Doctor Who: Series 25, Episodes 11-14 – “The Greatest Show in the Galaxy” (1988-1989)

I’ve never been that fond of real circuses or carnivals, even as a kid, but there are a lot of great circus/carnival stories in fiction. This was a fun serial with some kooky stuff going on, and it was one of the classic stories that got a shoutout in the 60^th anniversary specials.

When the Seventh Doctor gets an ad for the Psychic Circus, he decides to check it out, over Ace’s protests. Ace’s fear of clowns proves to be incredibly justified, and that’s not the only creepy thing going on at the circus—some guests are recruited for a talent show in the ring, where they learn that failing to entertain the audience is deadly.

“The Greatest Show in the Galaxy” is a Stefon-esque “this story has everything” kind of serial. Because it really does have everything: real clowns, robot clowns, werewolves, surveillance kites, hungry gods, and more. It’s the sort of story that just throws everything at the wall, and most of it manages to stick. This keeps you on your toes and entertained as you try to keep up with the eclectic proceedings.

This isn’t the only Seventh Doctor story where Ace spends a lot of her time on the ropes. For a tough person who doesn’t like to show weakness, the Doctor takes her to plenty of places that press all the wrong buttons for her. This time around, it’s her phobia. And when the robot clowns try to kill you, “face your fears” becomes more than psychological! But despite all that, she manages to hold her own, pushing through the creepiness to stay one step ahead. Along the way, she finds allies and does what she can to learn more about what’s happening here.

The Doctor and Ace are separated for a good chunk of the serial, with Ace on the run and the Doctor captured back at the circus. I always like watching the Doctor piece together a bonkers mystery while they’re caught in the middle of it, and this story does a nice job with that.

Some fun oneshot characters as well. I especially enjoy Captain Cook and Mags, who make for an odd pair of traveling companions and add a lot to the story!