Tom Baker’s fourth season of Doctor Who marked a change from the exploration of Gothic horror. The unusually satirical “The Sun Makers” finds the Doctor, Leela (Louise Jameson) and robot dog K9 involved in a struggle against capitalism-gone-mad at the outer limits of the solar system. The Earth exhausted, mankind has colonised Pluto and lives in six vast “megropoli” lit by artificial suns. These colonies are run by The Company, with drugged human “work units” slaving simply to pay their funeral expenses. With video monitors, brain-washing and ruthless repression there is an obvious a debt to 1984, the white corridors echoing George Lucas’ THX 1138 (1970) and the action a low-rent Star Wars. Michael Keating, who played a rebel in Dalek creator Terry Nation’s Blake’s 7 (1978-1981), is similarly cast as a reluctant freedom fighter. There are plentiful pot-shots at over-zealous taxation and bureaucracy–Robert Holmes wrote the story as revenge on the Inland Revenue after a frustrating VAT audit–and splendidly theatrical performances from Richard Leech and Henry Woolf as the ultra-capitalist villains. With no monsters and little conventional horror, Baker is on fine form in a briskly directed four-part comedy-thriller distinguished by its political edge. –Gary S Dalkin
They’re not allowed sunlight! It’s far too good for them! Yes, the acting is hammy & not taken seriously in the slightest, but what do you expect from a Tom Baker Story!I know.. Not all of Tom’s are like that. But this one certainly is! In fact, It’s like watching something more like Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy or Monty Python!If like me, you are interested in Politics, you’ll love this story for it’s satirical humour & blatant disregard for Bureaucracy! All aimed at mocking the system! Bob Holmes never ceases to amaze me with lines like “These Taxes.. They are like Sacrifices?” Asks Leela. “Sort of, only paying Taxes is more painful!”There are lots of little things in there that make this a very entertaining story. Of course, the children wouldn’t have ever cottoned on, but this isn’t meant just for children. (You hear me me Moffat?!)Contrast is met with confined studio shots, & capacious film & location material. As well as a balance of tongue in cheek humour, pugnacious violence & horror. Who ever thought of being “Steamed” to prolong the pain of death to satisfy the villain’s nefarious thirst for torture of his victims, has a sick mind. But an innovative one! (Ever heard of that word Moffat!)The word for today’s story is “Avarice”, & everyone is obsessed with monies! This worryingly bares resemblance to today’s predicament, what with the constant fear of recession & the collapse of the euro.This story isn’t one of the more memorable ones sure, but that’s not to say that it can’t entertain you from start to finish. There are many good moments in here like the hilarious initial meeting of the Doctor & the Gather; all that talk of raspberry leaves & earth’s departure or what ever. The point is they play off each other just perfectly! It’s K9’s first proper outing. Leela shows her propensity for violence & has some great lines like “Touch me again, & I’ll fillet you” & “Before I die, I’ll see this rat hole ankle-deep in blood… That is a promised thing”. Leela really saves the day in this one, & is such a joy to watch. (Unlike companions now)A Good Doctor Who story doesn’t need to be epic, action packed, sexed up, frenetic, romantic, historic, & what ever else you can throw in there to attract as many viewers as possible. And this little number proves it. It’s a charming, cosy, well written, even paced, entertaining little trouble maker of a story! One that I have frequented on many occasions. And due to its re-watch value, it’s a story I shall be visiting again. (Thank goodness its lastability isn’t cut short due to the entire story relying on a twist at the end or something! Especially one that doesn’t make sense.. Ever..)”Perhaps everyone runs from the Taxman!” – Leela
Can’t say I remembered this one… I must have missed this one on the original run on TV and also in the Video release. Quite unusual then to watch a Tom Baker era story for the first time. The other reviews pretty much sum it up. Dated sets, low budget, etc. I enjoyed the performances though and in particular Louise Jameson’s Leela – I’d not seen one of her stories for a while.The extras are a little under par by Doctor Who standards. The Dudley Simpson featurette is good. The ‘making of’ documentary is passable. The Day of the Dalkes trailer is very good! The out-takes are ridiculously short but it makes you realise that the team behind the DVDs try and get everything they can into them – we are normally spoiled by the extras!