The Daleks' Master Plan

"How I shall always remember her as one of the daughters of the gods."

Writers: Terry Nation & Dennis Spooner

Format: TV

Broadcast: 13th November 1965 - 29th January 1966

Season: 3.04

Featuring: First Doctor, Steven, Katarina, Sara

Synopsis 

In the year 4000, the Daleks conspire to conquer the Solar System. Their scheme involves treachery at the highest levels and a weapon capable of destroying the very fabric of time. Only the Doctor and his friends can prevent catastrophe - and there is no guarantee they will escape with their lives...

Verdict 

Long and behold I have finally got to and completed the monster 12-part serial that is The Daleks' Master Plan. It's taken me longer than a usual serial would, as I obviously expected, and boy was it good! Due it's sheer enormity, the verdict will be split into thirds.  

Parts 1-4

The first four episodes of the second biggest serial Doctor Who has to offer (yes, I count The Trial of a Time Lord as one serial) were absolutely terrific. A brilliant, eventful and emotional first third to the serial. Nicholas Courtney made his Doctor Who debut as the excellent Bret who played an absolute key and almost companion-like role in the first third before being shot dead. Speaking of death, I may as well talk about the obvious stand out moment from the first four episodes and that would be the emotional death of new companion Katarina. I have to say I reacted in the same way as the Doctor and Steven when she ejected herself and Kirksen from the airlock, allowing the Doctor and co to pilot safely towards Earth. I adored the Doctor's speech acknowledging his appreciation for Katarina and what a wonderful person she was. Coming from Troy in a time that was yet to make any major advancement, Katarina was thrown into a world she just didn't understand. Travelling in time and space was just too much. Her concern was with honouring the Doctor. I loved the idea of someone from the far past to be a companion just because of the uniqueness of a companion from a time of very basic civilisation. Somewhat similar to Erimem who've I just met in The Eye of the Scorpion. Mavic Chen has been terrific thus far and I adore the concept of a universal government in the year 4000. I also like how the Solar System, despite not being an entire galaxy itself, is held in high regard due to Earth and the system's rare minerals, namely taranium. The concept of the Time Destructor, which hasn't been explored yet, just sounds terrifying. What are the Daleks up to? Whatever it is, which I'll find out over the next eight episodes, it sounds like their most destructive and terrifying plan ever. Past or future stories. Zephon was a good character and I liked how he was used by the Doctor for him to get into the delegate meeting, find out the plan of the Daleks and steal the core of the time destructor. I liked the references to many past stories such as The Dalek Invasion of Earth, The Chase and The Myth Makers. The continuation of the story from Mission to the Unknown, with Cory's brief message being picked up upon. The cliffhangers have all been very good and where I left off for today with Sara Kingdom's introduction, episode four, was a shocker. Bret was murdered and the ruthless Sara ordered that the Doctor and Steven be shot in the head! A brilliant start and I look forward to the next eight episodes! 

Parts 5-8

The middle third of The Daleks' Master Plan enhanced the plot and story onwards very nicely. Sara joins the TARDIS along the four episodes after her intense introduction at the climax of part four where she killed Bret, who it was revealed was her brother. The journey the Doctor, Steven and Sara have embarked upon during these four episodes has been quite dramatic. Battling with the Visians and Daleks on Mira, meeting Charlie Chaplin and interrupting a cricket match! The sheer spread of location for this serial has been like nothing before and I think that's set to continue. The scenes on Mira were excellent with the Daleks thinking mice had the potential to be hostile a comedic highlight. I liked how Sara gradually went from enemy to companion as she learned of Mavic Chen being a traitor, allying himself with the Daleks. The Visians were good and I liked the idea of invisible creatures. What a danger that is! But ultimately it was the Mira natives who saved the new TARDIS trio and attacked the Daleks. I really liked how they hijacked a Dalek ship and quickly the Doctor worked out how to control the ship. The return to Kembel was inevitable with the Doctor having left the TARDIS there and when greeted by a trio, I liked how a shocked (literally) Steven played things perfectly to ensure the Daleks had only gained a fake taranium, expertly crafted by the Doctor. I've really liked Sara so far and prior to watching this serial in full, I refused to accept her as a companion because she only featured in one story. However, after having the privilege to watch the entire 12 parts I can now fully understand why she is considered a companion, simply because she is one! Katarina has quickly been replaced by someone with great intelligence and understanding of time and space. Sara really is brilliant and Jean Marsh portrays a marvellous companion. The seventh episode, The Feast of Steven, really was totally bonkers. The arrival in a polluted 1960s on Christmas Day was good and the scenes with the policeman and the Doctor were very funny. I liked the way Steven got the trio out of a mess by acting as a police officer. The scenes in Hollywood were even more crazy with it action packed and full of noise! It was a comedic goof and for its sheer madness I rather enjoyed it. The first Christmas special, and the Doctor broke the fourth wall very pleasantly. But speaking of firsts, episode eight was a particular highlight as it saw the first return of a past antagonist.  Could they pick a better one to return than the Monk? I think not! I adored him in The Time Meddler which was excellently referenced and talked about and I was particularly intrigued that the Doctor categorically defined that he was not from Earth. Something not really mentioned after An Unearthly Child. The way the Doctor easily outsmarted the Monk was fantastic though. But I'm sure we haven't seen the last of him in this serial. If the first third of the serial set the story up greatly, then the middle third has given us a new companion and advanced the plot expertly! The Daleks are angered that their time destructor isn't ready and aren't happy that Mavic Chen still hasn't retrieved the real taranium from the Doctor. But just like The Chase, the Daleks have got a time machine and are after the TARDIS. Could we get an alliance between the Monk and the Skaro natives? Even if we don't, I'm sure the final third will be nothing short of excellent, because the first eight episodes have been outstanding.

Parts 9-12

Wow. I write almost immediately after finishing episode 12 and it just has to be the place to start. An incredible finale, the four parts as a whole, to a quite sensational story! The death of Sara, in the same story in which she arrived, is what this story is most remembered for and I can completely understand why. Her death, at the hands of the time destructor, was quite shocking! Sara passed away in horrific circumstances as she was aged to death before her skeletal remains simply became dust. It was a mightily powerful moment and it just portrayed perfectly how devastating the plans of the Daleks were. The Doctor activating the destructor to lure it away from the Daleks was a big shock and risk but it was the only option he had to prize it away from the Dalek ship. Episodes 9 and 10 were very good and I loved the Egyptian setting at the time of the completion of the Pyramids. The interference and meddling of the Monk was just superb! I loved his presence and seeking revenge after The Time Meddler, the Monk was just a big nuisance for the TARDIS trio here! Mavic Chen was brilliant in the final third and like so many before and after him, he'd become illusional with gaining power but eventually found out that the Daleks were using him. The way he reacquired the taranium from the Doctor was logical and clever. The scene of fighting between the Daleks and Egyptians was terrific! I loved the last two parts with the Daleks abandoning the galactic delegates and planning their invasion of Earth. As seen with Sara, the time destructor was capable of mass horror. It completely wiped the landscape of Kembel to dust and just imagine the travesties the Daleks had in mind for Earth! The Doctor did wonders to rescue the planet, but as Steven mentioned the achievement came at a huge overall cost with the deaths of Bret, Katarina and Sara. Two companions dying in a serial is just unheard of and the emotion behind them was in abundance. It certainly had an effect on me. Steven was very good throughout this serial and feel he is well worthy of a mention. After all, he was the only companion to survive! He provided excellence, humour and disgust towards the Daleks. I adored how the Doctor had meddled with the Monk's TARDIS once more this time retrieving his directional unit. I look forward to a return from the Monk in some medium, it just has to happen! I would now like to say an enormous thank you to loose cannon productions for putting together the stunning recons of the nine missing episodes and allowing fanboys like myself to almost see this mesmerising serial in its visual entirety. Overall, The Daleks' Master Plan just has a ridiculous amount of good about it. Stunning dialogue, an incredible and lengthy plot that was perfectly paced, two powerful deaths of companions and the most destructive plan the Daleks have ever devised! Do you really need to look at the rating? I think it's clear what I'll rate this story! I now have a new favourite First Doctor serial, something I never thought I would say but this has eclipsed The Dalek Invasion of Earth. 

Rating: 10/10