Doctor Who Is NEW: A Royal Mission

I thought I would have to wait for YEARS to use "Doctor Who Is NEW" for a blog post.

So imagine my surprise when I came across some new Doctor Who!

Sir Chris Hoy and comedian Greg McHugh take the TARDIS on a mission to get the King and Queen to the Commonwealth Games of 2026 in Glasgow.

I was a bit disappointed at the end we didn't get King Charles giving to the old "don't forget to click below and subscribe to the official Doctor Who You Tube channel". Or perhap, better yet, Chris Hoy. (Click the link above for his story.)  

We get an appearance by a bonafide Doctor, Sylvester McCoy.

We should've gotten McCoy to do the "click below and subscribe" spiel.  

Like Hoy and McHugh, McCoy is a native Scotsman.

Doctor Who may be in limbo right now with no new episodes in production but this shows the program still resonates with the United Kingdom public. 

Star Trekking With Doctor Who

It's another edition of Star Trekking, my regular blog post devoted to my Star Trek fandom.

As you can see from the additional graphic below, my other fandom is visiting today, Doctor Who.

Today's topic is Star Trek crossing over with Doctor Who?

Can it happen?

According to Akiva Goldsman, showrunner for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, he was certainly trying to make it happen.  

In ST: SNW season 3's "The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail", there is a blink and you'll miss it image of the TARDIS caught with the Enterprise by a scavenger ship.

Also the Enterprise's engineer Commander Pelia (Carol Kane) obliquely referenced accompanying a "time travelling doctor".

While discussing the Doctor's Easter Egg appearance in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Goldsman said he had been actively working with Russell T. Davies on pulling together a crossover.  

Goldsman said, “We were trying with Russell to do a crossover. We were for years. Again, these are the near misses, but we got not unclose, and we had some really cool conversations about it. And so, certainly in our view, I mean, Pelia traveled in the TARDIS. Why not?"

Russell T Davies has expressed his desire to make a crossover happen: "We would love to announce a crossover between Star Trek and Doctor Who!"   

"If anyone can make that happen... it’s fans that can make that happen! Two great big broadcasters, two great big empires – and their lawyers! – would have to come together, but we can do that, can’t we?"

Well, no! 

Does the BBC and Paramount not want our money? 

With both Star Trek AND Doctor Who not in active production, the chance of any kind of in canon crossover is very remote at this time.  

Where TV shows may not enter, comic books will not fear to tread.  

And where comics book dare to tred, some questionable fan fiction can certainly muck about.  

In the Doctor Who episode "Space Babies", in which the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) declares to companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) that they should visit the Enterprise sometime.

Ruby knows them as characters in a TV show.  The Doctor knows them to be real. 

That was in 2024.  

But 11 years before that, this was sort of the premise of a little something-something I wrote and posted back on Sunday, May 26,2013.  

The Doctor Meets Captain Kirk

The Doctor Meets Captain Kirk

______________________________________________

Scene opens: the TARDIS console room as the 10th Doctor 

makes adjustments and Rose scrolls through data on a monitor.

Doctor: So, Rose, has the TARDIS database provided any inspiration where...or when...we should go next?

Rose: It's so overwhelming, all these choices. Still, after that

 mess with the Ood and the Beast, I think I can narrow down our search towards a...little...rest and relaxation.

Doctor: (leans against the console with a blissful smile) Ah, 

rest and relaxation. (Then he makes a face) Nyah! C'mon, Rose! Find some place exciting.

Rose: How about this place? Dahlforius Six seems interesting.

Doctor: Oh! Oh! Yes, Rose, I haven't been to Dahlforius Six in...in...centuries! Lots of fun stuff to do!

Rose: "Fun stuff", Doctor?

Doctor (pulls back a bit on his excitement): I can do fun stuff if I want to.

Rose (looking back at the read out): What are Vapor Jet Falls?

Doctor: Oh, what a rush, Rose! It is the most amazing ride! 

(pauses a second) Well, you just have to watch out for the odd mountain.

Rose: Odd mountain?

Doctor: There's this mountain that's quite...odd. Has some 

kind of personality disorder.

Rose: Doctor, how can a mountain..?

Suddenly the TARDIS lurches sideways as the time rotor slows down.

Rose and the Doctor (standing wobbily before falling to the 

floor): Whooaaaa!

Rose (slowly picking herself up off the floor): What was that, Doctor?

Doctor (springing to his feet and lunging towards the TARDIS console): Not sure. Finding out. It's OK, everything's going to be just fine.

Rose: I'm fine, Doctor. Don't worry about (she stops when she realizes the Doctor was talking to the TARDIS as he strokes the console) ...okay.

Doctor (still talking to the TARDIS): C'mon, old girl, what's got 

you in such a tizzy? Oh, there's the trouble.

Rose: What is it?

Doctor: Appears we're in the wake of a passing spaceship 

travelling at warp speed. Oh, warp speed? How quaint. Unfortunately, the TARDIS's temporal phase harmonics were 

out of sync with the bisecting warp field differential resulting in a spatial temporal incursion...

Rose: Doctor, can you put all that in English, please?

The Doctor turns to Rose as if to speak, then pauses for a 

moment's thought.

Doctor: Ah, no. No, I can't. Sorry. Anyway, it won't take long to 

get the TARDIS in proper working order but we will need to 

land for a few minutes. I can coax a short hop out of her.

Rose: Where're we going to land?

Doctor: Oh, I was thinking about...borrowing a lift from that 

passing spaceship. Well, they...whoever they are...caused all this trouble. It seems only fair.

Rose: We could be heading for more trouble.

Doctor (grinning broadly): Rose, we're always heading for more trouble. Still, a few minutes rest and we'll be on our way. I'll make sure to materialize somewhere inconspicuous.

As the TARDIS dematerializes where it was floating in space, the scene shifts ahead to catch up with the spaceship.

The ship...is the Starship Enterprise, model 1701, flagship of 

the Federation. And our point of view passes through the top 

of the ship and on to the bridge. Captain Kirk is signing off on a computer pad as Scotty enters the bridge.

Scotty: Aye, Captain, that strange disruption in the warp field 

has gone away.

Kirk: Thank you, Mister Scott. Mister Spock! Analysis!

Spock: There is very little to give, Captain. The sensors 

detected a faint pulse of energy that I did not recognize. 

Whatever it was, it has vanished completely from our sensors.

Kirk: So maybe we just a hit a pebble in the road.

Spock: A pebble in the...

Kirk: Never mind, Spock. Mr. Sulu, steady as she goes, 

warp factor 2.

Sulu: Yes, Captain, warp factor two.

Kirk: Uhura, send a message to...Starfleet Command that the Enterprise is.....

Spock: Captain! The sensors are reading that unknown energy again. It's a stronger reading this time. And (Spock looks up from his station) it is heading for the Enterprise!

Kirk: Mister Sulu, screen on.

Sulu: Screen on, sir.

Kirk: Spock, can we...lock in coordinates, get a visual on this energy?

Spock: Captain, I surmise that...

Uhura: Captain, what is that strange noise?

Kirk: That...noise! Coming from everywhere...and nowhere. I've...never heard anything like it.

Spock: Captain, it seems the source of the energy..

Uhura: Captain Kirk! Look!

By the ship's flight console, the bridge crew sees a shimmering of color and light, feel a wind that is not entirely made of air and the growing sound that defies their ability to describe it. The shimmering becomes a shape and the noise suddenly ends with a 

loud "thunk".

Spock: The source of the energy has come here.

On the bridge of the Starship Enterprise, there now stood a quaintly designed blue box.

Sulu: "Police Box"? What's that?

Kirk (turning towards Spock): Analysis?

Spock (arching an eyebrow): Your guess is, as they say on 

Earth, as good as mine.

And inside the blue box, the TARDIS, the Doctor runs both 

his hands through his unruly hair while looking at the 

monitor showing the Enterprise bridge crew as Rose smirks, 

her back to the monitor.

Rose: Somewhere...inconspicuous, you said.

Doctor: Yeah, well, you know.

Rose: So, this is the part where I say, "What now, Doctor?"

Doctor: Well, the TARDIS still needs a little more time to 

finish recalibrating. And since I'm not familiar with this 

culture and I have no idea what their weaponry is...

Rose: You're going to talk to them.

Doctor (throwing on his long coat over his suit): I'm going to 

talk to them. The TARDIS only needs a few minutes more 

but there's no telling what kind of trouble they might cause out 

there in that time unless someone comes out and says 

"Hello". Rose, stay here. (The Doctor exits.)

Rose: Yeah, like that'll happen. Let me grab my jacket and...

(Rose looks at the monitor and sees the bridge crew for the first time.) They look familiar. Wait a minute! (Rose eyes go wide.) 

No way!

Meanwhile outside the TARDIS, the Doctor slips through the 

front door and is immediately greeted by Starfleet officers 

aiming phasers at him.

Doctor (grinning widely): Oh, hello!

Kirk: Who are...

Doctor (immediately starts roaming around the bridge): Wow! 

What a spaceship you've got here! Lots of lights and colors! Gleaming metal!

Kirk: Will you...

Doctor: Very sleek! Now this is a proper spaceship! Oh, some 

of the relics I've been on lately...

Kirk (very forcefully): WHO are you and WHAT are you doing on MY starship?
 
Doctor (stops, drops the grin): Oooh, sorry. I tend to gab a bit. 

I'm the Doctor.

Kirk: Doctor who?

Doctor (grinning again): Just the Doctor. (Pulls out psychic 

paper) You will see my credentials are in order.

Sulu: Captain, he's with the Senior Admiral's office!

Spock: No, Mr. Sulu, he is not.

Uhura: But we can see his identification...

Spock: Our visitor is holding a piece of paper with psychic 

attributes somehow imbedded in...

Rose (comes out of the TARDIS, excited, looks wide eyed at Spock): It IS you!

Kirk: And who...is this?

Doctor: Er, Rose. Rose Tyler. Sorry. Rose, I said to stay...

Rose (pointing at Spock): But that's Spock!

Doctor (puzzled): What? Who?

Rose: Yes, that's Spock and that's Uhura and Scotty and Sulu. 

And the Captain of the Startship Enterprise, James T Kirk.

Kirk: How do you know who...we are?

Doctor (equally incredulous): Yes, that's what I like to know. 

We just got here.

Rose (exasperated with the Doctor): They're from the TV 

show, Star Trek. Mickey and I used to watch it all the time 

when we were kids.

Scotty: TV show? What pray tell are you talking about, lassie!

Sulu: Could this be a Romulan plot?

Spock: Not very likely, Mr. Sulu.

Doctor: This is NOT a television program, Rose.

Rose (rolling her eyes): Of course not, Doctor. No cameras, no studio lights. But still...

Kirk: Doctor, I want some straight answers and...I want 

them now.

Doctor: A most sensible suggestion, Captain...?

Rose: Kirk.

Doctor: Yes, Kirk! Well, Captain Kirk, we're just travelers and 

our vessel, my TARDIS, was damaged when....wait! 

(looks back at Rose) Did I just say Captain Kirk?

Rose: Yeah!

Doctor: Wow! Rose, you were right! They are...

Kirk: Doctor?!

Doctor: Yes, right, straight answers. Well...Captain Kirk...

we're just travelers and.... (The Doctor suddenly moves 

forward and shakes Kirk's hand) Oh, I must say what a thrill 

and an honor to meet-

Suddenly the TARDIS makes a quick VWORP noise and 

the light on top starts to flash.

Rose: Um, Doctor?

Doctor: Oh good! The TARDIS has finished recalibrating! 

Sorry for barging in like this. We'll just run along and 

I'll have this off your carpeting...ooh, a starship with carpeting...

Rose (smiling brightly and waving): Bye. It was fantastic meeting you for real. Oh, Mr. Spock?

Spock: Yes?

Rose (gives the Vulcan salute): Live long and prosper!

Spock gives the salute back, with a nod. Rose smiles and winks, then goes inside the TARDIS, leaving Spock arching a bemused eyebrow.

Doctor: Yeah, what she said. Alon-zy! (And he ducks inside the TARDIS which begins to dematerialize, then vanishes.)

Kirk: What...what is...going on here, Spock?

Spock: Inconclusive. But I estimate the probability at 92% 

that the Doctor and Rose were in fact who they said they were: merely a pair of travelers who were temporarily sidetracked 

to our ship. And quite probably, they were also...

Scotty: Bonkers?

Uhura: Mad?

Sulu: Off their rockers?

Spock: I believe the human idiom that comes closest to fairly 

and accurately describing their mental state would be..koo-koo.

Kirk: Koo-koo, Mister Spock?

Spock: It is the most logical assessment I can make

Uhura: Do you wish me to send word to Starfleet Command 

about-

Kirk: No, I...don't think so.

Spock: Captain, I am fascinated by their assertion that the 

Doctor and Rose recognized us from a fictional entertainment program.

Kirk: I...would not worry about that, Spock. As you say...koo-koo. In fact, I think...it might be best if we ...don't...mention this again.

Whole bridge crew murmurs their ascent.

Spock: A pebble in the road, Captain?

Kirk: Yes, Mr. Spock. Just a pebble in the road. Full ahead, Mr. Sulu; warp factor three.

Inside the TARDIS.

Rose: Doctor, how can there really be a Captain Kirk and an Enterprise and a Mister Spock in real life when they're just 

fictional characters on a TV show?

Doctor: Well, quantum variations in temporal mechanics 

in parallel to...

Rose: Just say you don't know.

Doctor (lowers voice as if embarrassed): I don't know.

Rose: Doctor, I was wondering: is it possible that somewhere 

our lives are just a TV show?

Doctor: What? A TV show about a daft old man in a box 

travelling randomly through time and space with a young 

female companion while always getting into trouble? 

(The Doctor pauses a moment. Then...) Nyah! Who would 

want to watch that?

Voice over: Annnnd..cut!

Scene shifts to a man with a head set standing next to a camera surrounded by more cameras, other TV equipment and various workers.

Director: And that's a wrap on another episode of Doctor Who. David and Billie, great job as always.

Billie: Thank you!

David (Scottish accent): Always a pleasure.

Director: Heads up, though. Russell's all frantic. Julie just 

told him we're over-budget on the last episode so Russell's 

doing a last minute re-write on the next one.

David: Uh oh! This won't be pretty!

Billie: Ooh boy! Russell and re-writes..brrrr! David, we 

best make ourselves scarce.

David: Right! Yeah, we can't stick around. I've got this...thing...

Billie: Yeah, me too. I've got a...thing too...

David & Billie: 'Bye!

David & Billie rush off in different directions as our view 

moves over to a cluster of equipment where, obscured from everyone else's view, is the Doctor and Rose.

Doctor (not happy): Well, that's rubbish! That...that doesn't even look like me!

Rose (also not happy): My butt is not that big.

Doctor: Well, you know what they say, Rose?

Rose: What's that, Doctor?

Doctor: That's show biz!

The Doctor aims his sonic screwdriver at the screen, then the screen goes black.

---fade out---

????^^^^????^^^^????^^^^????^^^^

For Doctor Who stuff, I've got a post forthcoming of Doctor Who Is CLASSIC! 

Jon Pertwee is the Doctor for one last epic adventure! 

It's "Planet of the Spiders!"

For Star Trek stuff, the 4th season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will premiere this week. 

The first episode “Valles Marineris” drops July 23rd. 

Your Friday Video Link: Anthony Stewart Head

Alas we are still grieving the loss of Anthony Stewart Head who passed away last week at age 72.

Today's edition of Your Friday Video Link provides some examples of Mr. Head's incredible talents.  

We'll start with Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer barely tolerating the teenagers in his midst.

(My favorite bit starts at 3:07.)   

Giles was mostly a nebbish book worm nerd but in the role as Buffy's Watcher, serving as her mentor, guardian and trainer, he could demonstrate surprising traits and skills.

Like turning into a bad ass motherfucker who will kill you if you cross him.

Or singing! 

Next up: Giles sings Free Bird!

And for the Doctor Who fans, the Doctor confronts Mr. Finch! 

More of Mr. Head playing the bad guy from Ted Lasso.

Anthony Head as the romantic lead....in a coffee commercial?

There was a whole series of these where Anthony's character has a meet cute with this beautiful woman and over various dates (that involved coffee, of course), their relationship evolves and grows into true love... for each other.... and for coffee. 

Anthony Stewart Head was quite the predigious and versitile talent and he will be missed.   

Doctor Who: Christmas Is Cancelled

A sleek starship plummets through space against the tableau of rhe Horse Head Nebula.  The ship is falling towards a planet with a thick cloudy atmosphere.

On the bridge of this ship, all is chaos with explosions and crackling electricity.  The Captain of the ship assesses the damage and she's not feeling very positive at the moment.

"Both engines failed, and the storm-gate's critical!

The ship is going down!

Christmas is cancelled!" 

And thus begins "A Christmas Carol", the Doctor Who holiday special written by Steven Moffatt that aired on Christmas Day 2010. 

Which was 16 years ago? Wow! I didn't realized it had been that long.  

With the declaration of "Christmas is cancelled!" began what may be the best Doctor Who Christmas special ever, a twisty, fun and entertaining adventure.  My family likes to watch this special every year at Christmas.  

Doctor Who was in it's prime, more popular than ever.  The show survived the loss of fan favorite David Tennant with new fan favorite Matt Smith. 

Unfortunately in 2026, "Christmas is cancelled!" echoes like the somber dirge of a funeral bell.

Yesterday, the BBC announced it would not be moving forward with the Christmas special for 2026.

And furthermore, Doctor Who will no longer have Russell T Davies at the helm.  

Davies and his Bad Wolf production company will no longer be making Doctor Who.  BBC will be putting Doctor Who out to competitive tender – where production companies pitch to make the show – later this year.

 Here's more from the BBC's statement: “This decision was not taken lightly, and we know it will be disappointing for fans, but in order to set the show up for future series, it was decided that rather than bridge the gap with a one off special, we are choosing to push forward to invest in the long-term future of the show which ensures that when the TARDIS lands once more, it does so in all its glory."  

 

Davies took to Instagram shortly afterwards with his own statement: “And so GOODBYE from me to Doctor Who but HELLO to a big new future for the show, as the BBC announces it’s putting the show out to tender."

 

“As a result, there won’t be a Christmas Special - we only cooked that up to guarantee a future when no one knew what would happen, but now we do know, there’s no need for it. You’ll have to wait a bit longer for new Doctor Who… but you’ll be waiting for MORE Doctor Who than a one-off. So it’s worth it!”

 

“Now I’m as excited as anyone to see what comes next! Will they keep the theme tune? Will they lose the blue box? Will they bring back the Drahvin?! It’s all up for grabs, which is so Doctor Who, exciting and unpredictable and new! Here comes the future, vworp vworp.”

 

None of this is a complete surprise to me. There were reports last month that the Doctor Who Christmas special might not be happening. Li'l ol' me, looking from the outside in, pondered there was TOO much uncertainty with the franchise.  

Never mind WHO was going to be the Doctor, there was the no small matter of who was going to run the show.  After the debacle of the Disney+ series, did the BBC trust Russell T Davies to run the show after that?

It seemed like the whole idea of a 2026 Christmas special seemed like a pipe dream to me and RTD pretty confirmed it was.  

It makes more sense for the BBC to commit resources to a whole new series with fresh leadership at the top.  And making those kind of decisions will take time to make them wisely.

There is some speculation from some quarters who do not completely trust the BBC to move forward and fear this cancellation goes beyond the special.

Me, I will choose to err on the side of positivity and take them at their word.  

Will we ever get an answer to what
THIS was all about?

"Christmas is cancelled!"

Yeah and I'm kind of sad about that. 

But let's hope the short term loss of that single special will lead to a long term gain for Doctor Who to be a viable series once more.  

Doctor Who Does AND Does Not Return

It's been a minute since I did a Doctor Who post.

For the first time since leaving HBO Max, there will be a new streaming home for modern Doctor Who.

Starting June 11th, the series that ran from 2005 to 2022, ranging from Christopher Eccleston to Jodie Whittaker will return to AMC+.   

This does NOT include the series from 2023 to 2025 which for now is still on Disney+.    

I also do not know if this will include any of the ancillary Doctor Who series such as Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

But the main thing is modern Doctor Who finally has a platform for streaming.

AMC+ was having a sale to subscribe for a whole year for $30 so I went ahead and signed up while that discount price was available.  

No Doctor Who yet but I've caught up on some Law & Order UK which features Bradley Walsh (13th Doctor companion Graham) and Freema Ageyman (10th Doctor companion Martha Jones).  

AMC+ also has the classic HBO series Tales From the Crypt which I've sampled some episodes.  That's been a weird nostalgic trip back to the 1980's.  

As for Doctor Who, another question I don't have an answer to is will AMC+ get any new episodes?

Perhaps a more pertinent question: with there be any new episodes?

The internet began blowing up yesterday with tales of woe regarding any new Who.

Ostensibly, there is supposed to be a Christmas special for this year.  

Unless the rumor mill is on to something and it's being delayed to Easter 2027.

The source for this rumor is the British tabloid The Sun so a generously sized grain of salt is called for.

The Radio Times shared news of this report but has received no confirmation from the BBC.  

Speculation runs amuck as to why this Doctor Who special would be delayed from Christmas 2026 to Easter 2027.

One reason is money.  

Without a production partner, the BBC will have to pay for the whole thing.  

Is it a matter of the BBC's coffers being light or whatever plans Russell T Davies has for special are just too big or both? 

The main obstacle, according to The Sun, is finding someone to play the Doctor.  

Whoever Billie Piper is supposed to be, it's not the 16th Doctor.

I could see getting any actor to sign up to play the Doctor now would be tricky given all the uncertainty surrounding the franchise.

Starting with who's in charge.

RTD is point man for the special but will he continue with any kind of series that follows?  There's been some dissatisfaction with Russell's leadership of the franchise during the Disney+ years.  

But if not Russell, then who? Who would want to come in to run Doctor Who without a secure commitment from the BBC on what's to come next, with or without a partner?  

In the current television production environment, can the BBC deliver a solid Doctor Who series without help?   

We don't know nothing, man! 

But we do know that Chris, David, Matt, Peter and Jodie will be available once more on AMC+ starting June 11th.

Classic Doctor Who is available on Tubi, the streaming channel via Roku and Amazon Prime and there are select episodes on You Tube.

So while the future of Doctor Who is uncertain, it's past has a home.   

Doctor Who Is CLASSIC: The Sun Makers

Today is April 15th, Tax Day here in the United States.

Be sure to file your taxes and be prepared to pay up because goddam Donald motherfucking Trump's goddam golf trips to motherfucking Mar-O-Lago are not going pay for their goddam motherfucking selves. 

Am I angry about that? Yes, I am!  

Back in 1977, also pissed off about taxes was writer Robert Holmes. He turned his agression with the British tax system into a scathing satire for Doctor Who called "The Sun Makers".

Which brings us to this edition of Doctor Who Is CLASSIC! 

Producer Graham Williams did direct Holmes to dial back some of the nastier bits. And Holmes made the villainous entity a private corporation instead of a governmental agency.

Still, a whopping smack on the backside of both taxation AND rampant out of control capitalism.  

Gee, I'm glad Doctor Who back in the 1970's wasn't all WOKE and shit like it has been lately.  (Wink!) 

So what gives with this story?

It all begins when the Doctor, Leela & K9 arrive on the planet Pluto and intervene to stop this guy named Cordo from killing himself.

The cause of his suicidal distress? His tax bill.

The Company rules all, controls all.  All praise the Company!

How bad is the tax situation? Perhaps this sequence will give an idea about that.

WOMAN: Citizen Cordo, District Four?

CORDO: Yes?

WOMAN: Congratulations, Citizen. Your father ceased at one ten.

CORDO: All was well?

WOMAN: A fine death. Body weight was eighty four kilos at termination.

CORDO: I'm gratified.

WOMAN: Gatherer Hade is waiting for the death taxes.

CORDO: Yes, I have them here.

WOMAN: Pay them at the Gatherer's office.

Yep, there's a tax to be paid when someone fucking dies!

The Company barely pays it's workers a subsistence wage AND then taxes those meager earnings in ever increasing amounts. 

There's an entire Undercity filled with desperate and dejected souls, worked into subservience, taxed into submission. 

The Doctor is captured by the Company and brought to the Corrections Centre.  Gatherer Hade, an obsequeious middle management toady, is intriqued by this Doctor fellow who is so unlike the other physically and spiritually beaten down inhabitants of the Undercity.  

Leela, Cordo and K9 lead an attack on the Centre to rescue the Doctor but Hade has released the Doctor to lead him to his fellow conspirators working against the Company. 

Well, he's traded one prisoner for another as Leela is captured. Hade presents Leela to the Collector, a short hairless ill-tempered troll who sits at the center of the Company's web, tallying ever single penny of profit, every single penny of loss. 

Meanwhile, the Doctor attempts to rally the dispirited citizens to rise up in rebellion against the Company. He knows an autocratic dictatorship when he sees one and this one needs to be brought down.

And he needs to save  Leela.

The Doctor discovers the Company decimated Earth, then Mars, ravaging planet after planet until setting up shop on the planet Pluto. 

(Fuck Neil Degrasse Tyson! I was born in a solar system with 9 planets! And damn it, I say I still live in one and Pluto is a planet!)

The Collector orders Leela to be publicly executed in the steamer. It's a creepy tube where victims are, well, steamed to death.  Like broccoli. 

Leela is going to be broccolied to death.   

The Collector allows for a temporary halt in production so the workers (without pay) can attend the execution. Which they can witness for a small fee. And attendance is mandatory. 

Despite such mangaminous generosity from the Collector, the revolution is on!

Gatherer Hade is thrown from the roof to his death! 

(Man, Robert Holmes was really pissed off about that tax bill.) 

Having rescued Leela from her  death sauna, the Doctor confronts the Collector who the Doctor recognizes as a seaweed-like sentient poisonous fungus from the planet Usurius. As the rebellion proceeds, the Collector checks his computer and finds the Company is heading for bankruptcy.

The shock of this revelation is so great, it causes the Collector to revert to his natural form, a puddle of goo.  

The Doctor, Leela & K9 depart, leaving Cordo and his fellow citizens free to live their own lives, perhaps going back to Earth and rebuilding their home world. 

"The Sun Makers" is a pretty solid sci-fi story welded to a wicked sharp satire on bureaucracy, taxation, capitalism and autocracy. Robert Holmes has a lot of targets for his anger and he hits them all hard.

Gotta call out Richard Leech as Gatherer Hade  whose over the top declarations of fealty to the Collector and the Company are a source of outlandish comedy.

• Ah, what a great truth, your Sublimity. A pearl of wisdom.
• Indubitably, your Elevation
• Your Amplification
• Your Voluminousness
• Praise the Company for ever and ever. 
• Your Globosity
• Your Magnificence
• Your Supernal Eminence

Gatherer Hade was a one man Trump cabinet meeting.

There's a lot going on here that the makes "The Sun Makers" a worthy look back at classic Doctor Who.

Now, go pay your taxes! Donald Trump needs more bombs.