Who Review #96 - the Sun Makers

scene by scene, episode by episode

This is a story which will please anybody who grumbles about taxes and bureaucracy - basically everyone! Anti-capitalists will love it too. It is a lovely satire of big business and government economists; it is quite funny in places. The story also marks Robert Holmes's departure as script editor, so it's nice he also wrote it. As is noticeable with his other scripts, there are a number of interesting characters and good dialogue. Henry Woolf's Collector is a marvellous villain, although it is hard not to think of a sort of capitalist Dr.Evil or, especially, Mini Me now. The thought of him reverting to a babbling bit of green slime, that goes down a plughole at the onset of economic meltdown, is a fate one wishes upon the capitalist class at this particular time! (Classic line - watching Leela's execution, he says this is one of those moments which give him job satisfaction.)

Classic Leela
Leela - These taxes, they are like sacrifices to tribal gods?
Doctor - Well yes, roughly speaking, only paying taxes is more painful.
Leela - The people should rise up and slaughter their oppressors!

As has been noted by other Whovians, this was a taste of what was to come - it marks a change of direction and the feel to the show.
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