Classic Who "The Happiness Patrol" Parts 1&2 Full Reaction!
Added 2025-09-19 12:45:02 +0000 UTC
Comments
Ironically, I’m presently far too depressed for this story. Still try to talk about it as best I can. The one main thing, as you say, one is flabbergasted, gobsmacked, upon seeing this story. Ok, good, you find the idea of this Happiness Patrol terrifying as all shit too, so I’m not alone on that one. Sounds worse than college. Whole thing is even more nonsensical than the episode of Teen Titans with the alien space tofu that tried to conquer and control the world’s meat markets. Just realize as I type that: Anyone reading that out of context is probably thinking that’s some weird joke that they don’t get. It’s not. That is the literal description of that episode. (And don’t worry, even the writers of that show can’t figure out how the episode happened; one of the writers speculates that maybe they were tired.) Agree with how you say the episode has plenty of strong ideas to it. The presentation of it all... well it’s... memorable. Quite the horrifying thing of the group daring to taint the TARDIS with vulgar paint and turning it pink. That whole thing of happy police run by Margaret Thatcher, er, Helen A, is up there in terms of scary shit. Obviously, the Doctor has the sass with her that got you a laugh. The Doctor says to her, “It’s no pleasure, I can assure you.” which, from what I understand, was more or less the standard thought held by many Brits when it came to Thatcher. This group has the slogan, “Time to get really depressed.”, yeah, well, you’re a bit behind on that one, gents. No longer even have the energy to put on the fake smile. Loving your responses to Ace. And especially love your reaction to Seven having that one pretty damned badass moment. Knowing you, if nothing else, you knew that you’d have a big reaction to the Kandyman. I expected Gene Wilder, but what we got works just fine. Thing was creepy as shit. Even Tim Burton and Terry Gilliam’s fever dreams combined aren’t QUITE this deranged. Love that you loved the Kandyman and of course, it was a big delight seeing you react to the Kandyman being foiled, TWICE, by lemonade. And obviously, you love Fifi. I’m not a vet, but I’d say FIfi’s fortunes don’t look promising, meaning it’s curtains for Helen A’s fluffy girl. With you on wishing for a longer musical break of the Doctor on the spoons with Earl blowing the harp. That would have been grand, yes. Great reaction to the first two-thirds of this bonkers story, Jess, thank you.
Thomas Corp
2025-09-19 17:27:07 +0000 UTC"Time to get really depressed.", Silas P, "The Happiness Patrol" What a bizzare premise of the story. It has been reported that JNT asked Andrew Cartmel in his job interview what he wanted to achieve as script editor for Classic Who - Andrew answered that he wanted to overthrow the government. Anyway, ... This bizzare story is a thinly disguised parody of the Conservative Government at the time - Helen A represents Margaret Thatcher. "Over crowding has been quite eliminated.", "No more queues at the Post Office.", Helen A and Joseph C, "The Happiness Patrol" With Joseph C taking the role of of Denis. "A horned dinosaur with a mouth like a beak? The Brigadier saw one in the London Underground once.", The Doctor, "The Happiness Patrol" Yes, we remember! - especially the dinophiles who watched "Invasion of the Dinosaurs". "Thank you, Trevor Sigma. Actually, my nickname at college was Theta Sigma.", The Doctor, "The Happiness Patrol" That's a reference to "The Armageddon Factor" ... "It is Theet, innit? Theta Sigma? Yeah, 'course it is. Remember me?", Drax, "The Armageddon Factor" ... where Drax called the Doctor "Theta Sigma". "Welcome to the Kandy Kitchen, gentlemen.", Kandy Man, "The Happiness Patrol" Ok - that's the most bizzare looking thing we've seen for a while - even the Myrka had a certain understandable design. But I really like the repeated use of the lemonade trick. "In which case I need a planet of origin.", "That's classified information. Name?", "What?", "I ask the questions.", Trevor Sigma, "The Happiness Patrol" The Doctor switching roles with his questioner reminds me of "The Idiot's Lantern" - I wonder if Mark Gatiss was deliberately recalling this scene in his script. There're some interesting things in these episodes - and I like the musician - but the story's not quite "crystallizing" for me - ho, ho. "I enjoy a good joke.", Helen A, "The Happiness Patrol"
Andrew Vignaux
2025-09-19 12:52:16 +0000 UTCI love this story.
Azmat Mahmood
2025-09-19 12:51:44 +0000 UTC
