Into the Dalek

"Daleks are born hating. This is what stokes the fire. Extinguishes even the tiniest glimmer of compassion or kindness. Imagine the worst possible thing in the universe and then don't bother - because you're looking at it right now. Evil refined as engineering." 

Writers: Phil Ford & Steven Moffat

Format: TV

Broadcast: 30th August 2014

Series: 8.02

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Clara

Synopsis

A Dalek fleet surrounds a lone rebel ship, and only the Doctor can help them. As he faces his greatest enemy, he needs Clara by his side as the pair plunge into darkness. The Doctor goes to a place he'd never imagine visiting - inside a Dalek. 

Verdict 

Into the Dalek was a brilliant episode for Peter Capaldi's first 'proper' adventure. I'm not sure I like that phrase but I do agree with it. Deep Breath was the debut of a brand new Doctor who for the majority wasn't how he'd be in future stories thanks to the effects of regeneration. But here, we got the first real taste of how our new Doctor would be, and he was quite incredible. Everything about Peter Capaldi just screams the Doctor. His look, his voice and his presence. I think it's pretty frightening how after just two episodes he's not just clearly the Doctor, but he's an absolutely brilliant one. His relationship with Clara was intriguing here, it was evident the pair had contrasting views on a number of things, most notably that of soldiers. This episode saw the much publicly talked about debut of the character Danny Pink. Yawn. Thus far I'm not interested in the character at all and I'm praying Clara doesn't fall to the same direction Amy did. When Amy was travelling alone, I absolutely loved her just like I do, currently, with Clara. But after The Vampires of Venice saw Rory join, and then his place was cemented after The Big Bang, my opinion on Amy dropped because of her relationship with Rory. I like companions to stand alone and I'm afraid that Clara might not become that. You now have no choice but to associate Amy with Rory, and I desperately don't want to have to do that with Clara for Danny. She was spectacular as the 'Impossible Girl', can't she just stay that and leave the crappy relationship stuff for when she leaves the TARDIS? Also, I'm not sure why Moffat insists on this whole thing of the companions coming home and being picked up by the Doctor at the end and start of episodes. The TARDIS isn't a taxi for goodness sake! Can't we just go back to the Classic series' take on companions? You know, when they just constantly travelled in the TARDIS. Anyway, that's mostly a dig at Moffat's running of the series as a whole but despite this I know we're in safe hands and the episode quality he oversees is superb. And that was no different here with this episode that he co-wrote with Phil Ford. I love the idea of the Doctor going one step further than simply facing the Daleks, he was going to inside one! The fact he genuinely believed that there was a good Dalek in the universe baffled me. Is that possible under the most of extreme circumstances? I have doubts myself. I liked the throwback to Planet of Giants with the TARDIS pairing being miniaturised, of course on this occasion they had planned on it though! The interior of the Dalek looked very good and I loved how the Doctor was genuinely frightened but seemingly excited at the same time. He was standing inside his greatest enemy. The hatred he had for the Daleks was crystal clear. The Doctor was just disgusted at their existence! And he should be after all the encounters he's had with them and what they've attempted to do. I loved the scene where the Doctor came eye to eye with the Dalek mutant. What a conversation! The reference to The Daleks was absolutely beautiful with the Doctor describing how when he left Gallifrey he was only known as the Doctor. But after visiting Skaro and the hell the Daleks put him, Susan, Ian and Barbara through the Doctor realised who he was and what being the Doctor meant. Outstanding. The guest cast were very good with Journey and Gretchen standing out for what I would say are obvious reasons. Journey arriving in the TARDIS at the start of the episode was quite humorous thanks to Capaldi. His staring as if to say she was stupid was magic. And I love the subtle humour he brings to the role of the Doctor. It's not quite quirkiness like his two predecessor's, it's more like what Tom Baker and Sylvester McCoy brilliantly brought to the role. Humorously heroic. The pun use in his dialogue is also wonderful. I was slightly surprised though at how much death the Doctor seemed to condone, even if it was at the expense of defeating the Daleks. What happened to his views in Victory of the Daleks? Gretchen's sacrifice was a heroic moment, she gave her life to ensure the Doctor could stop the Daleks from being evil. Could he possibly? I like the sound of the challenge though! I liked how the series arc scene involving Missy didn't close the story this week! Clara accessing the suppressed memories of 'Rusty' was terrific and the imagery of the star being born bringing the Dalek around to the good side was lovely. At that moment, the Doctor intended on using his mind to show the Dalek how beautiful the universe is. Instead, the Dalek looked into his mind and saw absolute hatred for the Daleks. Hate built upon hate. He utterly despised them. And Rusty would live by that, and destroyed the other Daleks terrorising the human rebel ship. The comment at the end was absolutely incredible. It seems the Doctor is the epitome of a 'good Dalek'. A quite frightening concept for a man we know only know as good, but now his own companion isn't even sure if he's a good man. 

Rating: 9/10