We’re back on the Nile with Poirot as our tour of Abu Simbel turns into a full-blown mystery! In this episode, we tackle a massive sunlight-and-mirrors puzzle to uncover an ancient message, then things get deadly when a statue nearly crushes Lynette Doyle. Was it an accident… or an attempted murder? We interview the passengers, piece together alibis, and confront a prime suspect—before ending the night with strange vibes on the ship and a tease for the next lead in Cairo: the bar with the golden scarab… and “the Spider.” Broadcasted live on Twitch — Watch live at https://www.twitch.tv/tscnsam
All posts by admin
Playing Through Death on the Nile 4: Trouble in The Bronx
We jump into Death on the Nile as Detective Royce hits the Bronx to question a barman and track a killer known as “The Spider.” What starts as simple neighborhood digging turns into shady gambling, coded doors, rigged shell games, and a dangerous smuggling operation tied to a shadowy group called The Spire. After uncovering weapons hidden in a truck, the trail points overseas—The Spider has fled to Cairo, and a major transaction is set to go down at The Golden Scarab in two days. Next stop: Egypt.
Going Through Who 19.8: The Lodger
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The Doctor gets stuck on Earth when the TARDIS can’t land, so he winds up flat-sharing with Craig — and accidentally playing matchmaker between Craig and Sophie while investigating a mysterious “upstairs” that shouldn’t exist. Samuel and Jacob dig into why this episode works so well as a lighter palate-cleanser before the season finale, highlight the comedy/character beats (and the Eleventh Doctor’s awkward social energy), and chat about behind-the-scenes notes, alternate concepts, and the episode’s bigger arc breadcrumbs.
Episode highlights
- Pre-show improv tangent: why “the answer is never no,” plus a quick riff on boundaries and changing the terms in improv scenes.
- “Into the Matrix”: production notes and early ideas (working titles, original villain concept, and why it evolved).
- Comparing the TV episode to the comic-strip roots — and how the “flat-share” story changes with different Doctor/companion dynamics.
- The chemistry of Craig/Sophie and why the Eleventh Doctor’s vibe makes the matchmaking funnier (and sharper).
- Favorite bits of “Doctor science”: the conversation-scrambling earpiece, “data transfer via headbutt,” and TARDIS piloting quirks.
- The eerie reveal: “There is no upstairs,” plus a practical landlord/homeowner perspective on that very suspicious ceiling rot.
- The heartfelt resolution (love as the fix), the keys, and that end-of-episode crack hinting at what’s coming next.
To find previous episodes go to: tscn.tv/gtw
To subscribe to this podcast put this link in your favorite podcatcher:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/GoingThroughWho
Want to support our content? Go to tscn.tv/support to find out how!
Send feedback to: goingthroughwho@gmail.com or comment in the post below!
Artwork by Baniee
Theme music by ThePantychrist
Playing Through Death on the Nile Part 3: A Very Dangerous Meal
Join Samuel as the mystery heats up aboard the Karnak in Death on the Nile! We investigate a chilling attempted murder involving hidden glass shards in a walnut-free caviar verine, interrogate the crew, chase down the source of suspicious black smoke, and solve a pressure-pipe puzzle in the engine room that reveals the key evidence: melted blue glass. With motives exposed and a suspect arrested, the voyage continues and we set up a New York lead with Detective Royce pointing toward “The Spider.”
Going Through Who 19.7: Vincent and The Doctor
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Samuel and Jacob dive into one of Doctor Who’s most emotionally powerful episodes, “Vincent and the Doctor” (original airdate: June 5, 2010). They celebrate the craft behind the story—Tony Curran’s performance, Richard Curtis’s approach to treating Vincent with empathy, and the episode’s blend of whimsy and heartbreak—while also having a candid conversation about mental health, how hard it can be to recognize when someone is struggling, and why compassion (and support resources) matter.
Episode highlights:
- A warm (and pun-filled) intro before jumping into why this episode “threads the needle” emotionally.
- Behind-the-scenes notes: the original working title idea (“Eyes That See the Darkness”), Matt Smith’s influence on the music choice (“Chances” by Athlete), and why Bill Nighy was the perfect voice for the museum scene.
- Spot-the-painting fun: a rapid-fire rundown of Van Gogh works referenced throughout the episode (for the “if you know, you know” viewers).
- A discussion of how the episode handles Vincent’s suffering with respect—without reducing him to a joke—and why that matters.
- The invisible Krafayis: why it works as a concept, how the practical effects sell its presence, and why its reveal hits harder than a typical “monster of the week.”
- The museum scene: why it devastates every time, and the extra layer of heartbreak in what the Doctor likely knows (even as Amy hopes they can change history).
- A real-world mental health segment: the reality that you can’t always “see it coming,” plus a reminder to seek help and not carry blame alone.
Content note: This episode of the podcast includes discussion of suicide / “death by suicide” and mental health stigma.
Resources (US):
- 988 — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call/text 988) https://988lifeline.org/
To find previous episodes go to: tscn.tv/gtw
To subscribe to this podcast put this link in your favorite podcatcher:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/GoingThroughWho
Want to support our content? Go to tscn.tv/support to find out how!
Send feedback to: goingthroughwho@gmail.com or comment in the post below!
Artwork by Baniee
Theme music by ThePantychrist
Playing Through Death on the Nile Part 2: Break-ins, Clues, and a Big New York Reveal
In this Death on the Nile playthrough, we step into a fresh mystery as Jane Royce investigates a stolen snake-shaped ruby bracelet at Mrs. Leech’s estate—interviewing guests, piecing together alibis, and solving deduction puzzles that reveal how the thief used an unlocked window, a late-night break, and a clever hiding spot to swap the jewelry. The case closes with a major twist: a hidden compartment and decoded message point to “the Spider” and a crucial meetup in New York on February 18, pushing the bigger conspiracy forward.
Broadcasted live on Twitch — Watch live at https://www.twitch.tv/tscnsam
Going Through Who 19.6: Cold Blood
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
In this episode of Going Through Who, Samuel and Jacob dig into Cold Blood and unpack why it’s a solid story that still feels wonky in execution. They talk pacing issues common to Modern Who two-parters, character “switch flips” that feel abrupt, and how some standout performances (especially the Rory moment) help carry the episode’s big season-arc beats.
Highlights
The season-arc stuff still hits: Rory’s death is devastating thanks to Arthur Darvill, and Amy forgetting Rory lands because Karen Gillan sells it—even if the setup feels forced and overly convenient near the crack.
The “Matrix” facts corner includes behind-the-scenes bits: a cut Nezrine/Doctor exchange about execution, “squeaky bum time,” and why Matt Smith avoided aiming the sonic like a weapon.
Pacing critique: the episode feels like ~25 minutes of plot stretched to a 40-minute runtime, with dead space and a “we need something for Amy & Mo to do” escape subplot that loops back to capture anyway.
Character consistency issues: Malohkeh’s shift into the episode’s empathy engine feels like a light switch; Restac reads as a classic one-note “military figure” that tanks nuance (and, yes, the episode fails “the test” hard).
The big moral tipping point: Ambrose goes from “terrible mistake” to “full villain mode,” escalating from a death that feels too easy (“I tase you and you’re dead”) to attempted genocide via the drill.
To find previous episodes go to: tscn.tv/gtw
To subscribe to this podcast put this link in your favorite podcatcher:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/GoingThroughWho
Want to support our content? Go to tscn.tv/support to find out how!
Send feedback to: goingthroughwho@gmail.com or comment in the post below!
Artwork by Baniee
Theme music by ThePantychrist
Playing Through Death On The Nile Part 1: Poirot in the 70’s!?
Hercule Poirot drops into Chez Matante in August 1974 and ends up on the spot when an engagement ring reveal goes sideways—because the ring box is empty. We interrogate the key people around the bar/safe, crack the code, and use the game’s “mental reconstruction” timeline to pin down exactly who slipped into the office and why. With the club mystery resolved, the story jumps to Egypt: Poirot arrives at the Imperial Nile Hotel in Aswan and steps into the newlywed chaos of Lynette and Simon Doyle—while Jacqueline de Belfort’s obsession, threats, and “our song” drama start boiling over. The episode closes with a fresh hook: a new investigation tied to Emmy’s murder, stolen AWL documents, and a lead pulling us toward Mallorca.
Samuel’s Thoughts 174: The Year of Balance
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Samuel is in the final week of his break before jumping back into master’s work, and he’s using the downtime to fine-tune his systems and reset his mindset for the year ahead. He shares a few takeaways from How to Take Smart Notes—especially around linking ideas—and talks about building out Stream Deck workflows that speed up podcasting, research, and even launching games. The main focus is his annual “theme of the year” tradition: after a successful 2025 “Year of Relationship,” he’s naming 2026 the “Year of Balance,” with practicum and heavier program demands coming up—and a deliberate goal to avoid burnout while still making room for the people and projects he loves.
Highlights
- Finished How to Take Smart Notes and wants to tweak his “second brain,” especially by linking related notes more intentionally.
- Stream Deck is becoming a one-button workflow hub (audio production, show prep for “Going Through Who,” research tabs, and more).
- Set up game-launch shortcuts too—less about “saving seconds,” more about fully using the tool he already owns.
- Explains why he prefers “year themes” over New Year’s resolutions (plus a quick tangent on “science,” skepticism culture, and not being a jerk).
- 2025 recap: “Year of Relationship” brought more intentional time with friends, new groups, and deeper community ties.
- 2026 theme: “Year of Balance,” especially with practicum approaching and the need to protect mental health and prevent burnout.
How to Take Smart Notes: https://a.co/d/cQOSzFq
To find previous episodes go to: tscn.tv/st
To subscribe to this podcast put this link in your favorite podcatcher:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/tscnst
Want to support our content? Go to tscn.tv/support to find out how!
Send feedback to: samcastfeedback@gmail.com or leave a comment below!
Music from https://filmmusic.io
“NewsSting” and “News Theme” by Kevin MacLeod
(https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Going Through Who 19.5: The Hungry Earth
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Samuel and Jacob kick off 2026 by returning to Going Through Who with part one of the Silurian two-parter, “The Hungry Earth.” They run the Matrix (trivia + production notes), then dig into why this first half works as a character-driven setup: competing perspectives, escalating misunderstandings, and a conflict where neither side feels purely “evil” (except maybe that one scientist).
Highlights
- Matrix facts & behind-the-scenes: original working title “The Ground Beneath Their Feet,” the story’s timeframe shifting to 2020, plus production notes on prosthetics/masks and the scrapped “armadillo dinosaur” concept.
- Silurians on-screen milestone: discussion of the episode as the first televised Silurian story featuring a female Silurian on screen.
- Themes of perspective & escalation: they love that the humans can be the aggressors without realizing it, turning the situation into a hostage-fueled feedback loop.
- Disability rep talk: Samuel praises the pragmatic depiction of dyslexia through Elliot and how competence/coping strategies are shown rather than sensationalized.
- Eleven’s “goofy + terrifying” switch: favorite lines and moments of 11’s sass, charm, and intimidation—plus the “Sonicking and entering” bit.
- Cliffhanger hype: the “half a dozen… or a whole civilization” reveal lands perfectly, setting up big expectations for “Cold Blood.”
To find previous episodes go to: tscn.tv/gtw
To subscribe to this podcast put this link in your favorite podcatcher:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/GoingThroughWho
Want to support our content? Go to tscn.tv/support to find out how!
Send feedback to: goingthroughwho@gmail.com or comment in the post below!
Artwork by Baniee
Theme music by ThePantychrist