Series 1 - Christopher Eccleston - Dalek by Kristy

I was really excited when we chose ‘Dalek’ as the first modern Doctor Who that we would review as it is an episode that is very close to my heart, not only was it the first episode I saw with Christopher Eccleston but it was also my favourite episode from his series and my very first episode with the Daleks. 

There are many things that are simply irresistible about this episode but the biggest thing for me is seeing just how much damage the time war really did to the Doctor. Christopher Eccleston was a brilliant choice to bring the Doctor to life again, he is a fantastic actor and he really showed it in this story when he unleashed his anguish and anger on the imprisoned Dalek. 

The episode begins when the Doctor and Rose respond to a distress signal emanating from an underground bunker in Utah which houses a large collection of alien artefacts. The Doctor soon discovers that an old foe awaits far underground, a prisoner and the only living specimen in Henry Van Statten’s museum. 

The captured Dalek has been driven mad by a fall through time

and space, its armour is damaged, its energy is draining away and Van Statten’s men have been torturing it in the hope of eliciting a response to their questions. The Dalek is dying, yet when the Doctor is brought before it the Dalek breaks its pact of silence to call for his extermination.

The Doctor is visibly shocked to see a Dalek as he is under the impression that he had destroyed all of the Daleks when he ended the time war and destroyed his people. However as soon as he becomes aware that the Dalek is too weak to harm him he unleashes a wave of anger in a furious tirade in which he reveals that the Daleks are all gone, he tells ‘Metaltron’ that he will never receive another order from his masters and shouts that no one will be coming to answer the Dalek’s call for help because there is no one left. 

Then, in a very uncharacteristic show of fury, the Doctor attempts to kill what he believes is the last remaining Dalek by pulling levers on a machine that sends electric shocks through the body of the already dying alien. 

DOCTOR: We're not the same! I'm not (pause) No, wait. Maybe we are. You're right. Yeah, okay. You've got a point. 'Cause I know what to do. I know what should happen. I know what you deserve. Exterminate.
(The Doctor pulls a lever on a nearby console and the Dalek is lit up with electricity.)
DALEK: Have pity!
DOCTOR: Why should I? You never did.

Whilst the Doctor has been visiting the Dalek with Henry Van Statten Rose has made a new friend in Adam Mitchell, a young British technician who works for Van Statten analysing alien tech and attempting to learn how to use it. Rose and Adam decide to hack into the cameras of ‘The Cage’ where the Dalek is kept to see what is going on. Rose is horrified when she sees the Dalek being tortured and becomes even more concerned when the Doctor is nowhere to be seen, she insists that Adam take her to the cage straight away. 

Upon entering the cage, Rose attempts to comfort the Dalek; she assures it that her friend the Doctor will save it. The Dalek absorbs some of Rose’s DNA when she reaches out and touches it shell in the hope of showing that she cares. Having absorbed Rose’s DNA the dalek is revived; it breaks free of its chains, breaks out of the cell and uses energy from the base’s computer to repair its circuits and download information from the internet. The Internet confirms that Metaltron is indeed the last Dalek; it makes the decision to return to its prime objective, destroy everyone who isn’t Dalek. Adam and Rose find themselves beset by the enraged alien as it chases them through the corridors of the bunker; it even follows them up several flights of stairs.

Another wonderful thing about this episode is the way it showcases the true terror that is a Dalek and just how much damage one Dalek alone can create. Resourceful, relentless and tireless the Dalek moves through the bunker making short work of Van Statten’s guards who’s bullets melt before they even touch the Dalek’s shell. After watching the Dalek take out an entire room full of guards with one calculated blast from its weapon the Doctor knows that he must lock down the bunker, Rose and Adam are nearly at the exit but they still haven’t quite made it.

Rose finds herself stuck in the in vault with the murderous machine, she is terrified and the Doctor is devastated that he has not saved her; however the Dalek doesn’t kill her…

Absorbing Rose’s DNA did more than just revive the Dalek, it changed it. The Dalek finds itself conflicted as its now human side fights its Dalek thirst to kill. Knowing that it is alone, the last of its race has affected the Dalek in a way that the doctor really had not expected. Rose leads Metaltron to the highest part of the bunker where it blasts a hole in the ceiling so that it can feel the sun’s warmth on its organic skin.

In a rather dark turn of events the Doctor arrives and stands with a gun pointed at the exposed and vulnerable Dalek. The Doctor with a gun is not something that is often seen, and the Doctor pointing a weapon at something so vulnerable is even more unusual, this is a true demonstration of the effect the Daleks have on him. His anger is palpable as is his fear, just one Dalek loose on earth could be enough to wipe out the entire human race and the Doctor is simply not prepared to let that happen. He tells Rose to step away so as he can shoot but she refuses.

The Doctor soon realises that Rose is right; he isn’t looking at a Dalek anymore but an entirely different and new species, part dalek and part human. There have been a lot of unexpected and inspirational moments in this episode but none quite as poignant as the moment when an entire audience of Doctor Who fans who have loved to hate the Daleks since the 1960s realised that they could actually feel sorry for one. Metaltron, the last Dalek and the only Dalek to absorb human DNA, was entirely alone in the world, in one fell swoop it had gone from a warrior awaiting orders to the only one of its kind, to not even knowing what it was anymore and every member of the audience felt its pain as it activated its self-destruct while Rose and the Doctor watched on in silence.  

This is a beautiful episode and a wonderful piece of writing which really captures vulnerability in the Daleks that you wouldn’t imagine exists, whilst delving into the darker side of the Doctor’s personality as he works hard to maintain his humanity. Rose definitely isn’t my favourite companion but in this episode she reminds us that the Doctor is old and may have become jaded but she is young and curious. Her fresh approach to life and the universe she is able to identify sadness in a creature that had tried very earnestly to take her life only moments before. Rose also shows strength and bravery in the face of an almost certain death proving herself as a strong and worthy companion for the Doctor. 

There are a few little Easter egg like references in this episode as well for classic doctor fans to look out for including some parallels with the  1965 episode 'The Space Museum' all present in the Museum like section of bunker which is where our story starts. The references are fleeting such as the presence of a classic cyberman head but it is a really nice little nod to the fans to see such iconic items present.

This episode is undeniably a 5/5 in my opinion.