The 50% Doctor Who Podcast

The 50% Doctor Who Podcast

Terror of the Vervoids (The Trial of a Time Lord Parts 9-12)

Sep 13, 2026 · 41 min · 11 segments

This week we're reviewing more Doctor Who, with the sixth Doctor adventure: "Terror of the Vervoids" as we continue to make our way through "The Trial of a Time Lord" arc!Terror of the Vervoids is the…

This week we're reviewing more Doctor Who, with the sixth Doctor adventure: "Terror of the Vervoids" as we continue to make our way through "The Trial of a Time Lord" arc!Terror of the Vervoids is the third serial of the larger narrative known as The Trial of a Time Lord which encompasses the whole of the 23rd season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast in four weekly parts on BBC1 from 1 to 22 November 1986. The title Terror of the Vervoids is never used on screen and was first used in relation to these episodes for the 1987 novelisation, with the four episodes that comprise the season being referred to as The Trial of a Time Lord Parts Nine to Twelve. This serial is the first appearance of Bonnie Langford as the companion Mel Bush.In the serial, the alien time traveller the Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker) is put on trial by his people, the Time Lords, and is accused of meddling in the affairs of other worlds. Much of the story consists of video testimony presented by the Doctor, his own defence, of his own future where the last of a race of plants called Vervoids on board a spaceliner in 2986 plot to wipe out all animal life on board for their own survival.Doctor Who is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson, follows the adventures of the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being from a humanoid species known as Time Lords. The Doctor travels through space and time using a time travelling spaceship called the TARDIS, which has an exterior that resembles a British police box. The Doctor encounters various civilisations, which he seeks to protect by outwitting foes and solving crises. The Doctor usually travels with a companion.Enjoyed the show? Support us with a one-off tip on Ko-fi! :)https://ko-fi.com/50doctorpodcastSubscribe so you don't miss an episode\!https://youtube.com/@UC1e8pTE4SiZ2VyPnmSMO4aAFollow us ANYWHERE via our Linktree below:https://linktr.ee/50Doctor

This week we're reviewing more Doctor Who, with the sixth Doctor adventure: "Terror of the Vervoids" as we continue to make our way through "The Trial of a Time Lord" arc!Terror of the Vervoids is the…

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Welcome and Podcast Updates0:00 – 3:47

ConnorHost

0:00

Welcome back to the podcast.

ConnorHost

0:01

Today, it's time-

AidanHost

0:02

Hello

ConnorHost

0:03

... uh, how many times have I started the podcast like that? It's kind of boring, isn't it? Um.

AidanHost

0:07

Uh.

ConnorHost

0:07

Good day.

AidanHost

0:08

There's only so many ways you can start it.

ConnorHost

0:10

Yeah, 370-plus episodes in.

AidanHost

0:12

Oh, look at us.

AidanHost

0:13

They're the one, they're the ones saying congratulations to us for doing that many episodes.

ConnorHost

0:16

Thank you.

ConnorHost

0:17

Thank you.

ConnorHost

0:17

Uh, today we're gonna be mainly talking about Terror of the Verboids-

AidanHost

0:20

Mm-hmm

ConnorHost

0:20

... 'cause there's not a lot happening in the Doctor Who world.

AidanHost

0:23

No.

ConnorHost

0:23

So we're gonna talk about this episode where there is so much happening.

AidanHost

0:26

Mm.

ConnorHost

0:26

And this, this is definitely gonna be a bumper episode of the podcast like last time.

AidanHost

0:28

Is there a lot happening in the Doctor Who episode? [laughs] Did you watch it all today?

ConnorHost

0:33

It was a lie.

ConnorHost

0:34

Uh, no, I watched it quite spaced out and, um-

AidanHost

0:37

Yeah

ConnorHost

0:38

...

ConnorHost

0:38

I always seem to be eating food when watching it, and it's kind of a bit of a disgusting episode.

AidanHost

0:43

Joyous episode to watch-

ConnorHost

0:44

And-

AidanHost

0:45

...

AidanHost

0:45

while, episode

ConnorHost

0:46

...

ConnorHost

0:46

so I kinda just kept feeling sick.

AidanHost

0:48

Yeah.

ConnorHost

0:48

I just like have a...

ConnorHost

0:49

Like, the last, I watched part four literally just before Connor walked in the door.

AidanHost

0:53

Uh-huh.

ConnorHost

0:53

And I was eating a burrito.

AidanHost

0:54

Ah.

ConnorHost

0:55

Did a big run today, so I had to fuel back up.

AidanHost

0:57

The big burrito.

ConnorHost

0:58

The big burrito.

AidanHost

0:58

The big boy.

ConnorHost

0:59

So I was smashing a burrito.

AidanHost

1:01

Ah.

ConnorHost

1:01

And I just sort of felt really sick instantly.

AidanHost

1:04

Nice.

AidanHost

1:04

That's not-

ConnorHost

1:05

And it's just not good.

AidanHost

1:06

Yeah.

AidanHost

1:07

I, I watched one and a half yesterday and two and a half today.

ConnorHost

1:10

Right, yeah.

AidanHost

1:11

Yeah, so I thought you gotta start it yesterday.

ConnorHost

1:14

You gotta start somewhere, don't you?

AidanHost

1:15

You gotta start somewhere, bro.

ConnorHost

1:16

That's it.

AidanHost

1:17

You can't just rock up and be like, "I mean, I have seen it." It's funny 'cause, like, watching these, I'm like, oh yeah, I do remember this.

ConnorHost

1:23

Mm.

ConnorHost

1:23

Part not to-

AidanHost

1:24

But like not, not like fully.

ConnorHost

1:26

Yeah.

ConnorHost

1:27

Like, I went into it being like, "I don't remember anything about this episode," and then I saw the creatures again and I was like-

AidanHost

1:32

Yeah

ConnorHost

1:32

... ah.

AidanHost

1:33

And then I remember the-

ConnorHost

1:33

It's, it's the vagina monsters.

AidanHost

1:35

Yeah.

AidanHost

1:35

[laughs] And then I remember it being on, like, a cruise or, like, a-

ConnorHost

1:38

Yeah, yeah

AidanHost

1:39

... like a-

ConnorHost

1:39

Some spaceship thing.

AidanHost

1:40

Like a spaceship hotel, uh-

ConnorHost

1:42

Yeah

AidanHost

1:42

... fucking Steven Moffat ripoff.

ConnorHost

1:43

Which, to be honest, is kind of all we have to say about the episode, frankly.

AidanHost

1:47

Yeah, little shop of Doctor Who horrors.

ConnorHost

1:49

That's it.

ConnorHost

1:49

Yeah, yeah.

ConnorHost

1:50

You know what?

AidanHost

1:51

Mm.

ConnorHost

1:51

Great bit of intertextuality by you there, Connor.

AidanHost

1:53

Little bit of, uh...

AidanHost

1:55

Is Tim Curry Little Shop of Horrors? Think he was.

AidanHost

1:57

No, he was Rocky Horror Show.

AidanHost

1:59

Rip the GOAT.

ConnorHost

2:00

AidanHost

2:01

Stolen credit card.

ConnorHost

2:03

I don't know what you're saying.

ConnorHost

2:04

[laughs]

AidanHost

2:04

Am I wrong?

ConnorHost

2:05

I don't know what you're saying.

AidanHost

2:06

Do I? Am I wrong? Do I?

ConnorHost

2:07

Um, subscribe to the pod.

ConnorHost

2:09

Thank you if you have.

ConnorHost

2:10

Hey, a lot of people have been tuning in lately.

ConnorHost

2:12

[applause] It's been pretty fun.

AidanHost

2:13

I don't know why, but thank you.

ConnorHost

2:13

It's been cool.

ConnorHost

2:14

So if you have, thank you, and if you've come back for more, thank you for coming back for some more.

ConnorHost

2:19

It's great to have you here, and I'm gonna stop talking now, but if you are new here, feel free to subscribe.

ConnorHost

2:25

[upbeat music] 50, 50, 50, 50, 50, 50, 50, 50, 50%, Po- Po- Po- Podca- ca- cast.

AidanHost

2:32

Who knew a Sarah Jane Adventures episode would do so well?

ConnorHost

2:34

Yeah.

ConnorHost

2:35

I, I even, uh, like it.

ConnorHost

2:36

Yeah, I mean, the Ncuti one before it did well, but you just-

AidanHost

2:39

Yeah

ConnorHost

2:39

... kind of assume 'cause it's Ncuti, but.

AidanHost

2:40

Yeah, that would, I assume, would, yeah.

ConnorHost

2:41

Yeah, I never thought we'd have an SJA-

AidanHost

2:43

Yeah

ConnorHost

2:43

... video do, do well, but, um, hey.

AidanHost

2:46

Told you I said, didn't I, that Ncuti one.

ConnorHost

2:48

Yeah, you did.

ConnorHost

2:49

You are so wise and smart.

AidanHost

2:51

Thank you.

AidanHost

2:51

Thank you.

ConnorHost

2:52

Um, hey.

AidanHost

2:52

We owe you so much, Connor.

ConnorHost

2:54

The, the reviews for our pod been very quiet lately.

AidanHost

2:58

[laughs]

ConnorHost

2:58

And so I just wanna say, if you are listening on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, please give us a review.

AidanHost

3:03

[laughs]

ConnorHost

3:03

It's very helpful.

ConnorHost

3:04

Helps people find us.

ConnorHost

3:05

Um, it's, yeah, uh, you know, shut the fuck up, Aidan.

ConnorHost

3:08

Um... [laughs]

AidanHost

3:11

I don't...

AidanHost

3:12

Like, I, I watch podcasts and I never review them.

ConnorHost

3:14

I know.

ConnorHost

3:15

Neither.

AidanHost

3:16

[laughs] So you're expecting other people to do it for you?

ConnorHost

3:19

No, but it, it is helpful for the algorithm.

AidanHost

3:21

It, it, I always, like, I five star it.

AidanHost

3:23

That's about it.

ConnorHost

3:24

Yeah.

ConnorHost

3:25

Yeah.

AidanHost

3:25

Is that a review? I guess it is.

ConnorHost

3:26

On Spotify, yeah, you can't write a review on Spotify.

AidanHost

3:27

Right, you can't write an actual-

ConnorHost

3:29

On Apple, you can.

AidanHost

3:30

Right.

ConnorHost

3:30

And so, so you give a five-star review, and then in the comment section you can just say, "Aidan and Connor suck."

AidanHost

3:36

Yeah.

ConnorHost

3:36

And I'll, I'll entice that-

AidanHost

3:37

Right

ConnorHost

3:37

... and I'll take it, 'cause it does its bit.

AidanHost

3:40

Yeah, it, it does help, doesn't it? You gotta, uh, you gotta keep the, the dream alive like we are.

ConnorHost

3:44

Gotta cash in.

ConnorHost

3:45

Gotta cash in.

AidanHost

3:46

Cash in now.

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