BOOK OF LISTS: TOP FIVE DALEK STORIES - NUMBER TWO

On to Fave Dalek Story Number Two. No cheats, this time! 

SOME POINTLESS BACKGROUND: 

As you may or may not know, Sixie is my favorite Doctor. I loved the gradually-softening abrasive personality. The dark storylines. The heavy reliance on continuity. I even adore the outfit! Everything about his era really resonated with me. Not sure what that actually says about my psyche but it's where I stand!

One of the other traits about his era that hasn't been discussed as much is the genuine weirdness of both of his seasons (and, sadly, there were only two!). 

Trial of a Time Lord was not the first Umbrella Season the show ever saw. Nor would it be the last, either. But it had a much tighter continuity than Key to Time did. You could miss entire stories from Key and still be okay. But you needed to watch every episode of Trial or you would quickly be lost. At the same time, however, Trial still retains that "multiple stories coming together to form a larger one" vibe that Flux doesn't. Flux truly is just one story being told across multiple episodes that span an entire season. Trial gets broken down into neat little subsections.

Key to Time and Flux are extreme versions of a plot structure. Trial of a Time Lord is almost like everything owned by Baby Bear in the Goldilocks Fairy Tale. It sits nicely in the middle. Which makes it very unique in its own right. Even if its central conceit is not entirely original. 

Season 22, however, is even odder than its successor. Eric Saward really wanted something raw and gritty for the Sixth Doctor's first full season. This is, perhaps, Doctor Who at its darkest. It's also quite violent, in places. This very different tone sets this season apart from most other periods of the show. 

Some would even say it's too different. To this day, there are still fans who malign Season 22 quite heavily. Claiming it does not resemble its core formula enough. It's something calling itself Doctor Who that uses some of its main tropes but, ultimately, strays too far from what the show is really about. 

I, quite naturally, disagree. In fact, I applaud Season 22 for stretching Doctor Who to its absolute limits. But I will admit, there are some missteps throughout the run. Which is to be expected when you're making this bold of an experiment. But, because these errors occur during a time when fans are in one of their ultra-critical moods, the baby often gets thrown out with the bathwater. One or two bad choices gets the entire story dismissed as being "badly-written". Which, to me, is quite silly. 

There are, in fact, equally-bad sins committed against the show during the famous Golden Age of Hinchcliff that are completely glossed over by fans. But when a similar mistake is made under JNT's Watch, the story becomes "absolute drivel". Look, for example, at the Cop-Out Cliffhanger Resolution during Genesis of the Daleks versus the one in Mark of the Rani. Fans will go on endlessly about George Stephenson's sudden surprise appearance in the reprise. Whereas I, oftentimes, feel like I'm the only one that ever rants about the impossible structural design of the scaffholding Sarah Jane falls from! Genesis, however, still gets heralded as a Classic. Whereas a lot of fans don't have very nice things to say about Mark. Even though both tales have their fair share of problems. In fact, I'd go so far to say that the "Alleged Classic" has more negatives in it than the 80s Pryodonian Class Reunion does (how's that for heresey?!). 

Anyhow, I've gone on endlessly about Season 22 for a reason. Admittedly, it might be flawed, in places. But, as it reaches its conclusion, it produces Revelation of the Daleks. And, as we get to this adventure, all the kinks of the new formula have been properly hammered out. Revelation is a masterpiece that shows that the whole idea of Season 22, after a bit of trial-and-error, works magnificently. 

PART ONE IS SOOO DIFFERENT! 

Admittedly, as you watch the first episode of Revelation of the Daleks, you can almost agree with those fans who feel the show has strayed too far from what it's meant to be. 

Firstly, it's called Doctor Who. Which leads you to believe that the Doctor is pretty central to any plot. But he and Peri spend the entire first part just trying to find a way into Tranquil Repose. They don't start actually interacting with any of the characters that we've been watching inside the complex until after the Cliffhanger. 

Secondly, the story is called Revelation of the Daleks. Which would lead one to believe that there would be some Daleks in it. We actually only see a Dalek in the foreground for one shot. It does a brief security check on Lilt and Takis. Otherwise, we occasionally see a Dalek in the background in Davros' underground headquarters. They get a brief line of dialogue here and there. But, for the most part, they are pretty absent from the story during its first episode. 

We do get a bit of Davros here and there. However, his presence is also pretty scant. 

What Episode One mainly focuses on is the supporting cast. A motley collection of dark and bizarre characters that seem to be doing the main job of propelling the plot along to some kind of climax. We definitely get the impression that Big Things will be happening in Part Two. We can feel the slow burn building. But it's very strange. The progression doesn't seem to involve any of the titular characters. But, rather, a series of eccentric personalities that Saward has created exclusively for this adventure. 

I could almost have a problem with this if it wasn't for the fact that all the secondary roles created for this tale are immensely engaging. They are all interesting. But some are a bit "straighter" and not quite as colorful. Other personas, however, like Jobel and Orcini are an absolute joy to watch every moment they're onscreen.  They, pretty much, steal the show.  

I know I should be more upset about the conspicuous absence of Daleks and Time Lords - but I'm not. The supporting cast has been so brilliantly written and portrayed that I just can't bring myself to care!   

SOME SIGNIFICANT DALEK STUFF IN PART ONE

While the Daleks aren't particularly visible during the first half of the story, there are still some interesting developments that occur with them. 

Firstly, we are seeing the ultimate fruition of what I like to call "Sly Davros", He was always a bit slick, of course. Even in his very first story, he does a pretty good job of manipulating both the Thals and his own people to achieve the results he wants. But, throughout most of his early days, most of Davros' tactics are still rather "slegehammeresque". He's only a little more subtle than his creations. 

In Revelation, he's almost like a spider in a web. Pulling various threads to achieve his desired results. He lures the Doctor into an elaborate trap. He eliminates traitors by exploiting the affections that others have for them. He even builds up a successful intergalactic business! 

Davros has learnt some legitimate social engineering. It's like he got a degree in psychology sometime after he found that escape pod in Resurrection of the Daleks! From this point onward, we would continue to see him as being far more coy and manipulative. But the trait first develops in this adventure. And it is quite fascinating to see this new side to him. 

And then, of course, there's that scene with Arthur Stengos and his daughter. This might just be the most disturbing thing I have ever seen in the history of the show. The visual effect is impressive enough. With his weird metal teeth and pulsating forehead. But the real horror is in the actual performance. The way he keeps fluctuating between his conditioning and begging his daughter to kill him is so brutal it actually scars you a bit. Natasha's anguish as she accepts what she must do also really adds to the moment. This is all gorgeously done. So much so, that it has been indelibly stamped upon my memory. This just might be Dalek Horror at its absolute scariest. 

AND THEN WE GET TO PART TWO

At long last, the Doctor and Peri make their way into Tranquil Repose and actually start getting involved with the plot threads that have been building up throughout the first episode. Interestingly enough, they never become quite that active in the story. Normally, the Doctor dives right into the centre of things, waves his sonic screwdriver at the appropriate things that need fixing and saves the day all on his own. In this instance, he tends to just advise people and nudge them in the right direction (ie: pointing out that the weed plant is a great source of protein that can meet the demand Davros has created).  Again, this seems to throw some fans off or even upset them. But after 21 seasons of the Doctor doing more-or-less the same thing in every story, it actually makes for a pleasant change. 

The Daleks also start becoming more heavily-involved in Part Two. They get a few quick scenes of apprehending the Doctor and fighting Orcini. They even start getting more dialogue in Davros' lair. But when we get to that great plot twist halfway through the episode, we realize that this story has been way more about the Daleks than we ever realised! There was a whole political intrigue going on among their culture that we weren't aware of. 

I love how no explanation is readily given for why the Daleks on Necros have such a different livery. It only suddenly makes sense when the Gunmetal Grey Daleks finally show up. It's so simplistic yet effective. We were even given clues in Resurrection that Davros wanted to create his own faction. Now he's done it. And his original creations are not happy about it. It really is so cool watching them storm the barricades and capture the man who made them. I even love that they're going to put him on trial rather than just execute him on the spot. It's another signpost, of course. By not killing him immediately, we're being given the impression that there is still more to come with the character. 

And there is. 

There's so much more....

ANOTHER GREAT ENDING 

Like Magician's Apprentice/Witch's Familiar a lot of the success of this story hinges upon its resolution. Followers of the Supreme Dalek showing up to disrupt everything was extremely cool. But there was a lot of other great stuff that happens in those last few minutes. 

Sixie and Davros finally meeting and having a little confrontation was definitely a high point. This incarnation of the Doctor does one of the best jobs of telling off the baddies. We see it right in his very first story where he brow beats Mestor quite badly in his throne room. Such moments are even more poignant when it's a recurring villain that he's verbally sparring with. Colin, himself, seems to realize that there is a history between these two characters and puts in that much more effort to really create some sparks in the face-off. 

But then, things get even more entertaining in Davros' lair. I love all the silent signals the Doctor and Orcini start sending each other as the conversation continues. It's wickedly cool as the Time Lord subtly kicks a weapon over to the Knight of Oberon. I love what's building up, here. 

The fight that finally erupts just before Davros is about to unleash his army is great. As if the evil Kaled hadn't lost enough of his body, already! Now, he doesn't have a hand! We also, of course, get the First Place Winner for Worst Pun in the History of Doctor Who (I discussed it, already, in the last entry). And the recurring gag of the Sixth Doctor trying to shake hands with people during inopportune moments reaches its pinnacle! 

All of this is a great little thrill ride that made that slow burn during Part One completely worth the wait. In fact, I'd say the pay-off we get from all that build-up was much better than I expected. A fun battle in Davros' lair or the surprise appearance of Gunmetal Grey Daleks would have been more-than-adequately fulfilling. The fact that we got both propels the conclusion of the tale into something truly wondrous to behold! 

JUST A FEW MORE REFLECTIONS....

As mentioned in my lengthy intro (it's so hard to get me to shut up once I start talking about the Sixth Doctor!), Revelation of the Daleks is the perfect balance that Season 22 has been trying to achieve throughout its entire run. The dark and cynical tones are pitched perfectly. The violence is disturbing but not overdone. I even love the fact that we veer towards an end-of-story-supporting-cast-slaughterfest but don't quite get there. There are a bit more survivors than usual! 

What makes this story even more enjoyable is just how well the Daleks and Davros fit into Saward's bleaker version of the Doctor Who Universe. The single-mindedness of the Daleks make them almost paradoxical as they become more interested in settling an internal dispute rather than engage in their usual campaigns of universal domination. And Davros being so diabolical gets him to seem right at home in this strange galaxy where everyone seems to be out for themselves. There aren't a lot of "good guys" in Season 22. So finishing off the season with some of the worst of the bad guys was a perfect way to end things. 

There are many more praises that I could sing for a story like Revelation of the Daleks. It's another excellent directorial effort from Graeme Harper. Alexi Sayle is absolutely brilliant as the DJ. And so on....

But I really am trying to stick to the idea of how good of a Dalek Story it is. So I don't want to divert too much from that theme. But this is an absolutely excellent piece of television that also does a fantastic job of portraying the Daleks and their Creator.

If you're directing a fan of New Who to some Classic tales that they definitely need to check out, then Revelation of the Daleks should absolutely be on the list. 

Always feels so good when I can express my Colin Love!  What will Number One be? You'll find out soon enough!  

Here are the other entries in this category: 

Five:

https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2022/12/book-of-lists-top-five-dalek-stories.html 

Four-A:

https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2022/12/book-of-lists-top-five-dalek-stories_11.html

Four-B: 

https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2022/12/book-of-lists-top-five-favorite-dalek.html

Three:

https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2022/12/book-of-lists-top-five-dalek-stories_24.html

BOOK OF LISTS: TOP FIVE DALEK STORIES - NUMBER THREE

Well, I said at the end of the last entry that I might cheat a bit more with this Countdown. You probably thought I was joking....

If you took the trouble to read my first entry in this List (here it is if you haven't: https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2022/12/book-of-lists-top-five-dalek-stories.html), you'll see that I bothered to discuss what I believe didn't merit the title of "True Dalek Story". One type of adventure that I claimed I wouldn't include in my selection is when the Daleks form an alliance with another recurring villain and/or monster. Most of the time that this sort of thing happens, I find that the Daleks are kept too much on the back-burner in the plot. Even the most recent episode displays this. They still play a significant role in the whole tale (and it was wickedly cool to see Ace beat one up with a baseball bat and then destroy it with some Nitro 999!), but their presence isn't really strong enough to make it worth being considered for this Countdown. 

Before I even wrote a word for that first entry, I had mentally compiled what my list would be. For some reason, Fave Dalek Story #3 did not properly register in my brain as I wrote out the types of stories that I would disqualify. Only as I was about halfway through writing about Fave Dalek Story 4-A that it, suddenly, dawned upon me. 

"Hey Rob!" I said to myself,  "You do realize that the Master is also in the third Dalek Story on your list, right?!"

Oops. 

So it looks I won't be bending the rules just for Number Four...

HOOKED RIGHT FROM THE FIRST SCENE! 

So I remember all the leaks that were coming out about Series Nine. I especially loved hearing that most of the stories were going to be multi-parters. This would give the adventures a running time similar to what we were getting in Old Who. So the entire season was going to have a more classic vibe to it. 

I'd also heard that the first two-parter of the season would feature the Daleks. Which helped me to make some very important deductions during the pre-titles. Seeing a war zone with a strange mix of technologies could only mean one thing: we were watching the Thousand Year War on Skaro. I immediately had suspicions about the boy in handmine field, too, of course. But I wasn't entirely certain. 

I do love how that scene plays out. The timing is just perfect. Even a half-decent fan is going to be asking: "Is that Davros?!" We're held in suspense just long enough, though. Had it taken any longer for the boy to announce his name, we would have grown tired of the wait. Any sooner, and the pay-off wouldn't have been as good. 

The expression on Capaldi's face is prceless. It really does seem to say: "Crap! What am I gonna do with this kid?!" 

This just might be the best pre-titles the show has ever done. I certainly couldn't wait to dive into the story that was coming once the title sequence was over. So it did its job well! 

AN IMPORTANT POINT IN THIS LIST

Discussing that opening scene leads us to a very important point. I seem to be very stuck on the idea that a good Dalek Story must feature the Skarosian Tyrants adequately. We have to see enough of them and they have to be central to the plot. Quite often, though, when a Dalek adventure also has Davros in it, he tends to steal a lot of the attention. In the case of Genesis of the Daleks, he genuinely hogs the spotlight! So should I be disqualifying Davros Stories from this list, as well?

Clearly, I'm not. For several reasons. On the most superficial of levels, Davros resembles the Daleks enough that we can consider him one. He is a mobility-impaired Kaled Mutant that uses special technology to get around. In several stories, he even has a weapons system to help protect himself. As we get into some deeper comparisons, we see that he is a more articulate version of the Dalek Mentality. Because of their slow, monotonous voices, scriptwriters have resisted giving the Daleks too much dialogue. Which means they're not allowed larger speeches where they can really delve into some of the heavier aspects of their philosophy. Davros became the character the Daleks could speak through. He programmed them and, thus, believes in all the same things that they follow. Even Terry Nation explained that he made Davros to give the Daleks a sort of spokesperson who can express the things that were too complex for them to say. 

On a physical level, Davros resembles his creations quite a bit. And, mentally, he is definitely a Dalek. So the Daleks aren't trying to share focus with him. He is an important part of their culture. Which means, of course, that a good Davros Story is, quite often, a good Dalek Story, too. 

Which is fortunate. This won't be the only Dalek Tale on this list that will include their mad creator. 

THE NEW STUFF 

Steven Moffat once made a very important point about the Daleks (well, he probably made it more-than-once, but I've only seen it in one interview!). He said something to the nature of: "It doesn't make sense to bring the Daleks back unless the story reveals something new about them that we've never known before." Or words to that effect. Of course, he really should have said: "It makes sense to bring the Daleks back, at least, once a season because we have a contractual obligation with the Estate of Terry Nation!" But, somehow, that doesn't sound as wise. Even if it is honest! 

There are a few interesting things that we discover about the Daleks for the first time in this two-parter. One of them is that they have sewers. Or graveyards. Take your pick! 

As Clara and Missy explore the cave system under the City, we also learn a bit more about the lifespan of a Kaled Mutant. It does sound absolutely horrible that they are hardwired to never die but do still, eventually, degenerate to the point of turning into mush. It almost makes us feel ever-so-slightly sorry for them. That is a pretty awful life that they live. Sure, they're xenophobic jerks trundling around in a tank for quite a bit of their existence. But to eventually end up as goo on a wall is just a bit sad. 

Of course, this fact becomes a wonderful plot convenience. Twice over. First, it helps Missy to hi-jack a Dalek casing and throw Clara into it. Thus enabling them to move about the Dalek City freely as prisoner and escort. But it also resolves the entire central conflict of the plot. And leads us to one of my all-time favorite quotes ever: 

"Supreme Dalek, your sewers are revolting!" 

You don't get too many opportunities to make a pun that beautifully awful. So glad the Doctor took it! 

MORE NEW STUFF

The other new and interesting thing we learn about the Daleks occurs when Missy gets Clara to climb into the casing and actually patches her mind into the circuitry. We'd seen other people do this before - but not quite in this way. Watching Missy demonstrate to Clara how what she says gets altered to Dalek vocabulary just might be one of these most fascinating things that's been done with a Dalek. It almost doesn't really matter what that poor Kaled Mutant wants, the equipment it's attached to makes the choices for them. It was a very cool scene that allowed us to understand these horrible monsters all-the-better. 

The restrictions imposed upon someone wired into a Dalek casing become a legitimate Horror Factor as we watch Clara begging the Doctor to see that it's her trapped inside. We really do feel her helplessness as she shouts who she is but "I AM A DALEK!" is all that comes out. It definitely gave us some of that creepiness that is required in any good Dalek Tale. And it did it in a very original way. 

The idea that the actual casing seems to be, at least, partially-powered by the occupant's anger and hatred also added an interesting new dimension to these creatures. There was a lot of great introspection, here. And it didn't require Davros to explain it. This time, he didn't need to be their spokesman. 

DAVROS STUFF

While on the topic of Davros, we should probably delve into the treatment his character got in this adventure. This is, without a doubt, his best story. Never has he been given so many layers. In fact, I'd say he's come a long way from the man who once delivered a huge, over-excited monologue about a hypothetical virus! 

Most impressive is how several minutes of the story are spent with Davros and the Doctor having a bit of a heart(s)-to-heart talk. I love when sci-fi is capable of doing something like this. So often, the genre depends upon action to keep its audience engaged. The production team is sure we need laser fights or spaceship battles every couple of minutes or we'll get bored. It's great when they take a chance like this and just allow two characters with a long history between them to sit down and talk. This season would do this sort of thing again near the end of the Zygon story, of course. And that moment would be quite magnificent, too. But it happens here, first. And it's quite stunning. Especially when Davros actually opens his real eyes. 

It is almost a bit of a relief to see that Davros isn't such a sympathetic character, after all. That the whole thing was just an elaborate trap to leach off of the Doctor's regeneration energy. Davros really is just the cruel bastard we've always known him to be. Still obsessed with improving upon his creation in any way he can so that their quest to control the Universe can, ultimately, succeed. But it was fun to believe, for just a few minutes, that the guy might actually have a softer side. 

THE END 

Magician's Apprentice/Witch's Familiar is a wonderfully-compelling adventure all the way through. Really, this story doesn't stop for a moment to let you rest. Even when the Doctor and Davros have their nice chat, we're still on the edge of our seats the whole time. It's been teased that Davros is up to something with Colony Sarf, so we feel a whole bunch of tension as the Time Lord and Skarosian Mad Scientist enjoy their conversation. This tale really does have a great atmosphere the whole way through. 

But the ending of Apprentice/Familiar is what truly propels it to a status that merits making it onto this list. The twists, here, are wonderful. Davros manipulates the Doctor into helping him. Which enables his most sinister of plans to reach fruition. But the Doctor knew all along what the Dalek Creator was up to and had his own counter-measures in place. It's great stuff. 

And, as mentioned already, it leads to one of the most gloriously terrible puns, ever. The "completely armless" pun in Rose and "no arm in trying" joke from Revelation of the Daleks are still tied for First Place in the Worst Puns in Doctor Who Hall of Fame (perhaps this could make a good COMPLETE AND UTTER SILLINESS Entry, someday!). But "sewers are revolting" comes in at a close Second! 

The conclusion to the tale feels a bit Seventh Doctorish (even the pun!). Which is always a wonderful thing. I love when the Doctor goes a bit pro-active and is more manipulative and deceitful than his enemies could ever hope to be. It's mainly a Seventh Doctor Trait, of course. But other Doctors can do it from time-to-time!    

The other stuff that unfolds after the Doctor pulls the carpet out from under Davros is also really well-done. I've spoken, already, of how effective the scene with Clara stuck in the Dalek is..But finally rounding out the whole plot thread with Young Davros was also quite moving. The Cliffhanger for Magician's Apprentice leaves us thinking that he's actually going to kill him. Once more, we get another nice twist. And there's this wonderful insinuation that the Doctor will be responsible for that little bit of mercy that Davros will allow the Daleks to have.

It all wraps up quite beautifully. I really do enjoy the whole story, but the ending is truly awesome. 

Although, I do think I might be just a little too obsessed with that pun!  

FINAL VERDICT

While the Daleks do share the spotlight with Missy a bit, Apprentice/Familiar still feels more like a Dalek Story than anything else. And, to me, it's a very well-told one. Offering us interesting insights into the background of both Davros and the monsters he created. And it's got a few really well-executed twists at the end. It's everything you could want in an adventure involving a time-travelling hero and a race of tank-driving mutants that want to overthrow the Universe. 

It was especially nice to finally see a return to Skaro in the New Series. It was even better that Moffat bothered to address continuity that had been established in Remembrance of the Daleks by explaining that this was a sort of New Skaro (a popular fan theory for quite some time).  I was just a bit apprehensive that we were seeing old models of Daleks, again. They made sense in Asylum of the Daleks but, in this tale, it just seemed more like fan service. Although I did come up with a bit of headcanon that gets it all to make sense to me (I explain it all here: https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2015/11/chronologies-and-time-lines-history-of.html). 

Other than that, though, I can't find a lot problems with any of these two episodes. It seems, perhaps, a bit ludicrous to hide an entire planet. Like, maybe, it was being done more to create a great Reveal in the plot than for any practical reason. But that's about the only other gripe I can find. 

Otherwise, this is a very solidly-built story. I do still remember how a friend who doesn't normally watch Doctor Who decided to give Magician's Apprentice a try when it came out. He loved it and had to watch the second episode. He made an effort to continue with the season but it just wasn't doing as much for him as the Opener did. He didn't think the other stories were bad. They just didn't compare to what first lured him in. 

This, I think, speaks more greatly for this tale than anything. Someone who doesn't usually bother with the show fell totally in love with it for just two episodes. When a story has the power to do that, it must be pretty damned good. 

The rest of the Countdown:    

Five: 

https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2022/12/book-of-lists-top-five-dalek-stories.html

Four-A:

https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2022/12/book-of-lists-top-five-dalek-stories_11.html

Four-B:

https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2022/12/book-of-lists-top-five-favorite-dalek.html

BOOK OF LISTS: TOP FIVE FAVORITE DALEK STORIES - NUMBER 4-B

My "cheat" continues as I explore Revolution of the Daleks under the guise that it and Resolution form a complete story...

I don't know what it is, but there's just something about a Dalek Civil War that I just love. Whenever one Dalek takes arms against another because of a clash in ideology, I find it immensely entertaining. So, when I saw that the New Year's Special for 2021 was going to be called Revolution of the Daleks, I was almost sold on it without having to watch a second! 

When pictures started leaking out showing the standard bronze-liveried Daleks fighting a new type of Dalek that seemed to resemble the junkyard-chic design that we'd seen the previous year, I got even more excited. Clearly, the Recon Dalek from Resolution had, somehow, been perpetuated into an army and was taking on the "regular" Daleks. This sounded like a great conflict to behold! 

More interesting news came out: Captain Jack Harkness was coming back! Fortunately, all of his stuff had gotten filmed before Cancel Culture took a swipe at him for some things he did. It would have been too hard to remove him from the story so they kept him in (also, what he had done was only "a bit bad"!), And then more news: Jack Robertson from Arachnids in the UK was also returning. His first appearance was not the most popular episode of Series 11, but his character had been interesting and merited another appearance. Hell, I'd love to actually see him a third time! 

Again, I had not actually seen the episode, yet. But, already, I'm quite excited about it. However, that can work to a story's detriment. Sometimes, I've got higher hopes for the tale than the production team did! So, the Big Question is: Did Revolution of the Daleks live up to my expectations? 

It more-than-did!

GETTING THE NEGATIVES OUT OF THE WAY (AGAIN): 

Just as we did with Resolution, we'll deal first with the details of the story that didn't work for me. They are actually even fewer than its predecessor. 

Once more, Chibnall starts the adventure in a slightly preposterous manner. Yes, the truck driver transporting the damaged Dalek casing loves his tea. But how could the assassins that took him out know, for sure, that he would stop at their food truck?! Did they just set up several of them all along the highway? Hoping that he would, eventually, stop at one so they could poison him?! 

Surely, posing as police and pulling him over would have been much less contrived. They conceal a gun with a silencer in their coat and shoot the driver as they approach the truck's cab. Then they just push him over into the passenger seat and drive along. Much less conspicuous then picking a fallen body up off the ground and throwing it in the back of a truck (how many people driving down the highway must have seen this?! No one phoned it in to the police?!). 

THE BEGINNING

We start the story with two very clear and distinct plot threads that only vaguely relate to each other. But both are told so well that we barely notice or care! 

A bridge needs to be built between the events of Resolution and this tale. Obviously, a brief re-cap is the best way to start. And this is accomplished with great efficiency. There really are some "Previously on Doctor Who" moments in the past that have dragged on endlessly. I'm so glad this one didn't. 

When you think about it, they're largely useless. Most folks have seen the past episode(s) being referenced so we really don't need to watch the montage of snippets. We know what happened and don't need to be reminded. And the small demographic of audience that missed what's being re-capped really aren't going to get all that complete of a picture of what has gone on before, anyway. Essentially, they're just going to be confused for a bit as they sort things out. Whether they get shown a rapid succession of images from the past or not! 

The real point of such a sequence is to help gain a little a bit of dramatic traction and make people feel up to speed. This can be done in a matter of seconds - if it's done right. And that's exactly what's accomplished, here. Thankyou, Mister Chibnall for not giving us four minutes of images from a previous episode before getting us into a new one! (Okay, other "Previously on Doctor Who" set-ups didn't really take that long - but they felt like they did!). 

The series of events with Jack Robertson, Leo and Jo Patterson all flow quite nicely. They are there to get us to a pivotal point in the new story: we need the Recon Scout resurrected so it can start building a formidable army. 

Again, this is all achieved quite efficiently. Oftentimes, trying to build these sort of bridges in two stories that link together don't go that well. Movies that have sequels are usually the best example of this. Either the sequel barely acknowledges its predecessor or it indulges in its lore too deeply. It's very difficult to find a middle ground. But Chibnall nails it. 

While all this is going on, we also have the Doctor stuck in Space Jail. This, very much, has a "Rescuing Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt" vibe to it. It's a leftover problem from a previous tale that this adventure has to fix. It's something else that can be very tricky to handle. You can't bust her out of prison 30 seconds into the new episode or it will all feel too cheap. But, because we need the Doctor to get involved in the Dalek army that is being built on Earth relatively quickly, you can't take too long either. 

Again, there is a perfect balance, here. We have a bit of fun seeing old monsters come back and then Jack shows up and saves the day. The breakout is done in a very fun and entertaining manner, too. 

Really, aside from the silliness with the truck driver, the "first reel" of this adventure is going great.

THE MIDDLE STUFF

With the Doctor back with her Fam, we can start to really get to the meat of the story. A serious sense of menace starts to build as we see how mindless defense drones are going to be used to create a whole new breed of Dalek that could, potentially, take over the world. 

Once more, the Recon Dalek adopts a human host for a bit. This time, however, it's used more for plot expediency than Horror Factor. After all, it would be redundant to indulge in the terror of it, again. It was already exploited to its fullest potential in Resolution. So it would seem like a bad re-tread if they put too much emphasis on it. It is a bit terrifying, though, that the Recon Dalek kills Leo just for the Hell of it. We hadn't seen it do that before. So it makes a strong impact. 

The real scares in this story occur as Yaz and Jack are investigating the clone farm. Kaled Mutants dropping on them from tanks high above definitely creeped me out a bit. They probably even could've milked the sequence a bit longer. But, really, you can only spend so much time shooting nasty squid creatures before it starts to drag a bit. Only having to take out two of them made good sense! 

While this doesn't really relate to Daleks, Revolution should still be applauded for having a few really good character moments in it. 

The talk Jack and Yaz have about what it's like to travel with the Doctor is quite touching. It also seems quite significant for Yaz's arc. She appears to be really coming to terms with how she feels about the Doctor. 

The Doctor having a good talk with Ryan in the TARDIS also flowed well. I quite like how the companion gives the Time Lord a good pep talk as she tries to deal with the fact that her past is not what she thought it was. There's a nice vulnerability to Thirteen that we haven't really been seeing in New Who Doctors. People can lift her spirits, sometimes, when she's down. For the most part, when other incarnations are having a difficult time of things - they just sulk! This is a refreshing change. It's also a pretty crucial scene for Ryan because we can see that he really has gotten used to living on Earth, again. His departure at the end of the episode will feel very believable. 

These moments also represent a nice calm before the storm because the "Third Reel" is about to kick in. And, as it does, things start getting really wild! 

ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE

With all his ducks in a row, the Recon Dalek can now launch his invasion. 

The build-up to this moment has been masterfully executed. Again, the balance has to be perfect. If it had taken too long to get to this point, the pay-off would have been insufficient. By the same token, if things had moved too fast - we just wouldn't find the whole scenario believable (and flying salt shakers invading the Earth is, already, pretty hard to swallow!). Getting the whole operation to take, roughly, a year to fall into place made it seem quite credible. But the fact that it was done with well-chosen edited highlights works excellently. 

I must admit, I was happy to see Jo Patterson as one of the first victims of the invasion. Clearly, she was not meant to be a particularly likeable character. But the fact that she is responsible for the unlikely death of the truck driver makes her demise legitimately enjoyable. She seems so calm and collected during that whole operation. Which indicates to me that she's probably done all kinds of other horrible things in her past. So it does look a bit good on her when she gets exterminated. It's interesting, though, how her last words are actually quite courageous. There's a lot nuances to the character even though her role in the plot is fairly limited. It's one of many examples of how well Chibnall can craft things in his scripts. 

And now, at last, we get to the part I've been waiting for: Daleks are going to start fighting each other! 

I love the Doctor's solution to the whole problem. It presents something else new and different about the Dalek Race. They have become so hell-bent on purity that they now have a special taskforce just hovering in the Time Vortex looking for undesired deviations in the gene pool. It's a very cool concept which makes total sense for them. 

Clearly, our Bronze Daleks have superior armor and firepower over these new guys. It doesn't take long to take them out. But I see enough of the slaughter to satisfy me. And I'm pleasantly surprised with what else the story has to offer as it heads towards its conclusion. 

Jack Robertson attempting to create a side-deal with the Daleks doesn't go too far - but it, actually, can't. He had to be able to cover his tracks, afterwards.  Had the alliance he was forming reached too advanced of a stage, it would have been impossible to achieve the desired effect. There would be too much proof that he really is a rotten SOB. Instead, he uses his treachery to advance his political career. Because he actually spent time aboard the Dalek Mothership, he becomes a hero. He just might get that shot at becoming President, after all. 

Clearly, we're meant to see more of the character in future stories. That's not likely to happen, though. Which is too bad. I quite liked him. 

There's much fun to be had with Harkness and Friends running around the Dalek Saucer and setting explosives. Ryan, essentially, telling Graham he's getting a bit weird was especially funny! It might have been nice to see Jack get caught by the Daleks and shot down. Only to revive a moment later after they've moved on to try to catch the other intruders. But it's fine that we didn't get that. The whole "coming back from the dead" routine has, just about, been done to death anyway (pun completely intended). Especially if you do bother to factor in all the times he did it in Torchwood. 

The final trick to take out the rest of the SAS Daleks was extremely cool. A very clever way to get rid of those Daleks that weren't aboard the ship when it was destroyed. And the Doctor delivers one more good tell-off as a hologram before they all get compressed to death!

I'm almost a bit sad that there's one less TARDIS in the Universe - but it had to be done! And, at least, we know there's one more sitting around on the planet they went to during Ascension of the Cybermen. Perhaps it will get put to good use someday!

FINAL VERDICT

There are many things that make Revolution of the Daleks so damned enjoyable. But I think what works best is how amazingly well-paced it is. You've heard me say it a few times throughout the review. The time it takes to position the Recon Dalek into creating an army is just right. The action scenes go on for the proper duration and never seem to drag. Hell, even the "Previously on Doctor Who" recap is a good length! 

And that's what really gets the story to stand out so well. I wouldn't even say that the plot is told very economically. There were times when we needed to dwell a bit more on something. Like, say, those character moments I described. And there were other times that required us to zip along at a breakneck speed so that we could enjoy a nice thrill ride for a few minutes! It's all done just the way it needed to be. 

When it comes to timing, all the right choices get made. Which gives us an excellent Dalek Story. Each element of the adventure is, pretty much, perfect.  

Worthy of making it into the Top Five. Even if it is a bit of a cheat!  

Which leads us to....

AFTERWORD:

As stated previously, Resolution and Revolution work really well on their own. Both episodes show off Chibnall's ability to write the Daleks better than most authors have. I would say that the individual stories would, probably, make it into my Top Ten (or, at the very worst, Top Dozen) Favorite Dalek Stories. But, when you place these two together, they become the strongest material I've seen involving these Intergalactic Conquerors. 

In my Review of Resolution, I talk about how the story does resemble Dalek, in many ways. That analogy continues in Revolution of the Daleks. It takes on some of the characteristics of the next Dalek tale we see after that episode. Which would, of course, be Bad Wolf/Parting of the Ways. We go from just one Dalek to a huge number of them leading a massive attack on the Earth. I can't help but notice that when the SAS Daleks emerge from their ship, it looks very similar to a shot from Parting of the Ways as an army races towards Satellite Five. And I have to wonder if that was intentional. 

But these two stories working together become more than just a parallel to some of the stuff we saw in Series One. The narrative that strings along between these two episodes evolves beautifully. We have a nice "scaled back" Dalek adventure in Resolution where the Daleks re-gain a lot of the potency they had been losing over the last few seasons. Once we remember just how dangerous a single one is, we then get an army thrown at us. And then, finally, things splinter off into a bit of a civil war. Which adds an extra dimension that we didn't get from the RTD stories they model themselves from. 

Bringing in the SAS Daleks was one more way to restore their reputation. We were getting a special race of the Daleks, first, to help re-acquaint us with them. And then, at last, the "real" Daleks step in. We truly see and understand their raw power, now. Especially since they wipe out the forces built up by the Recon Dalek with little or no effort.  

Over the span of these two parts, a great arc is built. The Daleks really are a force to be reckoned with, once more. And their return to power is magnificently crafted between these two tales. Which is why I do feel they should be lumped together into one. They tell a very rich tale that is only properly savored if we enjoy them as a whole.  

So, yes, Fave Dalek Story #4 was a cheat. If you want to get technical, I should not be counting these two episodes as a single story. But, sometimes, you have to ignore the rules. Especially when it gives you something that portrays the Daleks this well. 

Okay then, that's both parts of Number Four. Let's see if I can stop cheating for Number Three... 

...Probably not! 

Fave Dalek Story #5:

https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2022/12/book-of-lists-top-five-dalek-stories.html

Fave Dalek Story #4-A:

https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2022/12/book-of-lists-top-five-dalek-stories_11.html 

BOOK OF LISTS: TOP FIVE DALEK STORIES - NUMBER FOUR-A

PREFACE: 

Okay, full disclosure: Fave Dalek Story #4 is a bit of a cheat.

Technically, Resolution and Revolution of the Daleks are meant to be two separate stories. The plot in each episode is structured so that a complete narrative is executed. There is a proper beginning, middle and end to each tale. And, if you view them as standalones, they are still very strong. 

Both episodes also really illustrate the idea that, as far as New Who writers go, Chibnall does the best job with Classic Who Monsters and/or Villains. The other two Head Writers do well too (most of the time), but he seems to understand what we loved most about these characters. Particularly when it comes to the Daleks. All three of his Dalek stories are some of the best tales ever written involving this particular monster. 

Having said all that, one can't deny that the two New Year Specials are strongly linked to each other. Resolution has to happen so that Revolution can occur. We can say that about other Dalek Sagas, too, of course (What's a Dalek Saga?! Find out here: https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2021/09/review-overview-which-is-best-dalek-saga.html), but they don't tend to tie into each other quite as much as these two do. 

So, I'm going to do a little cheating, here. As I've said: Separately, these two stories are already very good. Put them together, however, and they're quite amazing. So, for Fave Dalek Story Number Four, I'm going to do exactly that. But I'm going to be even more convoluted by still reviewing the episodes in separate entries and then discussing them together at the end of the second. 

Just because I'm that over-complicated of a person! 

THE NITPICKS

Okay, let's get the few things I don't like about Resolution out of the way, first. They're fairly minor, so I'll cover them quickly and then get to the good stuff. 

While we do get some very epic pre-title scenes, some of them don't entirely make sense. 

One of the warriors carrying away a chunk of Kaled Mutant is felled by an arrow. Clearly, the people who took him out were thieves. Hastily, they check the corpse for valuables and take off. But they fail to take the pouch that he is clearly holding in his hand. Apparently, these are really awful thieves. Cause, really, if I was a robbing a corpse the first thing I'd take would be the pouch that he is clutching on to like it has something valuable and important in it. Not so, with these guys, though. 

It gets just a little bit sillier, though. We then watch the corpse just lying there as the years fly by and it is found by archaeologists. It would appear that the body stayed in the same place and even the exact same position for all that time. Are we expected to believe that the cadaver was just left on the road to rot away for a few centuries?! No one during Medieval Times thought: "Hey! We don't know who this guy is but let's get him off this road and throw him in a hole!" You'd also think they might say something like: "I wonder what's in that bag he's carrying. Let's check it out!"  

This is, perhaps, one of the only real complaints I have about Chibnall's writing. He does like to start a story with something that's a bit on the preposterous side. We'll see that again in Revolution of the Daleks. We can even say that The Halloween Apocalypse has a similar issue. 

The only other problem with Resolution is a weird one. I say it's odd because I'm not sure how to actually correct it! 

The scene in the cafe with Ryan and his Dad does go on a bit. Having said that, however, I can't think of anything in it that could have been cut. We needed to hear what's been going on in both characters. Particularly Ryan's Dad. His speech about how his guilt over what he'd done wrong seems to almost his crush his resolve to fix his mistakes is a crucial moment for his character. It is the first step in a process within the narrative that humanises him and gets us to like him a bit. So it needs to be in there. As does the speech Ryan gives about how much his father's absence in his life has damaged him. Ryan's Dad needs to hear this to motivate him to stay true to the changes he wants to make. Even the small talk at the beginning of the scene really can't be excised. There is nothing in there that I feel can be cut. However, it does feel like it drags ever-so-slightly. 

Okay, negative stuff out of the way. Let's start singing praises. 

FEAR FACTOR

Once more, we'll take a bit of time to look at the stuff in a story that genuinely chills us. As I've said before, this sort of thing is always a vital ingredient for a Dalek story. 

Probably the most horrifying content is the way this particular Kaled Mutant has the ability to latch on and control other sentient beings. The actor playing Ryan's Dad does a good job when he's meant to be under its influence. But the actress in the role of Lin really terrifies us. I have to award her the highest of compliments for her acting skills. We can really see that there are sequences where she is still in possession of her faculties and is trying to fight the will of the Kaled Mutant. But then, suddenly, her captor just completely takes her over for a bit. The smile that crosses her face when the police are about to pull her over is probably one of the scariest moments that illustrate this.We really do feel the transition, there. And it's quite disturbing. 

Even scenes where the Kaled Mutant is trying to get her to act like a normal human being for a moment have a very unsettling feel to them (ie: she's touched the "squid" on the wall and is trying to claim that it's only disappeared rather than wrapped itself around her). And, again, the acting here is fantastic. We get the sense that the monster is allowing just a bit of its victim's personality to come forward and create the necessary illusion. It's like Lin's consciousness is being, somehow, channeled and restrained. 

Considering so much of this is conveyed through reactions rather than words, we really do have to give Charlotte Ritchie some major props. All the stuff with Lin's possession is already some pretty disturbing Body Horror. But her acting skills enhance things massively 

The Reveal of the "junkyard chic" Dalek is an interesting mix of emotions. As it bursts through the door in the workshop and glides out in all its splendor, it is a bit scary. But it is also massively cool. The design it has cobbled together for itself is a great effect. I'm glad that we will see something similar in Revolution. 

That "mixed emotion effect" also happens during the battle it engages in against the military a short while later. It is a bit terrifying to see what this new casing is capable of. But I also have to admit that a Dalek equipped with missiles is wicked! There is a bit of the same vibe going on here that we get with the Special Weapons Dalek in Remembrance of the Daleks. 

THIRTEEN REALLY PULLING OUT THE PUNCHES

Another High Point in Resolution for me is witnessing the effect a Dalek seems to have on the Thirteenth Doctor's personality. Throughout Series Eleven, this incarnation of the Time Lord has been mainly fun-loving. While some fans complained of this, I quite enjoyed it. It gave the character somewhere to go in her later seasons. 

There were, of course, some harsh edges to Thirteen in her first season. She's definitely a bit outraged in The Witchfinders as she deals with Becka Savage and King James. She gets up a bit in Tim Shaw's face, too. Particularly in their second battle. 

But it's only when she finally has to face a Dalek that the moral indignation we love so much in the character truly emerges. She knows she is dealing with a creature that is truly beyond redemption. So she gives it a real good tell-off. It's great to see that. I love that she has the same backbone of any other incarnation before her as she confronts a Dalek.. 

Once more, I see a bit of a vibe going on here that reminds of another story that I love. It does feel a lot like the way the Fifth Doctor was very well-mannered throughout most of Season 19 until he gets into a fight with the Cyberleader about emotions. I do adore it when we see that level of long-range planning going on in the Doctor's character. And Resolution definitely seems to be doing the same thing.

Probably the best moment in the whole episode is when the Doctor manages to contact the Dalek through the TARDIS communication equipment with her massive tech skillz (spelt with a "z", of course). That's where we really see her stand strong for the first time. This is pure "Good telling off Evil" Stuff. The sort of scene that I know I love in Doctor Who. And I imagine most other fans, too. And, like Five and the Cyberleader, delaying a moment like this for so long makes it all-the-more poignant. 

I still remember that bit in New Earth where Ten is having a similar scene with the Cat Sisters. I mainly recall how it tends to fall a bit flat because it came waayy too soon in this new incarnation's reign. Chibnall assails that pitfall by delaying our gratification long enough that the Doctor now appears heroic rather than sanctimonious. 

(Oops! Did I just claim that Chibnall might actually be able to write a bit better than RTD in certain cases?! I am such a heretic!). 

Of course, construing things in such a manner not only makes the Doctor look good - but it's also a reflection on the Daleks, themselves. For a creature to have stirred such emotions in her must mean that this really is something truly horrible. The reactions of her companions as she acts this way really help to support this. They have seen how high-principled she is throughout an entire season. And now, suddenly, she seems without mercy as she faces a Dalek.  It truly shocks them. 

MORE ECHOES FROM THE PAST

I've mentioned a few things about Resolution, already, that remind me of other great Doctor Who stories. But there is one very obvious link to the past that I still haven't brought up. 

There are quite a few similarities between Resolution and Dalek from Series One. We have a single Dalek in a state of disrepair that manages to re-build itself and cause all sorts of mayhem. And, in this process, we get to witness just how destructive a lone Dalek can be. This type of story structure really illustrates the deadliness of these monsters. Even alone and wounded, they represent a serious danger.

It's interesting to try to understand why Chibnall chose to strip the Daleks back down like this. Clearly, RTD did it as a form of introduction to new fans. Let them see the monster on its own first and then throw a full army of them at an audience. It makes them all-the-more menacing when we do see them in greater numbers. I'm not exactly sure why Chibnall repeated the process, though. 

It may have been the simple fact that we, as an audience, were starting to take the Daleks for granted. We might even have been seeing them as a bit too frail. After all, the Doctor does seem quite amazing at beating them. So, maybe, it needed to be re-established to us just what kind of threat they could be. And repeating the formula of Dalek was a good way to do it. 

The big difference between these two stories, however, is that the plot to Dalek does get very clunky, in places. And, aside from a Dalek just trundling along and killing a lot of people - there's not much else to the whole adventure. Resolution is a much slicker tale with some nice subplots. It is, essentially, a superior story. Which is why it makes it onto my Top Five but Dalek won't. 

A SPECIAL KIND OF DALEK 

While I have certainly flattered Resolution to the point of making it blush, I still need to discuss my favorite thing about it: Not only do I love that Chibnall has created for us a new type of Dalek, but I actually love how he did it. 

A different kind of Dalek is nothing new. We've seen quite a few over the years. Usually it's just a change of livery to designate a different rank. Or a new attachment replaces the sucker arm so it can cut through doors or what-have-you. In extreme cases, we got something like the Special Weapons Dalek. 

In all these instances, though, this new modification is external. Something about the casing is altered. Chibnall is the first writer to realise: "Hey! Why don't we actually do something to the Kaled Mutant, itself?!!"

I still remember the first time I watched the episode. When the Kaled Mutant started re-assembling itself my inner fanboy was  practically screaming: "A Dalek can't do do that!!!"

But then, of course, I learnt that this one could. And it made perfect sense, too. A Dalek Scout would be operating all by itself and would need enhancements to help ensure its survival to complete its mission. So, yes, it can get split up into pieces and still be able to put itself back together with a little bit of UV light. That was actually quite cool.

Of course, when we see how it can also attach itself to Lin or Ryan's Dad (I know he has an actual name but I prefer "Ryan's Dad"!) and use them like puppets we learn that it has another special ability. This one makes it uniquely terrifying. Daleks are no strangers to mind control techniques but this is a whole new way to dominate the will of another being. And the fact that is is so hands-on causes it to seem so much more disturbing.  It really was quite clever of Chbnall to give us something new and different about the Daleks in the way that he did. 

Essentially, Dalek Scouts are pretty cool. Almost as cool as a Special Weapons Dalek. Which says a lot. Cause Special Weapons Daleks are still the coolest thing ever! 

FINAL VERDICT: 

Resolution is a very solid little yarn that adds an interesting new dimension to the Dalek Race. It also signposts the idea that Chibnall is going to do something different with this monster. Over the last few seasons, they had, perhaps, strayed a bit too far from their foundations. In so doing, they had become less interesting. Even less scary. With Resolution, Chibnall restores them to their former glory. 

Admittedly, though, I don't think Resolution would make it onto this list all on its own. It's very good. But it's not that good. However, as it bridges into Revolution of the Daleks and tells us a bigger story, I find myself unable to resist putting these two episodes into my Top Five. 

Even if it is a bit of a cheat!

BOOK OF LISTS: TOP FIVE DALEK STORIES - NUMBER FIVE

We're into December. Which means, of course, that the Season is upon us. Not the Christmas Season, the End-of-Year BOOK OF LISTS Series That Deals With My Preferences for a Major Aspect of the Show Season. That's the one you all look forward to, right?     

Around this time last year, I was very ambitious with this little ritual of mine. Normally, I start it in December. But, in 2021. I decided to I would do two months of BOOK OF LISTS entries. Because of the extra time I was taking, I thought I would list my Top Five Favorite Master, Cybermen and Dalek stories. 

It turns out that doing 15 entries in 2 months was more work than I realized. I did get through my fave  Master and Cybermen stories but we were days away from 2022 and I was like: "Ain't no way I'm going to do the Daleks this year!". 

So, now, as 2023 approaches, I thought I would finish what I began... 

EXCEPTIONS: 

The biggest issue with a list like this is that there are a lot of Doctor Who stories that feature Daleks, but I wouldn't, necessarily, label all of them Dalek Stories. There are times when the Daleks aren't receiving adequate representation within the plot for them to be considered the true antagonists of the tale. And if they're the support rather than lead, then it's not really an adventure about them. They're involved in the conflict - but they're not at its center.  

It stands to reason, then, that there will be tales with Daleks in them that I won't even consider for this list because I don't view them to be "True Dalek Stories". So, before starting this particular list, I'll itemise the type of adventures that don't qualify:  

  

1) Cameos: This one is pretty obvious. Clearly, if the Daleks are only making a brief appearance then we can't really consider it a Proper Dalek Story. Something like The Pilot or The Wedding of River Song are great examples of this. In both of these adventures, we do see a Dalek for a small amount of time. But their presence in the plot is so slight that the story can't really make it onto this list. 

There do seem to be a lot more Dalek cameos in the New Series. But we did get them now and again in Classic Who, too. The Space Museum has a fun little time with an empty Dalek casing that's on display. The Second Doctor puts up an image of a Dalek on a thought channel he is using as he berates the Time Lords for their Non-Intervention Policy during the final episode of The War Games. So they do exist during both periods of the show.  Hell, we even get a Dalek cameo during  Doctor Who - The Movie! 

Wherever we find these cameos, however, they won't qualify as True Dalek Stories. 

2) Sharing the Spotlight: This choice will probably seem a tad self-contradictory. There are certain stories involving Daleks where they have a stronger presence than just a cameo. But the Daleks are not the "main baddie" in the plot. Essentially, they're sharing the spotlight with another recurring villain and/or monster. Army of Ghosts/Doomsday would be a great example of this. Or even the most recent Power of the Doctor. 

I do find that, for the most part, stories like these still don't really give the Daleks enough screentime. So I won't really put them up for consideration. I wouldn't, necessarily, call them bad stories - but I don't feel that most of them are particularly strong Dalek Stories. 

The reason why I say I'm contradicting myself a bit is because, if you go back to my lists from last year, you'll see that World Enough and Time/The Doctor Falls made it into the rankings for both the Master and the Cybermen. Why is it that when the two of them are sharing space in a tale, I deem it acceptable but I don't do the same for the Daleks?   

There are, occasionally, stories where both villains and/or monsters can have a very strong footing in the plot even though our attention on them is divided. World Enough/Doctor Falls is definitely one of those adventures. We get a Cybermen Origins Story and a multi-Master team-up at the same time.  This one really does feel like both antagonists are getting the attention they deserve. While it doesn't sit quite as high on my list, I would actually say that Dark Water/Death in Heaven achieves a similar result. Missy and the Cybermen get equal levels of exposure in that one, too. 

Most of the time, however, there is a dominant villain/monster in a tale like this. One will get a lot of attention while the other(s) will take a bit of a back seat. Oddly enough, when this happens, it seems to be the Daleks that get neglected. 

Power of the Doctor exemplifies this well. Clearly, the real conflict is between the Master and the Doctor. He uses the Cybermen and the Daleks as a means to draw her in to his web. That's their main purpose in the whole battle. I would even say that the Cybermen are on the second tier in this one and get a decent amount of focus, too. The Daleks are definitely more in the background. Not an actual complaint about the story, of course. I really did love this episode. But it's hardly a great showcase for the Daleks. 

With those formalities out of the way, let's actually get to some listing:

NUMBER FIVE: 

If you've been reading my Season Reviews (and, really, you should - people have been giving me some very good feedback on them!), you know, already, that I have spoken quite highly of this one. I consider it to be the best Dalek Story that was made in the 60s. It's so good, though, that it actually comes in Fifth Place in my Top Five. 

The most difficult thing about being able to enjoy Power of the Daleks is the plain and simple fact that the original tapes appear to have been wiped off the Face of the Earth. In order to even know what the story is about, you have only a few options. There is the novelisation, of course. Or you might be able to find some shooting scripts knocking about somewhere on the Internet. But that only brings the story to life so much. Audio and telesnaps offer a bit more. But it's still pretty static. Most recently, the whole thing was animated. But I've never particularly enjoyed the style of these cartoons. Quite frankly, they're just a bit too low-budget for my tastes. And having to stretch that budget across an entire six episodes means that things look even cheaper than usual! 

Nonetheless, assailing these obstacles is well worth the challenge. Power of the Daleks is a great example of how amazing 60s TV can be when it sets its mind to it. Normally, when you're watching something this old, you have to view it contextually. You need to understand that it might feel quite slow in places because this form of media worked very differently back then. 

Power of the Daleks, however, holds up quite well. It really does stay engaging throughout all six of its parts. Even its first handful of minutes where we're just watching the new Doctor rummage around in a trunk ends up being very entertaining. 

Which brings me to a very important point: after going on endlessly about the importance of having a strong presence in a story, Power of the Daleks deals as much with introducing the new Doctor as it does bringing back the Daleks for another great battle. But, in no way does it feel like the Skarosian Menaces are taking any kind of a back seat in this story. Admittedly, we don't actually get a good look at them til the end of Part One (another one of those Reveal Cliffhangers that feels less thrilling because the word: "Dalek" was already in the title!). But, once they are introduced - they are definitely kept to the forefront. Though Patrick Troughton is pulling a lot of focus with his delightful antics, this still feels like a Proper Dalek Story. 

While on the topic of emphasis, it should be stressed that one of the Great Beauties of Power is all the various plot threads that start weaving in and around the Doctor and his greatest foe. The political intrigues of the Vulcan colony prove to be just as interesting as all the other stuff that's going on in the tale. Particularly as we reach the later episodes and the Daleks really start to exploit the greed of the colonists to their own end. They slowly build up their resources until they can properly strike at the colony and take it down. The sense of menace that builds up to that point is near-palpable. 

But I do love the fact that there is just so much going on in the plot. There's a freshly-regenerated Doctor. The building danger of the Daleks. A colony struggling to sustain itself as it's being torn apart by a rebellion. And even a group of villains that are taking advantage of the political strife that is going on around them. We are definitely getting a bang for our buck, here, with the story-telling. David Whitaker is really earning his pay! 

ACTUALLY SCARY

The menace of the Daleks is always a very vital ingredient in any adventure featuring them. Power definitely does a great job of instilling it. The Daleks are particularly creepy in Part Two. Even in the first few seconds of the episode, we get a disturbing image of a Kaled Mutant skulking off into the shadows. Later, there's the tests Lesterson and his crew start running to revive one. The way the eyestalk keeps following the one assistant until the gunstick finally gets enough power to kill him is another chilling sequence. And then, of course, there's that iconic ending to the episode. The famous: "I am your servant!" Such a popular line that it would get bastardised decades later in Victory of the Daleks. But what I really love about that scene is how, as the Doctor is trying to denounce these "servants", the Dalek just starts shouting over him. It's really quite haunting. Particularly since the Dalek is still just repeating the one sentence. 

Another really great creep-out factor in this tale is Lesterson's slow-but-steady mental disintegration. Right from his first scene, we can tell there's going to be some trouble in this man's life. His fanaticism to uncover the mystery of the crashed spaceship telegraphs clearly that he is, perhaps, just a tad unbalanced. As he goes through greater and greater disillusionment, we watch his psyche begin to crumble. It's a particularly nice touch when we see him starting to agree with the Doctor and want to shut the Daleks down. It actually makes us like him a bit. Which, in turn, causes us to feel more sympathy for him at the end. His complete breakdown in Episode Six has more "layers" to it because of this. There's some legitimate pathos. Much can be said about how well Lesterson is both written and performed. 

And then, at last, we reach Episode Six. The Daleks have amassed enough power to start properly attacking the Colony. There's a considerable amount of violence in this episode. Probably more than Modern-Day Family Viewing would allow. Thankfully, this is the 60s - where they can still get away with it! 

A tension was building throughout the first five parts that needed a good pay-off. The finale really does live up to the expectations. The Daleks are brutal and violent as they start sweeping through corridors and taking out everyone in sight. Alliances they'd formed when they were more helpless are completely swept aside. They're out to kill and nothing seems capable of stopping them. Which is another very effective form of menace. Even scenes where they are not present but we still hear all kinds of gunfire off-camera feel disturbing. You just know that a Dalek could burst into the room at any moment and harm some characters that we like.  The effect causes a constant sense of anxiety throughout the whole attack. 

This really is a great conclusion to the whole story. The Daleks feel genuinely dangerous, here. Which can be a tricky thing to accomplish with something that looks like a giant salt shaker and has a toilet plunger and an egg whisk sticking out of it!

WHITAKER VERSUS NATION

Again, if you've been reading my Season Reviews, you'll have noticed that I do sing some substantial praises for David Whitaker's writing. He can take a small-cast Two-Parter that was really just meant to introduce a new companion and turn it into something special. With his ability to do so much with so little, one can only imagine what he can accomplish with six episodes of Daleks and a major shift in the show's Lore! 

And he really does create something amazing. So much so, that I wish Terry Nation had been a lot less territorial with the monsters he created. The Daleks was a very solidly-put-together tale. There's no debate there. The first four episodes, in particular, still stand up quite well all these years later. But once Dalekmania kicked in, Nation does seem to get pretty lazy. In his later stories of the 60s, he tends to choose spectacle over story. This becomes especially apparent during The Chase. Easily, the most threadbare plot in the history of the show. 

Whereas Whitaker delivers the "fullest" Dalek story we've ever gotten. This might just be the best six-parter in the entire history of Doctor Who. Everything in the story is moving forward. There's none of these little runarounds or captures-and-escapes in the later episodes that I've been complaining about in my Reviews of the Pertwee era. The author literally uses every minute as effectively as possible.   

But it's not just a story with a lot going on in it. The pieces of the plot fit together beautifully so that we can reach the ultimate conclusion that we get. The Daleks use all the political dynamics that are going on within the colony to the best of their abilities. Appealing to all the different factions at different times in order to achieve their own treacherous goals. Setting up all these different agendas the way he did was some very nice world-building on Whitaker's part. This really is a very tightly-written script. Which makes it all the more shameful that the BBC junked the whole thing!   

A pox on you, BBC...

FINAL VERDICT: 

While there are a few moments that stretch credulity (you'd think the security company that designed the locks on the colony's prison cells would've anticipated their vulnerability to a well-poured glass of water!), there is so little here to complain about. I've mainly been complimenting the writing but I should say that everything else about this story is firing on all cylinders, too. The only thing really working against it, as usual, is a limited budget. 

One of its bigger charms is the fact that it doesn't really feel all that dated. Because it is meant to be a futuristic story set on a faraway world, it manages to throw out many of the 60s sensibilities that normally plague a story during this period. Janley, for instance, is not some helpless screamer in a short skirt. But, rather, a strong-willed and clever woman who is helping to lead a rebellion and using the political fireworks caused by said rebellion for her own personal gain. She's as effective as any male character in the story. In fact, some of the men in this story seem considerably weaker than her. 

Of course, the most memorable trait of all regarding Power of the Daleks is how it displays the genuine ingenuity of the Daleks. No review of the story can be written without mentioning it! 

Up until this tale, Nation was far more intent on displaying the raw power of the Daleks. He liked to show off the idea that they were creatures riding around in small tanks. Their superior firepower and near-impenetrable armor allowed them to rule by brute force. Sure, they had strategies. But they were often executed with sledgehammer tactics. Because, quite simply, they could easily hurt others but were difficult damage, themselves. Might, quite simply, made them Right. 

Suddenly, however, the Daleks are vulnerable. Knowing that, for once, they can't achieve their goals through their usual means, we discover that they are actually really sneaky bastards. Which creates a whole new dimension to them. In so doing, the Daleks become even more terrifying. Because now we know that if you strip away everything about them that makes them powerful, they are still just as deadly. 

Other stories would put the Daleks in these sort of positions from time to time. Death to the Daleks or Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks are a few tales that immediately come to mind. But Power of the Daleks did it first. 

And it did it best. 

And that's Fave Dalek Story #5! We'll see you again soon with the next story that made it into the ranking.... 

Wanna know my Fifth Favorite Master Story? Here it is: 

https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2021/11/book-of-lists-top-five-master-stories.html

And my Fifth Favorite Cybermen Story:

https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2021/12/book-of-lists-top-five-cybermen-stories.html