The Doctor Who Real Time Marathon: The Power Of The Daleks
The Power Of The Daleks - Part One (05/11/06)
What the fuck? This episode started weird and has got weirder! The Doctor, it seems, has (or hasn't) changed his appearance (because he died?). If the little, dark haired man isn't the Doctor, who is he? (Something to do with the Toymaker?). He seems to know a lot about the Doctor but if he is the Doctor, why does he keep talking about himself in the third person?
I'm as confused as Polly and Ben, but they've arrived on the planet Vulcan where an Earth colony has stumbled across a Dalek spaceship. It's all very atmospheric with lots of inter-political intrigue amongst the colonists - like who sent for the Examiner and who killed him, plus how are they going to react to the Doctor who's pretending to be the Examiner? They'll be the only one who knows he's lying.
If it is the Doctor.
Which Polly thinks it is.
But Ben doesn't.
I'm still confused. I want Bill back - this guy's a bit weird. If he is the Doctor it's an interesting way of changing the lead actor - he said he'd been 'renewed' and it was part of the TARDIS. We'll see.
The Power Of The Daleks - Part Two (12/11/06)
It appears the Doctor does have a new body! Not sure I'm warming to him, though - he's very odd and a bit gloom and doom! A very good episode, though - quite creepy. Polly and Ben are still great companions, though, with a lot of lines which counter the bleakness of the script.
Lesterson has reactivated the missing third Dalek from the ship and it's killed his assistant, Resno, though he thinks it's only hurt him as Janley - who seems to be one of the rebels - has lied to him. Don't know what she's planning, but it's all very interesting.
Someone's smashed the radio equipment - doubtful it was Quinn, who was found at the scene, as it looks distinctly like he's been set up. Brilliant final scene with the revelation by Lesterson of the working Dalek who seems to recognise the Doctor (How?) and then began speaking for the first time, repeating "I am your servant!".
Wonderfully disturbing, and the best episode so far this season. The last Dalek story was the best so far, but this might be even better if it continues as it is doing! Very impressed and a good story for the 'new' Doctor.
The Power Of The Daleks - Part Three (19/11/06)
Another really good episode. I think this episode saw the first time a Dalek has come across as being an individual and a cunning intelligence rather than just an anonymous monster. The scene where it persuaded Lesterson to organise getting it equipment before reactivating the other two Daleks itself when he'd gone was possibly the creepiest thing I've seen a Dalek do!
Meanwhile, the plot's motoring along. Quinn's been framed, Janley's working for Governor Hensell trying to stir up the rebels (led by Valmar) and has had them kidnap Polly to keep the Doctor occupied, and it looks like it was Bragen who killed the real Examiner. Meanwhile, the Daleks are going to build a machine to predict asteroid strikes, but I doubt that's its real purpose.
The Doctor isn't as nice as the last one - he doesn't seem to care Polly's gone missing. 'Course, that's probably because he's more concerned with the Daleks. It's really good for Polly and Ben, though, as their characters get to develop while the Doctor sits and broods.
The Power Of The Daleks - Part Four (26/11/06)
This is such a good story - no question the best Dalek story they've done in the series. Hensell's gone to the border for a couple of days so in the meantime Bragen (who turns out to be the rebel leader) is taking the opportunity to start a rebellion. Janley has meanwhile told Lesterson that Resno is dead at the same time that the Doctor has revealed that the Daleks seem to be reproducing themselves! He's realised that he's made a serious mistake, but Janley has now had him sedated 'cause she intend to use the Daleks in the rebellion! Oh, and Ben's been kidnapped by the rebels, too.
It was very odd not having Polly in this episode, but I think I'm getting used to this new Doctor. He's more serious than the real... erm, first Doctor, and a bit weird but also a lot less friendly. Whether this is due to the threat of the Daleks I don't know, but no doubt they'll develop more of a rapport between him, Polly and Ben as the series progresses. I remember the original Doctor was fairly cold to begin with.
Anyhow, the Daleks have a production line! Yay! This story's really good!
The Power Of The Daleks - Part Five (03/12/06)
An interesting episode this week. Not much happened in total, but some important stuff took place. Polly's back (but this week no Ben) and Lesterson's gone mad having realised he's helped the Daleks multiply themselves. Governor Hensell returned only to be killed by a Dalek at Bragen's orders - this gave us a great line when, afterwards, the Dalek asked "Why do Humans kill Humans?"!
The Doctor and Quinn escaped from prison and rescued Polly but then got caught by the rebels. And Polly has been trying to reason with the rebels and persuade them the Daleks are dangerous. The cliffhanger saw the Daleks en masse leaving the capsule, no doubt to kill the colonists.
So, not the best episode but still good. Considering how good it's been so far I think I can forgive this episode for being only just above average! Getting used to the new Doctor, too. Reckon I may have accepted him by Christmas? Hmmm...
The Power Of The Daleks - Part Six (10/12/06)
I think that has to have been the best Dalek story so far. They were creepy and cunning and ruthless. This and their last story have been such an improvement - I reckon it's due to David Whitacker writing them. Terry Nation has a habit of ruining good ideas with poor writing.
When the Daleks began killing off everyone (aside from the Doctor, Polly and Ben only Quinn and Valmar survived) it really was shocking! I think that's because the characters have been much more 3 Dimensional than in any of Nation's scripts. The ending was especially good, hinting that the colony's trouble with the Daleks is far from over.
I think I'm getting used to the new Doctor, though I admit that I'm focusing on Polly and Ben more (obviously) cuz he still seems a bit odd. I guess it'll take another story or two before I really warm to him. I mean, it was over a year before I warmed to William Hartnell - hope it isn't the same again! Oh well, at least I've still got Polly and Ben.
What the fuck? This episode started weird and has got weirder! The Doctor, it seems, has (or hasn't) changed his appearance (because he died?). If the little, dark haired man isn't the Doctor, who is he? (Something to do with the Toymaker?). He seems to know a lot about the Doctor but if he is the Doctor, why does he keep talking about himself in the third person?
I'm as confused as Polly and Ben, but they've arrived on the planet Vulcan where an Earth colony has stumbled across a Dalek spaceship. It's all very atmospheric with lots of inter-political intrigue amongst the colonists - like who sent for the Examiner and who killed him, plus how are they going to react to the Doctor who's pretending to be the Examiner? They'll be the only one who knows he's lying.
If it is the Doctor.
Which Polly thinks it is.
But Ben doesn't.
I'm still confused. I want Bill back - this guy's a bit weird. If he is the Doctor it's an interesting way of changing the lead actor - he said he'd been 'renewed' and it was part of the TARDIS. We'll see.
The Power Of The Daleks - Part Two (12/11/06)
It appears the Doctor does have a new body! Not sure I'm warming to him, though - he's very odd and a bit gloom and doom! A very good episode, though - quite creepy. Polly and Ben are still great companions, though, with a lot of lines which counter the bleakness of the script.
Lesterson has reactivated the missing third Dalek from the ship and it's killed his assistant, Resno, though he thinks it's only hurt him as Janley - who seems to be one of the rebels - has lied to him. Don't know what she's planning, but it's all very interesting.
Someone's smashed the radio equipment - doubtful it was Quinn, who was found at the scene, as it looks distinctly like he's been set up. Brilliant final scene with the revelation by Lesterson of the working Dalek who seems to recognise the Doctor (How?) and then began speaking for the first time, repeating "I am your servant!".
Wonderfully disturbing, and the best episode so far this season. The last Dalek story was the best so far, but this might be even better if it continues as it is doing! Very impressed and a good story for the 'new' Doctor.
The Power Of The Daleks - Part Three (19/11/06)
Another really good episode. I think this episode saw the first time a Dalek has come across as being an individual and a cunning intelligence rather than just an anonymous monster. The scene where it persuaded Lesterson to organise getting it equipment before reactivating the other two Daleks itself when he'd gone was possibly the creepiest thing I've seen a Dalek do!
Meanwhile, the plot's motoring along. Quinn's been framed, Janley's working for Governor Hensell trying to stir up the rebels (led by Valmar) and has had them kidnap Polly to keep the Doctor occupied, and it looks like it was Bragen who killed the real Examiner. Meanwhile, the Daleks are going to build a machine to predict asteroid strikes, but I doubt that's its real purpose.
The Doctor isn't as nice as the last one - he doesn't seem to care Polly's gone missing. 'Course, that's probably because he's more concerned with the Daleks. It's really good for Polly and Ben, though, as their characters get to develop while the Doctor sits and broods.
The Power Of The Daleks - Part Four (26/11/06)
This is such a good story - no question the best Dalek story they've done in the series. Hensell's gone to the border for a couple of days so in the meantime Bragen (who turns out to be the rebel leader) is taking the opportunity to start a rebellion. Janley has meanwhile told Lesterson that Resno is dead at the same time that the Doctor has revealed that the Daleks seem to be reproducing themselves! He's realised that he's made a serious mistake, but Janley has now had him sedated 'cause she intend to use the Daleks in the rebellion! Oh, and Ben's been kidnapped by the rebels, too.
It was very odd not having Polly in this episode, but I think I'm getting used to this new Doctor. He's more serious than the real... erm, first Doctor, and a bit weird but also a lot less friendly. Whether this is due to the threat of the Daleks I don't know, but no doubt they'll develop more of a rapport between him, Polly and Ben as the series progresses. I remember the original Doctor was fairly cold to begin with.
Anyhow, the Daleks have a production line! Yay! This story's really good!
The Power Of The Daleks - Part Five (03/12/06)
An interesting episode this week. Not much happened in total, but some important stuff took place. Polly's back (but this week no Ben) and Lesterson's gone mad having realised he's helped the Daleks multiply themselves. Governor Hensell returned only to be killed by a Dalek at Bragen's orders - this gave us a great line when, afterwards, the Dalek asked "Why do Humans kill Humans?"!
The Doctor and Quinn escaped from prison and rescued Polly but then got caught by the rebels. And Polly has been trying to reason with the rebels and persuade them the Daleks are dangerous. The cliffhanger saw the Daleks en masse leaving the capsule, no doubt to kill the colonists.
So, not the best episode but still good. Considering how good it's been so far I think I can forgive this episode for being only just above average! Getting used to the new Doctor, too. Reckon I may have accepted him by Christmas? Hmmm...
The Power Of The Daleks - Part Six (10/12/06)
I think that has to have been the best Dalek story so far. They were creepy and cunning and ruthless. This and their last story have been such an improvement - I reckon it's due to David Whitacker writing them. Terry Nation has a habit of ruining good ideas with poor writing.
When the Daleks began killing off everyone (aside from the Doctor, Polly and Ben only Quinn and Valmar survived) it really was shocking! I think that's because the characters have been much more 3 Dimensional than in any of Nation's scripts. The ending was especially good, hinting that the colony's trouble with the Daleks is far from over.
I think I'm getting used to the new Doctor, though I admit that I'm focusing on Polly and Ben more (obviously) cuz he still seems a bit odd. I guess it'll take another story or two before I really warm to him. I mean, it was over a year before I warmed to William Hartnell - hope it isn't the same again! Oh well, at least I've still got Polly and Ben.
It's one of those relatively rare six-parters that doesn't feel [too] overstretched. That said, it does tread water a little during Episodes 4 and 5, as you pointed out. It's not to the detriment of the story overall though, which works as well as it does because the Doctor - however new and unknown a quantity - is the audience's touchstone in being the only one who knows what a danger the Daleks pose. It's a neat trick on David Whitaker's (and the production team's) part to make the brand new, slightly off-putting lead actor the character the audience most sympathise with while still trying to get used to, at the same time giving them the confused companions as back-up. It's also simply a well-written story with believable characters, and I agree that it's probably the best Dalek story - but not only to this point, but in the series as a whole.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great start for the new Doctor, but it must have been very confusing for viewers to begin with (unless, of course, they read the newspapers and saw that there had been a change of lead). Very little is said or done to ensure the viewers are clear that this is the same man they'd been watching fight Daleks and Drahvins and Zarbi and Voord for the last three years and Polly and Ben's opposing views don't really settle on accepting him for a couple of episodes at least (in fact, I don't think Ben really properly trusts the Doctor for several stories). Pitting him against his mortal enemies is the best way to deal with the change, and the Daleks are never better than here. The whole story is very atmospheric and creepy, with the Daleks sneaking about working to their own ends in the middle of a leaders vs rebels story. What's brilliant is that the rebellion is what carries the story along and enables the Daleks to get what they want, but in the end the petty squabbling amongst the colonists is absolutely irrelevant because they're all killed by the Daleks and it's up to the Doctor to stop them leaving the colony and doing the same everywhere else. It's massively brutal to only have two survivors and then hint that the Dalek threat isn't completely gone in the final shot as the TARDIS leaves.
ReplyDeleteIf the Master Plan didn't make sure you knew the Daleks were the most dangerous and terrifying creatures in the universe, The Power Of The Daleks certainly does, and they're never quite so frightening ever again.
They really aren't. I actually think it was the right idea (at the time) to drop them after Evil of the Daleks, because what else could you do with them? Even that was just a retread of some of the ideas from this story. And the mistake in bringing them back during the Pertwee era was in kowtowing to Terry Nation after Day of the Daleks and letting him pen them through to the end of the decade. The only reason Genesis isn't terrible is Robert Holmes; Planet, Death and Destiny are all pants in their own ways.
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