The Leisure Hive

The Leisure Hive
by David Fisher
Originally Broadcasted: August 30th-September 20th, 1980

The Doctor and Romana are on holiday, and they decide to visit the Leisure Hive on Argolis, where there is considerably more going on than shown. The Argolins are trying to move forward from the deadly war against the Foamasi, but one Argolin doesn't want that. Pangol, the child of the Generator wants to bring Argolis back to its glory days, and he'll do anything to get his way...

The Leisure Hive was the beginning of a new era for Doctor Who. I don't think any other story saw more of a change in every aspect of the production. Incoming producer John Nathan-Turner (JNT) really wanted to make his stamp on the show by improving things for the better. The big changes were the new title scene and music, throughly bringing Doctor Who into the 1980s. Sid Sutton's graphics and Peter Howell's music intertwine perfectly to create my favorite version of the Doctor Who opening ever. The BBC Radiophonic Workshop took over from esteemed composer Dudley Simpson as the provider of the show's incidental music. The new synthesized music really gave the show a more updated, modern feel. Of course, hearing the music now, it instantly feels dated, but there's just something about those synthesizer sounds that I love. Tom Baker got a new costume, keeping his famous scarf, but introducing the infamous question marks that would continue through the rest of the classic era. New script editor Christopher H. Bidmead also changed things up, by removing a lot of the comedy that had become increasingly evident when Douglas Adams was script editor, and then making the show a bit more scientific. The Leisure Hive is a perfect introduction to this new kind of Doctor Who. Director Lovett Bickford did a great job of directing the serial in an almost cinematic style, really adding to the "new beginning" theme that JNT wanted. I think The Leisure Hive really benefitted from this style of direction. Choosing to only show the eyes and other close-ups of the Foamasi at first made them seem more menacing than the rather laughable costume appeared. We also get some really neat drama, that oddly doesn't feature too much of the Doctor and Romana. Oh they're very much involved, but not necessarily the main part of the plot. That is until the Doctor steps into Hardin's Tachyon Recreation Generator, which ages him several hundred years. Apparently Tom Baker wasn't too keen on playing an aged Doctor. That same machine then produces hundreds of Pangols, who thanks to the Doctor turn out to be hundred of unstable Doctors dressed like Pangol. I really love the relationship between Earth scientist Hardin and Chairman Mena. They're supposed to just be colleagues, but you can almost see something romantic underneath that. The Leisure Hive boldly took Doctor Who into a new era, maybe my favorite era in the show's history. On top of that, it's a great story with lots of interesting themes, and even if a bit too scientific, is still just a lot of fun!

Luke's Rating: 9/10