Genesis of the Daleks Part Five

The one where the Doctor gives Davros details of every Dalek defeat...

Forced to list the cause of every Dalek defeat so that Davros can programme his creations to counteract accordingly in the future, the Doctor mentions the events of The Dalek Invasion of Earth, as well as two adventures unseen on TV: a Dalek story set on Mars, and another taking place in the "space year 17,000" involving the planet Hyperon. A Dalek invasion of Mars sounds like a wonderful idea for a TV story, as it would undoubtedly involve the Ice Warriors too, and this has been touched upon in spin-off fiction, including the 1996 novel GodEngine. As for the Daleks' tussle with Hyperon, that's not really been expanded in spin-off fiction, although I'm sure it's only a matter of time until Big Finish make a four-disc box set out of it.

The thing about the Doctor relaying all of this future information is that, if Davros was to programme his Daleks accordingly, and so alter the course of future history (ie, the Dalek invasion of Earth succeeded), then the Doctor would no longer be able to tell Davros that they were defeated in the first place. It's one of those frustrating paradox things. Mind you, the Daleks would still come unstuck at some point in whichever their next encounter with the Doctor was in his timeline, so it's not a hard and fast cure-all, Mr Davros!

The discussion between the Doctor and Davros has passed into Doctor Who legend, and rightly so. For once, Tom Baker is outshone by his co-star, as Michael Wisher gives a riveting and chilling performance despite the handicap of a largely static mask and barely any physical movement. The extent of Davros's true madness becomes apparent when the Doctor challenges the Kaled scientist about possession of a killer virus, and Davros seems intoxicated by the very thought of having such power over all life in the universe. David Maloney directs the scene wonderfully, having Wisher trundle closer to camera as he imagines in his mind holding a glass capsule, and breaking the glass to release the deadly virus. When Wisher snaps his fingers shut, you can see Davros imagining doing it. It's a wonderful example of fine acting, because in that moment you're utterly consumed by the performance. You believe in it.

Davros's good is our evil. He believes that programming his Daleks to seek universal dominance over all things will lead to the abolition of war, and the rise of peace, basically because everybody else will be subjugated and have to do what the Daleks say. Davros's idea of the Daleks fighting for their survival has taken on a universal scale. He doesn't want the Daleks to simply rule Skaro. He wants them to rule everywhere.

The Doctor takes advantage of the crippled Davros by restraining his one working limb and threatening to switch off his life support. It's rather silly that Davros has just one easily flickable switch on his chair that turns off his life support system, a switch situated precariously close to his elbow, and very near the place he seems to like tapping his gnarled finger on the control board. But we all know that this "death switch" is just narrative shorthand, and the moment where Nyder creeps up behind the Doctor and socks him over the head is a surprise indeed. "What do you want done with this?" intones Nyder as he looks dispassionately down at the Doctor's prone form. Wonderful stuff.

Meanwhile, Gharman, Harry and Sarah have been rescued by Kavell and the Kaled Elite uprising, and a growing force of dissidents are gathering to attempt a "bloodless revolution" to overthrow Davros and destroy his killer Daleks. Gharman is a very naive leader, hoping that a bunch of scientists can overpower trained soldiers without having to kill, and indeed it's not possible. When we switch to Davros sitting alone in a dimly-lit laboratory, tapping his fingers as he plots, like a spider at the centre of its web, we hear the distant sound of machine gunfire. Gharman's wish for a bloodless revolution didn't last long at all.

Gharman's naivety continues when he and his fellow dissident leaders agree to gather together in the one room with Davros and Nyder to discuss terms. You'd have thought Gharman would be much warier of such liaisons after what happened to him in episode four on the lower levels, and it's clear that Davros is biding his time until he can strike the victorious blow. He appears to surrender, but insists that he meet the entire dissident council to field questions and have his own say. Gharman agrees. Gharman is a fool. Doesn't he wonder why Davros insists all of his enemies get together in one room? And doesn't he wonder where those Dalek fellas are...? Nevertheless, Michael Wisher continues to be amazing in his every scene, particularly the tense moment where he listens to Gharman's terms, then snaps: "Have you finished?", with a visible sneer.

Elsewhere, the Doctor has decided to commit genocide and blow up all of the Dalek mutants in the incubation chamber. Just like that. I know the Time Lord gave him permission, but is a genocidal Doctor the sort of hero we want? Yes, Daleks are A Bad Thing, but if the Doctor just goes round wiping out all of the evil species in the universe, he's not going to be the Dr Who I know and love any more...

The cliffhanger is one of the best and scariest of the era, with the Doctor lurching out of the incubation room with a Dalek mutant wrapped around his neck, strangling him to death. It's a violent, unsettling final image that producer Philip Hinchcliffe can be proud of, and television standards campaigner Mary Whitehouse would have abhorred.

By the way... Although Sarah and Harry have next to nothing to do (something largely true throughout the story really), the dynamic between Baker, Sladen and Marter is still evident, most clearly in the scene where the Doctor has a childish tantrum when he can't open the armoury locker. Harry hands him the electronic key, and Baker swings the locker door open in Marter's face, after which we see Harry shoot the Doctor a perturbed look! Harry also gets to dress up in Nazi-style Kaled military uniform, and it's a curious disappointment that he gets changed back into his slacks, blazer and cravat out of shot (was Marter actually in his vest and pants during this scene while Maloney maintained tight camera shots on the other actors' faces?).

First broadcast: April 5th, 1975

Steve's Scoreboard
The Good: Michael Wisher is compelling.
The Bad: Writer Terry Nation is sitting on the Thal/ Muto rebel army rather too obviously until part 6 arrives. The scenes of Sevrin and Bettan sitting outside in the trenches, biding their time, are pointless.
Overall score for episode: ★★★★★★★★☆☆

"Would you like a jelly baby?" tally: 05

NEXT TIME: Part Six...

My reviews of this story's other episodes: Part One; Part Two; Part Three; Part Four; Part Six

Find out birth/death dates, career information, and facts and trivia about this story's cast and crew at the Doctor Who Cast & Crew site: http://doctorwhocastandcrew.blogspot.com/2014/06/genesis-of-daleks.html

Genesis of the Daleks is available on BBC DVD. Find it on Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-Genesis-Daleks-DVD/dp/B000EGCD5A