Doctor Who (TV Series) The Greatest Show in the Galaxy: Part Two (1988) User Reviews

The definition of Coulrophobia.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 21 January 2019]

Coulrophobia is the term used to describe a fear of clowns, and that was out to very good use in this story, there is something very menacing about the way the clowns force people to partake in putting on a show at The Psychic Circus. Knowing they're robots changes nothing, it's he unknown as to what's going on behind that painted smile.

Some truly great performances, but nothing comes close to Ian reddington's chief Clown, he is terrifying.

The story isn't fully together by now, but it is definitely intriguing. Really into this one. 8/10

The Greatest Show in the Galaxy: Part Two

[Prismark10 · 7/10 · 18 September 2023]

As the Ace and the Doctor arrive at the nearly deserted circus, not even paying an entrance fee. The only audience members are the mum, dad and a little girl.

The fortune teller Morgana tries to give them a veiled warning. Ace already heard screams from outside the tent and is already scared of the Psychic Circus.

The Doctor volunteers for the talent show. Only to find out from Captain Cook that you perform to stay alive. Cook tricks Nord into performing next, who survives the strongman act. Unfortunately he cannot tell a joke to save his life.

Meanwhile Whizzkid arrives at the circus. His nerdy enthusiasm quickly irritates Morgana.

Ian Reddington is stealing the story as the sinister Chief Clown. Some doing when TP McKenna is already in the cast. Captain Cook, teller of tall tales is a survivor, tricking Nord into performing.

The circus tent drafted in at the last minutes makes this a much better story. I think this would had been a poorer story if shot in the BBC studios.

"Shut up & eat your popcorn." OK Doctor Who story.

[poolandrews · 6/10 · 1 March 2007]

Doctor Who: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy: Part 2 starts with the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) & his companion Ace (Sophie Aldred) finally getting the chance to see the Psychic Circus in action, unfortunately for them there's something evil going on & the Doctor is taken prisoner while Ace manages to escape & tries to evade capture. The Doctor is puzzled at what's happening, I mean you just don't expect to be taken prisoner while visiting the circus do you? He can't work out what's going on so becomes determined to find out the truth, no matter how sinister or how much danger he might find himself in...

This four part Doctor Who adventure was the final story from season 25, it was episode 12 from that particular season & aired here in the UK during late 1988, directed by Alan Wareing I thought this was OK but not amongst the best Doctor Who stories. The script by Stephen Wyatt reveals a little bit more & pushes the story forward a bit from Part 1 but is still keeping the big revelations back, this story introduces some robotic clowns which some may find scary I suppose but like Part 1 not much actually seemed to happen to me & the story still isn't particularly thrilling me & I'm not in any rush to see Parts 3 & 4. There's a fairly serious tone running through The Greatest Show in the Galaxy which I don't think works. I like Doctor Who because it's fun & entertaining but I don't really feel either of those things from this story, it's alright I suppose but nothing special.

There's a distinct lack of aliens or monsters in this story & apart from the clowns not much of a threat from anyone or anything. It's amazing who turns up in these things, Ricco Ross who played the marine Frost in Aliens (1986) is the main villain here. The production design again lets the show down somewhat, the scene when the Doctor is captured in a cage becomes utterly ridiculous when the bars of the cage wobble so easily & it looks like it's held together with sticky-back plastic.

The Greatest Show in the Galaxy is OK Doctor Who, it tries something different but it just doesn't quite work, at only 25 minutes per episode they move along at a fair pace & are still worth watching but there are definitely better Doctor Who adventures out there unless Parts 3 & 4 totally knock my socks off...