The Happiness Patrol
Joe Siegler
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The Happiness Patrol
This Story: Series 25, Story 2. Production Code 7L
Overall: Story 150, Episode 678-680
Airdates: 2 Nov 1988 – 16 Nov 1988
Written by Graeme Curry
Directed by Chris Clough
Links: [ Wikipedia | Tardis Data Core | Amazon US DVD | Amazon UK DVD ]
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 678 - The Happiness Patrol 1/3 (Serial 7L Story 150) - 2 Nov 1988 #DoctorWho 1/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) May 8, 2023
This was one that I didn't care for when new, as I saw it as all silly, but it's grown on me. Once again, a great concept let down by production. It's a society where everyone pic.twitter.com/eJd5Ie6wVS
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 678 - The Happiness Patrol 1/3 (Serial 7L Story 150) - 2 Nov 1988 #DoctorWho 2/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) May 8, 2023
is forced to be happy, which has the expected results. It's also the first time we get told what the Doctor's school nickname was - Theta Sigma! The Tardis gets painted pink! pic.twitter.com/kd8ZJQaFky
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 679 - The Happiness Patrol 2/3 (Serial 7L Story 150) - 9 Nov 1988 #DoctorWho 1/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) May 10, 2023
As with most stories like this, there's an underground (in this case literally) resistance to the "Happiness Regime" of Helen A. The Doctor ends up there of course. The Helen A pic.twitter.com/O7fxq85tyw
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 679 - The Happiness Patrol 2/3 (Serial 7L Story 150) - 9 Nov 1988 #DoctorWho 2/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) May 10, 2023
character is just way too goofy to be credible threat, IMO. An awesome scene here w/McCoy and a guard talking his job w/McCoy using "end my life". Some of his best acting. pic.twitter.com/IUUPYJEqSe
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 680 - The Happiness Patrol 3/3 (Serial 7L Story 150) - 16 Nov 1988 #DoctorWho 1/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) May 11, 2023
This one actually turned out worse than I had it filed in my mind as. This is one I like more for the concept, but the execution is a major let down. I still like the basic pic.twitter.com/IES9W2j643
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 680 - The Happiness Patrol 3/3 (Serial 7L Story 150) - 16 Nov 1988 #DoctorWho 1/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) May 11, 2023
story though. Helen A was bad. I didn't even mind the Candyman, and Fifi was obviously a prop. I wish the modern show would remake this. Ep3 here was just bland as hell. pic.twitter.com/MVbxjgvQwX
