The Cloister Room

The Cloister Room 143 - FINAL2016/01/01

Tom and Louis have reached the end of their wanderings at last. But there’s still time to discuss one more episode of Doctor Who. And some other stuff.

“Fluidscape” by Kevin MacLeod licensed under CC BY 3.0

The Cloister Room is over, but watch this space in 2016.
The Cloister Room 142 - The Sound of His Chirps2015/12/24

On the penultimate episode of The Cloister Room, Tom and Louis leave the TARDIS to journey to a galaxy far, far away. There are spoilers.
The Cloister Room 141 - The Mind Robert2015/12/17

With Series Nine behind them, Tom and Louis journey to the land of fiction, where topics of discussion include the Doctor's fictionality, face blindness, and people that are horses.
The Cloister Room 140 - The Donna Treatment2015/12/11

Tom and Louis visit scenic Gallifrey and have a nice bowl of soup. Topic include memory wipes, immortality, and whether this is or isn't the best series of Doctor Who ever.
The Cloister Room 139 - Perpetual Skull2015/12/05

Trapped in their own bespoke torture castle, Tom and Louis must confess their shocking opinions about Peter Capaldi's new one-man show. Topics include skull ecology, confession dial procedure, and of course, hybrids.
The Cloister Room 138 - Bonkers Nonsensical Plan2015/11/27

On a hidden street Tom and Louis must discuss the latest episode of Doctor Who, or they may be forced to face the raven...
The Cloister Room 137 - On-Demand Complaint Negation2015/11/21

This audio was recovered from the computers of Tom Dickinson and Louis Mitas after they discussed Sleep No More.
The Cloister Room 136 - Vegan Zygons, Zygon Vegans, Vegons2015/11/13

Tom and Louis stand in a room in the Black Archive, their hands poised over buttons on opposing Osgood boxes. What will it be? Truth, or Consequences? Who is a human and who is a Zygon? All will (perhaps) be revealed!
The Cloister Room 135 - Zygon Riff2015/11/06

Tom and Louis are back for another episode of The Cloister Room. But are they both truly who they seem to be? Or could either one of them be a Zygon in disguise? Or does it even really matter, in the end? All of this and more will be revealed in the latest episode of The Cloister Room, discussing The Zygon Invasion!
The Cloister Room 134 - No Worse Than What You'd Hear in a Shakespeare Play2015/10/29

Louis and Tom venture to regency England for an encounter with the mysterious highwayman known as the Knightmare. Topics of discussion include Mire-pattern baldness, the Lion King, and the color mauve.
The Cloister Room 133 - Shrub Jefferson2015/10/23

Tom and Louis have their long-awaited encounter with the mysterious Girl Who Died. But who is she? The Rani? Susan? Romana? Or something far stranger? Topics of discussion include the Doctor's face, iPhones, and eel habitats.
The Cloister Room 132 - This Is a Man in a Rubber Suit and We Are Proud2015/10/16

Journey with Tom and Louis back Before the Flood. Topics of discussion include secret workplace romance, the Fisher King's pseudo-death protocols, and the Doctor's vlog. All this plus missing episodes, Big Finish, and more! more! more!
The Cloister Room 131 - Corridor Relay Race2015/10/09

Tom and Louis journey Under the Lake (well, *into* the lake, at any rate), for a discussion of the latest adventure with the Doctor and Clara. Topics of discussion include candy, cliffhangers, and Class.
The Cloister Room 130 - Dr. Who and the Wheel of Snakes2015/10/02

That witch is familiar, isn’t she? Tom and Louis talk about the conclusion of the Doctor’s adventure on Skaro, and topics of discussion include how to write a good title, Kaledizing Davros, and Dalek strategy.
The Cloister Room 129 - A One-Man Show, or A Many-Snake Show2015/09/24
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It's back! Doctor Who is back on our screens! Tom and Louis discuss the long-awaited premiere of series nine, and weigh in on the Doctor, Missy, Clara, and all the surprise reveals and whatnot. Also discussed is the theatrical screening of Dark Water/Death in Heaven. There's so much going on we forget to even mention Jenna Coleman's officially confirmed departure from Doctor Who! Oops!

All this, and stay to the end for a (moderately) important announcement.
The Cloister Room 128 - Skimming the Works of Kant2015/09/18

Tom and Louis revisit an old premise, discussing both the iconic Hartnell story The Dalek Invasion of Earth and its cinematic adaptation starring Peter Cushing. Topics of discussion include Bernard Cribbins, the allure of the post-apocalyptic, and just what exactly the Daleks wanted to do with Earth.
The Cloister Room 127 - I Am Also Looking At The Christmas Pudding Wikipedia Page2015/09/10

Tom and Louis chart a course for one of Big Finish’s most celebrated release, the chilling Chimes of Midnight. Topics of discussion include classic automobiles of the United Kingdom, companion-driven story arcs, Doctor Who’s ulitmate get-out-of-death-free card, and… well, a lot of stuff about pudding.
The Cloister Room 126 - You Don't Want a Generic Face2015/09/03

This week, Tom and Louis pick up the funnybooks and talk about the first ten issues of the Tenth Doctor series from Titan Comics. Topics of discussion include the literary theory of comics, and David Tennant's face.
The Cloister Room 125 - Make Sure It's An Anjou Pear2015/08/28

Tom and Louis journey into the pages of Paul Cornell's novel Human Nature, featuring the Seventh Doctor and Bernice Summerfield! Along the way, comparisons to the televised adaptation with David Tennant ensue. There is much talk of pears.
The Cloister Room 124 - A Few More Hate Cells2015/08/17

Tom and Louis journey to Satellite Five to experience the Ninth Doctor's final stand, but are they just looking at the past through Rose colored glasses?
The Cloister Room 123 - The Nazi Parallels in Candy Land2015/08/07

After a week’s rest, Tom and Louis are back to discuss the Seventh Doctor and Ace’s adventure in a Nazi POW camp–Colditz! Topics of discussion include Klein’s golden age, lasers, and how David Tennant’s face is like a chicken parm sandwich.
The Cloister Room 122 - Well, As Long As We're Screwing With The Timeline2015/07/25

Once again a day late (we're not making a habit of it, we swear), Tom and Louis journey back into the archives of Big Finish to discuss the Fifth Doctor audio the Kingmaker, in all its historical hilarity. Topics of discussion include Shakespeare discontinuity, misdirection with the Master, and the Fourth Doctor's Big Finish pseudo-debut.
The Cloister Room 121 - Time-Vine2015/07/18
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A day late but by no means a dollar short, this bumper edition of The Cloister Room features discussions of two different stories, bookending the Key to Time season--The Ribos Operation and The Armageddon Factor! If that turns out to be just slightly less than enough for you, how about a discussion of the new trailer for Series Nine of Doctor Who? Or how about a completely unrelated tangent about Animorphs? What are you waiting for? This thing is like an hour and a half long!
The Cloister Room 120 - Willing to Wiggle2015/07/10

Tom and Louis take a side step into the world of animation for a discussion of the 2003 webcast, Scream of the Shalka, starring Richard E. Grant as the Doctor! Topics of discussion include animation budgets, robot roommates, and the new series that never was.
The Cloister Room 119 - These Tent Shots Are Amazing2015/07/02
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Tom and Louis have put a stop to their random wanderings. Invigorated by a new sense of directional purpose, and harangued by an artificially intelligent piece of junk mail, they journey to the Psychic Circus to discuss the Sylvester McCoy classic, The Greatest Show in the Galaxy. Topics of discussion include evil kites, fruit vending best practices, and just how psychic that circus really is, anyway.
The Cloister Room 118 - Wealthy Decadent Do-Nothings2015/06/25

Randomly, Tom and Louis wind up on the fanciest of mining crafts, for a discussion of the Fourth Doctor classic, The Robots of Death! Topics of discussion include hallucinogens, growing up with robots, and rich assholes.
The Cloister Room 117 - We Can Get Behind "A Wizard Did It"2015/06/18

Random chance brings Tom and Louis to the Celestial Toymaker's terrifying toyroom, where random chance is basically the only thing that's going on. Topics of discussion include George and Margaret, Dodo's loved ones, the curse of the Trilogic game, and racism.
The Cloister Room 116 - You're Stuck in the Hallway2015/06/11

Random wandering brings Tom and Louis to the point just before they began podcasting together--the two-part finale of the 2010 series, The Pandorica Opens and The Big Bang! Topics include the mysterious voice that says "Silence Will Fall," the Jim Carrey version of the Doctor, and the Sontaran's fashionable carrying accessories.
The Cloister Room 115 - Cup Pickup Here2015/06/04

Tom and Louis randomly arrive in the vast HD deserts of Dubai for a discussion of the David Tennant Easter-avaganza, Planet of the Dead. We won't give away what they thought of the story but let's just say the explicit tag was quickly earned. Topics of discussion also include Dalek pets and getaway drivers.
The Cloister Room 114 - It's All About The Model Shot2015/05/29

Tom and Louis find their way through random wandering to the mysterious planet Ravalox for a discussion of The Mysterious Planet. Topics of discussion include double acts, the Doctor's presidency, and the ideal placement of audiovisual equipment in Gallifreyan courtrooms.
The Cloister Room 113 - Strange Mouth Sounds2015/05/21

In their random wanderings, Tom and Louis are brought to the Power of Kroll, for a discussion of green body paint, CSO, ethical treatment of Swampies, and the career of Robert Holmes.
The Cloister Room 112 - No Chocolate Allowed On The Moon2015/05/14

Tom and Louis continue their random journeys through the classic series with this discussion of the Jon Pertwee classic--Frontier in Space! After already having watched the second leg of this mega-epic, Planet of the Daleks. Topics include architecture, lady presidents, and the mind probe.
The Cloister Room 111 - The Opposite of Psychic Powers2015/05/07

After an hiatus in the early months of 2015, Tom and Louis return to The Cloister Room! From here on out, new episodes will be posted weekly. This week we continue our random journey through Doctor Who by discussing The King's Demons! Topics of discussion include musical kings and Adric's ghost.
The Cloister Room 110 - Would You Like Me To Tide Their Blood?2015/02/09

This week Tom and Louis discuss the Shakespeare Code! Topics of discussion include the Harry Potter dating controversy, and the genius of the audience member.
The Cloister Room 109 - This is a Sacred Song2015/01/13

It's Christmas time! Well, okay, it's not. But at any rate it's time to listen to Tom and Louis discuss their reaction to the episode of Doctor Who that aired when it WAS Christmas time. Topics include dream crab family life and a certain special Christmas song. And it's not by Wham!
The Cloister Room 108 - Mayhem Has Merit2014/12/23

It's almost Christmas and Santa Claus is coming to town, but surely it's not too late for us to finally release our episode on Death in Heaven? Topics of discussion include Cyberkid, LI Who 2, and personal pronouns.
The Cloister Room 107 - A Snake and then Eric Roberts2014/11/07

Part one of the two-part finale is here! Tom and Louis discuss Missy’s big reveal, the latest development on Danny, and lots, lots more.
The Cloister Room 106 - Zoo Tycoon2014/11/01

As Series Eight hurtles toward its conclusion, Tom and Louis confer over the third-to-last episode. Topics of discussion include zoo management and the Doctor's brother.
The Cloister Room 105 - The Dimension Field is Leaking2014/10/25

Series Eight rolls on and Tom and Louis roll on accordingly. In this, their discussion of flatline, topics include iPad bezels and evil geniuses.
The Cloister Room 104 - Actual Mummy Magic2014/10/18

Another week, another new episode! Tom and Louis discuss Mummy on the Orient Express. Tom derails the discussion with spoilers for the Big Finish audio "The Boy That Time Forgot" (so, y'know, look out for that), and Louis has Train Beefs.
The Cloister Room 103 - Space Dragon Will Have to Do2014/10/11

Series Eight of Doctor Who continues with a trip to the moon. We talk about the Doctor's DVD collection, the US Presidency, and... well, the abortion thing. We talk about that.
The Cloister Room 102 - Geographical Spillage2014/10/04

Halfway through the season! Tom and Louis discuss the latest episode, The Caretaker. Topics of discussion include the dietary habits of sand piranhas and the use of cherry bombs.
The Cloister Room 101 - That Box Has Been Well Ticked2014/09/27

Another week, another new episode of Doctor Who! We truly are spoiled. Tom and Louis take some time out to discuss whether the heist is sufficiently heisty.
The Cloister Room 100 - A Structurally Sound Barn2014/09/20

It's the Cloister Room's one hundredth episode and Tom and Louis have one heck of an episode to discuss--Capaldi's latest adventure, "Listen." Topics of discussion include the ups and downs of future spacesuit fashion, and an important public service announcement for your health.
The Cloister Room 099 - Shoot the Arrow into a Thermal Exhaust Port2014/09/13

Another week, another new episode! Louis and Tom talk about the Doctor's journey to Sherwood Forest. Topics of discussion include cuts and edits, swords and spoons.
The Cloister Room 098 - In That Case, On a Case by Case Basis, Whatever the Case May Be2014/09/06

Louis and Tom discuss Capaldi's second big outing, and his first showdown against the Daleks. Topics of discussion include the two halves of fiction, tea in heaven, and soldiers.
The Cloister Room 097 - Pushing the Robot out the Flesh Blimp2014/08/29

Louis and Tom set their random wanderings aside--Doctor Who is back on television! Obviously, this episode is about Capaldi's first outing as the new Dr. Who.
The Cloister Room 096 - An Experiment In Disguise Science2014/08/23

It's the eve of Peter Capaldi's first big outing as the Doctor, but who cares about that? Random selection has brought Tom and Louis to an idyllic village in the country where the Rani is up to no good. Topics of discussion include barren philosophies and wild endeavours.
The Cloister Room 095 - Fire Extinguisher, Lost to Time2014/08/06

Random selection brings Tom and Louis to a spaceship, and also France. The origins of the Moffat era are uncovered, and the trials and tribulations of future spam filtering are discussed.
The Cloister Room 094 - Well, One Of Us Is Going To Have To Change2014/06/23

The whims of the randomizer bring Tom and Louis to one of 2013's recently rediscovered gems: The Enemy of the World. Louis has some less than entirely kind words about Fedorin, while Tom praises Salamander's efficient use of space.
The Cloister Room 093 - Recorder in Color2014/06/09

Random chance brings Tom and Louis to Doctor Who's tenth anniversary extravaganza, The Three Doctors. The origins of the Doctor's contempt for Twitter are explained, and we manage to hold things together through the force of our own will.
The Cloister Room 092 - Wake Up, Sheeple, Or Whatever2014/05/19

Tom and Louis randomly arrive in the Big Finish neighborhood of the Doctor Who universe, to discuss the 2003 audio release "Davros." Louis raises questions about Davros's economic plan, and Tom peels back the layers of the Kaled scientist.
The Cloister Room 091 - The Axon Clause2014/05/12

Random chance brings Tom and Louis to the seventies classic The Claws of Axos. Louis pitches the Pigbin Josh trilogy, and Tom brings us on tangents about Doctor Who story numbering conventions and acetaminophen poisoning.
The Cloister Room 090 - Please Hold, Your Screams Are Important To Us2014/04/28

A most random selection leads Tom and Louis to the planet Spiridon, where invisible creatures abound. Louis points out the Daleks’ apparent newfound cartographic advantage, and Tom proposes a new enemy for the Thals to face.
The Cloister Room 089 - How Rude of Me To Just Call Him Skull2014/04/21

The random selector brings Tom and Louis to season 15 of Doctor Who, to discuss rustic racism and glow skulls. Louis remarks on the Doctor's moral values, and Tom unpacks the implication of K-9's character arc in the serial.
The Cloister Room 088 - I Think He Was Based on a Lizard-Woman2014/04/07

At long last, Tom and Louis convene to discuss the finale of Sherlock's third series. Louis points out how Sherlock literally kills two metaphorical birds with one metaphorical stone, and Tom brings up question relating to Sherlock Holmes's ties to the Doctor Who universe.
The Cloister Room 087 - You Would Do Well To Heed Me2014/03/31

In a stunning feat of temporal ineptitude, the episode that should have been episode 85 is episode 87, and vice versa. Anyway. Tom and Louis are brought in their random wanderings to a Fourth Doctor classic, the Masque of Mandragora. Opinion is divided. But who will side with reason, and who will side with primitive superstition? Only one way to find out...
The Cloister Room 086 - Hacking Detected2014/03/10

Tom and Louis resume their discussion of Sherlock's third series, and ponder the matrimonial mayhem of The Sign of Three. Louis ponders the telegrams, and Tom admires the computer skills on display in the episode's opening.
The Cloister Room 085 - The Shangri-La of Swimming Pools2014/02/17

Tom and Louis are randomly whisked away to the Seventh Doctor's era, picking up from their previous foray into Time and the Rani. Tom takes note of the punctuational music, and Louis wonders about Mel's appetite for cookies.
The Cloister Room 084 - Two-ish Years Minus Some Days2014/02/02

Seeing as this podcast is allegedly about "Doctor Who and other things", don't you think it's time we discussed some other thing? We do. So we discussed the first episode of BBC's third series of Sherlock.
The Cloister Room 083 - Wrath of the Quakers2014/01/22
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Discussing Doctor Who: Wrath of the Iceni

The time winds of random selection take Tom and Louis over to the Big Finish corner of the Doctor Who universe, where they discuss the Fourth Doctor adventure The Wrath of the Iceni. It all devolves into an extended defense of the pure historical.

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The Cloister Room 082 - A Really Long and Tedious End User License Agreement2014/01/08

Eleven's Hour is over now, the clock is striking Twelve's. At the risk of spoiling this episode, you might not want to listen to it if you're the kind of person who prefers constant sunshine and positivity.
The Cloister Room 081 - Trojan Fanfic OTP2013/12/30

Louis and Tom discuss one of Doctor Who's lost gems of the Hartnell era, The Myth Makers, a pure historical set during the Trojan War. Louis takes note of the story's paradoxical leanings, while Tom struggles to remember that one class he took on Homeric literature.
The Cloister Room 080 - Who Knows?2013/12/16

Louis and Tom explore Doctor Who's origins as they discuss An Adventure in Space and Time, and unravel the dozens of cameos in The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot.
The Cloister Room 079 - Insert John Hurt2013/12/02

The long-awaited Doctor Who anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor, has arrived, and Tom and Louis have convened to discuss it.
The Cloister Room 078 - Will It Hurt?2013/11/23
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Tom and Louis are too excited to randomize right now! Doctor Who's anniversary special is still a little under six hours away (as of this writing), but you can spend a little over one of those hours listening to Tom and Louis discuss Big Finish's anniversary special, The Light at the End, as well as Steven Moffat's little anniversary surprise for the fans, The Night of the Doctor starring Paul McGann!
The Cloister Room 077 - That's Never Platinum!2013/11/18

The whims of random selection bring Tom and Louis to a firey planet; a planet of fire. Tom digs deep into the linguistic nuances of one Perpugilliam Brown, while Louis marvels at the existence of Kamelion, a companion he's never heard of!
The Cloister Room 076 - This Beautiful Symphony of Martha2013/11/08

Tom and Louis are randomly brought to Doctor Who's fourth modern series for a discussion of the triumphant return of the Sontarans. Louis questions the warrior race's military supremacy, and Tom raises questions as to Martha's suitability for this story.
The Cloister Room 075 - That's True2013/10/31

A random selection brings Tom and Louis to The Ark, and then to The Ark again. That's just kind of how this works. Tom once again talks about how much he hates Dodo, and Louis points out how like a First Doctor story this First Doctor story is.
The Cloister Room 074 - He Likes It Venusian2013/10/21

The random selector brings Tom and Louis to the planet Peladon, for their first time and the Doctor's as well. The importance of the Ice Lords is discussed, and the merits of the delegate from Alpha Centauri are debated.
The Cloister Room 073 - This Is Something That Needs To Be Reconciled2013/10/14
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As the world rejoices at the return of 9 lost Doctor Who episodes, Tom and Louis do not mention it at all, since this was recorded before that happened. Still, there's plenty of joy to be had as our podcasters are brought by random fate to the most thoroughly lost episode of Doctor Who ever to be half-finished: Shada! Tom engages in some blow-by-blow comparisons of Shada's many versions, while Louis has a bone to pick with K-9.
The Cloister Room 072 - You're My Favorite, Nyssa2013/10/08

Tom and Louis are randomly flown to a time long ago, for a discussion of Time-Flight, where Tegan is truly in her element. Louis draws connections to another, much more recent guy the Doctor had to thwart, and Tom comes up with a theory to narratively justify the Master's politically incorrect disguise.
The Cloister Room 071 - I Guess I Have To Call It Unobtanium2013/10/01

A random breeze carries Tom and Louis to a Colony in Space, where visitors may colonize or mine to their hearts' content. Louis questions the logic of the Master's plan, and Tom repeats vehicular details learned from the DVD release. Endless fun.
The Cloister Room 070 - All Bets Must Be Upheld2013/09/23

This week, Tom and Louis randomly arrive on a street in victorian London, where a mysterious man claiming to be the Doctor is doing battle with some Cybermen and a villainess with unclear motivations. Tom objects to the production team's silly regeneration games, and Louis keeps pointing out, quite rightly, that it's Christmas.
The Cloister Room 069 - Magic Artist Powers2013/09/16

This week, Tom and Louis are randomly brought to Provence for an encounter with one of history's most famous painters. Louis wonders about the Doctor's finances, and Tom suggests that Van Gogh may be working with Improv Everywhere. Also, tangents about Bill Nigh-hee, lichens, and Abraham Lincoln.
The Cloister Room 068 - Face It, Tegan, He's Drowned!2013/09/09

This week, Tom and Louis's random wanderings bring them to a base under sea. Louis calls Turlough's suitability into question, while Tom admires Ingrid Pitt's dance moves. Should there have been another way?
The Cloister Room 067 - The Mutually Interlocked Angel Situation2013/09/03
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This week Tom and Louis are randomly brought to Wester Drumlins for an encounter with the Weeping Angels. This one's an all-time classic, so you probably shouldn't expect us to have much to complain about. Louis remembers when he first saw the episode, and laments a bygone era when Moffat's writing was precious. Tom manages to find two (2) things to complain about. Also: a mulligan and a Mulligan.
The Cloister Room 066 - Darren Is In My Personal Canon2013/08/26

This week's random selection brings Tom and Louis to a fan favorite: The Evil of the Daleks. Louis discovers the wonderful world of reconstructions, and Tom gets very excited about static and mirrors. Also, a minor tangent about crossover fanfiction!
The Cloister Room 065 - Now I Am Total Power.mp32013/08/19
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Tom and Louis, in their random wand'rings through time and space, were brought to the end of the Pertwee era for a discussion of Planet of the Spiders. Among the topics of discussion are world religions and terrible Two Legs acting--plus, a rather prescient remark from Tom (keep in mind that this was actually recorded prior to the announcement of Peter Capaldi's casting as the Doctor!).
The Cloister Room 064 - Dick Clark's New Doctor's Rockin' Eve2013/08/11

This week, on this very podcast, you can hear a couple of white guys talk about how excited they are about the new white guy who's playing the Doctor. The bizarre manner of the casting announcement is discussed, and Tom and Louis ostensibly discuss the first episode of The Thick of It, but actually don't.
The Cloister Room 063 - A Bird On The Head Is Worth Two In The Hand2013/08/05

This week Tom and Louis's random story generator brings them to the show's twentieth season for a rendezvous with a Brig or two. Tom sings the praises of Paddy Kingsland's iconic driving theme, and Louis wonders what the deal is with all these Turloughs and Guardians and what have yous. And there is no discussion about Peter Capaldi, because this was recorded two weeks ago.
The Cloister Room 062 - Death, The Ultimate Experiment!2013/07/29

Tom and Louis are randomly assigned the unenviable task of watching and discussing Time and The Rani, a story about which they make no attempts to hide their distaste. Tom laments Doctor Who's first major use of CG, and Louis explores the strangeness of strange matter. It's not a fun story, but hopefully it makes for a fun podcast?
The Cloister Room 061 - Moons Of Madness!2013/07/22

Guided by the whims of a =RAND() function in an excel worksheet, Tom and Louis embark on a journey to the planet Calufrax to discuss the Douglas Adams classic, The Pirate Planet. Louis noticea a connection that brought out memories of Tom's earliest fandom, and David Bradley and other Davids are discussed.
The Cloister Room 060 -Bad Daleks2013/07/15
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Having finished their journey through Season 18 (and a little bit of Season 19), Tom and Louis randomize their viewing and wind up at the tail end of the Hartnell era, discussing the War Machines. Out of their element, Louis repeatedly mispronounced WOTAN and Tom gets Dodo's debut story wrong. Still, there is much to be discussed, from supply chaining to fourth wall breaking to Dodo's alleged death at the hands of history's greatest monster: syphilis.
The Cloister Room 059 - Your Regeneration And You2013/07/08

Tom and Louis have finished Season 18, but there are loose ends which remain to be tied up, so they venture into Season 19 to discuss Castrovalva. Louis admires Nyssa's intensity, and Tom judges Master against Master.
The Cloister Room 058 - Airplane-Focused2013/07/01

It's been a long road, but Tom and Louis finally bring their discussion of Season Eighteen to a close with Logopolis, Tom Baker's final outing as the Doctor. Louis notes the TARDIS's interesting noises, and Tom wonders at the alien marvel of regeneration. All that and MORE!
The Cloister Room 057 - Nostalgia For Old Hatred2013/06/24

Tom and Louis met to discuss the overall quality of Doctor Who's seventh series, but were derailed briefly by a plague of missing episode rumors (skip to 18:44 if you don't want to hear about those). Tom waxed vitriolic about The Power of Three, while Louis appraised the season's worthiness as a farewell to Matt Smith. All this and tangents!
The Cloister Room 056 - Pretty Sweet Culture2013/06/16

With Tom and Louis continuing their discussion of Season 18, you'd think that this week's episode might be another short one. But you'd be wrong! Because not only do we spend a good amount of time discussing The Keeper of Traken, but starting at about 21:30, we discuss the announcement of Matt Smith's departure.
The Cloister Room 055 - The Lion Kings2013/06/10

Another short episode this week, as Tom and Louis continue their discussion of Doctor Who's eighteenth season with Warrior's Gate.
The Cloister Room 054 - Evil Vampire People2013/06/03

Tom and Louis returned to Season 18 to discuss State of Decay. The episode is short, so the episode description shall follow suit.
The Cloister Room 053 - He Is The Railyard2013/05/26

With another season over and done, Tom and Louis met to discuss the events in The Name of the Doctor, and their potential ramifications. As Tom trotted out a list of six theories, Louis fretted about the absence of the Eighth Doctor. And as usual, the 50th anniversary is discussed.
The Cloister Room 052 - Gollum Style2013/05/18

After the penultimate episode of series seven, Nightmare in Silver, Louis guided Tom through a therapeutic reconstruction of the plot, and the two of them share predictions about what will happen in The Name of the Doctor.
The Cloister Room 051 - Doctor Who Eye Thing2013/05/11

Another new episode of Doctor Who has aired, and Tom and Louis greet it with much enthusiasm (although one of them has considerably more enthusiasm than the other). Tom shares a new theory about Clara’s mystery, and Louis identifies a connection to Fringe. Plus, we talk about the 50th Anniversary special. Again.
The Cloister Room 050 - Stuck On A Stone / I've Seen Your Name2013/05/05
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Well, here we are, at an arbitrary numerical milestone. Fifty episodes. Did you ever think we’d make it this far? It only took us three years. But here we are at last. And to celebrate, Tom and Louis sat down for an extra-jam-packed episode, discussing NOT ONLY Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS, but also The Five Doctors! Wow! Incidentally, if you don’t care at all about our discussion of The Five Doctors, you can just skip ahead to 32 minutes in.
The Cloister Room 049 - Hot Pockets2013/05/01
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Tom and Louis gather once again to discuss the most recent episode of Doctor Who. Well, the most recent from their perspective, not yours. Wibbly wobbly. Okay, listen. This episode is about “Hide.” Yes, “Journey to the Center of the TARDIS” has already aired, but we’re doing “Hide,” so sit down and deal with it. Also, this is our forty-ninth episode... it looks like an arbitrary milestone is soon to be upon us!
The Cloister Room 048 - The HADS Is, Not The HADS Are2013/04/20
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For the third consecutive week, that mysterious traveler in time and space known only as the Doctor has returned to our screens, and this time he’s brought us to the North Pole for an encounter with one of his oldest and deadliest foes. Meanwhile, Tom has been monitoring the Twitterverse for some kind of fan consensus on the current season of Doctor Who, and Louis laments the lack of discipline in the Soviet Navy. And while all this is going on, the classic Doctors all enjoy a leisurely afternoon in the Shire.
The Cloister Room 047 - Magic Songs Are Her Bit2013/04/13

Another week, another new episode of Doctor Who. This time around, The Rings of Akhaten brings Tom to a moment of personal crisis, while Louis finds himself moved to reminisce about Worlds of Warcraft gone by. The two intrepid podcasters face their most daunting challenge ever: a pronunciation conundrum. Plus: we puzzle over Zygon plots and aging Doctors.
The Cloister Room 046 - For The Win!2013/04/06
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A new series of Doctor Who is upon us, so—oh, wait, it’s not a new season, it’s just... more of the previous season? I guess? So, Tom and Louis discuss the first—d’oh, I mean sixth, or maybe seventh, I dunno—episode of the current series and discuss their thoughts on the series’ current direction, while speculating pointlessly about what will happen next. Plus, the 50th anniversary casting bombshell is discussed, Louis wonders about River’s history with the Tenth Doctor, and Tom misremembers the ending of The Web of Fear. Where else can you get such scintillating discussion about Doctor Who? Possibly somewhere, I guess, if you look around, but there is no need to look around because a new episode of THE CLOISTER ROOM is right before your eyes! And ears.
The Cloister Room 045 - Cloud Storage2013/02/25

Tom and Louis return from what can only be described as an extended retirement to deliver their long (long, long) overdue review of Doctor Who’s 2012 Christmas extravaganza, “The Snowmen.” Along the way they discuss K-9, Sherlock, and other bizarre tangents.
The Cloister Room 044 - Agricultural Angels2012/11/21

Tom and Louis return with their much-delayed review of The Angels Take Manhattan, as well as some general thoughts on the first half of Doctor Who’s seventh series.
The Cloister Room 043 - Random Bits of Thing2012/09/29

It’s yet another episode of The Cloister Room! Tom and Louis discuss the ups and downs of The Power of Three, and get drawn off on a long tangent about who is fit to run Doctor Who when Moffat eventually steps down.
The Cloister Room 042 - I Was Expecting Steampunk2012/09/22

Doctor Who is back again for the third week running! We’re getting spoiled, aren’t we? In any case, Tom and Louis have turned their attention toward “A Town Called Mercy.”
The Cloister Room 041 - The Hexagonal Ball Standard2012/09/15

While Tom is entranced with by the Dinosaurs (ON A SPACESHIP!), Louis has numerous grievances to air. Topics of discussion include unlikely coincidences, action figures, and Dazzler. Spoilers abound.
The Cloister Room 040 - Wh-Wha? What's-Its-It-Uh-Wha? What's Going On? 2012/09/07

New Doctor Who has arrived, and with it, it has brought every Dalek ever. Oh, and one massive, confusing, exciting surprise. Which is the source of our titular confusion. Join Tom and Louis for some head scratching. There are, of course, spoilers for Asylum of the Daleks. Which is the episode we're discussing.
The Cloister Room 039 - The Most Boring of Pseudoscience2012/09/01

Before Doctor Who series seven begins, Tom and Loius briefly resume their discussion of Doctor Who’s eighteenth season. Teenagers, large numbers, and cruelty to doves—you know it’s gotta be Full Circle!
The Cloister Room 038 - No Hounds Were Harmed2012/08/25

After an extended absence, Tom and Louis return to discuss the second series of that OTHER Moffat show, Sherlock.
The Cloister Room 037 - Does HE know about IT?2012/05/10

Hey! It's Tom and Louis discussing the early episodes of Awake. Just in time for... the late episodes for Awake.

You're judging us. Stop judging us.
The Cloister Room 036 - They Don't Humanize the Human2012/04/08

This week Tom and Louis continue their journey through Season 18 with a chat about the classic story Meglos. Digressions occur.
The Cloister Room 035 - Such Was JJ Abrams' Hubris2012/03/09

Tom and Louis discuss recent developments on Fringe. Well, recent-ish . It might be two episodes past its sell-by date, but we guarantee it still tastes oh so good.
The Cloister Room 034 - Write That Down in Your Copybook Now2012/03/04

This week on The Cloister Room, Tom and Louis begin watching experiencing the Bidmead era of Doctor Who. That’s right, it’s 1980 all over again, and we’re watching Season Eighteen.

This week, we explore the finer points of Tachyon Image Generation for a discussion of The Leisure Hive .
The Cloister Room 033 - Intense Digesting Action2012/02/12
The Cloister Room 032 - Intelligent Slop2011/12/13
The Cloister Room 031 - "What Have We Learned Today?"2011/10/16
The Cloister Room 030 - Giant Amy Pond Face2011/10/01
The Cloister Room 029 - I'm Sorry I Killed You, Peter Davison!2011/09/24
The Cloister Room 028 - How They Frict2011/09/17
The Cloister Room 027 - Please Fix Our Financial Troubles2011/09/09
The Cloister Room 026 - Clearly I Am Not A Farmer2011/08/29
The Cloister Room 025 - A Storm-at-the-Heart-of-the-Sun Kind Of Guy2011/08/27
The Cloister Room 024 - Riverlation2011/06/25
The Cloister Room 023 - The Eyes Say Why2011/06/15
The Cloister Room 022: Sexy2011/05/21
The Cloister Room 021: Damned Spot2011/05/14
The Cloister Room 020: Crazyguy and Creepyhouse2011/05/07
The Cloister Room 019: The Impossible Astronaut2011/04/30
The Cloister Room 018 - Drugs, Not Gloves2011/03/29
The Cloister Room 017 - Robots? Clones? Robot Clones2011/02/25
The Cloister Room 016 - Lashing the Time Away2011/02/15
The Cloister Room 015 - Zombies Are The Greatest Teachers2011/02/01
The Cloister Room 014 - Shark of Wonder, Shark of Light2011/01/07
The Cloister Room 013 - The Sleeper Has Awakened2010/12/14
The Cloister Room 012b - Interlude2010/12/13
The Cloister Room 012 - Poor Doctor2010/10/30
The Cloister Room 011 - Poor Daleks (again)2010/10/22
The Cloister Room 010 - Poor Daleks2010/10/15
The Cloister Room 009 - Happy (Half) Hour2010/10/07
The Cloister Room 008: Cryon, You Crazy Diamond Thief2010/09/29
The Cloister Room 007: The Spectrox Must Flow2010/09/23
The Cloister Room 006: Telecom of the Daleks2010/09/17
The Cloister Room 005: Drill, Baby, Drill!2010/09/07
The Cloister Room 004: The War Games, Now in the App Store2010/09/01
The Cloister Room 003: This is my Sacrifice Face2010/08/23
The Cloister Room 002: An Unearthly Bald White Guy2010/08/16
The Cloister Room Episode 001 (8 August 2010)2010/08/09
TCR 012: The FOX Factor2010/04/24
TCR 011: Mo Monsters Mo Problems (16 April 2010)2010/04/17
TCR 010: The Fish Custard Dating Controversy2010/04/09
TCR 009: NOT about Matt Smith2010/04/02
TCR 008: Incursion of the Ha'Roul2010/03/15
TCR 007: I Hope It's Cool!2010/03/03
TCR 006: An Announcement, and a Lament for Gallifrey 2010/02/27
TCR 005: The Great Genre Panic2009/12/24
TCR 004: Requiem for a Drama2009/09/11
TCR 003: Man, O Mandalorian!2009/08/16
The Cloister Room promo2009/08/02
TCR 002: O Captain! My Captain!2009/08/01
Planet of the Dead liveblog on 7/26 at 7:45 PM Eastern2009/07/25
TCR: 000 and 001 Special Compilation Edition2009/07/24
The Small Screen, the Big Screen, and the Bigger-on-the-Inside Screen2009/07/22
TCR 000: Pilot2009/07/15

The Cloister Room
http://thecloisterroom.libsyn.comA Podcast about Doctor Who and Other Things, featuring Tom Dickinson and Louis Mitas.

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The Cloister Room The Cloister Room 143 - FINAL2016/01/01 Tom and Louis have reached the end of their wanderings at last. But there’s still time to discuss one more episode of Doctor Who. And some other stuff. “Fluidscape” by Kevin MacLeod licensed under CC BY 3.0 The Cloister Room is over, but watch this space in 2016. The Cloister Room 142 - The Sound of His Chirps2015/12/24 On the penultimate episode of The Cloister Room, Tom and Louis leave the TARDIS to journey to a galaxy far, far away. There are spoilers. The Cloister Room 141 - The Mind Robert2015/12/17 With Series Nine behind them, Tom and Louis journey to the land of fiction, where topics of discussion include the Doctor's fictionality, face blindness, and people that are horses. The Cloister Room 140 - The Donna Treatment2015/12/11 Tom and Louis visit scenic Gallifrey and have a nice bowl of soup. Topic include memory wipes, immortality, and whether this is or isn't the best series of Doctor Who ever. The Cloister Room 139 - Perpetual Skull2015/12/05 Trapped in their own bespoke torture castle, Tom and Louis must confess their shocking opinions about Peter Capaldi's new one-man show. Topics include skull ecology, confession dial procedure, and of course, hybrids. The Cloister Room 138 - Bonkers Nonsensical Plan2015/11/27 On a hidden street Tom and Louis must discuss the latest episode of Doctor Who, or they may be forced to face the raven... The Cloister Room 137 - On-Demand Complaint Negation2015/11/21 This audio was recovered from the computers of Tom Dickinson and Louis Mitas after they discussed Sleep No More. The Cloister Room 136 - Vegan Zygons, Zygon Vegans, Vegons2015/11/13 Tom and Louis stand in a room in the Black Archive, their hands poised over buttons on opposing Osgood boxes. What will it be? Truth, or Consequences? Who is a human and who is a Zygon? All will (perhaps) be revealed! The Cloister Room 135 - Zygon Riff2015/11/06 Tom and Louis are back for another episode of The Cloister Room. But are they both truly who they seem to be? Or could either one of them be a Zygon in disguise? Or does it even really matter, in the end? All of this and more will be revealed in the latest episode of The Cloister Room, discussing The Zygon Invasion! The Cloister Room 134 - No Worse Than What You'd Hear in a Shakespeare Play2015/10/29 Louis and Tom venture to regency England for an encounter with the mysterious highwayman known as the Knightmare. Topics of discussion include Mire-pattern baldness, the Lion King, and the color mauve. The Cloister Room 133 - Shrub Jefferson2015/10/23 Tom and Louis have their long-awaited encounter with the mysterious Girl Who Died. But who is she? The Rani? Susan? Romana? Or something far stranger? Topics of discussion include the Doctor's face, iPhones, and eel habitats. The Cloister Room 132 - This Is a Man in a Rubber Suit and We Are Proud2015/10/16 Journey with Tom and Louis back Before the Flood. Topics of discussion include secret workplace romance, the Fisher King's pseudo-death protocols, and the Doctor's vlog. All this plus missing episodes, Big Finish, and more! more! more! The Cloister Room 131 - Corridor Relay Race2015/10/09 Tom and Louis journey Under the Lake (well, into the lake, at any rate), for a discussion of the latest adventure with the Doctor and Clara. Topics of discussion include candy, cliffhangers, and Class. The Cloister Room 130 - Dr. Who and the Wheel of Snakes2015/10/02 That witch is familiar, isn’t she? Tom and Louis talk about the conclusion of the Doctor’s adventure on Skaro, and topics of discussion include how to write a good title, Kaledizing Davros, and Dalek strategy. The Cloister Room 129 - A One-Man Show, or A Many-Snake Show2015/09/24 Info (Show/Hide) It's back! Doctor Who is back on our screens! Tom and Louis discuss the long-awaited premiere of series nine, and weigh in on the Doctor, Missy, Clara, and all the surprise reveals and whatnot. Also discussed is the theatrical screening of Dark Water/Death in Heaven. There's so much going on we forget to even mention Jenna Coleman's officially confirmed departure from Doctor Who! Oops! All this, and stay to the end for a (moderately) important announcement. The Cloister Room 128 - Skimming the Works of Kant2015/09/18 Tom and Louis revisit an old premise, discussing both the iconic Hartnell story The Dalek Invasion of Earth and its cinematic adaptation starring Peter Cushing. Topics of discussion include Bernard Cribbins, the allure of the post-apocalyptic, and just what exactly the Daleks wanted to do with Earth. The Cloister Room 127 - I Am Also Looking At The Christmas Pudding Wikipedia Page2015/09/10 Tom and Louis chart a course for one of Big Finish’s most celebrated release, the chilling Chimes of Midnight. Topics of discussion include classic automobiles of the United Kingdom, companion-driven story arcs, Doctor Who’s ulitmate get-out-of-death-free card, and… well, a lot of stuff about pudding. The Cloister Room 126 - You Don't Want a Generic Face2015/09/03 This week, Tom and Louis pick up the funnybooks and talk about the first ten issues of the Tenth Doctor series from Titan Comics. Topics of discussion include the literary theory of comics, and David Tennant's face. The Cloister Room 125 - Make Sure It's An Anjou Pear2015/08/28 Tom and Louis journey into the pages of Paul Cornell's novel Human Nature, featuring the Seventh Doctor and Bernice Summerfield! Along the way, comparisons to the televised adaptation with David Tennant ensue. There is much talk of pears. The Cloister Room 124 - A Few More Hate Cells2015/08/17 Tom and Louis journey to Satellite Five to experience the Ninth Doctor's final stand, but are they just looking at the past through Rose colored glasses? The Cloister Room 123 - The Nazi Parallels in Candy Land2015/08/07 After a week’s rest, Tom and Louis are back to discuss the Seventh Doctor and Ace’s adventure in a Nazi POW camp–Colditz! Topics of discussion include Klein’s golden age, lasers, and how David Tennant’s face is like a chicken parm sandwich. The Cloister Room 122 - Well, As Long As We're Screwing With The Timeline2015/07/25 Once again a day late (we're not making a habit of it, we swear), Tom and Louis journey back into the archives of Big Finish to discuss the Fifth Doctor audio the Kingmaker, in all its historical hilarity. Topics of discussion include Shakespeare discontinuity, misdirection with the Master, and the Fourth Doctor's Big Finish pseudo-debut. The Cloister Room 121 - Time-Vine2015/07/18 Info (Show/Hide) A day late but by no means a dollar short, this bumper edition of The Cloister Room features discussions of two different stories, bookending the Key to Time season--The Ribos Operation and The Armageddon Factor! If that turns out to be just slightly less than enough for you, how about a discussion of the new trailer for Series Nine of Doctor Who? Or how about a completely unrelated tangent about Animorphs? What are you waiting for? This thing is like an hour and a half long! The Cloister Room 120 - Willing to Wiggle2015/07/10 Tom and Louis take a side step into the world of animation for a discussion of the 2003 webcast, Scream of the Shalka, starring Richard E. Grant as the Doctor! Topics of discussion include animation budgets, robot roommates, and the new series that never was. The Cloister Room 119 - These Tent Shots Are Amazing2015/07/02 Info (Show/Hide) Tom and Louis have put a stop to their random wanderings. Invigorated by a new sense of directional purpose, and harangued by an artificially intelligent piece of junk mail, they journey to the Psychic Circus to discuss the Sylvester McCoy classic, The Greatest Show in the Galaxy. Topics of discussion include evil kites, fruit vending best practices, and just how psychic that circus really is, anyway. The Cloister Room 118 - Wealthy Decadent Do-Nothings2015/06/25 Randomly, Tom and Louis wind up on the fanciest of mining crafts, for a discussion of the Fourth Doctor classic, The Robots of Death! Topics of discussion include hallucinogens, growing up with robots, and rich assholes. The Cloister Room 117 - We Can Get Behind "A Wizard Did It"2015/06/18 Random chance brings Tom and Louis to the Celestial Toymaker's terrifying toyroom, where random chance is basically the only thing that's going on. Topics of discussion include George and Margaret, Dodo's loved ones, the curse of the Trilogic game, and racism. The Cloister Room 116 - You're Stuck in the Hallway2015/06/11 Random wandering brings Tom and Louis to the point just before they began podcasting together--the two-part finale of the 2010 series, The Pandorica Opens and The Big Bang! Topics include the mysterious voice that says "Silence Will Fall," the Jim Carrey version of the Doctor, and the Sontaran's fashionable carrying accessories. The Cloister Room 115 - Cup Pickup Here2015/06/04 Tom and Louis randomly arrive in the vast HD deserts of Dubai for a discussion of the David Tennant Easter-avaganza, Planet of the Dead. We won't give away what they thought of the story but let's just say the explicit tag was quickly earned. Topics of discussion also include Dalek pets and getaway drivers. The Cloister Room 114 - It's All About The Model Shot2015/05/29 Tom and Louis find their way through random wandering to the mysterious planet Ravalox for a discussion of The Mysterious Planet. Topics of discussion include double acts, the Doctor's presidency, and the ideal placement of audiovisual equipment in Gallifreyan courtrooms. The Cloister Room 113 - Strange Mouth Sounds2015/05/21 In their random wanderings, Tom and Louis are brought to the Power of Kroll, for a discussion of green body paint, CSO, ethical treatment of Swampies, and the career of Robert Holmes. The Cloister Room 112 - No Chocolate Allowed On The Moon2015/05/14 Tom and Louis continue their random journeys through the classic series with this discussion of the Jon Pertwee classic--Frontier in Space! After already having watched the second leg of this mega-epic, Planet of the Daleks. Topics include architecture, lady presidents, and the mind probe. The Cloister Room 111 - The Opposite of Psychic Powers2015/05/07 After an hiatus in the early months of 2015, Tom and Louis return to The Cloister Room! From here on out, new episodes will be posted weekly. This week we continue our random journey through Doctor Who by discussing The King's Demons! Topics of discussion include musical kings and Adric's ghost. The Cloister Room 110 - Would You Like Me To Tide Their Blood?2015/02/09 This week Tom and Louis discuss the Shakespeare Code! Topics of discussion include the Harry Potter dating controversy, and the genius of the audience member. The Cloister Room 109 - This is a Sacred Song2015/01/13 It's Christmas time! Well, okay, it's not. But at any rate it's time to listen to Tom and Louis discuss their reaction to the episode of Doctor Who that aired when it WAS Christmas time. Topics include dream crab family life and a certain special Christmas song. And it's not by Wham! The Cloister Room 108 - Mayhem Has Merit2014/12/23 It's almost Christmas and Santa Claus is coming to town, but surely it's not too late for us to finally release our episode on Death in Heaven? Topics of discussion include Cyberkid, LI Who 2, and personal pronouns. The Cloister Room 107 - A Snake and then Eric Roberts2014/11/07 Part one of the two-part finale is here! Tom and Louis discuss Missy’s big reveal, the latest development on Danny, and lots, lots more. The Cloister Room 106 - Zoo Tycoon2014/11/01 As Series Eight hurtles toward its conclusion, Tom and Louis confer over the third-to-last episode. Topics of discussion include zoo management and the Doctor's brother. The Cloister Room 105 - The Dimension Field is Leaking2014/10/25 Series Eight rolls on and Tom and Louis roll on accordingly. In this, their discussion of flatline, topics include iPad bezels and evil geniuses. The Cloister Room 104 - Actual Mummy Magic2014/10/18 Another week, another new episode! Tom and Louis discuss Mummy on the Orient Express. Tom derails the discussion with spoilers for the Big Finish audio "The Boy That Time Forgot" (so, y'know, look out for that), and Louis has Train Beefs. The Cloister Room 103 - Space Dragon Will Have to Do2014/10/11 Series Eight of Doctor Who continues with a trip to the moon. We talk about the Doctor's DVD collection, the US Presidency, and... well, the abortion thing. We talk about that. The Cloister Room 102 - Geographical Spillage2014/10/04 Halfway through the season! Tom and Louis discuss the latest episode, The Caretaker. Topics of discussion include the dietary habits of sand piranhas and the use of cherry bombs. The Cloister Room 101 - That Box Has Been Well Ticked2014/09/27 Another week, another new episode of Doctor Who! We truly are spoiled. Tom and Louis take some time out to discuss whether the heist is sufficiently heisty. The Cloister Room 100 - A Structurally Sound Barn2014/09/20 It's the Cloister Room's one hundredth episode and Tom and Louis have one heck of an episode to discuss--Capaldi's latest adventure, "Listen." Topics of discussion include the ups and downs of future spacesuit fashion, and an important public service announcement for your health. The Cloister Room 099 - Shoot the Arrow into a Thermal Exhaust Port2014/09/13 Another week, another new episode! Louis and Tom talk about the Doctor's journey to Sherwood Forest. Topics of discussion include cuts and edits, swords and spoons. The Cloister Room 098 - In That Case, On a Case by Case Basis, Whatever the Case May Be2014/09/06 Louis and Tom discuss Capaldi's second big outing, and his first showdown against the Daleks. Topics of discussion include the two halves of fiction, tea in heaven, and soldiers. The Cloister Room 097 - Pushing the Robot out the Flesh Blimp2014/08/29 Louis and Tom set their random wanderings aside--Doctor Who is back on television! Obviously, this episode is about Capaldi's first outing as the new Dr. Who. The Cloister Room 096 - An Experiment In Disguise Science2014/08/23 It's the eve of Peter Capaldi's first big outing as the Doctor, but who cares about that? Random selection has brought Tom and Louis to an idyllic village in the country where the Rani is up to no good. Topics of discussion include barren philosophies and wild endeavours. The Cloister Room 095 - Fire Extinguisher, Lost to Time2014/08/06 Random selection brings Tom and Louis to a spaceship, and also France. The origins of the Moffat era are uncovered, and the trials and tribulations of future spam filtering are discussed. The Cloister Room 094 - Well, One Of Us Is Going To Have To Change2014/06/23 The whims of the randomizer bring Tom and Louis to one of 2013's recently rediscovered gems: The Enemy of the World. Louis has some less than entirely kind words about Fedorin, while Tom praises Salamander's efficient use of space. The Cloister Room 093 - Recorder in Color2014/06/09 Random chance brings Tom and Louis to Doctor Who's tenth anniversary extravaganza, The Three Doctors. The origins of the Doctor's contempt for Twitter are explained, and we manage to hold things together through the force of our own will. The Cloister Room 092 - Wake Up, Sheeple, Or Whatever2014/05/19 Tom and Louis randomly arrive in the Big Finish neighborhood of the Doctor Who universe, to discuss the 2003 audio release "Davros." Louis raises questions about Davros's economic plan, and Tom peels back the layers of the Kaled scientist. The Cloister Room 091 - The Axon Clause2014/05/12 Random chance brings Tom and Louis to the seventies classic The Claws of Axos. Louis pitches the Pigbin Josh trilogy, and Tom brings us on tangents about Doctor Who story numbering conventions and acetaminophen poisoning. The Cloister Room 090 - Please Hold, Your Screams Are Important To Us2014/04/28 A most random selection leads Tom and Louis to the planet Spiridon, where invisible creatures abound. Louis points out the Daleks’ apparent newfound cartographic advantage, and Tom proposes a new enemy for the Thals to face. The Cloister Room 089 - How Rude of Me To Just Call Him Skull2014/04/21 The random selector brings Tom and Louis to season 15 of Doctor Who, to discuss rustic racism and glow skulls. Louis remarks on the Doctor's moral values, and Tom unpacks the implication of K-9's character arc in the serial. The Cloister Room 088 - I Think He Was Based on a Lizard-Woman2014/04/07 At long last, Tom and Louis convene to discuss the finale of Sherlock's third series. Louis points out how Sherlock literally kills two metaphorical birds with one metaphorical stone, and Tom brings up question relating to Sherlock Holmes's ties to the Doctor Who universe. The Cloister Room 087 - You Would Do Well To Heed Me2014/03/31 In a stunning feat of temporal ineptitude, the episode that should have been episode 85 is episode 87, and vice versa. Anyway. Tom and Louis are brought in their random wanderings to a Fourth Doctor classic, the Masque of Mandragora. Opinion is divided. But who will side with reason, and who will side with primitive superstition? Only one way to find out... The Cloister Room 086 - Hacking Detected2014/03/10 Tom and Louis resume their discussion of Sherlock's third series, and ponder the matrimonial mayhem of The Sign of Three. Louis ponders the telegrams, and Tom admires the computer skills on display in the episode's opening. The Cloister Room 085 - The Shangri-La of Swimming Pools2014/02/17 Tom and Louis are randomly whisked away to the Seventh Doctor's era, picking up from their previous foray into Time and the Rani. Tom takes note of the punctuational music, and Louis wonders about Mel's appetite for cookies. The Cloister Room 084 - Two-ish Years Minus Some Days2014/02/02 Seeing as this podcast is allegedly about "Doctor Who and other things", don't you think it's time we discussed some other thing? We do. So we discussed the first episode of BBC's third series of Sherlock. The Cloister Room 083 - Wrath of the Quakers2014/01/22 Info (Show/Hide) Discussing Doctor Who: Wrath of the Iceni The time winds of random selection take Tom and Louis over to the Big Finish corner of the Doctor Who universe, where they discuss the Fourth Doctor adventure The Wrath of the Iceni. It all devolves into an extended defense of the pure historical. iTunes (subscribe, rate, and review) RSS feed (if you’re some kind of fancypants) The Cloister Room 082 - A Really Long and Tedious End User License Agreement2014/01/08 Eleven's Hour is over now, the clock is striking Twelve's. At the risk of spoiling this episode, you might not want to listen to it if you're the kind of person who prefers constant sunshine and positivity. The Cloister Room 081 - Trojan Fanfic OTP2013/12/30 Louis and Tom discuss one of Doctor Who's lost gems of the Hartnell era, The Myth Makers, a pure historical set during the Trojan War. Louis takes note of the story's paradoxical leanings, while Tom struggles to remember that one class he took on Homeric literature. The Cloister Room 080 - Who Knows?2013/12/16 Louis and Tom explore Doctor Who's origins as they discuss An Adventure in Space and Time, and unravel the dozens of cameos in The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot. The Cloister Room 079 - Insert John Hurt2013/12/02 The long-awaited Doctor Who anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor, has arrived, and Tom and Louis have convened to discuss it. The Cloister Room 078 - Will It Hurt?2013/11/23 Info (Show/Hide) Tom and Louis are too excited to randomize right now! Doctor Who's anniversary special is still a little under six hours away (as of this writing), but you can spend a little over one of those hours listening to Tom and Louis discuss Big Finish's anniversary special, The Light at the End, as well as Steven Moffat's little anniversary surprise for the fans, The Night of the Doctor starring Paul McGann! The Cloister Room 077 - That's Never Platinum!2013/11/18 The whims of random selection bring Tom and Louis to a firey planet; a planet of fire. Tom digs deep into the linguistic nuances of one Perpugilliam Brown, while Louis marvels at the existence of Kamelion, a companion he's never heard of! The Cloister Room 076 - This Beautiful Symphony of Martha2013/11/08 Tom and Louis are randomly brought to Doctor Who's fourth modern series for a discussion of the triumphant return of the Sontarans. Louis questions the warrior race's military supremacy, and Tom raises questions as to Martha's suitability for this story. The Cloister Room 075 - That's True2013/10/31 A random selection brings Tom and Louis to The Ark, and then to The Ark again. That's just kind of how this works. Tom once again talks about how much he hates Dodo, and Louis points out how like a First Doctor story this First Doctor story is. The Cloister Room 074 - He Likes It Venusian2013/10/21 The random selector brings Tom and Louis to the planet Peladon, for their first time and the Doctor's as well. The importance of the Ice Lords is discussed, and the merits of the delegate from Alpha Centauri are debated. The Cloister Room 073 - This Is Something That Needs To Be Reconciled2013/10/14 Info (Show/Hide) As the world rejoices at the return of 9 lost Doctor Who episodes, Tom and Louis do not mention it at all, since this was recorded before that happened. Still, there's plenty of joy to be had as our podcasters are brought by random fate to the most thoroughly lost episode of Doctor Who ever to be half-finished: Shada! Tom engages in some blow-by-blow comparisons of Shada's many versions, while Louis has a bone to pick with K-9. The Cloister Room 072 - You're My Favorite, Nyssa2013/10/08 Tom and Louis are randomly flown to a time long ago, for a discussion of Time-Flight, where Tegan is truly in her element. Louis draws connections to another, much more recent guy the Doctor had to thwart, and Tom comes up with a theory to narratively justify the Master's politically incorrect disguise. The Cloister Room 071 - I Guess I Have To Call It Unobtanium2013/10/01 A random breeze carries Tom and Louis to a Colony in Space, where visitors may colonize or mine to their hearts' content. Louis questions the logic of the Master's plan, and Tom repeats vehicular details learned from the DVD release. Endless fun. The Cloister Room 070 - All Bets Must Be Upheld2013/09/23 This week, Tom and Louis randomly arrive on a street in victorian London, where a mysterious man claiming to be the Doctor is doing battle with some Cybermen and a villainess with unclear motivations. Tom objects to the production team's silly regeneration games, and Louis keeps pointing out, quite rightly, that it's Christmas. The Cloister Room 069 - Magic Artist Powers2013/09/16 This week, Tom and Louis are randomly brought to Provence for an encounter with one of history's most famous painters. Louis wonders about the Doctor's finances, and Tom suggests that Van Gogh may be working with Improv Everywhere. Also, tangents about Bill Nigh-hee, lichens, and Abraham Lincoln. The Cloister Room 068 - Face It, Tegan, He's Drowned!2013/09/09 This week, Tom and Louis's random wanderings bring them to a base under sea. Louis calls Turlough's suitability into question, while Tom admires Ingrid Pitt's dance moves. Should there have been another way? The Cloister Room 067 - The Mutually Interlocked Angel Situation2013/09/03 Info (Show/Hide) This week Tom and Louis are randomly brought to Wester Drumlins for an encounter with the Weeping Angels. This one's an all-time classic, so you probably shouldn't expect us to have much to complain about. Louis remembers when he first saw the episode, and laments a bygone era when Moffat's writing was precious. Tom manages to find two (2) things to complain about. Also: a mulligan and a Mulligan. The Cloister Room 066 - Darren Is In My Personal Canon2013/08/26 This week's random selection brings Tom and Louis to a fan favorite: The Evil of the Daleks. Louis discovers the wonderful world of reconstructions, and Tom gets very excited about static and mirrors. Also, a minor tangent about crossover fanfiction! The Cloister Room 065 - Now I Am Total Power.mp32013/08/19 Info (Show/Hide) Tom and Louis, in their random wand'rings through time and space, were brought to the end of the Pertwee era for a discussion of Planet of the Spiders. Among the topics of discussion are world religions and terrible Two Legs acting--plus, a rather prescient remark from Tom (keep in mind that this was actually recorded prior to the announcement of Peter Capaldi's casting as the Doctor!). The Cloister Room 064 - Dick Clark's New Doctor's Rockin' Eve2013/08/11 This week, on this very podcast, you can hear a couple of white guys talk about how excited they are about the new white guy who's playing the Doctor. The bizarre manner of the casting announcement is discussed, and Tom and Louis ostensibly discuss the first episode of The Thick of It, but actually don't. The Cloister Room 063 - A Bird On The Head Is Worth Two In The Hand2013/08/05 This week Tom and Louis's random story generator brings them to the show's twentieth season for a rendezvous with a Brig or two. Tom sings the praises of Paddy Kingsland's iconic driving theme, and Louis wonders what the deal is with all these Turloughs and Guardians and what have yous. And there is no discussion about Peter Capaldi, because this was recorded two weeks ago. The Cloister Room 062 - Death, The Ultimate Experiment!2013/07/29 Tom and Louis are randomly assigned the unenviable task of watching and discussing Time and The Rani, a story about which they make no attempts to hide their distaste. Tom laments Doctor Who's first major use of CG, and Louis explores the strangeness of strange matter. It's not a fun story, but hopefully it makes for a fun podcast? The Cloister Room 061 - Moons Of Madness!2013/07/22 Guided by the whims of a =RAND() function in an excel worksheet, Tom and Louis embark on a journey to the planet Calufrax to discuss the Douglas Adams classic, The Pirate Planet. Louis noticea a connection that brought out memories of Tom's earliest fandom, and David Bradley and other Davids are discussed. The Cloister Room 060 -Bad Daleks2013/07/15 Info (Show/Hide) Having finished their journey through Season 18 (and a little bit of Season 19), Tom and Louis randomize their viewing and wind up at the tail end of the Hartnell era, discussing the War Machines. Out of their element, Louis repeatedly mispronounced WOTAN and Tom gets Dodo's debut story wrong. Still, there is much to be discussed, from supply chaining to fourth wall breaking to Dodo's alleged death at the hands of history's greatest monster: syphilis. The Cloister Room 059 - Your Regeneration And You2013/07/08 Tom and Louis have finished Season 18, but there are loose ends which remain to be tied up, so they venture into Season 19 to discuss Castrovalva. Louis admires Nyssa's intensity, and Tom judges Master against Master. The Cloister Room 058 - Airplane-Focused2013/07/01 It's been a long road, but Tom and Louis finally bring their discussion of Season Eighteen to a close with Logopolis, Tom Baker's final outing as the Doctor. Louis notes the TARDIS's interesting noises, and Tom wonders at the alien marvel of regeneration. All that and MORE! The Cloister Room 057 - Nostalgia For Old Hatred2013/06/24 Tom and Louis met to discuss the overall quality of Doctor Who's seventh series, but were derailed briefly by a plague of missing episode rumors (skip to 18:44 if you don't want to hear about those). Tom waxed vitriolic about The Power of Three, while Louis appraised the season's worthiness as a farewell to Matt Smith. All this and tangents! The Cloister Room 056 - Pretty Sweet Culture2013/06/16 With Tom and Louis continuing their discussion of Season 18, you'd think that this week's episode might be another short one. But you'd be wrong! Because not only do we spend a good amount of time discussing The Keeper of Traken, but starting at about 21:30, we discuss the announcement of Matt Smith's departure. The Cloister Room 055 - The Lion Kings2013/06/10 Another short episode this week, as Tom and Louis continue their discussion of Doctor Who's eighteenth season with Warrior's Gate. The Cloister Room 054 - Evil Vampire People2013/06/03 Tom and Louis returned to Season 18 to discuss State of Decay. The episode is short, so the episode description shall follow suit. The Cloister Room 053 - He Is The Railyard2013/05/26 With another season over and done, Tom and Louis met to discuss the events in The Name of the Doctor, and their potential ramifications. As Tom trotted out a list of six theories, Louis fretted about the absence of the Eighth Doctor. And as usual, the 50th anniversary is discussed. The Cloister Room 052 - Gollum Style2013/05/18 After the penultimate episode of series seven, Nightmare in Silver, Louis guided Tom through a therapeutic reconstruction of the plot, and the two of them share predictions about what will happen in The Name of the Doctor. The Cloister Room 051 - Doctor Who Eye Thing2013/05/11 Another new episode of Doctor Who has aired, and Tom and Louis greet it with much enthusiasm (although one of them has considerably more enthusiasm than the other). Tom shares a new theory about Clara’s mystery, and Louis identifies a connection to Fringe. Plus, we talk about the 50th Anniversary special. Again. The Cloister Room 050 - Stuck On A Stone / I've Seen Your Name2013/05/05 Info (Show/Hide) Well, here we are, at an arbitrary numerical milestone. Fifty episodes. Did you ever think we’d make it this far? It only took us three years. But here we are at last. And to celebrate, Tom and Louis sat down for an extra-jam-packed episode, discussing NOT ONLY Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS, but also The Five Doctors! Wow! Incidentally, if you don’t care at all about our discussion of The Five Doctors, you can just skip ahead to 32 minutes in. The Cloister Room 049 - Hot Pockets2013/05/01 Info (Show/Hide) Tom and Louis gather once again to discuss the most recent episode of Doctor Who. Well, the most recent from their perspective, not yours. Wibbly wobbly. Okay, listen. This episode is about “Hide.” Yes, “Journey to the Center of the TARDIS” has already aired, but we’re doing “Hide,” so sit down and deal with it. Also, this is our forty-ninth episode... it looks like an arbitrary milestone is soon to be upon us! The Cloister Room 048 - The HADS Is, Not The HADS Are2013/04/20 Info (Show/Hide) For the third consecutive week, that mysterious traveler in time and space known only as the Doctor has returned to our screens, and this time he’s brought us to the North Pole for an encounter with one of his oldest and deadliest foes. Meanwhile, Tom has been monitoring the Twitterverse for some kind of fan consensus on the current season of Doctor Who, and Louis laments the lack of discipline in the Soviet Navy. And while all this is going on, the classic Doctors all enjoy a leisurely afternoon in the Shire. The Cloister Room 047 - Magic Songs Are Her Bit2013/04/13 Another week, another new episode of Doctor Who. This time around, The Rings of Akhaten brings Tom to a moment of personal crisis, while Louis finds himself moved to reminisce about Worlds of Warcraft gone by. The two intrepid podcasters face their most daunting challenge ever: a pronunciation conundrum. Plus: we puzzle over Zygon plots and aging Doctors. The Cloister Room 046 - For The Win!2013/04/06 Info (Show/Hide) A new series of Doctor Who is upon us, so—oh, wait, it’s not a new season, it’s just... more of the previous season? I guess? So, Tom and Louis discuss the first—d’oh, I mean sixth, or maybe seventh, I dunno—episode of the current series and discuss their thoughts on the series’ current direction, while speculating pointlessly about what will happen next. Plus, the 50th anniversary casting bombshell is discussed, Louis wonders about River’s history with the Tenth Doctor, and Tom misremembers the ending of The Web of Fear. Where else can you get such scintillating discussion about Doctor Who? Possibly somewhere, I guess, if you look around, but there is no need to look around because a new episode of THE CLOISTER ROOM is right before your eyes! And ears. The Cloister Room 045 - Cloud Storage2013/02/25 Tom and Louis return from what can only be described as an extended retirement to deliver their long (long, long) overdue review of Doctor Who’s 2012 Christmas extravaganza, “The Snowmen.” Along the way they discuss K-9, Sherlock, and other bizarre tangents. The Cloister Room 044 - Agricultural Angels2012/11/21 Tom and Louis return with their much-delayed review of The Angels Take Manhattan, as well as some general thoughts on the first half of Doctor Who’s seventh series. The Cloister Room 043 - Random Bits of Thing2012/09/29 It’s yet another episode of The Cloister Room! Tom and Louis discuss the ups and downs of The Power of Three, and get drawn off on a long tangent about who is fit to run Doctor Who when Moffat eventually steps down. The Cloister Room 042 - I Was Expecting Steampunk2012/09/22 Doctor Who is back again for the third week running! We’re getting spoiled, aren’t we? In any case, Tom and Louis have turned their attention toward “A Town Called Mercy.” The Cloister Room 041 - The Hexagonal Ball Standard2012/09/15 While Tom is entranced with by the Dinosaurs (ON A SPACESHIP!), Louis has numerous grievances to air. Topics of discussion include unlikely coincidences, action figures, and Dazzler. Spoilers abound. The Cloister Room 040 - Wh-Wha? What's-Its-It-Uh-Wha? What's Going On? 2012/09/07 New Doctor Who has arrived, and with it, it has brought every Dalek ever. Oh, and one massive, confusing, exciting surprise. Which is the source of our titular confusion. Join Tom and Louis for some head scratching. There are, of course, spoilers for Asylum of the Daleks. Which is the episode we're discussing. The Cloister Room 039 - The Most Boring of Pseudoscience2012/09/01 Before Doctor Who series seven begins, Tom and Loius briefly resume their discussion of Doctor Who’s eighteenth season. Teenagers, large numbers, and cruelty to doves—you know it’s gotta be Full Circle! The Cloister Room 038 - No Hounds Were Harmed2012/08/25 After an extended absence, Tom and Louis return to discuss the second series of that OTHER Moffat show, Sherlock. The Cloister Room 037 - Does HE know about IT?2012/05/10 Hey! It's Tom and Louis discussing the early episodes of Awake. Just in time for... the late episodes for Awake. You're judging us. Stop judging us. The Cloister Room 036 - They Don't Humanize the Human2012/04/08 This week Tom and Louis continue their journey through Season 18 with a chat about the classic story Meglos. Digressions occur. The Cloister Room 035 - Such Was JJ Abrams' Hubris2012/03/09 Tom and Louis discuss recent developments on Fringe. Well, recent-ish . It might be two episodes past its sell-by date, but we guarantee it still tastes oh so good. The Cloister Room 034 - Write That Down in Your Copybook Now2012/03/04 This week on The Cloister Room, Tom and Louis begin watching experiencing the Bidmead era of Doctor Who. That’s right, it’s 1980 all over again, and we’re watching Season Eighteen. This week, we explore the finer points of Tachyon Image Generation for a discussion of The Leisure Hive . The Cloister Room 033 - Intense Digesting Action2012/02/12 The Cloister Room 032 - Intelligent Slop2011/12/13 The Cloister Room 031 - "What Have We Learned Today?"2011/10/16 The Cloister Room 030 - Giant Amy Pond Face2011/10/01 The Cloister Room 029 - I'm Sorry I Killed You, Peter Davison!2011/09/24 The Cloister Room 028 - How They Frict2011/09/17 The Cloister Room 027 - Please Fix Our Financial Troubles2011/09/09 The Cloister Room 026 - Clearly I Am Not A Farmer2011/08/29 The Cloister Room 025 - A Storm-at-the-Heart-of-the-Sun Kind Of Guy2011/08/27 The Cloister Room 024 - Riverlation2011/06/25 The Cloister Room 023 - The Eyes Say Why2011/06/15 The Cloister Room 022: Sexy2011/05/21 The Cloister Room 021: Damned Spot2011/05/14 The Cloister Room 020: Crazyguy and Creepyhouse2011/05/07 The Cloister Room 019: The Impossible Astronaut2011/04/30 The Cloister Room 018 - Drugs, Not Gloves2011/03/29 The Cloister Room 017 - Robots? Clones? Robot Clones2011/02/25 The Cloister Room 016 - Lashing the Time Away2011/02/15 The Cloister Room 015 - Zombies Are The Greatest Teachers2011/02/01 The Cloister Room 014 - Shark of Wonder, Shark of Light2011/01/07 The Cloister Room 013 - The Sleeper Has Awakened2010/12/14 The Cloister Room 012b - Interlude2010/12/13 The Cloister Room 012 - Poor Doctor2010/10/30 The Cloister Room 011 - Poor Daleks (again)2010/10/22 The Cloister Room 010 - Poor Daleks2010/10/15 The Cloister Room 009 - Happy (Half) Hour2010/10/07 The Cloister Room 008: Cryon, You Crazy Diamond Thief2010/09/29 The Cloister Room 007: The Spectrox Must Flow2010/09/23 The Cloister Room 006: Telecom of the Daleks2010/09/17 The Cloister Room 005: Drill, Baby, Drill!2010/09/07 The Cloister Room 004: The War Games, Now in the App Store2010/09/01 The Cloister Room 003: This is my Sacrifice Face2010/08/23 The Cloister Room 002: An Unearthly Bald White Guy2010/08/16 The Cloister Room Episode 001 (8 August 2010)2010/08/09 TCR 012: The FOX Factor2010/04/24 TCR 011: Mo Monsters Mo Problems (16 April 2010)2010/04/17 TCR 010: The Fish Custard Dating Controversy2010/04/09 TCR 009: NOT about Matt Smith2010/04/02 TCR 008: Incursion of the Ha'Roul2010/03/15 TCR 007: I Hope It's Cool!2010/03/03 TCR 006: An Announcement, and a Lament for Gallifrey 2010/02/27 TCR 005: The Great Genre Panic2009/12/24 TCR 004: Requiem for a Drama2009/09/11 TCR 003: Man, O Mandalorian!2009/08/16 The Cloister Room promo2009/08/02 TCR 002: O Captain! My Captain!2009/08/01 Planet of the Dead liveblog on 7/26 at 7:45 PM Eastern2009/07/25 TCR: 000 and 001 Special Compilation Edition2009/07/24 The Small Screen, the Big Screen, and the Bigger-on-the-Inside Screen2009/07/22 TCR 000: Pilot2009/07/15 The Cloister Room http://thecloisterroom.libsyn.comA Podcast about Doctor Who and Other Things, featuring Tom Dickinson and Louis Mitas.

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