Talk:The Happiness Patrol

Subtext

Is there a way to mention the alleged gay subtext of this story in the Notes without sounding crass or starting a flame war? While it's only one interpretation, I'd argue that interpretation is notable and as relevant as the mention of Thatcher. Or am I asking for trouble? :-) --Whouk (talk) 12:36, 11 December 2005 (UTC)

Yes, yes you are. :) That being said, if you can find a cite in any of the more reliable reference works on it... --khaosworks (talk • contribs) 12:59, 11 December 2005 (UTC)

There are only a couple flamers who bother our Doctor Who articles, we should be able to see them off ... ;) Tim! (talk) 13:10, 11 December 2005 (UTC)

The only reference work on hand that even says that there's a gay subtext is The Discontinuity Guide, but I think it's making much of nothing. The example they cite - that of the Fondant Surprise victim wearing a pink triangle, turns out to be a mistake (he isn't)[1] [2]. The only possibly gay moment is when Helen-A's husband runs off with Gilbert at the end, but I think that most of the perception here is down to the gender-reversal and the overabundance of pink, which IMO is stereotyping of the most painful degree. --khaosworks (talk • contribs) 13:27, 11 December 2005 (UTC)

There's Matt Jones's article on the subject, which Paul Cornell reproduced in Virgin Publishing's Licence Denied book, if anybody has a copy of that to hand. My copy's back in Sussex, I'm afraid, so I can't help. Angmering 14:00, 11 December 2005 (UTC)

I'll see if I can dig a copy out. There are a few bits of dialogue too: Susie Q's "I am what I am" speech and Helen A' "outing with the Happiness Patrol" joke (though maybe best not to metion "You like guns, don't you?" ;-). It's lots of little things which on their own don't mean much but together suggest a subtext. --Whouk (talk) 16:45, 11 December 2005 (UTC)

Sycorax

Any conection between the rat-dog creature and the villans in The Christmas Invasion? 84.71.62.50 18:54, 26 May 2006 (UTC)

Simple answer - none whatsoever :-) —Whouk (talk) 23:13, 26 May 2006 (UTC)

Yes, the rat-dog creature is called a "Stigorax," not a "Sycorax" anyway! Blaine Coughlan (talk) 22:31, 7 July 2008 (UTC)

Paranoia

This reminds me of Paranoia, to be honest. Wierd. 203.143.248.114 08:55, 20 January 2007 (UTC)

Subext Part 2

(I'd have put this above but the format is already indented enough).

Dudes.

The story is about a planet where everyine is forced to be HAPPY AND CHEERFULL all the time on the pain of being shot to death in a hail of gunfire. There is no gay subtext. There is happy subtext.

It's like saying 'The movie Titanic had water subtext'.Lots42 05:24, 20 August 2007 (UTC)

Band Myspace Link

Should the links/information about [3] really be there? The band named themselves after this episode - wouldn't a link back from the band if they ever become notably famous be more appropriate? A bit of looking around shows there's a heavy metal band called "Odin", but they're not linked to on Odin I'm going to remove them, and the various dead external links.

The Song Described by Ace

I don't know which song Ace is describing: "About this bloke and his girlfriend, and she drops the ring he gives her on the railroad track and when she goes back to get it shes killed by the train and he's really miserable for the rest of his life", but it isn't Gigantic by the Pixies. --Dorian oOo (talk) 19:05, 22 July 2010 (UTC)

DJNW (talk) 12:29, 18 April 2008 (UTC)

I'd suggest the song is Teen Angel Teen_Angel_(song) Ozwaldowl (talk) 06:46, 2 April 2017 (UTC)

Thatcher scandal

I'd put this in myself, but I never really kept up with the story. Can someone find a reference and put it in please? Crimsonraptor | (Contact me) Dumpster dive if you must 19:55, 23 December 2010 (UTC)

More details please? How does this episode have to do with Thatcher? Lots42 (talk) 20:52, 23 December 2010 (UTC)

Apparently they satirized Margaret Thatcher with Helen A (the character) from the story. It was in the Sunday Times in March, according to the mag's editorial. As I'm not British I never thought twice about it, but it seemed to cause quite a political buzz. Crimsonraptor | (Contact me) Dumpster dive if you must 21:01, 23 December 2010 (UTC)

Removed Gigantic reference.

Gigantic isn't the song described by Ace; Ace describes a song about a ring and a railroad; according to Kim Deal, Gigantic is a song about an inter-racial relationship. These are the lyrics to Gigantic by the Pixies:

And this I know

His teeth as white as snow

What a gas it was to see him

Walk her every day

Into a shady place

With her lips she said

She said

Hey Paul, Hey Paul, Hey Paul, let's have a ball [3x]

Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic A big big love Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic A big big love

Lovely legs they are

What a big black mess

What a hunk of love

Walk her every day into a shady place

He's like the dark, but I'd want him — Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.148.185.204 (talk) 12:56, 28 February 2012 (UTC)