We look back on Seventh Doctor serial The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, an often overlooked classic Doctor Who story that hides dark and interesting themes.
This month, the Seventh Doctor is reunited with his Vulpanan friend Mags, whom he first met in The Greatest Show in the Galaxy. As it had been a while since I had last watched the classic Doctor Who story, I decided a re-watch was in order.
There are some stories that you notice how brilliant they are on the first watch, and there are some that actually get a lot better with subsequent viewings. The Greatest Show in the Galaxy is, for me at least, one of those stories.
The story of a popular circus that has been taken over by a great evil (naturally), the first time I watched it, I honestly didn’t know what to make it of it. It just came across as so colorful. From the look of the story, to the highly eccentric characters, to even their very names – Bellboy, Kingpin, Flower Child etc.
It was almost an assault on the senses, and initially reminded me a little too much of the stories of Season Twenty-Four – one of my least favorite seasons from the Classic Series. It’s not surprising, as writer Stephen Wyatt also wrote Paradise Towers from that very season.
However, I did know on some level that Greatest Show was certainly a far stronger story. But it’s only on this re-watch that I’ve been able to pin down why.
Dark and mature themes
What’s very clever about Stephen Wyatt’s story is that, while it looks very colorful and family friendly on the outside, there’s a rich undercurrent of darkness to this one. Characters are pitted against each other to survive, and many characters die in this story – even characters we like.
But beyond the violence, there also appears to be a commentary on the nature of entertainment. Of how ruthless an audience can be with those who entertain them, and how they’re always looking for something new, with complete disregard with what’s right in front of them.
There even seems to be a commentary, at least with the character of Whizz Kid, that just because you’re a huge fan of something, that doesn’t mean that you know what’s best for it, or that you have any true talent yourself.
(Yes, I’m aware of how ironic that last statement is, coming from a writer for a fan site.)
There’s even exploration of the idea that it’s more important to be happy what you’re doing, rather than just being popular. It’s an old idea, but it’s handled well in this story, particularly with how subtle it is.
Memorable characters and performances
Of course, what also helps The Greatest Show in the Galaxy to brilliantly stand out is both the characters and the performances. Paradise Towers had some interesting ideas, but was significantly ruined by both weak execution and a shockingly bad performance from Richard Briers.
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Thankfully, there’s no performance that’s nearly as bad in this one. Many of the characters are eccentric, but also considerably fleshed out and believable. There’s the explorer Captain Cook, a man who’s more focused on self-preservation than on saving the day.
There’s his much more likable companion Mags, who’s brilliantly played by Jessica Martin. She shares a lot of scenes with McCoy, and the two share a natural chemistry, so it’s not surprising that Big Finish have brought the character back. Especially since Mags has a very dangerous secret…
But perhaps the most memorable character – or at least, the creepiest – is the Chief Clown. Ian Reddington is wonderfully creepy in this role, and truly stands out as a brilliant Doctor Who henchman. (Ian Reddington would eventually play another brilliant villain in the form of Nobody No-One in A Death in the Family, one of the greatest Doctor Who stories in any format.)
Overall, The Greatest Show in the Galaxy is a rather marvelous and occasionally overlooked Doctor Who serial. It works brilliantly at telling an entertaining story, while at the same time featuring deeper themes about the nature and the true price of entertainment.
Have you watched The Greatest Show in the Galaxy? Is it one of your favorites? Let us know in the comments below.