In this 8th Doctor audio play, Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss how it uses H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds radio program as a plot element; the old-time radio play production style; and big guest stars like Simon Pegg. Plus how aliens, Nazis, Soviets, and the Mafia come together in one story.

Creepy amusement park filler with Cybermen? Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha talk about this 11th Doctor story that brings back this classic enemy, but upgrades them; talk about Warwick Davis's guest role; and the Doctor's antics fighting against an evil version of himself.

The 7th Doctor continues his dark turn with Ace. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha talk about the Victorian horror story with a scifi twist and dig into why the Doctor is putting Ace through some harrowing adventures involving some of her worst memories.

The 11th Doctor in Victorian horror! Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the Doctor and Clara's team up with the Paternoster Gang against Dame Diana Rigg's villain; what optograms are; and Matt Smith's Yorkshire accent.

The Orient Express in space! Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the 6th Doctor's new companion, Melanie and the change in tone with her arrival; the continuation of the Trial of a Time Lord; and the prospect of sentient, carnivorous plant people who see humans as livestock.

More of the Tardis than we've ever seen before. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this story that takes us to parts of the Doctor's ship we've never seen, but also addresses questions of personhood and the dignity of each individual.

The best Doctor's New Year's Eve yet? Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this 13th Doctor special, especially its fun guests characters, Sarah and Nick; the fun, lowered-stakes plot device; and the quippy dialogue that overcome the few missteps.

The Brigadier is back again. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the return of Lethbridge-Stewart with the 5th Doctor; the addition of Turlow to the Tardis Companions; attempts to steal the Doctor's regenerations; and this first part of the Black Guardian trilogy of stories.

The Doctor goes ghost hunting. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha talk about the 11th Doctor's search for answers to the mystery of Clara; how it is based on a 1959 movie; and Jimmy's assessment of the paranormal research depicted in the episode.

The 4th Doctor v. killer plants! Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this 4th Doctor story that combines Lovecraft's "Mountains of Madness" and Hawks' film "The Thing From Another World," including a Bond-level villain, an Antarctic base, and an English country estate.

The end of the Flux! Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this last chapter which jam-packs the end of this 6-episode season, assess the season a whole, and give their predictions for what happens next in the upcoming specials.

Five plot threads race to a conclusion of the Flux as Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory discuss the potentially mythos shattering revelations about the Doctor's true backstory, but will it ruin the mythos to reveal too much?

In Chapter 4 of The Flux, Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha talk about how the lore of the Weeping Angels is greatly expanded and for the better; how much they liked guest character Professor Jericho; and what that mid-credits scene meant.

The Flux continues! Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this midpoint of the 13th Doctor's last season, incl. fan theories about Vinder; who the odd woman was; and how they want to see more of "Doctor Ruth."

The Doctor goes to Crimea. Jimmy Akin and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the historical context of the 2nd chapter of the Flux; the return to form of the Sontarans; and the interesting context of What would the Doctor do?

The 13th Doctor starts her final season with the first chapter in a six-episode arc. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the many threads that are unspooled here and how this may be the best 13th Doctor episode yet.

The Doctor averts World War III by reasoning with a Cold Warrior. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha talk about the return of the Ice Warriors, a Companion who finally stays put, and Dom's nitpicking on how submarines work.

The Third Doctor gets his first encounter with Daleks. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss this time-hopping adventure that jumps from Cold War brinksmanship to a future dystopia ruled by collaborators, apemen, and Daleks.

Clara and the Doctor go on their first offworld adventure. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha talk about what makes Clara different as a Companion; how the plot of the story resolves in a totally unclear way; and how right off the bat Clara is already taking on the Doctor's role.

Patrick Troughton in two roles. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss this 60s supervillain thriller in which the 2nd Doctor also plays the bad guy and shows his acting range. Plus the very cool spy-agent Astrid.

Clara Oswald's first adventure with the Doctor sees the return of an old, but recent foe. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss the beginning of a new era for the Doctor with the Impossible Girl and how the episode is more important for setting the stage than for its own plot.

The First Doctor visits King Richard the Lionheart in the Holy Land during the Crusades. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss the story of the Doctor's encounter, the nuanced portrayal of both Richard and Saladin, and dispel some myths about the crusades along the way.

The Impossible Girl comes for Christmas! Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory talk about the season arc involving Clara's curious appearances; interesting guest voice actors; the Pater Noster gang and where their name comes from; and the Great Intelligence as recurring enemy.

The 4th Doctor and Leela and taxes! Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss this story about a company town, unreasonable taxes, a heartless bureaucracy, and a revolution. It sounds like the writer had some issues with the tax system he wanted to express.

Goodbye Amy and Rory! Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the end of this era of Doctor Who; the problem of fixed points in time; and the watering down of the Weeping Angels as scary villains.

The 8th Doctor has lost his mind! Dom Bettinelli and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this Big Finish audio story in which the 8th Doctor ends up in the US South, encounters a Satanic society, meets dastardly televangelists, and reunites with his old friend, the Brigadier.

The Doctor comes to stay. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the time the 11th Doctor stayed with Amy and Rory; why they still love Rory's dad; and why there is so much filler in this story.

The return of the Brigadier! Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha talk about the Arthurian roots of this 7th Doctor story, the inclusion of the now-retired Lethbridge-Stewart, the Doctor's dark turn, nuclear brinksmanship, and more.

The Doctor in the Old West. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha talk about the balance between justice and mercy, whether the good done today compensates for evil done before, and the Doctor's own conscience about his deeds.

The 6th Doctor is still on trial and Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the bombastic action by guest star Brian Blessed, the hidden motivations of the Time Lords, and the sudden departure of Peri as Companion.

What if the lone joke of an obscure Samuel L. Jackson movie were morphed into a Doctor Who episode? Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss everything that's wrong with this story, including the Doctor's murder of the villain.

The return of the Mara. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss this 5th Doctor story that was partially inspired by tales of Christian snake handlers, but also uses concepts out of Asian religions and philosophies.

The Doctor, Amy, and Rory are on a mission from the Daleks to stop even worse Daleks. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the turn in the relationship between Amy and Rory and the first appearance of the "Impossible Girl".

The 4th Doctor fights a mad scientist and his horrific creation. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss the classic story and its implication that the Doctor had many more than the tradition 13 (or 14) incarnations, and how that relates to the Timeless Child.

The Doctor riffs on Narnia, but misses just a bit. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss this Christmas special in which pretty much nothing the Doctor does makes any difference to the main action of the plot, but at least there's sentient trees and a happy reunion.

The 3rd Doctor deals with the Master who poses as village vicar summoning demons. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory talk about how the BBC ordered no mention of God; the science vs. occult theme; and the occurence of horned beings through mythology. Plus Morris dancing! We also remember in prayer Damaris Hayman, who played Miss Olive Hawthorne in this episode and just died on June 8, 2021.

The 6th season of New Who wraps up with a wedding. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss the trick for getting out of the impossible situation set up at the beginning of the season, as well as where it leaves all our characters, including making the Doctor small again.

The 2nd Doctor deals with climate change! Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss this srtory that deals with the climate change worry of the 1960s, namely a forthcoming ice age. Plus the introduction of the Ice Warriors from Mars and more 60s-era worries about computers.

The 11th Doctor meets up with Craig again and now Craig's son, Stormaggedon. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this Cybermen story, the way this episode bridges to the season finale, and what it does right and wrong.

The First Doctor in an ambitious science fiction story for its time. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss this serial that features very alien characters and situations, some clever and witty dialogue, and trenchant social commentary.

The 11th Doctor stuck in the Labyrinth. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory examine this story that features a Minotaur-like creature that feeds on faith, as if faith was a kind of emotional energy and places it at the level of superstition. Does it do a disservice to religious faith?

The 8th Doctor is in a future Venice facing a cataclysm. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory talk about this audio story that bears remarkable resemblance to later TV episodes and how the story has a very fairy tale quality about it.

This time it's Amy who waits for Rory and the Doctor. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory talk about another story of doppelgängers and duplicates and alternate time streams; discuss the question of which Amy is the real one; whether it is moral to sacrifice one; and if the Doctor is being cruel.

The 7th Doctor and Ace go to a demented circus. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss fear of clowns, hippie circuses, werewolves, and the gods of Ragnarok, plus Sylvester McCoy's realy magic tricks he performs on-screen.

The 11th Doctor comes to the aid of a scared little boy whose night terrors become real. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha this fairy tale horror story about the unconditional love of a father for his unusual son.

The Trial of a Time Lord begins! Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory talk about the first part of the 6th Doctor's "trial" season that brings him to an "alien" planet that turns out to be a post-apocalyptic Earth run by a domineering robot. Plus lots of Valeyard name puns.

With the Doctor tracking down Amy and Rory's missing baby, they encounter a mysterious group tampering with time. Dom, Jimmy, and Fr. Cory discuss the ethics of punishing historical criminals in the way described here as well as an element introduced here to be important later.

Omega in Amsterdam! Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss this 5th Doctor story that includes future 6th Doctor, Colin Baker; lots of Doctor Who mythology; the Time Lords on Gallifrey; and capital punishment among the Time Lords.

"Demons run when a good man goes to war." Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha talk about this 11th Doctor story that broadens the mythology surrounding River Song, Amy and Rory, and the Doctor, plus brings together a lot of elements from throughout New Who.

The 4th Doctor lands on Earth, but is it really Westworld? Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss this Tom Baker story that involves a small English town and a space defense station completely taken over by lookalike androids, except for a lone human and alien invaders.

The Third Doctor faces off against corporate interests and the Master. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss the story's allegory for North American colonization, as well as the 3rd Doctor's first off-Earth adventure in the Tardis.

In part 2 of this story, the 11th Doctor gets a doppelgänger and then sets up the big reveal for the next two episodes. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss the Doctor's deception, the two kinds of gangers, and whether they are really alive.

The 2nd Doctor in the Himalayas. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this complex story involving a monastery, robots, an alien intelligence, a British explorer, a centuries-old guru, and Yeti.

Neil Gaiman's first outing as a Doctor Who screenwriter results in this fan favorite exploration of the Doctor's relationship to the Tardis. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss the revelations about the Doctor, the Tardis, other Time Lords, and more all wrapped up in clever dialogue.

The Doctor meets Nero! Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this 1st Doctor story of ancient Rome that has some strong comedic elements, but also brings the Doctor into contact with persecuted early Christians.

Ahoy! Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss the 11th Doctor's pirate adventure that allows for a lot of pirate jokes, but lets in a lot of plot holes and loose ends as well. But there's also self-sacrifice and trust and parental and spousal relationship.

The Eighth Doctor and Charley encounter the Cybermen in this audio story. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss the origin in fan-made stories from the 80s, the fast pacing of the story, and the Doctor's handling of moral dilemmas he encounters between humans, Cybermen, and someone else.

The 13th Doctor is back along with Graham, Ryan, Yaz, and Capt. Jack. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory agree that it was a very good episode and discuss the return of Jack Robertson, then talk about the news of next season, a new companion, and rumors of a new Doctor.

https://www.sqpn.com/2021/01/revolution-of-the-daleks/

In what could be called the first Doctor Who Christmas special, the 1st Doctor has a brief madcap adventure on the day itself. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss the fun, little adventure and then wish all of our listeners a Merry Christmas!

It's the 25th (i.e. silver) anniversary of Doctor Who and Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory enjoy the 7th Doctor and Ace's battle against their silver enemies, the Cybermen, Nazis, an Elizabethan witch, and a weapon from the Doctor's own past. And the Queen!

In the 2nd part of the season premiere, the Doctor and companions battle the Silence in 1969. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss the vast scope of this story over time, the clever ways they counter the Silence's power, and the first hints at the bigger story arc involving Amy and her child.

With the start of Matt Smith's 2nd season, the Doctor began a new story arc by traveling to the USA in the 1970s. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory talk about the surprisingly fair depiction of Nixon, River song's tragic relationship with the Doctor, and starting the season with a surprising death.

Part soylent green, part Evelyn Waugh novel, this 6th Doctor story brings him up against the Daleks for the first time and leaves Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory searching for the bright spots, including some dark humor amidst the horror, an interesting side character in an assassin with a good heart, and the usual Davros machinations.

The 5th Doctor catches a Concorde flight back to the Cretaceous. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory talk about how the inclusion of the supersonic Concorde was a nod to then-groundbreaking tech; how the show dealt with the loss of Adric; and whether this return of an old enemy works well.

As the 11th Doctor's first season end, Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss how Moffat's first season-long arc wraps up, the hints dropped throughout the season of the resolution, and the elevation of Rory from tagalong to romantic hero.

The first season of the 11th Doctor wraps up the "crack in the universe" arc. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss the universal stakes of the story, the array of the Doctor's enemies together, and a certain Roman centurion whose appearance here cements him as a fan favorite.

The 2nd Doctor catches a flight! Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss another lost Doctor Who story that's been recovered through animation, this time set at London's Gatwick Airport in the 1960s. It's a cross between Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Airport 1970.

It's our 200th episode and Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory have a special celebration in which they discuss the Doctor Who stories--Classic and New--that they consider essential for anyone who wants to be a Whovian.

The Doctor and Sarah Jane meet a being who once posed as an Egyptian god and is more than a match for the Doctor. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss the ultimate power of Seth, a logic puzzle that is anything but devious, and Sarah Jane's amazing marksmanship.

Before he was a late night star, James Corden was a fan favorite guest star on Doctor Who. Jimmy and Dom discuss another episode the Doctor being domestic, the sweet love story that forms the backbone of the episode, and what kind of roommate the Doctor would be.

The Doctor and the Master team up to save Earth from Axos. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss this 3rd Doctor story that includes a unique monster, officious government bureaucrats, and a scheming Master.

The Doctor and Amy meet Vincent van Gogh. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha review a fan favorite of new Who and appreciate how it deftly handles the issues of depression and mental health while also managing to tell an entertaining story.

Jumping between 1966 and 1866, the 2nd Doctor and Jamie destroy the Daleks once and for all. Or not. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the Doctor's guile that almost alienates Jamie and the producers' attempt to kill off the very popular villains.

Introducing Vicki. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this 1st Doctor story that includes the first new Companion to come aboard the show and the Doctor getting physical as they confront a killer's evil plan.

In this 2nd part of a 2-parter, the Doctor and Amy both win and lose. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha talk about the losses incurred, a mother's mistakes, and ultimate sacrifices.

In part 1 of this 2-parter, Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss the return of the Silurians in new Who as written by current showrunner Chris Chibnall and they appreciate the depiction of a loving dad helping a dyslexic son to read with patience.

We've added the 8th Doctor's Big Finish audio plays to our rotation of Doctor reviews, starting with Storm Warning. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss how different the 8th Doctor is from the TV movie, the use of Britain's dirigible disaster in the story; and the introduction of companion Charley.

It's 2020, Amy is pregnant, Rory is a country doctor, and the Doctor is visiting. But is it real? Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss the Dream Lord (is he real?) and the moment in this season when Amy has to definitively decide whether her feelings lie with Rory or the Doctor.

The 7th Doctor and Ace find the happiest totalitarian state ever. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory talk about this Orwellian Candy Land where sadness is outlawed and the punishment is death by candy in what was supposed to be a parody of Thatcherism and Margaret Thatcher.

Please enjoy this special sponsored episode of Secrets of Doctor Who that introduces you to season 2 "David Tennant Does a Podcast With...", including an excerpt of David's conversation with Jim Parsons of the Big Bang Theory.

The Doctor battles vampire-like creatures in Renaissance Venice. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the story's deeper connections to the season's story arc and how Rory's character arc begins to grow.

The 6th Doctor and Peri bounce between the 19th century and the far future while battling the Borad. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the identity of the young man named Herbert they encounter in 1885 Scotland and this story's connection to the 3rd Doctor.

The 5th Doctor goes from dinosaur bones to Cybermen in space and back. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this story clearly inspired by the movie "Aliens" and its at-the-time unprecedented ending. But were they celebrating or sad?

For the second part of this two-parter, Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss how the story advances the season-long arc about the crack in time, the revelations about Amy's role, and the beginning of River Song's increasing prominence in the Doctor's story.

In the first of a two-part story featuring the Weeping Angels and River Song, Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the 51st century Church that apparently has an attached military; talk about how River Song's story elevates in the Moffat era; and compare the Angels to the Alien movies.

The Doctor ends up in a Jekyll and Hyde story on the edge of the universe. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the story, but the high point is when Jimmy sings the entire theme song to the 70s kids show Lidsville.

When the Doctor and Amy are called London under the Blitz by Churchill, they encounter an unexpected ally. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss how this episode sets up the Doctor's interactions with the Daleks throughout the Moffatt period of the show.

The 3rd Doctor gets to play at James Bond. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli talk about this Cold War spy-thriller-style story that also includes the Master, a dangerous alien entity, a prison riot, and a weapon of mass destruction.

For Amy's first real adventure, the 11th Doctor takes her to Britain in space. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the nature of a society that agrees collectively to ignore a horrific truth in order to feel better about a decision, letting the end justify the means.

The 2nd Doctor has to free a human colony from mind-controlling intelligent crabs? Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this story now found only in an animated reconstruction, including how the animation makes it an even better story than the original.

Russell T. Davies resurrected Doctor Who in 2005 and Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha look back at his era and his impact on the show for the future. They also discuss the 10th Doctor's character and stories and the best and worst episodes from the RTD era.

The Daleks take London! Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this 1st Doctor story of a post-apocalyptic world ruled by Daleks and includes the first departure of a companion, his granddaughter Susan, from the Tardis.

An animated 10th Doctor adventure in Area 51! Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this little-known special featuring David Tennant's Doctor in 1950s America dealing with an alien invasion, a Doctor Strangelove-style military officer, native Americans, and a diner waitress who happens to be his real life wife.

The 4th Doctor encounters an impossible million-year-old human skull with psychic powers, a witch cult, and an obsessed tech tycoon. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this creepy tale that features Benedict Cumberbatch's mom as the guest star.

Time Lord Victorious! Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha talk about this penultimate story of the 10th Doctor's arc before he regenerates and the end of the first era of modern Doctor Who. The story shows us the danger of a Doctor unchecked and unregulated by either Time Lords or Companions.

The 7th Doctor goes back to where it all began in 1963. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this story that sees the Doctor turn from madcap and jolly to Machiavellian in the Daleks' last appearance in Classic Who, and we get a glimpse at the so-called Cartmel master plan.

The Doctor meets ... Lara Croft? Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha explore this Easter encounter between the Doctor and a woman who seems a lot like the famous tomb raider as they get flung to a distant planet on London double-decker. 

The 6th Doctor and the 2nd Doctor cross paths in Spain to save the Earth from a Sontaran plot. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the story's setting in Spain, seeing the 2nd Doctor and Jamie together again for the first time in decades, and more.

A companionless 10th Doctor meets a Victorian Doctor. Could he be his next regeneration? Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this 2008 Christmas special that was a throwback to Dickens and featured a fakeout for fans expecting to see David Tennant's replacement.

The 5th Doctor story Black Orchid was the last of the true historicals, travels in time that feature no aliens or the like. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha delve into this story of the Edwardian era that features cricket, a costume party, and mysteries of the Amazon.