Doctor Who attends The Greatest Show in the Galaxy

Like many people, Ace (Sophie Aldred) hates clowns. So she isn't too pleased when the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) drags her to the circus in the season finale of the original Doctor Who's penultimate year. The events of this story, The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, are enough to make anyone agree with the Doctor's companion!

As usual, the Doctor and Ace travel somewhere to solve a mystery and probably save some lives. This time, it just happens to be at a circus. Other travelers are arriving, too, and soon everyone is made a part of the show. Sadly, they perform only for a small audience, a family of three who are very hard to please. Even more sadly, if the family is not amused, the performer is obliterated on the spot.

Of course, it is never as simple as that. There is more going on than meets the eye, both with the circus, and with the vindictive audience. Why did the circus settle on this planet? Where did the rest of the staff and fans go? What can't Bellboy (Christopher Guard) remember? Who is Deadbeat (Chris Jury, Lovejoy)? And why do the Ringmaster (Ricco Ross, Aliens) and Morgana (Deborah Manship, Angels) argue so?

The Greatest Show in the Galaxy has its share of secrets which must be uncovered, as it typical for Doctor Who. But it also turns up the whimsy a notch. Besides the obvious circus references, there is a man named Captain Cook (T.P. McKenna, Straw Dogs - 1971), who travels the galaxy with a companion, Mags (Jessica Martin). Mags is more than meets the eye, and these two seem to be sort of a version of the Doctor and Ace seen through a twisted fun house mirror. Including them is interesting, and fits well in this particular setting.

There is something to be said for playing on deep, childhood fears. Not everyone is scared of clowns, but The Greatest Show in the Galaxy will bring out the terror in those who are, and might even skew the impression they make on everyone else. The all-encompassing makeup, the painted on smile; it comes across as inherently creepy when shown in a certain light. And this story makes a valiant play to do so.

The strength of these episode lies in the presentation, rather than the substance. There is a familiar formula often used in Doctor Who, and The Greatest Show in the Galaxy plays perfectly into it. Coming so late in the series' run, this results in a lack of freshness. Yet, it still works because of the allusions it paints, and the masterful way it plays with conventions. There is a reason Doctor Who is beloved, and when looking critically at a "typical" story such as this, that reason emerges in an unexpected way.

As with most of the Doctor Who releases, there is no shortage of extras. The audio commentary this time around includes actors Aldred, Guard, and Martin, as well as familiar voices Stephen Wyatt (writer), Andrew Cartmel (script editor), and Mark Ayres (composer). There are deleted and extended scenes from the first and third parts, two "restored" scenes, and the photo gallery and PDF materials fans have come to expect.

Interestingly, The Greatest Show in the Galaxy is know for its music. There is a unique blend of expected and surprising tones, which meld together nicely, complimenting the tale well. A soundtrack was released, and this DVD gives viewers the option of listening to isolated versions of the music. Also included is a music video, written and sung by cast members of this serial.

There are a number of featurettes, including a half hour "Making Of," which has several Who cast and crew involved in this production providing insight. "Lost in the Darkness" concentrates on model effects, while "Tomorrow's Time" is a more general piece about the Seventh Doctor. There is a Victoria Wood sketch too that is very amusing.

In short, another worthy addition to the Doctor Who collection. Doctor Who - The Greatest Show in the Galaxy is available now.

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Doctor Who chills out the Dragonfire

Dragonfire, a three-part classic Doctor Who serial, is now available on DVD. This adventure marks the finale of the 24th season of the show, and features some big events for the companions of the titular character.

As Dragonfire begins, the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Mel (Bonnie Langford) arrive at Iceworld, a trading colony on the dark side of the planet Svartos. This is not a pleasant locale by any means, run by the evil Kane (Edward Peel), a man whose body temperature is as cold as ice. Kane controls the port with a frozen fist, forcing others to fall in line, and keeping an army on ice, literally. This is an attitude that will soon spurn rebellion. Not exactly a dream vacation for the pair.

Before the Doctor can get on with whatever it is that brings him to Iceworld, though, he runs into his old "pal," Sabalom Glitz (Tony Selby). Glitz has gotten himself into trouble with Kane, and the only way to get out of it is for Glitz to find a treasure hidden deep within the planet. With Kane keeping a surreptitious eye on them, Glitz and the Doctor journey into the bowels of the orb to find the riches that may or may not be guarded by a dragon.

While the Doctor is off with the slippery fiend, Mel meets a waitress named Ace (Sophie Aldred), who is actually from Earth, transported to Iceworld by a chemistry experiment gone wrong. Ace doesn't exactly have the temperament for the customer service industry, and it isn't long before she finds herself out of a job. Which works out, because her skills, especially those involving the production of explosives, would be put to much better use in the service of the Doctor.

Oh, and there is also a sculptor, who is, mysteriously enough, making the form of a woman for Kane out of ice.

As with many Doctor Who stories, there is much more going on than meets the eye. Everything, from Kane, to the dragon, to Iceworld itself, is not as it seems. This spirit of unpredictability really sells Dragonfire as a serial worth watching, and keeps the pacing and excitement factor high. It doesn't hurt that the villain in these episodes is quite ruthless, and stopping him becomes an extremely high priority, given what he is willing and able to do.

Dragonfire is a pivotal serial in the Doctor Who run because it is an episode that bridges the tenures of two companions. By the end of the third part, Mel is gone, through a series of events I won't spoil, and Ace is now on board. This is especially important because, coming so close to the end of the original series, Ace will be the last companion featured. Sure, Doctor Who will eventually be resurrected. But for fans of the original show, Ace is the last.

Perhaps because of all of these reasons, the sharp storytelling, devilish bad guy, and pivotal events, Dragonfire is considered one of the great Who stories, and has been ranked as the Seventh Doctor's best. It holds up extremely well, and while I have not viewed all of this Doctor's tales, it seems like it is probably worthy of this distinction.

The extras only sweeten the deal. Besides the typical PDF materials and photo gallery, there is an isolated score from which to better enjoy the show's music. Ten minutes of deleted and extended scenes are included, and the picture and sound have been remastered pretty well. It's not high definition quality, but it surely looks better than when it aired in 1987.

The audio commentary this time around is done by actors Aldred and Peel, director Chris Clough, script editor Andrew Cartmel, writer Ian Briggs, and composer Dominic Glynn. It is moderated by Mark Eyres, who also composed music for Doctor Who.

Dragonfire gets a 35-minute making of featurette. Like other Doctor Who releases, this is a treasure, allowing fans behind the scenes. There is also a 12-minute special on the special effects of the series, and "The Doctor's Strange Love" is made up of writers and a comedian analyzing the story.

In all, Dragonfire is a terrific tale, and an even better DVD. Doctor Who fans should find whatever they are looking for in it, be it great television episodes, or insight in a beloved series. That's why it is one that I can recommend buying.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for every Doctor Who review I've ever written. Article first published as DVD Review: Doctor Who - Dragonfire on Blogcritics.

Doctor Who laughs at "The Happiness Patrol"

One of the latest Doctor Who releases is Doctor Who: The Happiness Patrol. In this three-part serial, The Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) arrive on a planet where everyone is happy. The music is happy; the clothing is happy; even the police are happy. They'd better be, or the villainous Helen A. (Sheila Hancock) will get rid of them. In fact, even the dreary blue TARDIS isn't happy enough, soon being painted pink to fit in!

The incessant joy is enough to make anyone suspicious, and The Doctor isn't just anyone. He soon meets up with Trevor Sigma (John Normington), a census worker tasked with figuring out why the population of this planet is dropping rapidly. Does it really make sense that people would move away from happiness, or that happiness would continue if many are dying? Not really, but then, Helen A. doesn't exactly give anyone a choice in the matter.

Of course, it isn't long before The Doctor and Ace are captured. This is OK, though, because it gives them the chance to find out what is really going on. Ace is taken away and made to join the Happiness Patrol, the planet's version of a police force. The Doctor goes to the Kandy Kitchen, where a robot called The Kandy Man (David John Pope) serves as executioner, employing all sorts of creative methods to murder people.

It also isn't long before our heroes make a couple of allies. There's Susan Q. (Lesley Dunlop), a guard unhappy with her situation, though she doesn't dare show it to certain company. Also, Earl Sigma (Richard D. Sharp), a Blues musician, which doesn't exactly fit the profile of what Helen A. allows. Even better, The Doctor and Earl find the Pipe People, residents hiding below the surface. With them, they can raise a rebel army to take on Helen A.!

It will come as no surprise that The Doctor and his companions win in the end. This time, it isn't about killing or capturing anyone, but rather, teaching Helen A. the true value of sadness. How can joy be appreciated if there is nothing to measure it against? It's a sobering lesson for Helen A., and a little preachy for the audience, but it's still a fun ride.

Lest one think "The Happiness Patrol" is all fluff, there is actually some allegory to be found. Helen A. is modeled on Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, whom the Doctor Who people were not fans of, and the underground dwellers are meant to echo a real life miners' strike. It may be caricature, but at least there is reason behind the madness.

As has become the norm, "The Happiness Patrol" has plenty of extras. There is an audio commentary with the actress who plays Ace, script writer Graeme Curry, editor Andrew Cartmel, director Chris Clough, and composer Dominic Glynn, all being moderated by Toby Hadoke. There are also twenty-three minutes of extended and deleted scenes, almost a whole extra episode's worth!

"Happiness Will Prevail" takes viewers behind the scenes of "The Happiness Patrol." "When Worlds Collide" outlines some of the political issues covered in this serial, giving more insight into allusions and viewpoints. This is quite interesting, really bringing a whole other layer to the story.

Additionally, there is the expected photo gallery and PDF materials, as well as isolated music, so fans who wish to can enjoy the soundtrack without the dialogue getting in the way.

"The Happiness Patrol" has been remastered. Like other classic Doctor Who releases, it looks better than ever! Luckily, this serial comes from 1988, so it probably didn't require as much work as older installments. But the results are satisfactory.

Buy Doctor Who - The Happiness Patrol, now on DVD. If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for every Doctor Who review I've ever written. Article first published as DVD Review: Doctor Who - The Happiness Patrol on Blogcritics.