Revisiting Old Doctor Who: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy

[Broomstick]

The Greatest Show in the Galaxy
(Hippies in Space, or Building a Fabric Set)

Actually, no, it wasn't the greatest show but it was an entertaining romp. This is the first Sylvester McCoy story I've seen and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked both Seven and Ace.

I'm wondering if this was filmed in the infamous "BBC quarry". That, and most of the interiors seem to have been filmed in an actual tent. It probably was a cheap way to make the sets.

Anyhow, one of my first thoughts about this was "This was made in 1988????" The whole "hippie" theme, including one named "Flowerchild", was a little trippy (sorry). Contrasted with the Ringmaster's actual rap routine it was a little incongruous, but then that's OK in a time travel show, right? Although thinking about it afterward, this sort of touched on the disillusioned hippie theme which would fit in with the late 1980's.

I did like the cast of nutty characters, clearly intended as archetypes (the long-winded explorer chap, the obsessive fan, and so on). The plot moved along pretty well and the twists weren't too obvious while also not being too convoluted.

I thought the bit where the Doctor and Ace are eating some revolting food in order to ingratiate a vendor so they could ask her for more information was funny.

The "evil" psychic circus people weren't so much evil as mostly trying to survive the situation - except for the clown. But then, I agree with Ace, clowns are inherently evil. I've never liked them, as a kid they used to scare the shit out of me, and my parents did not take me to a circus until I was old enough they could trust me not to scream uncontrollably around them. But some of the others were, as I said, going along just to preserve their own skins which is not so much outright evil as selfish.... and the moral lesson of that tactic not being healthy long term was presented.

The Gods of Ragnarrok as the explanation for the evil was a bit Monster of the Week, but then, that's the show, isn't it? Again, not so much evil for the sake of evil (a theme I do not like) as incredibly bored immortals that don't value the lives of others, viewing humans much as we'd view performing mice.

I enjoyed the simple stage magic and juggling of the Doctor - we've all seen that sort of thing before, but the idea of using such simple tricks to divert the homicidal killer aliens is very much the Doctor. Low budget special effects done well. It's one of the Doctor Who stories that really relies more on intellect and cleverness than guns or other high power solutions to a problem.

I was also thoroughly impressed at how cool McCoy could be while strolling away from an explosion. From fan chatter I understand that the bang was bigger than expected, and McCoy really had to force himself not to flinch because not only could they not do that again, but he also didn't want to have to do another take.

I can't think of any immediate peeves for this episode. It seemed a well-executed story and while the sets and effects weren't spectacular they were effective and suited the story.

[Parallax]

Due to industrial action at the time, it WAS filmed in basically a big tent they set up in a car park.
Honestly, I think it work for the purposes of the story rather well.

[mr friendly guy]

This wasn't exactly one of my favourites. I did not particularly enjoy this when I first saw it in the 80s and it hasn't grown on me unlike some of the other McCoy stories when I look back through an adult's eye. The Doctor being scared of that stupid lycantrope woman and defeating the Gods of Ragnorak, (who should be epic since they live in their own space time continuum) with what boils down to a DEM really ruined it for me. I can't remember, but wasn't this written by the same guy that gave us the oooh so awesome Paradise Towers?

Sorry, but a lot of McCoy stories just didn't entertain me compared to say, Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison and even the Hartnell and Troughton stories.

[saturn5]

Good story, the 7th Doctor and Ace were always my favourites and I think if you suffer from Clorophobia (fear of clowns) this is the ep for you. The werewolf effect is pretty lame but imagine how well they could do it nowadays. Also the Ringmaster was one of the marines from Aliens and the resulting explosions were pretty incredible (McCoy certainly thought so as they nearly killed him by accident). Also this is the ep where Dr Who makes fun of it's fans which was pretty daring.

Can't wait to see McCoy in The Hobbit but what's Sophie doing now?

[Broomstick]

What part is McCoy playing in The Hobbit?

[Masami von Weizegger]

What part is McCoy playing in The Hobbit?

He's set to be playing Radagast the Brown. McCoy also (apparently) came pretty close to being cast as Bilbo in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Sophie Aldred is a fairly accomplished voice-over actress these days, for cartoons and commercials.

[Parallax]

She also does quite a lot of the Big Finish audio adventures.