The Daleks

"Yes, it's certainly alien to anything on your planet. But you're wrong about one thing, Chesterfield. This isn't like anything else. The animal is solidified, certainly, but it's not crumbly stone. It's metal. Yes, it always was."

Writer: Terry Nation
Format: TV
Broadcast: 21st December 1963 - 1st February 1964
Season: 1.02

Synopsis

The TARDIS lands in an alien, petrified jungle, beyond which lies a mysterious, deserted city. The Doctor insists on exploring, but before long the TARDIS crew all begin experiencing the early effects of radiation sickness. And then they discover that the metal city isn't as deserted as they first thought...

Verdict

Fantastic. The Daleks is an outstanding story that is wonderfully paced and filled with a brilliant plot and fascinating character development. The fact that the Doctor's overwhelming curiosity, something we'll see so much of in future stories across all mediums, lead him to his first meeting with the Daleks was brilliant. The story itself was just perfect. A war between two races, both genetically mutated, over the planet. The Thals wanting peace, the Daleks wanting to conquer. The TARDIS team's intervention in the actions of the Thals was brilliant and swayed them into seeing that if the Daleks weren't going to be peaceful, then neither should they. After the ambush and killing of innocent Thals by the Daleks, the quest across the jungle to the city, in secrecy, to get their own back and take the planet for themselves was just brilliant! Barbara's relationship with Alydon was interesting to see. The development of the Doctor himself was a joy to behold. He was becoming selfless, knowing what he had done, tricking his own granddaughter and two innocent schoolteachers into going into the city, to meeting the Daleks, almost killing the TARDIS team. But it was clear now, that he didn't mind Ian and Barbara travelling with him and Susan at all. In fact they helped him in a great deal! The cliffhangers of the story were very good and the climax was outstanding. The Daleks first venture was incredible and they were utilised perfectly. Ian laid down the framework that would follow for years, "a dislike for the unlike." The resolution to allowing the Thal victory was simple but genius. The Daleks were immobilised, reliant on static electricity to move - that link was taken away. Terry Nation's first story for Doctor Who is one of his very best. The Daleks have arrived.

Rating: 10/10