is make another version of that same show and Seinfeld-ify it to make it about "nothing", but with superheroes. Vinnk and Sean trod over as much of this not-a-sequel cartoon as the are able to find in this online streaming hellscape, and how pointless it is to criticize showrunners who will gladly drink your tears. We run down our favorite episodes, explain the in-jokes as best we can, and go off on a...

Originally Broadcast 2022/08/08: Since we're taking our sweet time talking about Star Trek on our show, why not listen to the newest Nerd & Tie series that's all Star Trek, all the time? Talking points include: Ball aliens or butt aliens? Alf. 80's Mall Chic. Detaching The Saucer. Reading your character description out loud instead of acting. Babylon 5. The British in Space. Oh, and occasionally Star Trek.Casual Trek is by Charlie Etheridge-Nunn and Miles Reid-Lobatto. Music by Alfred...

Kyosuke Kasuga is 15 years old, living the springtime of his youth. He's dating the adorable and bubbly Hikaru, but he's interested in her friend Madoka. Oh, and he has magic ESP powers that can do just about anything the plot requires, including time travel. Vinnk and Sean review their first anime, live at No Brand Con 2022! Logo by by Louis Lloyd-Judson: https://louistrations.co.uk. This podcast is brought to you by the Nerd & Tie Podcast Network. Listen to other great shows...

When the Angel Aziraphale first meets the demon Crowley (then Crowley) outside the Garden of Eden, an unlikely friendship forms that spans the next six thousand years. The coming of the Anti-Christ, and the march of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, threaten to unmake the Earth and everyone on it. This unlikely pair have only seven days to prevent it. Vinnk and Sean talk about the first season of the show based on a Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman book, which then goes far off book,...

Today, Maximo is a wealthy multi-billionaire who owns scores of companies across the globe, but in 1984 he was a poor kid who lived near the Las Colinas resort in Acapulco, Mexico, who dreamed of one day having a job at the resort like his hero Don Pablo. Maximo tells the story of this transformation as a birthday present to his nephew Hugo, who is also starting to come of age, humorously embellishing the retelling, and occasionally forgetting the names of some of the figures from his...

Third Technician David Lister, lowest-ranking member of the Jupiter Mining Corporation vessel Red Dwarf has awaken from stasis millions of years after everyone else onboard was killed due to a radiation leak from an improperly sealed drive plate. Now possibly the last human in existence, Lister must make his way back to Earth aboard this ghost ship with only Holly, the ship's computer, a life form evolved from Lister's pet cat, and a hologram of Second Technician Arnold Rimmer (who was...

Some time in the near future of the 1990s, Dr. Sam Beckett prematurely entered the Quantum Leap accelerator himself to prove that his theory of a finite but expanding universe allowing one to time travel within their own lifetime. His theories were correct, but with the side-effect that he trades places with someone from the past, with everyone believing he's the person he has "leapt" into. He also no longer has a full recall of the details of his own life. Fortunately, the project is able...

What is the meaning of true love? Schmigadoon! explores the answer through the absurd story tropes, and casual racism of American musicals. When emotions are so strong you can't speak, you sing. When you can't sing, you dance. And the blonde heiress is totally a Nazi. Vinnk and Sean review this Lorne Michaels production, which other (possibly better) musical-inspired series it reminds them of, and determine if this incredibly meta show has real heart, or is more like the musicals it...

Originally a novel by Walter Tevis published in 1983, The Queen's Gambit tells the story of Beth Harmon, orphan, drug addict, and chess prodigy as she climbs to the top of the world rankings to face off against the toughest opponents of the Cold War: the Russians. Vinnk and Sean wonder how a TV show could not only make chess exciting and suspenseful, while barely explaining the rules, but also marvel at the weird synergy of Sean's own chess journey over the last two...

What business does constantly cheery coach Ted Lasso have managing a strange sport in a foreign country, neither of which he knows anything about? That's what lots of people are trying to figure out in this Apple TV+ series, from Richmond's staunch fanbase, to the British press, to the people who wonder if owner Rebecca ? has gone off the deep end after very public (and very nastly) divorce from Rupert ?, the club's previous owner. Can Ted's charm offensive turn everyone to his side, or is...