The Sun Makers [TV/1977.11.26 ~ 12.17]

★★★★☆

  Whichever way you look at it, Robert Holmes' contributions to the Doctor Who mythos cannot be ignored. The man has penned many classic scripts, filled with wit and humor and the brightest ideas under the sun(s), and has always loved to strike out and try new things. With The Sun Makers, Doctor Who tries its hand at biting satire... and if I may say so, it very much succeeds.

  I mean, even when you look at it now, the odds are all for it. Holmes applies his sharp wit and dialogue to create the most outlandish and yet horrifyingly familiar scenario — a world governed by taxes, revenues and wage cuts — and vent his anger at his real world situation. Angry writers are the best writers, someone once said, and this serial proves that with the most delightful set of characters and glittering dialogue. We have Tom Baker at his absolute height as the Fourth Doctor, chewing scenery left, right and centre, and Louise Jameson jumping at the chance to take hold of her own side of the story when the script makes the brilliant decision to give Leela actual things to do. The jury's still out on K-9 at this stage, but he's serviceable as a plot device and as an extremely entertaining screen presence (at one point he audibly grumbles when the Doctor intentionally swerves the TARDIS to upset the game of chess they were playing)

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ  

  As is the case with the Graham Williams era, the Doctor is untouchably entertaining and commanding, the script is lightning-fast and hilarious (as well as incredibly witty), and the action scenes (in typical Pennant Roberts fasion) leave much to be desired. Well, two out of three isn't that bad, eh? If you like your satire over-the-top and extremely close to home, this is the Doctor Who serial for you.