Rate Dr Who episode 6

[Plane Sailing]

I thought it was a great episode. Far too oftent the Daleks had been turned into mooks (especially once Davros was introduced in genesis of the Daleks), this was a splendid example of Dalek deadliness - very intelligent, completely ruthless, and with the potential to wipe out Utah city just because it is populated by not-Daleks.

The Doctors raving response to the Dalek was great too - first when he recognises that he is trapped in the room with one, then when he realises it is helpless and he wants to try to kill it. At one point he is ranting and has spittle on his chin, which was a nice touch.

I thought the visual effect of the forcefield the Dalek had was very good ("will I be able to dodge bullets, Morpheous?" "You won't have to, Neo").

Overall great ep.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

Interesting bit of trivia I just discovered (may not be new to many of the Brits here)- apparently the man who did the voice of the Dalek in this episode (Nicholas Briggs), also wrote and directed a trilogy of movies based on Doctor Who villains- Auton, Auton 2, and Auton 3. The Autons were the villains in the first episode of the new season of Doctor Who, and Nicholas Briggs also did the voice of their creator, the Nestene, in that episode.

The only spinoff of Doctor Who I was aware of until this point was a pilot episode for a series featuring Sarah-Jane Smith and K-9 as an intrepid reporter and her dog. U.N.I.T. is involved in the Auton trilogy, too.

(A bit more investigation reveals that Nicholas Briggs is connected to a series- radio?- called the Stranger, which is supposed to be a Doctor Who "inspired"- ie, changed the name- series). Interesting.

 

[WizarDru]

A bit more investigation reveals that Nicholas Briggs is connected to a series- radio?- called the Stranger, which is supposed to be a Doctor Who "inspired"- ie, changed the name- series). Interesting.

I've never seen them, but I have seen the videos of the Stranger for sale at a local comic shop.

There has been a cottage industry of not-quite Doctor Who material for a couple of decades, now. The Stranger was a series of videos that came out in 1992-1995, staring Colin Baker as the Stranger and Nicola Bryant (yes, his companion Peri) as the Stranger's companion, Miss Brown (not coincidentally, the same last name as Peri). Essentially, the Stranger is treated as if he actually was the Sixth Doctor who changed his name, primarily for legal reasons.

There have been a set of Doctor Who related series, such as the Airzone Solution (which starred four former Doctors, no less). The Autons series has been mentioned, and I think there are a few others. There have been about a bazillion audio plays on the BBC, staring just about every currently-living actor who's played the Doctor, and quite a few who hadn't, such as Richard E. Grant. Heck, there's even been webcomics, and a slew of Doctor Who novels.

Hardcore fans have always had a steady trickle of material, if that's what they were looking for. But nothing on the scale of the new show, bless it's heart.

Is it wrong that my favorite show on television is one that I have to download from the UK?

 

[Goblin Lover]

Can you tell me what colour Dalak it was? thanks

 

[Morrus]

Can you tell me what colour Dalak it was? thanks

It was gold.

 

[merztrumpet]

In one of the Tom Baker Dalek episodes, or possibly the Peter Davison one I mentioned earlier. They showed that there was an organic component to the Daleks for sure, underneath all of the armor. I can't recall offhand where it was shown, though. Might have been in one of the Davros episodes.

You're might be thinking of Genesis of the Daleks when Tom Baker was told by the Time Lords to go back in Skaro's past to change the Daleks evolution so they're less threatening. It shows the creatures before they are to enter the armor.

If memory serves, a Dalek got "blowed up real good" in "The Five Doctors," when the First Doctor managed to get the Dalek that was chasing him (and grown-up Susan) to shoot itself in the reflecting hallways with all of those mirrors. Its metal casing fell away, and there was the organic "brain with wavy tentacles" flailing around.
Johnathan

Also, Remembrance of the Daleks with Sylvester McCoy showed a quick view of the inside of a Dalek when Ace used nitro-9 to blow the top off of one and started beating it with a bat 'blessed' by the Hand of Omega.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

You're might be thinking of Genesis of the Daleks when Tom Baker was told by the Time Lords to go back in Skaro's past to change the Daleks evolution so they're less threatening. It shows the creatures before they are to enter the armor.

I think that's the one. I don't recall whether they showed the tentacles and eyeball or not, though.

 

[sniffles]

That was a really excellent episode. Good character development, plenty of tension. They made the Dalek look less cheesy than in the past - no more wobbly top! Having the gun and plunger portion rotate independently of the rest was a great touch. It's too bad the greedy billionaire had to be an American, but I guess someone has to be the villain - at least they didn't make him look like Bill Gates.

I'm really excited to see more development about the Time War. I think they may be taking some of this from the BBC Doctor Who novels, but I haven't read all of them.

I'm quite liking Christopher Eccleston. I am so bummed that he's not staying in the role. And Billie Piper isn't bad either. I think it's working quite well to have a bit more emotional relationship between the Doctor and his companion, and not to keep them in such a personal vacuum.