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Failed to connect to MySQL: (1203) User howardkn already has more than 'max_user_connections' active connectionsPath: ...!news.mixmin.net!eternal-september.org!feeder3.eternal-september.org!news.eternal-september.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail From: "Adam H. Kerman" Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv Subject: Doctor Who "The Sun Makers" November and December 1977 Date: Fri, 31 May 2024 04:50:53 -0000 (UTC) Organization: A noiseless patient Spider Lines: 44 Message-ID: Injection-Date: Fri, 31 May 2024 06:50:53 +0200 (CEST) Injection-Info: dont-email.me; posting-host="69f11b1acb8b98358ac248de11528365"; logging-data="2210832"; mail-complaints-to="abuse@eternal-september.org"; posting-account="U2FsdGVkX1/KGpTNF+6pdTlu2sUqPWNxcTpK/gXwdxU=" Cancel-Lock: sha1:1DH4O7bc6XHAg7bJhUeK+0/eMNI= X-Newsreader: trn 4.0-test77 (Sep 1, 2010) Bytes: 3106 I don't subscribe to any streaming services and haven't seen Doctor Who since Disney+ took over distribution. I may not be missing much, I know. I obtained DVDs from the library, starting with one of my favorite episodes, "The Sun Makers". This episode made quite the impression on me as a child. It's farewell to Leela's original costume, the leather leotard. (The transition to the leather dress costume is in "Image of the Fendahl", later in production but broadcast first. The dress is lighter in color.) Louise Jameson was sexy as hell in the original costume -- all leg -- and the costumer was told to make her look even sexier in the replacement costume. Which do you prefer? I've mentioned before that she corrupted my childhood, yes? Everything is right with this episode. A pissed off writer was dealing with Inland Revenue. He was highly motivated to make the corrosive effects of taxation a main part of the plot, and there are pointed references to Inland Revenue throughout the episode. Because Tom Baker and Louise Jameson were not getting along, they don't share too many scenes. Leela gets to lead plenty of the action and makes several rousing speeches. The actress has said this was her best episode, and I think you might agree. The Fourth Doctor just works best in social satire; Baker's performance is a delight. The decision has been made to keep K9 as a companion; the prop was originally intended to be used for "The Invisible Enemy" only; K9 is broken in "Image of the Fendahl" and has no lines. John Leeson is back in the voice cast. There's nothing wrong with David Brierly's performance in the 17th season; I just expect him to sound like Leeson. The main enemy, the Collector, is a Usurian, which is hysterical. Good performance by Henry Woolf. Even more memorable are the henchmen Hade (Richard Leech) and Marn (Jonina Scott), and the way the obsequious Hade addresses the Collector. Some of the supporting characters are fully drawn and used effectively, especially Cordo (Roy Macready). It's an early role for Michael Keating, who was cast as Vila in Blake's 7 due to his performance in this episode. Yeah, too much action takes place in very long corridors lacking set decoration, but we will forgive that.