Dalek (2706/106)

[GateWorld]

DOCTOR WHO SERIES 27 DALEK EPISODE NUMBER - 2706 When a distress signal pulls the Tardis to an underground bunker in the early twenty-first century, the Doctor finds the sole survivor of the Daleks, the genetically engineered species that exterminated the Time Lords. VISIT THE EPISODE GUIDE >>

[IMForeman]

The first unequivical classic of the new series. Dalek puts menace into the old pepperpots. I never even thought it would be possible to make them scary to me... or to actually give a Dalek a character and personality. Great acting from a Dalek? Is there such a thing? YES! Apparantly it is! So, so much going on in this episode, but it would be remiss not to mention Eccleston. In many ways it's his finest, if darkest turn. That scene in the Vault with the Doctor and the Dalek... it's just so eminently rewatchable.

9/10. Near flawless.

[Reefgirl]

This one was my least favourite, touchy, feely Daleks are a real disappointment

[in circles]

I didn't really like the Daleks or find them a believable enemy until this episode. Love the scenes between the Doctor and the Dalek and they manage to pull off the Dalek with emotions without it being too cheesy.

[IMForeman]

This one was my least favourite, touchy, feely Daleks are a real disappointment

But that's just it... this was not a touchy, feely Dalek. This was a lethal, determined, virtually unstoppable, murdered more than 200 people Dalek. Once it started developing emotions it was sickened and decided it wanted death over humanity. A Dalek with emotions isn't a Dalek at all... and this one decided it's own destruction was preferrable. Hence the "I will not be like you! This isn't life, this is sickness!"

[Metarock Sam]

I thought it was a great episode it had all the elements of a fantastic Dalek story. PLus it had Anna-lousie Ploughman guest starring and doing a fantastic job of it. The second best story in the season .(The Empty Child and The Doctor Dances hold onto first place with gnashing teeth XD )

[Easter Lily]

The first unequivical classic of the new series. Dalek puts menace into the old pepperpots. I never even thought it would be possible to make them scary to me... or to actually give a Dalek a character and personality. Great acting from a Dalek? Is there such a thing? YES! Apparantly it is! So, so much going on in this episode, but it would be remiss not to mention Eccleston. In many ways it's his finest, if darkest turn. That scene in the Vault with the Doctor and the Dalek... it's just so eminently rewatchable.

9/10. Near flawless.

I agree with you totally. This was the first time in all my years of watching Who that I actually found the Daleks menacing enough to be a threat.
But I thought this episode was more about the Doctor's inner darkness than the Dalek's. The Dalek was a catalyst for his long suppressed anger about the Time Wars. There was something truly poignant and very dark about the Doctor here.

[Flyboy]

Agreed regarding the whole threat issue.

Usually when I see a TV enemy I sit there thinking. "Right I could take them, all I'd do would be... [insert battle plan here] and then I win" but these daleks had me stumped... I literally found a situation that by no stretch of the imagination could I ever imagination defeating the Daleks... thats wow.

And I did love the dalek at the end. I may be male, but I'm brave enough to say that brought a tear to my eye. VERY powerful scene.

[Reefgirl]

And I did love the dalek at the end. I may be male, but I'm brave enough to say that brought a tear to my eye. VERY powerful scene.

That's what I mean about touchy feely Daleks, can you see Davros doing that.

[Flyboy]

No but then Davros wouldnt allow a Dalek to experience anything other than hate. This dalek experienced other things, other sensations, compassion... and it was too much for it. It was what it was, a creature of hatred and death. It is its nature to destroy. Feeling other things is sickening to it...

[IMForeman]

Agreed regarding the whole threat issue.

Usually when I see a TV enemy I sit there thinking. "Right I could take them, all I'd do would be... [insert battle plan here] and then I win" but these daleks had me stumped... I literally found a situation that by no stretch of the imagination could I ever imagination defeating the Daleks... thats wow.

Oh, I knew what I'd do in that situation: Run. Run and hide and hope to hell that it doesn't find me. That's my plan should I ever encounter one.

[Flyboy]

Fair point!

[Deputy-Assistant-Second-Prime]

Oh, I knew what I'd do in that situation: Run. Run and hide and hope to hell that it doesn't find me. That's my plan should I ever encounter one.

My plan would be to dress like a giant pepper shaker and try to beguile it with my charms ala Bugs Bunny.

[EvilSpaceAlien]

Ah the daleks, they always give me this warm fuzzy feeling everytime they yell EXTERMINATE!

[gateship15]

fantastic episode i liked rose mutating the dalek and it desiding to die rather then be something it believes to be a sickness.

[timdalton007]

Coming at the approximate mid point of the first series of the revived Doctor Who, Dalek came at a perfect moment to bring about the return of another of the icons of the series: the Dalek. Yet the episode is much more then the return of an icon. It is a story that takes the hero (the Doctor) and the villain (the Dalek), our notions of them and to what lengths they will go to survive. The result is the best episode of the first series.

Dalek is notable for featuring Christopher Eccleston single best performance as the ninth Doctor. In the space of forty-five minutes Eccleston gives a performance that is nothing short of remarkable. While the lighter side of the ninth Doctor is evident during the opening minutes there is also a darkness that, while mostly submerged previously, comes to the surface. It all starts in one of the best scenes to ever be put in the show when the two enemies are locked in a room together. In the space of just a few minutes Eccleston covers a whole range of emotions from caring to frightened (in a moment which utterly convinces you the Dalek is a real threat) to the moment where the Doctor takes the catchphrase of his enemy and uses it chillingly. Add to that moments where the Doctor tells the Dalek to die or the last couple of scenes of the episode which show us a Doctor who is battle scared to the point it comes as a surprise when we see just who it is pointing a weapon at the end. While Eccleston gave fine performances the whole way through this episode would mark his single best performance in the role.

Then there's the title villain: the Dalek. Bringing back the iconic villain could have been easily misdone but here we get the full force and power of the Dalek. Not only is the Dalek itself magnificently redesigned on the outside but writer Robert Shearman shows us what the Dalek is at heart as well. This is not a tin robot armed with a whisk and a plunger by any means. This is a killing machine that is just as capable of being conniving if not manipulative as well as demonstrated throughout much of the episode's first scenes with the Doctor and his companion Rose Tyler. Not only that but for the first time ever really we get to see the Dalek as a killing machine capable of putting that plunger and whisk to remarkable (and chilling) effect. Then Sheraman as writer and Nicholas Briggs as the voice do something even more remarkable then that: they give it sympathy. Slowly we watch as this killing machine begins to change and by the end becomes something greater then that before meeting a fate that is truly tragic. To do all that in less then an hour is an achieve met in itself.

That's not forgetting the other human members of the cast of course. There's Billie Piper who gives a fine performance as Rose which helps to bring both great amounts of fear and then sympathy to the Dalek in both their first and last scenes together. She also shares some nice chemistry which Bruno Langely as Adam, who gives a nice performance here which makes the final scene in the story believable and a shame about what happens in the next episode. Corey Johnson makes a nice, if at times over the top, appearance as the billionaire Henry van Statten who, while not quite believable, works rather well. There's also nice performances from Anna-Louise Plowman and Nigel Whitmey as two of van Statten's employes at the base where the episode is set. All together they make for a nice supporting cast in a fantastic episode.

There is also some fine work behind the camera as well. The CGI effects shots of the Dalek are fantastic pieces of work which help to make certain bits of its return all the more better (watch the episode for which bits!). The cinematography of Ernie Vincze gives the entire episode a claustrophobic feel that, even in the larger areas, give the tension a considerable boost. To help with the tension is the the editing of Graham Walker coupled with the relentless and in the later sections of the episode haunting music of Murray Gold. All of these when coupled with the first rate script of Robert Shearman show off some of the finest work yet seen in the new series.

So why do I call this episode the best of series one? Well it has the best performance of Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor, the return of the Dalek at its best, some nice performances and some fantastic work behind the scenes as well especially in the script by Robert Shearman. There is more then that though. This episode is about survivors and what lengths they will go to keep on doing just that. It is also about our very own notions of good (the Doctor) and evil (the Dalek) and what it takes to turn them on their head. If nothing else that is what this episode is all about.

timdalton007

[gateship15]

i totally agree with all u have said and its well put

[maneth]

Brilliant and my favorite so far! I haven't seen much of the older DWs, but I do know about aliens and stairs. Very worthy.