Brief Summary
In this episode of The Sirens of Audio, Dwayne and Philip welcome Martin Havel to discuss Torchwood audio dramas, focusing on Big Finish productions. They explore Martin's podcasting history, his entry into Doctor Who fandom, and his appreciation for Torchwood. The conversation covers the unique aspects of Torchwood audio dramas, the ensemble cast, and specific stories, including "Dissected," "Tropical Beach Sounds and Other Relaxing Seascapes Volume 4," "Rhys and Yanto's Excellent Barbecue," and "The Great Sontaran War." The hosts also share personal anecdotes and recommendations, including a book recommendation from Philip.
- Martin Havel joins to discuss Torchwood audio dramas.
- The hosts explore the unique aspects of Torchwood audio dramas and ensemble cast.
- Specific stories are discussed, including "Dissected," "Tropical Beach Sounds," "Rhys and Yanto's Excellent Barbecue," and "The Great Sontaran War."
- Philip recommends "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus.
- Dwayne recommends Torchwood: Lost Souls.
Intro
Tim Foley introduces The Sirens of Audio. An audio clip features a conversation about inviting "Russ" onto the show to discuss his Torchwood scripts.
Welcome and Introductions
Dwayne and Philip introduce the show and welcome Martin Havel, a podcaster with multiple shows, including a Buffy the Vampire Slayer podcast called "Bite Me." Martin expresses his interest in discussing Torchwood audios, a topic the hosts haven't covered extensively.
Martin's Podcast History and Doctor Who Fandom
Martin discusses his podcasting history, including "Bite Me," a Buffy podcast co-hosted with Joe Ford, "Martin and Who," an interview podcast, "Running Down Corridors," a Doctor Who podcast, and "Bad Wolf," a film and TV review show. He shares that he discovered Doctor Who in 2005 with Eccleston but favors Sylvester McCoy. He was initially drawn to the show due to its Buffy influences.
Torchwood TV Series
The hosts discuss the Torchwood TV series, with Martin expressing a preference for series two. Philip shares his initial reservations about the show's adult content but appreciates the character development. They discuss "Children of Earth" and "Miracle Day," with varying opinions on their quality. Martin and Dwayne praise the audio CDs for enhancing the show.
Down the Rabbit Hole: Convincing TV Fans to Listen to Torchwood Audios
The hosts discuss how to convince fans of the Torchwood TV series to listen to the Big Finish audio adventures, which often feature smaller casts and may lack central characters like Captain Jack and Gwen. Philip argues that Torchwood was always an ensemble show, and the strength of the writing and characterizations makes the audios compelling, regardless of which characters are featured. Martin compares the Torchwood monthly range to early Big Finish Doctor Who audios, noting their experimental nature. Dwayne highlights Yanto's importance in the audio series and the introduction of new characters and storylines.
Martin's Entry into Big Finish
Martin shares his initial reluctance to listen to Big Finish audios, but he eventually got into them through the Sheridan Smith stories.
Torchwood: Dissected
The hosts discuss "Torchwood: Dissected," which features Gwen Cooper and Martha Jones. Martin praises Freema Agyeman's performance as Martha and the exploration of her character. Dwayne notes the experimental nature of the story, told from the perspective of a corpse. Philip highlights the real-time aspect of the story and the sound design. The story is set after series two of Torchwood, before "Children of Earth."
Torchwood: Tropical Beach Sounds and Other Relaxing Seascapes Volume 4
The hosts discuss "Tropical Beach Sounds and Other Relaxing Seascapes Volume 4," starring Michael Palin. Dwayne describes it as an experimental story. Philip praises Palin's performance and the story's ability to be both soothing and scary. Dwayne shares his personal experience of listening to the audio and realizing it was messing with his brain. The story features the entire Torchwood team without any of the regular cast being credited.
Torchwood: Rhys and Yanto's Excellent Barbecue
The hosts discuss "Rhys and Yanto's Excellent Barbecue," which explores male friendship and communication. Martin notes the story's exploration of male bonding and the difficulty men have in opening up emotionally. Philip compares it to "Dissected," highlighting the different ways men and women relate. Dwayne expresses some reservations about the story's use of the term "toxic masculinity."
Torchwood: The Great Sontaran War
The hosts discuss "The Great Sontaran War," which features a Sontaran named Major Craig. Philip praises Dan Starkey's performance and James Goss's writing. Martin calls it his favorite Sontaran story and loves the pairing of the Sontaran with Yanto. Dwayne notes the story's humorous portrayal of neurodivergence.
The Ash Darby Conspiracy
The hosts discuss the Big Finish Torchwood conspiracy theory surrounding the writer Ash Darby, who is never interviewed and whose identity is unknown.
Recommendations and Closing
Martin recommends the Purity line of audios starring the Sixth Doctor and Mel. Philip recommends "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus. Dwayne recommends Torchwood: Lost Souls. The hosts mention Katie Manning's upcoming appearances in Sydney and Melbourne. They thank Martin for joining them and close the show.
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