Dalek

"The stuff of nightmares, reduced to an exhibit."

Writer: Robert Shearman

Format: TV

Broadcast: 30 April 2005

Series: 1.06

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

Billionaire collector Henry Van Statten holds the last relic of an alien race. When the Doctor and Rose investigate, they discover that the Doctor's oldest and most deadly enemy is about to break free.

Verdict

Dalek is just an outstanding episode of Doctor Who. It really is. It is undoubtedly one of my all time favourite stories and is unquestionably my favourite Ninth Doctor episode. Everything about it is just fantastic from start to finish and it's such a perfect reintroduction for the Daleks into the modern era. What better way to showcase the threat of the Daleks than by having just one singular of the species causing absolute mayhem? Everything just works. There is so much tension and excitement and as if the destruction of a lone Dalek wasn't enough, the setting that it's let loose in is just magnificent. I love the idea of an alien museum and the Doctor's reaction to seeing an old Cyberman helmet is really superb. Unfortunately, it's the closest we ever got to the Ninth Doctor encountering the old enemies, but that image is just terrific. It's a lot of fun that we see a Cyberman before the Dalek in this episode and the fact that it was the sole living exhibit worked really well. I am a massive fan of Henry Van Statten and he really was marvellous once again here. The owner of the internet and collector of alien technology in order to scavenge and pattern it for sale. Not exactly the likeliest person for the Doctor to get along with! The moment where the pair meet and the Doctor teaches Van Statten about the musical instrument that's been acquired into his collection is a terrific scene and I love that a delicate touch is needed only for Van Statten to throw it to the side. The moment where the Doctor is introduced to the captive 'Metaltron' is a stellar scene and Christopher Eccleston is outstanding. He tells us everything we need to know about the Daleks, the threat they possess and everything endured during the Time War. We don't often see the Doctor displaying fear but he practically cowers at the site of a Dalek here which is an incredibly powerful moment. The sheer joy he has when he realises it cannot exterminate before deciding to kill it and end the war once and for all is excellent as well. Rose showing compassion towards a Dalek is marvellous and her touch providing the basis for the Dalek's regeneration and ultimate mutation is great. I really enjoyed her relationship with Adam who makes for a fun little character as a genius inundated with alien technology. The Dalek's escape through the vault is really great and I love the moment where it uses the water to exterminate in multiples within the space of a few seconds. It really is emphatic. The moment where the Doctor is told he will make a good Dalek still stands out for me as one my favourite ever moments. I just can't imagine how the Doctor would have felt internally at that moment. The moment where the Dalek exterminates Rose, as far as the Doctor is concerned, is tremendous and his reaction really does show everything. He's devastated. I also love the moment where the Dalek elevates for the first time after being mocked about defeat by stairs. As a whole, there is just nothing wrong with this episode and absolutely everything works. Everything. It's a perfect episode for me and that really can be a rarity. The fate of Van Statten is fitting and I also like how Rose feigns Adam's supposed prettiness when hoping to have him come aboard the TARDIS to see the stars. Overall, a sheer delight to revisit. Tremendous.

Rating: 10/10