So far I’ve sung nothing but praise for
Series 1. I’m afraid I’m going to have to continue this trend with my latest
review, as Robert Shearman’s Dalek is the definition of perfection. It was a flawless
way to reintroduce the Dalek’s, probably too perfect as in my opinion no other
Dalek story has yet been able to top it. It has beautiful dialogue, a
sympathetic villain and a thoroughly compelling plot. And remarkably it manages
to do so much within the short space of 45 minutes.
First lets start with the Dalek itself. I
think character wise it does the story a lot more justice to focus on one
Dalek. This gives it an identity, rather than exploring the plan of the Dalek’s
as a species, we explore the journey of this sole Dalek. We can also explore
the Doctor’s relationship with this one Dalek. It works so well because we
actually pity it from the beginning. We know the creature inside is horrific
and evil, but does that justify the pain it is going through? We see a great
transformation in the Dalek’s character. At first he is simply a damaged
solider, however upon absorbing Rose’s biomass he becomes the unstoppable
killing machine that we know so well. We soon learn as he becomes more powerful
he also becomes more human. It hates this, it has become an abomination in it’s
own eyes. We pity it once more, which is aided by the fact that we get to see
the pathetic mutation hiding in the metal case and it’s desire for death. You
can’t cover such an emotional transformation with an entire army of Dalek’s,
and that’s why this is a story that is supreme above all overs.
The first scene between the Dalek and the
Doctor is particularly interesting as it shows how the Doctor and the Dalek
both are of the same circumstances, alone in the universe. This only increases
our sympathy of the Doctor; he’s now become just as lonely and frightened as
his greatest enemy. I also love his pure hatred of the Dalek, gloating over how
his entire race is dead as if with pride of his actions. I much prefer
Eccleston and Smith’s relationship with the Dalek’s to Tennant’s. It’s a more
interesting one as the Doctor will always try and find the peaceful solution,
however with the Dalek’s there is no patience, they must be destroyed.
This story is probably the ultimate in
terms of exploration of the time war on the Doctor’s character. It covers his
rage and sadness brilliantly. The Doctor is enraged, his people are dead but a
Dalek get’s to survive. He HATES this. So he strikes out, mimicking the Dalek
in a cold way by attempting to ‘Exterminate’ it. The story builds upon effective parallels
between the Dalek and The Doctor, evident in The Doctor’s wish for the race to
die, and the idea the Doctor is changing in to someone not completely above the
Dalek’s in terms of morality. This idea reaches a conclusion when the Doctor
attempts to destroy it himself. There’s sorrow about the Doctor during this
scene, as he comes to a greater realization
than ever that he has lost his race.
It’s as if he feels it’s his only way of getting over the grief by killing the
Dalek.
Although the Dalek is a character to be
pitied in this episode, he is also a character to be feared. This is the best
portrayal of the might of the Dalek’s. It effectively portrays the alien as an
unstoppable killing force, as he makes his way through the base killing each
solider one by one, without so much as a scratch. This goes the back to the
idea of the Dalek’s being better portrayed in smaller numbers as we get to see
this one Dalek’s conquest. It’s why I’m fond of the Cult of Skaro, they have
personalities and it’s far more interesting than watching a mindless army. It
also succeeds in showing the high intelligence of the Dalek, as he calculates
the most effective methods of killing the soldiers by turning on the water.
This represents their horrific nature as it makes killing out to be a task to
be done as efficiently as possible.
Overall this is a fantastic story that
shows the Dalek’s (or Dalek) in their true might. Not a single flaw,
brilliantly paced and great character development.
10/10
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