Robert Shearman had a great quote about the Daleks... "I think that what always bothered me about the Daleks, and still does a bit, is that they were meant to represent Nazis. I mean, that’s why Terry Nation, the original creator, came up with them. It was, you know, eighteen years after the the second world war, and the big evil was the memory of Adolf Hitler, and therefore the Daleks are very much a reaction to that. “And yet over the years they’ve become these lovable toys for children. And when Doctor Who was off the air… The Daleks were in ads, and they were just bits of laughable kitsch. “I think that there’s a great danger in the world generally of kind of trivialising. I think it’s what we do. I think we make things safe. I think that things that are actually dangerous and dark and need confronting, over the years become things that we start to feel we can box into an area and say ‘well this is the past and the past is quite funny.’ “So, the way that Indiana Jones will represent Nazis as comedy villains but they’re not! I think that I wanted, with the Daleks, was to do a story, both in Jubilee the audio and in [Dalek] the TV version, of people not taking the Daleks seriously enough because they see it as kitsch. And it proving them wrong because, actually, there’s a real evil there.”
I always thought that scene with the Dalek was one of ecclestons best moments in terms of acting. He really did a good job of making this rather silly looking object seem like a genuine threat.. great introduction to the Daleks for me.
The best Eccleston moment in this episode is, in my opinion, not even a line. When the Dalek says "we are the same" and the Doctor gets a little, almost imperceptible twitch in his face. It's a really subtle bit of acting and tells you that he really doesn't like to think about this, but also he kind of realises it's true. It's a moment of internal conflict.
I strongly disagree with your criticism of Eccelston's performance of that particular scene. If the acting was so underwhelming, It wouldn't be a memorable scene for me and most audiences. Considering its one of my favorite scenes of Doctor Who, I have an obligation to defend everything about that scene to death. Eccleston's performance for me is the definition of perfection, he goes from extremely terrified to becoming emphatic and dangerous in a split second and that completely gets you hooked and fascinated. On rewatch, I noticed more things that elevated his performance. For instance, if you look at his eyes as he's smiling at the sight of the Dalek, you can see the intuitive rage and hatred towards this supposedly 'poor' creature. Also, him saying "fantastic" afterward is absolutely bone-chilling because he saying that line whilst enjoying watching someone suffer in pain regardless of who it is; he completely owns that scene. He's not just regurgitating his lines, he's adding more to the lines given to him. I find it peculiar that you found that scene underwhelming whereas I thought it was indicative of everything great about acting and storytelling imo.
Havent seen the scene a long time but eccelstons subtile repressed anger coming out really makes the scene very memorable, and looks realistic which makes the dalek more real too.
Some of the best moments in the Time War Myth Arc were any moment Eccleston was talking to the Dalek where he foams at the mouth saying “Why don’t you just die” “You would make a good Dalek”
I think that scene is meant to be slightly off... it's the first time we see the Doctor so overcome that he genuinely lets his anger show... it's literally out of character
I know exactly what it means. If you read what I wrote you'd see that I was talking about the character that the Doctor portrays to others *in the series*, not the character of the Doctor in & of itself. Just as real people can be referred to as acting out of character, so can a character.
Acting out of character doesn't equal to badly developing a character. The greatest characters are contradictory on all fronts because so are we all. We're constantly living battles within ourselves about where our values, principles and priorities lie. This is exactly the point of this scene: showing that there is a part of the Doctor, well hidden, well kept secret, that feels his anger is validated. It is out of character because his general demeanor is entirely different, but it is not badly developing a character, as it only makes the Doctor more believable and understandable, even through threading the fine line of being an alien being. Hope i helped clarify Denni's thoughts, y'all have a beautiful weekend and merry holidays
This is my favorite Eccleston story. When I was able to watch series 1 originally, I skipped to "Dalek" because that was the story I was most interested in, and how the new Doctor interacted with a Dalek was going to let me know best how I'd like the series overall. I cried, it was so well done. The Doctor's emotional journey, the DALEK's emotional journey, and Rose's compassion were so well played. And the taking down of every trope made me grin over and over as the episode continued. I can see where people would think Eccleston's confrontation with the Dalek could be out of character, but to me, it looks like a lot of bottled up emotions all bursting out at once. It's a counterpoint to the last televised Dalek story, McCoy's Remembrance of the Daleks, where the Doctor is played just as dark and full of emotion, but it's far more calculated and deliberately cruel to the Daleks, especially the one left behind at the end. That being said, I am one of those fans who does find the Daleks' design adorable, and I can often be found at cons asking people who have full-size replicas if I can very lightly hug their Daleks and get pictures with them. I know they aren't meant to be cuddly, cute things, but the aesthetics are more toward the cute, for me, than the dangerous, the way the Cybermen look. And that, I think, is one of the ways the Daleks work so well. How is an over-sized salt shaker with a plunger and a whisk, with candy dots on its skirt, the most feared creature in the universe? It's too cute. And that's where it gets you. I think my favorite part of the episode is the final confrontation between the Doctor and the Dalek, when Rose takes the Dalek's side as it reaches toward the sunlight, and then the empathy shared between the two survivors of the Time War. Rose is so shaken by the Dalek's request for her final order for it, but she agrees to it anyway. What is your take on the Dalek's character arc in the episode? Apologies if you said already and I didn't catch it. Thank you for the review!
Long time viewer; first time commenter. I just wanted to say that I'm rather baffled that you, as I hear it, disliked the iconic scene with the 9th and the Dalek. Starting Doctor Who a few years back, that was pretty much the scene that sold me on the show. :)
The doctor was somewhat off because of the time war trauma, but the acting of eccelston was brilliant. I thought it was just the doctor being confused and shocked and slightly crazy.
To me, the Dalek Scene was the moment that divided Classic Who from New Who. It showed the raw out-of-control emotion the Doctor was feeling at that point. So it was off, but it was supposed to be.
"I watched it happen. I MADE it happen!" is one of my favourite Who lines of all time. It shows such malicious satisfaction in genocide that we really get a sense of just how damaged the Doctor is at this point.
It's a decent line, but I hate the cut in the middle of it to get the Dalek's viewpoint. I find it needlessly jarring and I think it weakens the moment.
I thought the idea behind those scenes was to portrait the Doctor as "off" as you say, it really looks like he was caught off guard and is not thinking clearly, it's all a visceral reaction. Basically... you look at him like Rose is watching him in this episode.
It's interesting to hear those points about Eccleston. I watched it kinda recently and didn't notice anything like that. Still makes my top 2 for 9 with Empty Child, but i do think that Empty Child/Doctor Dances is the better written story
Father's Day is honestly my least favourite episode of that series. It's just too predictable. I used to think Unquiet Dead was the worst for being dull, but I find myself surprisingly entertained by it on a rewatch despite some questionable lines (9 telling Rose she looked beautiful was really forced). Father's Day I honestly struggle to get through
Some things introduced about the Daleks in this story seem to have been dropped from subsequent episodes, such as the force field and the center portion containing the Dalek's gun being able to rotate 360°.
I loved this episode and thought Eccleston's acting towards the Dalek was that of a character in turmoil, being basically ambushed by his past, he was "out to sync" and feeling guilt, rage, fear and who knows (pun intended) what other feelings crashing around in him. To then be told by this enemy 'made flesh' that he would make a good Dalek would have been such a knife to both of his hearts. The one thing that spoils this episode for me was when Rose and the geeky guy just stood there when the Dalek said "elevate". They just watched it come up the stairs slooooowly. If they had done what any other human would do - turn tail and run like crazy - then Rose would have made it through the door without breaking into a sweat (but there goes the beautiful/tragic/triumphant ending I guess). I see this a lot in movies, something happens and the characters sit/stand around watching and talking instead of running. This annoys me probably much like the historical characters annoy you.
Eccleston’s performance was spot on here, and so was Piper’s. The Doctor goes through a series of emotions when he meets the Dalek (starts with kindness, then surprise, terror, relief, anger, hatred and sadness) and Eccleston delivers all these brilliantly. I really like how his countenance changes due to the Dalek’s words. The Dalek almost appears like his conscience. When he is reminded that he destroyed two races, he gets sad and thoughtful. When he is called a “coward” for being the only one alive, he gets pissed off and tries to mock back but he also feels loneliness and survivors guilt. And he doesn’t like the Dalek telling him that they are the same, so deep inside he knows that the Dalek has a point. I like the subtle facial expressions that Eccleston delivers (for example his lip twitching when he says that the Time Lords are all dead, or his eyes twitching when the Dalek tells him that he would make a good Dalek). I didn’t find the transitions between the different emotions too artificial, I think that his emotions are always a natural response to what the Dalek is saying to him.
I totally agree with you about Eccleston's performance with the Dalek. It does seem a little off and a bit extreme. It certainly makes you feel that they must be pretty dangerous for him to be that upset about them, but still slightly off. Being that all of the Time War stuff was written during Matt Smith's run, I can understand why he might not have been able to connect as well. I'm sure his performance would be different if he had that knowledge. Also, I wish this had been a two-parter and not the Slitheen story.
The episode that made the Daleks a terrifying threat. Eccleston was at his finest here. Not even Tennant could potray the anger and raw hatred the Doctor expresses towards the Dalek as well as Eccleston did. This episode is definitely the best episode of series 1 and one of the best Dalek stories of all-time.
I think the acting in this episode is great. It's really the first time we see the PTSD the doctor has because of the time war, and to me the acting makes me feel it.
This episode is great because it is not the usual childish “100% good guy defeats 100% bad guy” story. The characters are complex and have depth, and it is clear that both are going through internal turmoil. The story touches one of the most difficult human conflicts: “revenge or forgiveness?”. How much can we hate/harm a bad person before becoming a bad person ourselves? The doctor gets slightly redeemed at the end when he faces the Dalek and says to it: “I wasn’t…”. But he needed a little help from a friend. On the other side, the Dalek preferred to die rather that change into something that it was not supposed to be. I found this last part quite interesting.
I'm definitely going to have to give it a rewatch sometime soon. I don't remember anything being off in the transitions. My memory is a smooth, perfect flow from sympathy for a hurt creature to stark terror at the thought of what it will do to terrifying, angry, vengeful hatred all in a span of a few minutes. Interesting.
In McCoy's era, we finally had Daleks that could hover up a flight of stairs and the energy weapon packed a hell of a whallop. It was nice to see that the reintroduction of the Daleks (in general) in 'Dalek' built on that and made them even more potent. Not only does the updated design have aspects that look more heavily-armoured and tank-like, the ability to rotate the mid-section 360-degrees and fire at targets off to the side and behind it (like an actual tank turret) made it seem all the more imposing and terrifying. (Too bad they didn't continue demonstrating that capacity in later episodes). The fact that the Dalek demonstrated its ability to take out a room full of armed people with two shots - one at the sprinkler system and then one at the wet floor - also added a new level of menace. Re the comment about not needing to move fast, the word we're looking for here is "inexorable". Run all you like, that thing will tirelessly track you down and destroy you. It doesn't need to rush; nothing will stop it and it's got you in its sights. They did a great job on re-establishing the Daleks and it's one of my favourite episodes.
I see your point but I don't agree. That sequence was fragmented, I think, for a purpose. It was the first time it showed how damaged the Doctor was. It laid the foundation for us to see the extreme effect the Time War had on him. Which made The Doctor Dances, for me, more powerful. Even when I rewatch the episode, that is what I get from it, IMHO. But now I need to check out Jubilee.
My main issue with Dalek is the whole "you would make a good Dalek" thing. The episode tries so hard to make me condemn the Doctor's hatered and fails. It's like saying that if you hate the Nazis for starting WWII, you're just as bad as them. That said, i still like it, i just don't see it as a masterpiece
kiarash608 yeah, when you think about it it’s like there just trying to add drama. Also then they brought “you would make a good dalek “ back in into a dalek.
Stripey Arse that, but also the “you would make a good Dalek” line is less comparing someone who hates nazi’s to the nazi’s themselves and more comparing someone who’s trying to kill the last nazi in the universe when the last nazi is it’s own race. It’s still hardly a comparison but it’s closer. Besides, the Daleks are totally fucked in the head, of course they would make that connection whether purposefully to mess with the Doctor or in my mind they actually think it’s true. That what the Doctor does is comparable to what the Daleks have done and attempted to do over the years.
I disagree. Both nine and the Dalek are put into unique positions in this episode with the Dalek able to empathize thanks to the shot of human DNA. While Nine is dealing with PTSD from the time war and driven by hatred for the Daleks. So the Dalek in this story is made to be more human and Nine is made to be more Dalek. The effect this has is that when being called "the same" as the Dalek he doesn't entirely deny it and instead says "Exterminate" before trying to electrocute the Dalek to death. That's a really fucked up thing for the Doctor to do. No mercy, no second chances, he just tries to murder a defenseless (and honestly pitiful) alien. Later he is seen aiming down the barrel of a plasma cannon at the Dalek with Rose standing between them. For a brief moment, I wondered if he might actually gun down Rose to try and kill the Dalek. But the spark of humanity burns bright in him (as represented by Rose) and he comes to his senses saying "I couldn't... I wasn't..." During the "good Dalek" sequence Nine says "Why don't you finish the job, and make the Daleks extinct? Rid the universe of your filth! Why don't you just *die*?" What's interesting here is the choice of dialogue, 'ridding the universe of filth' is how a Dalek would describe their killings and 'making lesser species extinct' is their ultimate goal. On top of this, the way Eccleston yells is similar to the Daleks who always speak in high pitched screams. So really there are a lot of parallels between the Doctor and the Dalek in this story.
Not really. The daleks are a xenophobic race who believe themselves superior to all others and due to having all emotions but hate subdued or removed, attempt to remove what they see as filth from the universe. In other words actively commit genocide. The doctor hates Daleks, he believes they are abominations and is willing to commit genocide to remove them. See the similarities? This is not too say they are completely identical but i don't believe that was ever the intention of the episode, instead it was to point out the similarities between the too. I believe that was the point to give lie to the doctors follow up line "you and i are nothing alike" (i believe he says something along those lines) when in many ways they are, they both kill, hate a species not their own and are both willing to commit genocide a fact repeatedly illustrated by the doctor episode to episode. There are also key differences but that isn't the point, viewers would/should be aware of this but the similarities likely fly under the radar hence why it was pointed out.
you know what i realised about the first series of modern dr who? most of the episodes are set on or centre around earth in someway. its either modern day earth, earth in a different time period or a space station orbiting earth
I think it's because going back to that episode after seeing the doctor face down armies of Daleks in later episodes, it's kind of strange seeing him losing his composure over just one solitary one.
I know this is an old & odd video to leave my first comment on, but I recently found your channel and am doing some catch up! :) I'm wondering now, watching your thoughts about some of Eccleston's acting being off with the Dalek, if it might be because of the shirtless scene he had to do in this episode. Eccleston has recently revealed that he's been anorexic all his life and struggled with body dysmorphia. I wouldn't be surprised if that was interfering with his acting here, he would've been dealing with a lot of mental and emotional turmoil.
I always liked the scene with the Dalek, especially after learning about the history with the time war. See, looking back on it now. The 9th doctor is a lot like the 12th doctor later in his run. But hes walking the walk because he desperately wants to. It's not "am I a good man", its "I have to be a good man". And maybe that's projecting from the future but that's kindof the reading I have of Eccleston as the 9th. After the time war, he doesnt ask if hes a good man, he desperately throws himself into being one. He helps people, he has fun, and more than anything else he looks for those days where yes, everybody lives. And that's why he has moments where like, when he has the opportunity to destroy the daleks he refuses to do it. "I'd rather be a coward every time". But overall hes had it fairly easy till now as 9. Not that it hasnt gotten serious, but hes been able to be the good man he wants to be. And then a Dalek is standing in front of him and all the rage and fury of the time war comes back to him, but he doesnt want to be that kind of man anymore, but he just cant help it seeing the last survivor, still dangerous, of a genocidal race that destroyed the time lords. And so when he shouts "why don't you just die" and even gloats about his own act of genocide, even he doesnt like that hes saying it, or rather he wont in hindsight. And that hindsight starts to kick in with the line "you would make a good Dalek". Ugh I just love that whole scene
I completely agree with your comments on Eccleston. When I first saw it I thought the Doctor doesn't react like that. He normally makes fun of the Daleks. Note: I have watched every episode of old Who several times. However, after seeing what the time war was about later in the series I can see why he reacted extremely. I think without the back story it was difficult for Eccleston to switch gears from the funny, competent and intelligent persona to over the top rage.
I know what you mean about the ninth doctor's more volatile scenes. It just didn't feel like the Doctor, in a way, just an angry human. Sylvester's cool, badass confrontation with the supreme Dalek in 1988 seems more like the Doctor, for example
I THINK I get what you were trying to say about Eccleston ... even though I don't really agree. Sometimes during his run as the Doctor, he seemed a bit self-conscious when delivering dialogue ... simply because he's not used to performing in a show such as this. He would pull too many crazy expressions, or deliver the comedy with a lack of subtlety ... I think he even said himself in an interview that if he could go back he would ease up on the zany moments a little bit. I've always believed his confrontation with the Dalek was THE MOMENT New-Who came alive ... the moment we all felt the show was capable of being REALLY special moving forward. Watching it again all these years later, there are one or two moments where it could have been a little more polished ... but I give Eccleston all the credit in the world for making these villains a genuine threat again ... His fear and rage made us ALL feel that way.
Great, l finally have a proper place to mention this: I've never found a Gif or an isolated clip of the Dalek saying "You Lie!" Even though it would be a perfect response in this age of misinformation and half-truths. ~ TDG
Great review thank you :) - it was so good to have doctor who back on the tv after such a long time in 2005 - there were some good fun episodes to kick off the revival that were truly great and a bit of fun but this was the one that turned a nice light nostalgic tv revival into essential viewing at the time and cranked things up to 11 - in other words this is when shit got crazy real!!!!
I found the points you made very interesting and quite insightful into my overall thought on the episode. In my opinion, this is an episode with gravitas and is really one of the top tier in series one (I must say here I love series one to bits). However, strangely, this is one episode I find myself skipping on rewatch for no solid reason, but it just not being as good on rewatch. I found that every time I watch it again I find things to nitpick, watch it with less enthusiasm or just not get absorbed into the story as much. The first time I watched it I actually had tears near the end and was fully invested, but this sense of attachment to the story line is weakening on every rewatch. I know this is quite childish, but because I want to remember it as a great episode, I try to avoid it in order to maintain my previous memories of it??? I hope it is understandeable, but I just don't want it to go down from the pedestal I putit on xD Another great video!!!
ziripond i get what you're saying. That's exactly how i feel about most of Tom Hanks movies. Excellent movies. Not to be missed. But not for rewatch. I think we all have our own individual lists of tv/film that fits this category.
Finally catching up on this series of videos, and I know exactly what you mean about Eccleston. I thought he got a little too angry without it being tempered with anything more complex. I chalked it up that Eccleston's doctor was a bit different from the other modern Doctors, and the Daleks are really his blind spot as far as compassion or empathy goes. Plus he was still traumatized by the time war as you said. Still, it seemed a little too shouting and not enough behind it. I wonder if the behind the scenes stuff that caused him to quit were already becoming an issue and it was throwing him.
I really love this episode. It's easily my third favorite episode, behind World Enough And Time and Heaven Sent. Eccleston's performance is top notch and thought provoking, Rose is about as good as she gets, the Dalek is terrifying, and the score is on point. 10/10 all the way. (I will concede that the supporting cast isn't really memorable, but for me the goods make up for it.) I understand what you said about Eccleston in the scene with the Dalek, but I don't really see it. Strange. By the way, great video! I'm really enjoying this series.
Hey, I was just wondering if you've seen another BBC series from a few years ago, Merlin. If not, it's brilliant and would highly recommend it, probably putting it on par with Doctor Who.
Great review. It’s nice to see an opinion on Dalek that differs from the normal “it was the BEST thing ever!” PS: I’m sorry, I’m OCD, and I can’t help but point out it was Van *Statten* - and you said Van *Stratten*.
Dalek was were Series One hit its stride for me. I prefer Father's Day and the Empty Child two parter. I saw the offness of the Doctor meeting the Dalek coming from the Doctor not being able to keep up his veneer of aloofness and goofiness anymore and his just can't hide from what he did anymore at that moment.
I rewatched it a while back and while I did like it a lot, and even on my first watch I didn't know about the Daleks and I was terrified of this thing. But I do remember thinking it felt like a cliff notes version of something so there's that.
I saw original Daleks moping around a local town centre. This was before the show revival, probably around 2002. The show had been off air for over ten years. Very odd.
If I may add a viewpoint here on the Ecclestone scene you refer to. I get exactly what you mean - and I think it certainly was an odd delivery - but Chris thinks quite deeply about every scene and every line - i suspect the reason it comes out this way is because what he says is in conflict with his subtext... if you remember that earlier on i the scene he is in absolute panic - confronted with the very horror of his PTSD so to speak. Once he realises it is shackled and weaponless he attempts to show courage - but it is so out of the Doctors character to literally torture another creature - even he feels at odds with himself - so he is 'acting' this way to hide his fear and also to experience what it must be like to 'be a Dalek'and inflict pain. I think that is what Ecclestone is portraying in the performance but may not quite have hit the target fully for all to get the impact of it. Try watching the scene again with that 'sadist' dabbling mindset - you may see the 'acting' is him 'acting' in order to experience something at odds with the Doctor..... remember even Rose asks him 'what are you turning into?'- even she doesnt recognise this Doctor.... and i think thats what he is going for.
I think I get what you're saying, they way Eccleston played the scene changed for me after watching the 'War' Doctor. The type of rage was wrong for me it was too hot. When the Doctor is in pain he's kind of cold and clamps down on his emotions - maybe for fear of what they may lead him to do - but he usually has that focused menace; and let's face it he would be in so much pain after what he did to his fellow Time Lords. Of all the versions of the doctor Eccleston was the one that had ice in his veins, even his humour had a certain detachment to it, if Tennant or Smith had played that scene that way it would have fitted better.
Twelfth Doctor: "Do you know what it means when something is chasing you very slowly? It means there's a reason that they don't have to run." I guess this is an overall great episode with many flaws you only notice on rewatch, but then they start bugging you. This might still be one of the best episodes of the show so far, but I'm rather cautious on rewatching it because I'm afraid that might weaken my oppinion on it. Basically I can identify with most things you said, especially what you said about the reputation of this episode.
I think Ecclestons performance is fine - but I think it seems jarring because you don't ever really see the Dr angry and scared - this is really one of the only times you see that side of his character. Eccleston also had issues with the production team during filming of this season - it wouldn't surprise me to find out this was one of the episodes were things started going downhill (with hindsight of course).
9 dealt with survivors guilt with running away and humor. At that moment, he couldn't. The past, it was right there. We didn't get the transition of the laugh it off bad boy rouge sideways walking up to the threat and then going batshit. We got the going bat shit only. We all know that person who deals with tram the way Eclstion played 9 and the way 9 was written. The ticks that make that defense mechanism didn't fall away one at a time when the abuser was confronted, as would happen in real life, they just vanished. That instant evaporation says everything else was a narcissistic act. And that? That doesn't feel organic for the Doctor as a whole or 9 in particular. Granted that gives perfect impact to the "You would have made a good Dalek" line, but damn it, the pissed off pepper pot is supposed to be an abuser saying the victim is just like them, they should be a warning not to become them, not them being right. Still a damn good episode.
I think the comments about Eccleston's confrontation with the Dalek is fair. However, apart from Capaldi, I can't see any of the other new who Doctors playing it any smoother. Going from Fear to Joy to Rage, that's a tough range to pull off that quickly.
I think Series 1 is quite solid overall (my least favorites are Aliens of London/World War Three, The Long Game and Boom Town) and Dalek is one os the strongest episodes. I think what may happen is the amount of times you've seen the episodes (the more you watch it, lesser the weight); I would give easily an 9/10, because I think the best part is between the Dalek and the Doctor, and the rest of the episode goes for a straight "base under siege" template of the classic era of the show. I also think this could be a great theme for a video: top 10 "one-time only" writers Modern Who had and should return. Robert Shearman could hands down be on this list. :)
Council, I get where you're coming from. It is OK to look at something you held on a pedestal and realize it's not as wonderful as you had built it up to be. (that happened to me with more than a few shows from my childhood and early adolescence) That said, on this particular point, I'm not sure I get what you mean. On rewatching Nine's initial scene with the Dalek, he feels manic, schizophrenic almost, but I think that's by design. Whether or not the transitions mesh well, each emotion delivered is, in and of itself, incredibly well conveyed. I really felt the pain and rage, the loneliness and vindictiveness that Nine was feeling, and in the end that was all I could have wanted from those scenes. Maybe hindsight has soured me, but I didn't care for Adam here or in the following episode. Rose shone, though, in a way I don't think she often got to. It's this version of the character that I can see the Doctor carrying a torch for for as long as he did...empathetic and kind, brave and forgiving, but with a mind and will of her own, able to challenge the Doctor and be the best of what a Companion is. This episode, for me, cemented why the Doctor needs Companions long before the end of Tennant's run.
I saw the same thing in the Eccleston scene on my rewatch. The scene is still quite good and full of emotion, but something was off in the delivery that made it a little choppy.
I thoroughly enjoy your videos, although the camera slowly wobbling left and right makes me feel a bit queezy. It seems that there is some form of image stabilisation that focuses on you, and it makes the frame move left and right when you move slightly. Other than that, great vids
I get why they did it given the themes of the episode and it works in that context, but I REALLY wish that they hadn't opened up the suit and showed us what the Daleks look like inside. I would have liked the mystery to have lived longer than not even a full episode.
It's no big secret, we've seen the Daleks outside their casings several times in the classic series. Their first story even gave some hints as to what they'd mutated into from their original, humanoid forms... Besides that, I think it works to let us pity this creature which, less than an hour ago (in-story) was callously murdering hundreds of people. That said, I can't begrudge your opinion when looking in from a New!Who perspective, even if it wasn't my view on the matter (this was my first full Dalek episode as well as the first time I saw their real form).
For me Dalek was Eccleston's 2nd best doctor who (empty child/the doctor dances is by far number 1) but I wouldn't put it into my top list of new who. It was one of the best if not the best episode with Daleks though. Probably like 15th on my personal favourite episodes. I've got an unusual top 10 compared to most.... 😂
I like this episode a lot, but I remember when I first saw it, I felt that some of the 9th Doctor’s interactions with the Dalek felt a bit forced to me.
I think i have an idea of why the doctor seems off. I dont think the doctor is angry at all in this scene, i think hes ashamed. He is uncomfortable in that room, and trapped with the only evidence in the universe of his, at the time, recent genocide. He is not angry, hes afraid and ashamed but has to try and act tough because he cant let rose see that.
I think the only part that was really off about Eccleston’s performance was the angry yelling, it really did seem like he wasn’t quite sure what he was mad about. Other than that the rest of the scene was amazing, including the little sadistic glee the Doctor got seeing it suffer.
That's kind of it. I mean, I contrast that to when he's yelling at it through the monitor and it builds to the "Why don't you just DIE?!?" line and that's so much better.
This is the very first episode I tried to watch and I'm not sure why but I felt like it was too much "something" and decided it wasn't for me. I didn't get hooked on it until The Weeping Angels I watched because someone else watched it and then went back. Maybe it was the yelling at the Dalek that did it the first time because it's uncomfortable for me
I didn't like this story at all, and thought the Doctor's behaviour in it was uncharacteristic of him (Tom Baker might have refused to do it!). However, it's interesting to hear your take on it, and I accept that it may have reintroduced the Daleks successfully.
I don't know if this has been said, but I think the bit of animosity between eccleston and the BBC sometimes showed in his scenes. Don't get me wrong, he's my first doctor and I love him to death, but sometimes it feels like he was a bit resentful. (Edit grammatical errors)
The thing you said about Echelston being "weird" and "off"... isn't that kind of the point? Like his hatred for this thing turning him into something we don't recognize?
Robert Shearman had a great quote about the Daleks...
"I think that what always bothered me about the Daleks, and still does a bit, is that they were meant to represent Nazis. I mean, that’s why Terry Nation, the original creator, came up with them. It was, you know, eighteen years after the the second world war, and the big evil was the memory of Adolf Hitler, and therefore the Daleks are very much a reaction to that.
“And yet over the years they’ve become these lovable toys for children. And when Doctor Who was off the air… The Daleks were in ads, and they were just bits of laughable kitsch.
“I think that there’s a great danger in the world generally of kind of trivialising. I think it’s what we do. I think we make things safe. I think that things that are actually dangerous and dark and need confronting, over the years become things that we start to feel we can box into an area and say ‘well this is the past and the past is quite funny.’
“So, the way that Indiana Jones will represent Nazis as comedy villains but they’re not! I think that I wanted, with the Daleks, was to do a story, both in Jubilee the audio and in [Dalek] the TV version, of people not taking the Daleks seriously enough because they see it as kitsch. And it proving them wrong because, actually, there’s a real evil there.”
I always thought that scene with the Dalek was one of ecclestons best moments in terms of acting. He really did a good job of making this rather silly looking object seem like a genuine threat.. great introduction to the Daleks for me.
The best Eccleston moment in this episode is, in my opinion, not even a line. When the Dalek says "we are the same" and the Doctor gets a little, almost imperceptible twitch in his face. It's a really subtle bit of acting and tells you that he really doesn't like to think about this, but also he kind of realises it's true. It's a moment of internal conflict.
I strongly disagree with your criticism of Eccelston's performance of that particular scene. If the acting was so underwhelming, It wouldn't be a memorable scene for me and most audiences. Considering its one of my favorite scenes of Doctor Who, I have an obligation to defend everything about that scene to death. Eccleston's performance for me is the definition of perfection, he goes from extremely terrified to becoming emphatic and dangerous in a split second and that completely gets you hooked and fascinated. On rewatch, I noticed more things that elevated his performance. For instance, if you look at his eyes as he's smiling at the sight of the Dalek, you can see the intuitive rage and hatred towards this supposedly 'poor' creature. Also, him saying "fantastic" afterward is absolutely bone-chilling because he saying that line whilst enjoying watching someone suffer in pain regardless of who it is; he completely owns that scene. He's not just regurgitating his lines, he's adding more to the lines given to him. I find it peculiar that you found that scene underwhelming whereas I thought it was indicative of everything great about acting and storytelling imo.
+
Totally agreed. One of Doctor Who's finest moments
Havent seen the scene a long time but eccelstons subtile repressed anger coming out really makes the scene very memorable, and looks realistic which makes the dalek more real too.
Some of the best moments in the Time War Myth Arc were any moment Eccleston was talking to the Dalek where he foams at the mouth saying “Why don’t you just die”
“You would make a good Dalek”
I think that scene is meant to be slightly off... it's the first time we see the Doctor so overcome that he genuinely lets his anger show... it's literally out of character
Denni Wintyr no... no it’s not. Please learn what out of character means.
I know exactly what it means. If you read what I wrote you'd see that I was talking about the character that the Doctor portrays to others *in the series*, not the character of the Doctor in & of itself.
Just as real people can be referred to as acting out of character, so can a character.
But the hidden darker sides are part of his character, he is broken inside and the scene exposes that.. Its exploring and fleshing out his character.
Yeah, that's what I said
Acting out of character doesn't equal to badly developing a character. The greatest characters are contradictory on all fronts because so are we all. We're constantly living battles within ourselves about where our values, principles and priorities lie. This is exactly the point of this scene: showing that there is a part of the Doctor, well hidden, well kept secret, that feels his anger is validated. It is out of character because his general demeanor is entirely different, but it is not badly developing a character, as it only makes the Doctor more believable and understandable, even through threading the fine line of being an alien being.
Hope i helped clarify Denni's thoughts, y'all have a beautiful weekend and merry holidays
This is my favorite Eccleston story. When I was able to watch series 1 originally, I skipped to "Dalek" because that was the story I was most interested in, and how the new Doctor interacted with a Dalek was going to let me know best how I'd like the series overall. I cried, it was so well done. The Doctor's emotional journey, the DALEK's emotional journey, and Rose's compassion were so well played. And the taking down of every trope made me grin over and over as the episode continued. I can see where people would think Eccleston's confrontation with the Dalek could be out of character, but to me, it looks like a lot of bottled up emotions all bursting out at once. It's a counterpoint to the last televised Dalek story, McCoy's Remembrance of the Daleks, where the Doctor is played just as dark and full of emotion, but it's far more calculated and deliberately cruel to the Daleks, especially the one left behind at the end.
That being said, I am one of those fans who does find the Daleks' design adorable, and I can often be found at cons asking people who have full-size replicas if I can very lightly hug their Daleks and get pictures with them. I know they aren't meant to be cuddly, cute things, but the aesthetics are more toward the cute, for me, than the dangerous, the way the Cybermen look. And that, I think, is one of the ways the Daleks work so well. How is an over-sized salt shaker with a plunger and a whisk, with candy dots on its skirt, the most feared creature in the universe? It's too cute. And that's where it gets you.
I think my favorite part of the episode is the final confrontation between the Doctor and the Dalek, when Rose takes the Dalek's side as it reaches toward the sunlight, and then the empathy shared between the two survivors of the Time War. Rose is so shaken by the Dalek's request for her final order for it, but she agrees to it anyway.
What is your take on the Dalek's character arc in the episode? Apologies if you said already and I didn't catch it. Thank you for the review!
One Dalek = Terrifying.
Two Daleks = Scary.
Six Daleks = Goofy.
An army of Daleks = Rubbish.
Long time viewer; first time commenter. I just wanted to say that I'm rather baffled that you, as I hear it, disliked the iconic scene with the 9th and the Dalek. Starting Doctor Who a few years back, that was pretty much the scene that sold me on the show. :)
I don't think he disliked the scene, he just though Eccleston's performance was slightly off. Personally, I don't have any issues with the scene.
Daniel RCSP9 I was not convinced with COG's argument that his performance was off IMO.
Craydog Doctordroobe Nor me tbh
The doctor was somewhat off because of the time war trauma, but the acting of eccelston was brilliant. I thought it was just the doctor being confused and shocked and slightly crazy.
To me, the Dalek Scene was the moment that divided Classic Who from New Who. It showed the raw out-of-control emotion the Doctor was feeling at that point.
So it was off, but it was supposed to be.
I liked the subtle nod for the cyberman head I don't why I like that detail
"I watched it happen. I MADE it happen!" is one of my favourite Who lines of all time. It shows such malicious satisfaction in genocide that we really get a sense of just how damaged the Doctor is at this point.
It's a decent line, but I hate the cut in the middle of it to get the Dalek's viewpoint. I find it needlessly jarring and I think it weakens the moment.
What made it great as a fan of the classic series is one word: ELEVATE!
I thought the idea behind those scenes was to portrait the Doctor as "off" as you say, it really looks like he was caught off guard and is not thinking clearly, it's all a visceral reaction. Basically... you look at him like Rose is watching him in this episode.
It's interesting to hear those points about Eccleston. I watched it kinda recently and didn't notice anything like that. Still makes my top 2 for 9 with Empty Child, but i do think that Empty Child/Doctor Dances is the better written story
Elijah Handley yeah definitely agree that it's by far 2nd but clearly Empty Child/Doctor Dances is number 1
1. Empty Child/Doctor Dances
2. Dalek
3. Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways
Yeah that's the definitive top 3. I don't think many would disagree tbh, apart from Father's Day fans
@@clara_bandicoot Yeah, I don't mind Father's Day, but it's certainly not as good as some say. The one I think is quite under rated is Boomtown.
Father's Day is honestly my least favourite episode of that series. It's just too predictable. I used to think Unquiet Dead was the worst for being dull, but I find myself surprisingly entertained by it on a rewatch despite some questionable lines (9 telling Rose she looked beautiful was really forced). Father's Day I honestly struggle to get through
Some things introduced about the Daleks in this story seem to have been dropped from subsequent episodes, such as the force field and the center portion containing the Dalek's gun being able to rotate 360°.
This was the episode that had me completely hooked on Doctor Who.
What I love about this episode is that for the first time the Doctor comes to terms with the Time War and what it did to him, how it changed him.
I loved this episode and thought Eccleston's acting towards the Dalek was that of a character in turmoil, being basically ambushed by his past, he was "out to sync" and feeling guilt, rage, fear and who knows (pun intended) what other feelings crashing around in him. To then be told by this enemy 'made flesh' that he would make a good Dalek would have been such a knife to both of his hearts.
The one thing that spoils this episode for me was when Rose and the geeky guy just stood there when the Dalek said "elevate". They just watched it come up the stairs slooooowly. If they had done what any other human would do - turn tail and run like crazy - then Rose would have made it through the door without breaking into a sweat (but there goes the beautiful/tragic/triumphant ending I guess). I see this a lot in movies, something happens and the characters sit/stand around watching and talking instead of running. This annoys me probably much like the historical characters annoy you.
I love Van Statton. I love his facial expressions when the Doctor talks down to him. He s like a kid getting shouted at by his parents.
Hell yes
One of the best episodes
One of the best. And the practically only good New Who one with Daleks as antagonists.
This is one of the few episodes that really sticks out when I think about the things I loved most in Dr who.
The voice saves the dalaks for me. If that wasn't done so well they would just be impossible for me to take seriously.
Still my favourite episode of all time, only ones that come close are probably The War Games and Heaven Sent.
Eccleston’s performance was spot on here, and so was Piper’s. The Doctor goes through a series of emotions when he meets the Dalek (starts with kindness, then surprise, terror, relief, anger, hatred and sadness) and Eccleston delivers all these brilliantly. I really like how his countenance changes due to the Dalek’s words. The Dalek almost appears like his conscience. When he is reminded that he destroyed two races, he gets sad and thoughtful. When he is called a “coward” for being the only one alive, he gets pissed off and tries to mock back but he also feels loneliness and survivors guilt. And he doesn’t like the Dalek telling him that they are the same, so deep inside he knows that the Dalek has a point.
I like the subtle facial expressions that Eccleston delivers (for example his lip twitching when he says that the Time Lords are all dead, or his eyes twitching when the Dalek tells him that he would make a good Dalek). I didn’t find the transitions between the different emotions too artificial, I think that his emotions are always a natural response to what the Dalek is saying to him.
I totally agree with you about Eccleston's performance with the Dalek. It does seem a little off and a bit extreme. It certainly makes you feel that they must be pretty dangerous for him to be that upset about them, but still slightly off. Being that all of the Time War stuff was written during Matt Smith's run, I can understand why he might not have been able to connect as well. I'm sure his performance would be different if he had that knowledge. Also, I wish this had been a two-parter and not the Slitheen story.
This is my favorite Dalek story of all time from either the Classic or Modern Era. I would prefer Jubilee, but I liked the ending to this one more
The episode that made the Daleks a terrifying threat. Eccleston was at his finest here. Not even Tennant could potray the anger and raw hatred the Doctor expresses towards the Dalek as well as Eccleston did. This episode is definitely the best episode of series 1 and one of the best Dalek stories of all-time.
I think the acting in this episode is great. It's really the first time we see the PTSD the doctor has because of the time war, and to me the acting makes me feel it.
Why is it that I always notice the nails?
They can be an eye draw.
Van statten not van Stratton
This episode is great because it is not the usual childish “100% good guy defeats 100% bad guy” story. The characters are complex and have depth, and it is clear that both are going through internal turmoil. The story touches one of the most difficult human conflicts: “revenge or forgiveness?”. How much can we hate/harm a bad person before becoming a bad person ourselves? The doctor gets slightly redeemed at the end when he faces the Dalek and says to it: “I wasn’t…”. But he needed a little help from a friend. On the other side, the Dalek preferred to die rather that change into something that it was not supposed to be. I found this last part quite interesting.
I'm definitely going to have to give it a rewatch sometime soon. I don't remember anything being off in the transitions. My memory is a smooth, perfect flow from sympathy for a hurt creature to stark terror at the thought of what it will do to terrifying, angry, vengeful hatred all in a span of a few minutes. Interesting.
My favorite Ninth Doctor episode
I know what you mean about performance in the chained up dalek scene you can hear Chris say "in one second" as if it was forced out
In McCoy's era, we finally had Daleks that could hover up a flight of stairs and the energy weapon packed a hell of a whallop. It was nice to see that the reintroduction of the Daleks (in general) in 'Dalek' built on that and made them even more potent.
Not only does the updated design have aspects that look more heavily-armoured and tank-like, the ability to rotate the mid-section 360-degrees and fire at targets off to the side and behind it (like an actual tank turret) made it seem all the more imposing and terrifying. (Too bad they didn't continue demonstrating that capacity in later episodes).
The fact that the Dalek demonstrated its ability to take out a room full of armed people with two shots - one at the sprinkler system and then one at the wet floor - also added a new level of menace.
Re the comment about not needing to move fast, the word we're looking for here is "inexorable". Run all you like, that thing will tirelessly track you down and destroy you. It doesn't need to rush; nothing will stop it and it's got you in its sights.
They did a great job on re-establishing the Daleks and it's one of my favourite episodes.
Honestly this is easily my favorite doctor who episode OF ALL TIME
I see your point but I don't agree. That sequence was fragmented, I think, for a purpose. It was the first time it showed how damaged the Doctor was. It laid the foundation for us to see the extreme effect the Time War had on him. Which made The Doctor Dances, for me, more powerful. Even when I rewatch the episode, that is what I get from it, IMHO. But now I need to check out Jubilee.
Well at least it’s not as bad as 11s first interaction with the Daleks
My main issue with Dalek is the whole "you would make a good Dalek" thing. The episode tries so hard to make me condemn the Doctor's hatered and fails. It's like saying that if you hate the Nazis for starting WWII, you're just as bad as them.
That said, i still like it, i just don't see it as a masterpiece
kiarash608 yeah, when you think about it it’s like there just trying to add drama. Also then they brought “you would make a good dalek “ back in into a dalek.
Stripey Arse that, but also the “you would make a good Dalek” line is less comparing someone who hates nazi’s to the nazi’s themselves and more comparing someone who’s trying to kill the last nazi in the universe when the last nazi is it’s own race. It’s still hardly a comparison but it’s closer. Besides, the Daleks are totally fucked in the head, of course they would make that connection whether purposefully to mess with the Doctor or in my mind they actually think it’s true. That what the Doctor does is comparable to what the Daleks have done and attempted to do over the years.
I disagree. Both nine and the Dalek are put into unique positions in this episode with the Dalek able to empathize thanks to the shot of human DNA. While Nine is dealing with PTSD from the time war and driven by hatred for the Daleks. So the Dalek in this story is made to be more human and Nine is made to be more Dalek. The effect this has is that when being called "the same" as the Dalek he doesn't entirely deny it and instead says "Exterminate" before trying to electrocute the Dalek to death. That's a really fucked up thing for the Doctor to do. No mercy, no second chances, he just tries to murder a defenseless (and honestly pitiful) alien.
Later he is seen aiming down the barrel of a plasma cannon at the Dalek with Rose standing between them. For a brief moment, I wondered if he might actually gun down Rose to try and kill the Dalek. But the spark of humanity burns bright in him (as represented by Rose) and he comes to his senses saying "I couldn't... I wasn't..."
During the "good Dalek" sequence Nine says "Why don't you finish the job, and make the Daleks extinct? Rid the universe of your filth! Why don't you just *die*?" What's interesting here is the choice of dialogue, 'ridding the universe of filth' is how a Dalek would describe their killings and 'making lesser species extinct' is their ultimate goal. On top of this, the way Eccleston yells is similar to the Daleks who always speak in high pitched screams. So really there are a lot of parallels between the Doctor and the Dalek in this story.
Not really. The daleks are a xenophobic race who believe themselves superior to all others and due to having all emotions but hate subdued or removed, attempt to remove what they see as filth from the universe. In other words actively commit genocide.
The doctor hates Daleks, he believes they are abominations and is willing to commit genocide to remove them. See the similarities? This is not too say they are completely identical but i don't believe that was ever the intention of the episode, instead it was to point out the similarities between the too.
I believe that was the point to give lie to the doctors follow up line "you and i are nothing alike" (i believe he says something along those lines) when in many ways they are, they both kill, hate a species not their own and are both willing to commit genocide a fact repeatedly illustrated by the doctor episode to episode. There are also key differences but that isn't the point, viewers would/should be aware of this but the similarities likely fly under the radar hence why it was pointed out.
I mean, in that episode the Doctor was mainly showing himself up to be a hateful being bent on destruction... so I think the Dalek had a point.
you know what i realised about the first series of modern dr who? most of the episodes are set on or centre around earth in someway. its either modern day earth, earth in a different time period or a space station orbiting earth
That's one reason why I personally don't like them. They're just an earth (well, mostly just London) centric soap opera.
This episode is the one that really hooked me to the modern Dr Who series.
I think it's because going back to that episode after seeing the doctor face down armies of Daleks in later episodes, it's kind of strange seeing him losing his composure over just one solitary one.
I know this is an old & odd video to leave my first comment on, but I recently found your channel and am doing some catch up! :) I'm wondering now, watching your thoughts about some of Eccleston's acting being off with the Dalek, if it might be because of the shirtless scene he had to do in this episode. Eccleston has recently revealed that he's been anorexic all his life and struggled with body dysmorphia. I wouldn't be surprised if that was interfering with his acting here, he would've been dealing with a lot of mental and emotional turmoil.
I always liked the scene with the Dalek, especially after learning about the history with the time war. See, looking back on it now. The 9th doctor is a lot like the 12th doctor later in his run. But hes walking the walk because he desperately wants to. It's not "am I a good man", its "I have to be a good man". And maybe that's projecting from the future but that's kindof the reading I have of Eccleston as the 9th. After the time war, he doesnt ask if hes a good man, he desperately throws himself into being one. He helps people, he has fun, and more than anything else he looks for those days where yes, everybody lives. And that's why he has moments where like, when he has the opportunity to destroy the daleks he refuses to do it. "I'd rather be a coward every time". But overall hes had it fairly easy till now as 9. Not that it hasnt gotten serious, but hes been able to be the good man he wants to be. And then a Dalek is standing in front of him and all the rage and fury of the time war comes back to him, but he doesnt want to be that kind of man anymore, but he just cant help it seeing the last survivor, still dangerous, of a genocidal race that destroyed the time lords. And so when he shouts "why don't you just die" and even gloats about his own act of genocide, even he doesnt like that hes saying it, or rather he wont in hindsight. And that hindsight starts to kick in with the line "you would make a good Dalek". Ugh I just love that whole scene
This episode genuinely scared me as a kid - no Dalek episode came close to this, at least in making them actually frightening for the viewer.
"Dalek" aired *thirteen* years ago.🤔
I completely agree with your comments on Eccleston. When I first saw it I thought the Doctor doesn't react like that. He normally makes fun of the Daleks. Note: I have watched every episode of old Who several times. However, after seeing what the time war was about later in the series I can see why he reacted extremely. I think without the back story it was difficult for Eccleston to switch gears from the funny, competent and intelligent persona to over the top rage.
I know what you mean about the ninth doctor's more volatile scenes. It just didn't feel like the Doctor, in a way, just an angry human. Sylvester's cool, badass confrontation with the supreme Dalek in 1988 seems more like the Doctor, for example
I THINK I get what you were trying to say about Eccleston ... even though I don't really agree.
Sometimes during his run as the Doctor, he seemed a bit self-conscious when delivering dialogue ... simply because he's not used to performing in a show such as this. He would pull too many crazy expressions, or deliver the comedy with a lack of subtlety ... I think he even said himself in an interview that if he could go back he would ease up on the zany moments a little bit.
I've always believed his confrontation with the Dalek was THE MOMENT New-Who came alive ... the moment we all felt the show was capable of being REALLY special moving forward. Watching it again all these years later, there are one or two moments where it could have been a little more polished ... but I give Eccleston all the credit in the world for making these villains a genuine threat again ... His fear and rage made us ALL feel that way.
Great, l finally have a proper place to mention this: I've never found a Gif or an isolated clip of the Dalek saying "You Lie!" Even though it would be a perfect response in this age of misinformation and half-truths.
~ TDG
Great review thank you :) - it was so good to have doctor who back on the tv after such a long time in 2005 - there were some good fun episodes to kick off the revival that were truly great and a bit of fun but this was the one that turned a nice light nostalgic tv revival into essential viewing at the time and cranked things up to 11 - in other words this is when shit got crazy real!!!!
I found the points you made very interesting and quite insightful into my overall thought on the episode. In my opinion, this is an episode with gravitas and is really one of the top tier in series one (I must say here I love series one to bits).
However, strangely, this is one episode I find myself skipping on rewatch for no solid reason, but it just not being as good on rewatch. I found that every time I watch it again I find things to nitpick, watch it with less enthusiasm or just not get absorbed into the story as much.
The first time I watched it I actually had tears near the end and was fully invested, but this sense of attachment to the story line is weakening on every rewatch.
I know this is quite childish, but because I want to remember it as a great episode, I try to avoid it in order to maintain my previous memories of it??? I hope it is understandeable, but I just don't want it to go down from the pedestal I putit on xD
Another great video!!!
ziripond i get what you're saying. That's exactly how i feel about most of Tom Hanks movies. Excellent movies. Not to be missed. But not for rewatch. I think we all have our own individual lists of tv/film that fits this category.
Finally catching up on this series of videos, and I know exactly what you mean about Eccleston. I thought he got a little too angry without it being tempered with anything more complex. I chalked it up that Eccleston's doctor was a bit different from the other modern Doctors, and the Daleks are really his blind spot as far as compassion or empathy goes. Plus he was still traumatized by the time war as you said. Still, it seemed a little too shouting and not enough behind it. I wonder if the behind the scenes stuff that caused him to quit were already becoming an issue and it was throwing him.
I really love this episode. It's easily my third favorite episode, behind World Enough And Time and Heaven Sent. Eccleston's performance is top notch and thought provoking, Rose is about as good as she gets, the Dalek is terrifying, and the score is on point. 10/10 all the way. (I will concede that the supporting cast isn't really memorable, but for me the goods make up for it.)
I understand what you said about Eccleston in the scene with the Dalek, but I don't really see it. Strange.
By the way, great video! I'm really enjoying this series.
Hey, I was just wondering if you've seen another BBC series from a few years ago, Merlin. If not, it's brilliant and would highly recommend it, probably putting it on par with Doctor Who.
omg Merlin is so fantastic! One of my favorites.
Great review. It’s nice to see an opinion on Dalek that differs from the normal “it was the BEST thing ever!”
PS: I’m sorry, I’m OCD, and I can’t help but point out it was Van *Statten* - and you said Van *Stratten*.
You're not the only one to mention that.
Dalek was were Series One hit its stride for me. I prefer Father's Day and the Empty Child two parter.
I saw the offness of the Doctor meeting the Dalek coming from the Doctor not being able to keep up his veneer of aloofness and goofiness anymore and his just can't hide from what he did anymore at that moment.
I rewatched it a while back and while I did like it a lot, and even on my first watch I didn't know about the Daleks and I was terrified of this thing. But I do remember thinking it felt like a cliff notes version of something so there's that.
How did u and Liz meet?
what do you think of the news that james gunn might be writing and directing suicide squad 2.
You never done a review for season 8 episode 6 the caretaker
Since I never watched dr who classic I didn't know what a dalek was. This really let us know who the daleks are and why the dr was so damn afraid.
My main complaint is that the ending seems so weird to me now that I know who the Daleks are. Human DNA actually changed him so much?
I saw original Daleks moping around a local town centre. This was before the show revival, probably around 2002. The show had been off air for over ten years. Very odd.
I sort of agree with you about Eccleston. But most of the scene was spot
On for me! Although there’s definitely parts that are off.
If I may add a viewpoint here on the Ecclestone scene you refer to. I get exactly what you mean - and I think it certainly was an odd delivery - but Chris thinks quite deeply about every scene and every line - i suspect the reason it comes out this way is because what he says is in conflict with his subtext... if you remember that earlier on i the scene he is in absolute panic - confronted with the very horror of his PTSD so to speak. Once he realises it is shackled and weaponless he attempts to show courage - but it is so out of the Doctors character to literally torture another creature - even he feels at odds with himself - so he is 'acting' this way to hide his fear and also to experience what it must be like to 'be a Dalek'and inflict pain. I think that is what Ecclestone is portraying in the performance but may not quite have hit the target fully for all to get the impact of it. Try watching the scene again with that 'sadist' dabbling mindset - you may see the 'acting' is him 'acting' in order to experience something at odds with the Doctor..... remember even Rose asks him 'what are you turning into?'- even she doesnt recognise this Doctor.... and i think thats what he is going for.
I think I get what you're saying, they way Eccleston played the scene changed for me after watching the 'War' Doctor.
The type of rage was wrong for me it was too hot. When the Doctor is in pain he's kind of cold and clamps down on his emotions - maybe for fear of what they may lead him to do - but he usually has that focused menace; and let's face it he would be in so much pain after what he did to his fellow Time Lords. Of all the versions of the doctor Eccleston was the one that had ice in his veins, even his humour had a certain detachment to it, if Tennant or Smith had played that scene that way it would have fitted better.
Twelfth Doctor: "Do you know what it means when something is chasing you very slowly? It means there's a reason that they don't have to run."
I guess this is an overall great episode with many flaws you only notice on rewatch, but then they start bugging you. This might still be one of the best episodes of the show so far, but I'm rather cautious on rewatching it because I'm afraid that might weaken my oppinion on it. Basically I can identify with most things you said, especially what you said about the reputation of this episode.
I always forget that Osiris is in this episode.
I think Ecclestons performance is fine - but I think it seems jarring because you don't ever really see the Dr angry and scared - this is really one of the only times you see that side of his character.
Eccleston also had issues with the production team during filming of this season - it wouldn't surprise me to find out this was one of the episodes were things started going downhill (with hindsight of course).
I recall really liking 9s scenes with Dalek’s but it has been years since I’ve seen it.
9 dealt with survivors guilt with running away and humor. At that moment, he couldn't. The past, it was right there. We didn't get the transition of the laugh it off bad boy rouge sideways walking up to the threat and then going batshit. We got the going bat shit only. We all know that person who deals with tram the way Eclstion played 9 and the way 9 was written. The ticks that make that defense mechanism didn't fall away one at a time when the abuser was confronted, as would happen in real life, they just vanished. That instant evaporation says everything else was a narcissistic act. And that? That doesn't feel organic for the Doctor as a whole or 9 in particular. Granted that gives perfect impact to the "You would have made a good Dalek" line, but damn it, the pissed off pepper pot is supposed to be an abuser saying the victim is just like them, they should be a warning not to become them, not them being right.
Still a damn good episode.
I think the comments about Eccleston's confrontation with the Dalek is fair. However, apart from Capaldi, I can't see any of the other new who Doctors playing it any smoother. Going from Fear to Joy to Rage, that's a tough range to pull off that quickly.
I think Series 1 is quite solid overall (my least favorites are Aliens of London/World War Three, The Long Game and Boom Town) and Dalek is one os the strongest episodes. I think what may happen is the amount of times you've seen the episodes (the more you watch it, lesser the weight); I would give easily an 9/10, because I think the best part is between the Dalek and the Doctor, and the rest of the episode goes for a straight "base under siege" template of the classic era of the show.
I also think this could be a great theme for a video: top 10 "one-time only" writers Modern Who had and should return. Robert Shearman could hands down be on this list. :)
Council, I get where you're coming from. It is OK to look at something you held on a pedestal and realize it's not as wonderful as you had built it up to be. (that happened to me with more than a few shows from my childhood and early adolescence)
That said, on this particular point, I'm not sure I get what you mean. On rewatching Nine's initial scene with the Dalek, he feels manic, schizophrenic almost, but I think that's by design. Whether or not the transitions mesh well, each emotion delivered is, in and of itself, incredibly well conveyed. I really felt the pain and rage, the loneliness and vindictiveness that Nine was feeling, and in the end that was all I could have wanted from those scenes.
Maybe hindsight has soured me, but I didn't care for Adam here or in the following episode. Rose shone, though, in a way I don't think she often got to. It's this version of the character that I can see the Doctor carrying a torch for for as long as he did...empathetic and kind, brave and forgiving, but with a mind and will of her own, able to challenge the Doctor and be the best of what a Companion is. This episode, for me, cemented why the Doctor needs Companions long before the end of Tennant's run.
Daleks basically get inverse treatment from here on in. To know how Daleks should be treated they should just go back here.
I saw the same thing in the Eccleston scene on my rewatch. The scene is still quite good and full of emotion, but something was off in the delivery that made it a little choppy.
Some of the editing doesn't help. I kind of hate the cut that's literally in the middle of "I watched it happen, I made it happen."
I thoroughly enjoy your videos, although the camera slowly wobbling left and right makes me feel a bit queezy.
It seems that there is some form of image stabilisation that focuses on you, and it makes the frame move left and right when you move slightly.
Other than that, great vids
The worst part of the episode was the title.
I get why they did it given the themes of the episode and it works in that context, but I REALLY wish that they hadn't opened up the suit and showed us what the Daleks look like inside. I would have liked the mystery to have lived longer than not even a full episode.
It's no big secret, we've seen the Daleks outside their casings several times in the classic series. Their first story even gave some hints as to what they'd mutated into from their original, humanoid forms... Besides that, I think it works to let us pity this creature which, less than an hour ago (in-story) was callously murdering hundreds of people.
That said, I can't begrudge your opinion when looking in from a New!Who perspective, even if it wasn't my view on the matter (this was my first full Dalek episode as well as the first time I saw their real form).
The thing I love about Dalek is the Doctor's hatred towards the Daleks, it's done really well in this episode and the finale
I'm curious to why you are wearing nail polish... Is it just from the sn 11 ep 1 review??
He pretty much always does. It's his little dash of femininity. Though often they are more neutral colors.
@@ZipplyZane Oh... Never noticed... Then again haven't watched the channel for a while
For me Dalek was Eccleston's 2nd best doctor who (empty child/the doctor dances is by far number 1) but I wouldn't put it into my top list of new who. It was one of the best if not the best episode with Daleks though. Probably like 15th on my personal favourite episodes. I've got an unusual top 10 compared to most.... 😂
What's your favorite Eccleston episode?
I don't remember the name, but mine is "Everybody lives!"
ZipplyZane empty child/ doctor dances. Which is the everybody lives episode
Should do a video on top 10 never used sub plots in doctor who (Number 1 doctors daughter)
I like this episode a lot, but I remember when I first saw it, I felt that some of the 9th Doctor’s interactions with the Dalek felt a bit forced to me.
nice jacket bro :) Eccleston?
That's the idea.
I think i have an idea of why the doctor seems off. I dont think the doctor is angry at all in this scene, i think hes ashamed. He is uncomfortable in that room, and trapped with the only evidence in the universe of his, at the time, recent genocide. He is not angry, hes afraid and ashamed but has to try and act tough because he cant let rose see that.
I think the only part that was really off about Eccleston’s performance was the angry yelling, it really did seem like he wasn’t quite sure what he was mad about.
Other than that the rest of the scene was amazing, including the little sadistic glee the Doctor got seeing it suffer.
That's kind of it. I mean, I contrast that to when he's yelling at it through the monitor and it builds to the "Why don't you just DIE?!?" line and that's so much better.
Council of Geeks Totally agree, that last part was amazing
Could you please do a list of the best episodes by one-off writers? :D
Huh... hadn't thought of that. I'd have to look into the writing line up of the show more closely.
Council of Geeks cool :D I only found your channel recently but I love your videos :)
This is the very first episode I tried to watch and I'm not sure why but I felt like it was too much "something" and decided it wasn't for me. I didn't get hooked on it until The Weeping Angels I watched because someone else watched it and then went back.
Maybe it was the yelling at the Dalek that did it the first time because it's uncomfortable for me
I didn't like this story at all, and thought the Doctor's behaviour in it was uncharacteristic of him (Tom Baker might have refused to do it!). However, it's interesting to hear your take on it, and I accept that it may have reintroduced the Daleks successfully.
I don't know if this has been said, but I think the bit of animosity between eccleston and the BBC sometimes showed in his scenes. Don't get me wrong, he's my first doctor and I love him to death, but sometimes it feels like he was a bit resentful.
(Edit grammatical errors)
I had a similar experience when re watching this one w/ a new fan.
My main issue was with Van Stratten, his motivation just made no sense.
It made sense to me, there are people that self-centered, greedy, and possessive irl.
Review Faction Paradox and Lawrence Miles
The best Dalek episode of all the new series.
Everything with the Daleks after the first season was awful.
The thing you said about Echelston being "weird" and "off"... isn't that kind of the point? Like his hatred for this thing turning him into something we don't recognize?
It's not the anger that's off, it's the line delivery and emotional transition.
It ain't no Jubilee but it's still so damn good.
Top 5 episodes period