Reviews

Whether you regard this story as the greatest is a matter of opinion. This is definitely one of the two most humorous stories ever made for Who (The other being City of Death). The non-completion of this story is tragic. A superb cast of actors were assembled for a magnificent Douglas Adams story.

One of Douglas Adams' greatest strengths as an author was that he could present a technical storyline not only as comprehendible but as magnificently fun. Add to this Tom Baker at his madcap best, Lalla Ward matching him perfectly, Denis Carey superbly cast as the incredibly vague and doddering retired Time Lord, and the magnificent Christopher Neame as Skagra, a man with a very credible plot to take over the universe.

This is a prime example of Science Fiction - It takes an entirely original premise of a threat and creates an adventure of the first order with top humour to boot.

Firstly, let me say, If you are not familiar with Britain or the way it is run, don't bother. This superb comedy of in-jokes would be mostly not understandable.

For the Brits out there or people who have lived and worked in the UK, this is a brilliant satire on the way the country is run with murders stacking up by the score. Is the murderer the musician, wiped out with debt and getting innumerate letters from his bank? Is it from within that bastion of bastions, the BBC? or could it be from the world of banking or even from the Palace of Westminister itself?

It is criminal that this has only been shown once and never released on video or DVD. A must!