Trial by waffle: Revisiting The Mysterious Planet

Christian Cawley and James McLean continue their Trial of a Time Lord marathon with Episode 3 of The Mysterious Planet — and the cracks are beginning to show. What starts as a nostalgic conversation about VHS tins, HMV trips, and the ritual of physical media quickly becomes a forensic dissection of pacing problems, intrusive courtroom scenes, and a strangely muted “it was Earth all along” reveal.Along the way, the pair discuss Robert Holmes’ recycled story ideas, the abandoned "Yellow Fever and How to Cure It," unreliable narration in Trial of a Time Lord, and why the serial feels oddly disconnected from Earth despite its central twist.There’s also sympathy for Colin Baker being awkwardly hoisted by a wobbling robot, comparisons to the Kandyman, and the growing suspicion that the courtroom framework may actually undermine the storytelling it was supposed to enhance.Join the Kasterborous Archive and influence topics for future shows.Help us climb the charts! We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you. If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.Not on Apple Podcasts? No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to [email protected]. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.Thanks!What do you think of the Sixth Doctor's final stand? Let us know in the comments.