The Happiness Patrol: Redeeming Features

[dreamer_easy]

1. Dominic Glynn's beautiful, haunting score. (I once taped bits of the story onto a cassette so I could listen to the music.)
2. Helen A.
3. Susan Q.
4. David John Pope (who is having *way* too much fun).
5. Gilbert M, Harold V, the snipers, the pissed-off guy at the forum.
6. Rather good SPFX.
7. The balcony scene.
8. Fifi's death scene.
9. Kandyman answering the phone "Kandyman" (never fails to break me up).
10. Pissed off the fanboys, which is always worth doing.

Comments

[ravenevermore.livejournal.com]

I found out one of the teachers at the college where I work used to date Dominic Glynn. She seemed rather relieved I didn't know him.

Happiness Patrol has always been one of my favorite 'so close' McCoy stories. It coul of benefited SO MUCH from being shot in disused factories with decent lighting, with bits shot in London Docklands at night.

Oh well, what could of been.

[peeeeeeet.livejournal.com]

Nah, I think it wouldn't work at all if it were filmed realistically, cos a lot of the barmier elements of the plot would just fall on their arses. The kind of avant-garde-theatre feel - like if Berkoff directed Willy Wonka - is probably for the best. Like, how nutsy would the guy doing a planetary census with one long piece of paper be if the thing were shot more realistically?

I think the only thing I have a real problem with is the uniforms of the patrol. They should have cheap MacDonalds-style things with name badges and paper caps, to go with the whole "have a nice death!" thing and the satire on rampant consumerism. Everything else is fine. Also they shouldn't do the whole stop-Kandyman-with-lemonade thing twice. It should be a rule for Doctor Who that they never do the same thing twice in a row, really.

[ashamel.livejournal.com]

But didn't it have an effect on us in the late 80s?

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

zomg yes! Patrol is horribly let down by direction and editing, but it was still like a sort of bomb going off in our heads.

[drewshi.livejournal.com]

While not one of my all time favorites among the McCoy era episodes, it's much stronger than some others. I do agree with all your points except Fifi's death which came across as cheesy.

[phlegethon-vii.livejournal.com]

You forgot the ultimate redeeming feature:

It's Sylvester McCoy innit *OMG loves on him*

I've always kinda liked the Happiness Patrol actually. The Doc's response to the pink TARDIS cracks me up, and his goofy singing amuses me greatly.

And he does the Jedi mindfuck!! What's not to like??

[nostalgia-lj.livejournal.com]

I think the Kandyman is smashing generally. How come that giant rat in the sewers is fine, but the Kandyman is A Travesty? GRR!

[phlegethon-vii.livejournal.com]

Coz a lot of Whovians are twats??

[pbristow.livejournal.com]

On behalf of all the Whovians that you *aren't* calling twats, I'd just like to say... Hey, why did we get left out?!? =:oO

( =;o> )

[phlegethon-vii.livejournal.com]

Lol!!!

[pbristow.livejournal.com]

Amen. Though not necessarily in that same order. But definitely agree with you on number 1.

[clarity-dog.livejournal.com]

The Talons of Weng-Chiang (not to be confused with the porno spin-off, The Talents Of Wang's Tongue), with the rat, premiered in the late 70s, so it was okay to have cheap looking special effects on TV. Whereas the Happiness Patrol debuted 10 years later, when people had seen Star Trek:TNG and realized you could do neat stuff on TV. Now, I actually think the Candyman looks pretty cool, considering, but... it may have been over some people's heads.

Viewer: "Is that a... licorice all-sort? Hahahah!"
Producer of show: "Yes it is. He's a robot built by an oppresive regime that wants everyone to be happy all the time, so it would make sense that their head executioner/mad genius would be brightly colored and made of candy. It actually makes him scarier, if you think about it."
Viewer: (Pause) "ha ha, licorice all-sort."

[matthewwolff.livejournal.com]

Redeeming qualities of Paradise Towers....
um... none.

[purplepooka.livejournal.com]

The Kangs! Homicidal pool cleaners! I was 9!

[barrington.livejournal.com]

I agree with everything, but I'd include the Kandyman in general. He was weird and creepy and I thought he was the best thing ever.

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

David John Pope is inside him, and absolutely throws himself into it - he's big and menacing and sadistic.