The Happiness Patrol (1988) Review

12th Doctor actor Kandy Man was met with some resistance
by racist Doctor Who fans, but soon proved to be a popular
choice, with critics praising Man's sweet take on the role.

The Happiness Patrol is a confused, but endearing satire of totalitarian regimes.

WRITTEN BY

Graeme Curry, who according to Wikipedia does not exist outside of creating this story, so kudos to whatever pink hellhole he spawned from.

PLOT

The TARDIS lands on Terra Alpha, inhabited by an Earth colony under the strictly happy rule of Helen A. Realising that her obsession with constant happiness has resulted in a miserable, totalitarian regime, he and Ace strive to bring back the blues.

ANALYSIS

Whilst it is certainly memorable and creative, The Happiness Patrol is hampered by really cheap-looking production values and a somewhat incoherent feel(similarly to Dragonfire, it feels like the Doctor can just teleport to whereever he needs to be). However, its atmosphere and message are most effective thanks to some terrific performances and writing. And whilst the sets do look cheap(why is Helen A's happy city so glum looking?), the colourful aspects like the eponymous Patrol and especially the Kandy Man are hard to forget.

It's a diamond in the rough.

CHARACTERS

Sylvester McCoy is fast becoming one of my favourite Doctors, as he is extremely watchable and effortlessly the focus of any scene(in comparison with Colin Baker, who took over each scene with the subtlety of a bulldozer). I love his intelligence and his ability to outwit everyone he encounters, most notably in an incredible scene where he convinces a sniper not to shoot him, which has to stand as one of the greatest moments in Doctor Who.

Sophie Aldred is just the perfect match for McCoy: physically tougher, but also smart on her feet, eager to learn. The enthusiastic way that they barge into the affairs of Terra Alpha is awesome.

Sheila Hancock is excellent as the Margaret Thatcher-referencing villain demanding happiness from all subjects, what with her pleasant demeanour hiding an insane willingness to kill anyone who displeases her.

David John Pope as the Kandyman... I don't even know what... well, whereever this character came from, he was pure genius. A robot literally made of candy, that makes killer candy. Honestly, the Kandy Man deserves his own movie. Pope's slightly whiny, deranged performance gives the impression of a dangerous character who could fly off the handle at any given moment.

Not really sure why Richard D. Sharp's Earl Sigma is in the story(apart from contrasting Helen A's lift music with the blues), but he was a charming presence nonetheless.

NOTES

*What exactly is the point of Silas P's cover as a resistance member? Well, I suppose it would help with rooting out killjoys who are in hiding, but we only see him approaching Daphne S and she's clearly a killjoy so why not just call the Patrol there and then?

*How did the Doctor locate the Kandy Kitchen so easily? Heck, where is the Kandy Kitchen supposed to be anyway?

*So at first, Ace is all bitter about the overly happy regime of Terra Alpha and like a minute later, she complains about never having any fun?

*I like how Priscilla P doesn't even give Susan Q the chance to say goodbye to Ace before having her dragged away. Cruel and pragmatic.

*Why on Earth would Earl risk playing the blues on Terra Alpha??

*For a supposedly funloving woman, Helen A's communications room is surprisingly drab and grey.

*Who came up with that daft law about not repeating executions if they fail?

*Ace's Happiness Patrol audition might be the scariest part of the story. I'd certainly be shivering in her place, improvisation is my weak point.

*So Helen A's first reaction after mending Fifi from his/her adventure in the pipes it to send him/her back into them to try again? Wouldn't she be terrified that he/she was hurt again?

*I'm a bit disappointed that we never actually get to see the Kandy Man melt.

*Is Pertwee's onetime transmogrification trick going to be a running gag with this Doctor? Time will tell...

CONTINUITY ADVISOR

1) Whilst discussing the triceratops with Ace, the Doctor mentions that the Brigadier once encountered one in the London Underground, an unsubtle and random callback to Invasion Of The Dinosaurs.

2) When told by Trevor Sigma that all outsiders are named Sigma, the Doctor recalls that his nickname in college had been Theta Sigma, as mentioned before in The Armageddon Factor. Again, what a bizarrely specific and useless callback(though I suppose it did at least save us a few Big Finish books trying to tie Terra Alpha to Gallifrey).

BEST QUOTE

GILBERT M: "I was working in the state laboratories. Without realising it, I invented a deadly new germ. The disease wiped out nearly half the population."

JOSEPH C: "Still, hardly your fault."

CONCLUSION

A bit of a tacky allegory, but I suppose that's the point.