Classic Who "The Happiness Patrol" Part 3 Full Reaction!
Added 2025-09-26 12:45:02 +0000 UTC
Comments
Wild finish for this one. Fair enough that you say that you are on the fence with this one. Can see opinions of this one going either way, particularly as us Whovians can’t agree on a damn thing as you say. Think generally, if not necessarily well liked, it’s far from being considered the worst, nor is it considered the best. Certainly memorable. Love how the Doctor and Ace weaponize the smiles and laughter. They had the damn good effort with the Kandyman who took a powder, as did most everyone else. LOVE the old phone that the Kandyman has. We continue to love Earl. He’s just a simple man trying to make his way in the universe, blowing the harp to his heart’s contentment. We both support it. And great moment of the Doctor signing As Time Goes By. Rather horrifying hearing the one gentleman talk about creating the virus which wiped out half the population. Where does Thanos call to hire him? Love the look on your face at that part. Most endearing part of the whole reaction is you embracing your inner Walter with the yelling, “AM I THE ONLY AROUND HERE WHO GIVES A SHIT ABOUT FIFI!?!?” I’m a cat person, and I support the concern and investment that you had for Fifi. Sad to see her killed. Still not as bad a fate as the horse in The Godfather. Both cases, you feel for the animals as they did nothing wrong. Things really go poorly for Helen A, and she keeps having to say, “ALLLLL IS WELLLLLLLLLL!!!” to continue to delude herself. As you and the Doctor note, we do need the negative emotions to balance out the positive ones. After all, human beings define their reality through misery and suffering. Great compliments you pay the Doctor with being very Inside Out, good touch, in getting through to Helen A. Leads to Helen A having the breakdown for poor Fifi. Yes, a rough day for old Thatcher, er, wait, no, not Thatcher. Damn, I keep doing that. Uh, Helen the happiness bitch, that was it. All in all, a most fun reaction, Jess, thank you.
Thomas Corp
2025-09-26 16:48:37 +0000 UTC"I can hear the sound of empires toppling.", The Doctor, "The Happiness Patrol" This studio-bound story invites comparison with "Paradise Towers". I think I like "Paradise Towers" better - I like the creepy cannibal residents over the Kandy Man - although the blues musician in this one is cool. Also, the hyper-slow studio-bound go-cart/car things take me out of this story. As you pointed out, they could have made a bit more engaging episode with the "Happiness Patrol" concept. No, I'll go with "Paradise Towers" - "Build high for happiness!" "I don't believe you've met my young friend, Ace - an expert in calorification, incineration, carbonisation and inflammation.", The Doctor, "The Happiness Patrol" I like Ace! And the two of them tossing the red-hot poker to each other. "It's still the same old story, a fight for love or glory, a case of do or die.", The Doctor, "The Happiness Patrol" I always enjoy things that reminds me of "Casablanca". "Haven't you read the paper of Doctor John Wallis to the Royal Society in 1677?", The Doctor, "The Happiness Patrol" Well, I hadn't - but I think it could be this one: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstl.1677.0006 Amusingly, the abstract on the website says: "Sir, I Have thought sit [sic] to give you notice of a discovery that hath been made here," N.B. "sit" is a mistranscription of the word "fit" - they assumed the "f" was a long "s" - like the later word "difcovery" in the same sentence. Amusingly #2: the paper was dated March 14 1676/7 - note the dual year. That was due to the start of the old-style civil year changing after March 25 each year - until calendar reform kicked in. Ok, that deep dive had nothing to do with this Classic Who story - except it's interesting that the Doctor knew about the Royal Society paper - perhaps he himself had made some suggestions to John Wallis. "Fifi? That wouldn't be Fifi as in Fifi the annoyed rat you claim to have blown to smithereens?", "Nobody's perfect, Professor.", The Doctor and Ace, "The Happiness Patrol" "Nobody's perfect" - I always enjoy things that reminds me of "Some Like It Hot". Ace said the same thing, about her Nitro Nine, last story. "Whoa, Fifi!", sesskasay, Reaction to "The Happiness Patrol" I don't think that was the animatronic under its own power. "Happiness is nothing unless it exists side by side with sadness.", The Doctor, "The Happiness Patrol"
Andrew Vignaux
2025-09-26 12:48:55 +0000 UTC
