History Recap / DoctorWhoS25E2TheHappinessPatrol

* ExtremelyShortTimespan: The Doctor challenges himelf to orchestrate the complete collapse of a ruthless despotic society over the course of a single evening. He does so without any knowledge of the regime's inner workings, having no plan in place, and willingly getting himself arrested. [[BadassBoast And he succeeds.]]

* AnAesop: "There are no other colours, without the blues".

'''Production code:''' 7L

Written by Graeme Curry. This three-episode serial first aired from November 2--16, 1988.

'''Doctor:''' ''(Voice drops into a ''[[GutturalGrowler hiss]].'')'' Don't worry, Ace. We will.

[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/The_Happiness_Patrol-title_7655.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:320:Well, that's one way to beat the blues.]]

JustForFun/{{The one|With}} that [[ScrewedByTheLawyers got the BBC sued.]]

* SaltAndPepper: The Doctor and Earl playing their respective instruments in the sewers, with their upturned hats sitting side-by-side.

-->'''--The Doctor'''

[[ScrewedByTheLawyers The one that got the BBC sued.]]

* AuthorTract: One of many critiques of Thatcherism under Creator/AndrewCartmel. Thatcher was viewed by the show's makers (and plenty of the actors) as an idealogue who waved away any criticism.

-->''"Happiness will prevail!"''

The one where the TARDIS gets painted pink, and the BBC gets sued over a really weird looking robot.

* AnAesop: "There are no other colours, without the blues."

* [[ThePowerOfRock The Power of Blues]]

* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: They don't appear, but Ace seems to believe this; at the beginning of Episode One she's excitedly begging the Doctor if they can go see some.

* ContinuityNod: The Doctor tells Ace that [[Recap/DoctorWhoS11E2InvasionOfTheDinosaurs the Brigadier once saw a triceratops in the London Underground]]. He also mentions again that Theta Sigma was his college nickname.

--->'''Doorman:''' Magic. ''(tics checklist)''\\

* ANaziByAnyOtherName: Earl sadly hums on his harmonica, only to frantically burst into polka music when Priscilla drives past, slapping a pink sticker on his lapel.

** The whole scene was used as the basis of the first AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho audio starring Seven and Ace, [[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWho005TheFearmonger "The Fearmonger"]].

The Doctor goes a bit too far in his investigations, though, and soon comes face-to-face with a very powerful gun. In a rather serious scene for what's otherwise the most perfectly {{camp}} episode in a while, he dares the gunman to shoot him point blank, which causes a HeelRealisation in the soldier and leaves the Doctor able to continue his staged uprising. It all culminates in a sort of song-and-dance number, with the Doctor proclaiming that the oppressed working class people are ''really tremendously happy'' and therefore can't be arrested. The Happiness Patrol is very unhappy about this turn of events. So the Doctor tells them that they should now logically arrest ''each other'' for being glum. Which they promptly do.

* BoundAndGagged: In episode 2 Ace is briefly gagged for saying "Up the Killjoys!"

* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: They don't appear, but Ace seems to believe this; at the beginning of the episode she's excitedly begging the Doctor if they can go see some.

* FascistsBedTime: Dusk is the most dangerous time to be out wandering. Creator/AndrewCartmel used this setting as an excuse to shoot the episode with minimal light, contrary to standard BBC procedure.

* FilmNoir: Despite the gaudy nature of Terra Alpha, the 'outdoor' scenes of the story are all filmed in a consciously film-noir style, with lots of long, dark shadows all over the place. A couple of the male characters wear long coats and wide-brimmed fedoras as well. The Doctor and Earl use music to communicate across the city, and at one point the duo sing/play a few bars from [[{{Film/Casablanca}} "As Time Goes By"]]. Reportedly the episode was originally planned to be in black and white.

* VillainousBreakdown: Indeed, the whole crux is the Doctor trying to provoke one. If Helen A loses her composure, her whole philosophy is discredited. By Episode Three, Helen is clearly going to pieces over the state of things but, to her credit, somehow manages to maintain her stiff upper lip... until she discovers her pet dog Fifi, the only thing she has ever loved, is dead. Cue harmonica.

* FelonyMisdemeanor: A Type 3. On Terra Alpha, being a 'Killjoy' (i.e. being unhappy) is punishable by death.

* NervesOfSteel: The Doctor knows the difference between a lean killer and a coward raining down death from rooftops. He has the audacity to sneak up on some snipers, puff out his chest and dare them to kill him honorably. And then snatches the gun away, when they hesitate.

* WellIntentionedExtremist: Helen A seems to genuinely believe that being mindlessly joyful all the time is the best, and only, way to live; as such, she probably thinks that killing people who aren't happy enough is doing them a favor. It isn't until Fifi dies that Helen genuinely feels sadness and realizes that her whole philosophy is a pointless endeavor.