Genesis of the Daleks is the story that effectively rebooted the Daleks. In the 12 years since their creation, the Daleks have been pretty much done it all. There were even some complaints that they were rehashing old stories. With a new Doctor in the form of Tom Baker it seemed like the production team (still at this time led by Barry Letts) wanted a new direction for the Daleks. Little did Letts or anyone else know just what an impact this story would have on the future of all Dalek stories. It’s quite easy to see why it was made the third most popular story in the DWM Mighty 200 behind Blink (2007) and Caves of Androzani (1984).
The Doctor is set with the task of wiping out the Daleks or changing their destructive ways. The opening moments show Skaro to be an even grimmer place than what we were shown in ‘The Daleks’ (1963/64). The Skaro we have in this story is a ravaged place with soldiers fighting with primitive weapons despite the modern clothing. The story really steps up a gear when they meet Davros, the creator. Listeners of the Big Finish series I,Davros (2006) will know how he got into that chair and into the position of power.
There are two iconic moments for me in this story. The first being when the Doctor comes out of the incubation chamber with the creatures around his neck, very cheap to create but very effective. The second was when the Doctor arrives at the moment of blowing up the chamber but wonders whether he has the right. As he points out, despite the horror they hand out to millions of people there are those who form alliances with other worlds because of their fear and hatred of the Daleks. I think it would have been a huge mistake for the Doctor to destroy the chamber because it would have been totally against what the Doctor is.
As was always going to happen (because we know the Daleks), they turn on Davros and the end sees just Davors’ hand fade into white. It would be nearly five years before we would know that he wasn’t dead but merley put into sleep. Michael Wisher is brilliant as Davros. He gives the role a more composed yet heavily deluded slant than what other actors would give. He is brilliant against Tom Baker who even in only his third story is showing what has made him such a popular Doctor. Elisabeth Sladen and Ian Marter put in sterling performances as they battle with the Doctor. Peter Miles also deserves a mention as the loyal Nyder. When he pretends to be against Davros is a master class in bluffing.
I think that it was the perfect time to do this story. Few years later and we might have had a more comical performance from Tom Baker which would have ruined what this story was to achieve. Genesis of the Daleks deserves it place as one of the greatest Doctor Who stories of all time. It has great characters and at no point during the six episodes does it drag.
The Doctor is set with the task of wiping out the Daleks or changing their destructive ways. The opening moments show Skaro to be an even grimmer place than what we were shown in ‘The Daleks’ (1963/64). The Skaro we have in this story is a ravaged place with soldiers fighting with primitive weapons despite the modern clothing. The story really steps up a gear when they meet Davros, the creator. Listeners of the Big Finish series I,Davros (2006) will know how he got into that chair and into the position of power.
There are two iconic moments for me in this story. The first being when the Doctor comes out of the incubation chamber with the creatures around his neck, very cheap to create but very effective. The second was when the Doctor arrives at the moment of blowing up the chamber but wonders whether he has the right. As he points out, despite the horror they hand out to millions of people there are those who form alliances with other worlds because of their fear and hatred of the Daleks. I think it would have been a huge mistake for the Doctor to destroy the chamber because it would have been totally against what the Doctor is.
As was always going to happen (because we know the Daleks), they turn on Davros and the end sees just Davors’ hand fade into white. It would be nearly five years before we would know that he wasn’t dead but merley put into sleep. Michael Wisher is brilliant as Davros. He gives the role a more composed yet heavily deluded slant than what other actors would give. He is brilliant against Tom Baker who even in only his third story is showing what has made him such a popular Doctor. Elisabeth Sladen and Ian Marter put in sterling performances as they battle with the Doctor. Peter Miles also deserves a mention as the loyal Nyder. When he pretends to be against Davros is a master class in bluffing.
I think that it was the perfect time to do this story. Few years later and we might have had a more comical performance from Tom Baker which would have ruined what this story was to achieve. Genesis of the Daleks deserves it place as one of the greatest Doctor Who stories of all time. It has great characters and at no point during the six episodes does it drag.
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