The Deadly Ally

"Mechanoid might is second only to Dalek might."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Animation

Broadcast: 03 December 2020

Series: Daleks! 04

Featuring: Dalek Time Squad

Synopsis

The Daleks and the Mechanoids unite against the Entity. Will they save the universe, or will the Dalek Emperor find itself in the firing line?

Verdict

The Deadly Ally was a decent continuation of the animated Daleks! series as part of the ongoing Time Lord Victorious range! After a really impressive build up and a reunion between the Daleks and the Mechanoids so long after The Chase was broadcast, I think this was a good continuation of where things have led to, but I would be lying if I said there weren't a couple of things I felt needed improving. One thing I did enjoy was the Daleks boasting about having damaged the orbital ray on their arrival to Mechanus and their actions were the lan along in wanting to see the Mechanoids take on the Entity that they had tried so hard and failed to beat. They had lost their planet, their reserves at the Sentinel and now they were on the run and so desperate that they enlisted the help of an old foe. Their challenge to the Mechanoids was excellent in suggesting that if they were actually so superior to the Daleks then they would have no problem in defeating the Entity. Of course, they didn't even need to try and goad the Mechanoids into helping the because the damaged caused had pretty much created a forced alliance as far as the Mechanoids were concerned. I thought that was great stuff and definitely the Daleks at their best. It was quite refreshing to see the Daleks merely represented by the Dalek Emperor and Dalek Strategist and the power they both embodied was great. I really enjoyed the line of how the Emperor almost wanted a thank you for bringing the Entity to Mechanus so that the Mechanoids could take it on from a position of strength. It would always have found its way to Mechanus eventually. The audacity of such a claim from the Daleks was really well done. The Dalek desire to learn about the Entity and how it had consumed to increase its power and strength was very good and I enjoyed how the Strategist had an audible thirst for knowledge. It wanted to know how to defeat it and the Mechanoids were just part of the latest efforts. The Entity taking the form of a Mechanoid to deliver a warning was decent and the ultimatum of surrendering the last of the Daleks was pretty good, if not a tad repetitive. The Mechanoids thinking for themselves and using science to tackle the problem presented by the Entity was good and the plan of gaining an energy print and reopening a portal to send it back where it came from seemed logical and a good basis to head towards during the episode. The relationship between the Emperor and Strategist continued to be of interest with the latter seemingly being forgotten by the former with the Entity on Mechanus causing destruction. I thought it was good to have the Emperor as a target, although surely it would use Dalek logic to realise extermination attempts would be futile and it just endured senseless damage. The scenes there seemed a little stop-start which was a little off in my eyes. The way the Entity was quickly defeated by the Mechanoid and Dalek Strategist was surprising as it had received a really strong build so I was expecting the payoff in the series finale if I'm honest. The use of the orbital ray into a beam was good and I thought the relationship between the Dalek Strategist and Mechanoid scientist was excellent. I would love for that to be explored further! The Queen ordering the Emperor be gone at the end of the episode was very good and the shock in the latter's voice at being commanded was great to see and hear. The warning from the Mechanoids to the Daleks was a good lead into what I am now sure will be an unpredictable last episode! Overall, another decent episode but not quite up to the scratch of the last three.

Rating: 7/10