Dalek (2005)

Review
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Review

This episode was first broadcast on April 30, 2005. A brief and somewhat spoiler-ish summary of the plot: the last Time Lord and the last Dalek enter. Only one of them leaves.

Season one is my favourite of the three new Doctor Who seasons that we've had so far, and Dalek is my favourite season one episode.

That doesn't mean that the episode is flawless. To get my biggest gripes out of the way:

• Henry van Statten, owner of the museum where the action takes place, is a bit of a cartoon cliché
• his assistant Adam Mitchell is a dweeb and taking him on as a companion is a bad idea, even if it is only for one episode

But on to the good news:

• it's an excellent story with great performances from the Doctor, Rose and, surprisingly, the Dalek
• and the most important part: unlike other great stories like 'The unquiet dead' or 'The empty child / The Doctor dances', this story could only ever work as a Doctor Who story. The Doctor's history with the Daleks that started back in 1963 with the second William Hartnell serial is an integral part of this episode, and yet the episode manages to take the 'the Doctor versus the Daleks' story line into an entirely new direction

My verdict:

A must-see.

More about Doctor Who

An introduction:
Doctor Who reviews: introduction

More "brilliant!" Doctor Who:
Doctor Who reviews: brilliant!

More new Doctor Who with Christopher Eccleston:
Doctor Who reviews: 2005

Similar stories:
Doctor Who reviews: alien invasion

Original version of this review:
07/12/31

More about this episode

Episode guides:
BBC Episode guide

Episode reviews:
Behind the sofa
Outpost Gallifrey

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