The Daleks (21/12/63 – 1/2/64)
Despite the impact of Dr Who’s very first episode, it was the story that went on to be called The Daleks, that became the program’s first ‘classic’.
For several decades now, we’ve had a kind of generic conception of what the Daleks are all about, which is projected particularly through their ostensibly robotic voices, which though they are often raised to a maniacal pitch, don’t often sound particularly individual or different to each other.
Looking back at this story after some considerable time; I’d forgotten how these original Dalek’s displayed much more individuality than we have become used to over the years. They are less ‘drone’ like, and definitely have an air of cunning and prowess in their scheming. Despite their appearance; these creatures certainly don’t come across as mere robots; even before it’s revealed that they are not.
How atmospheric is this story? That wonderful soundscape by Tristram Carey does such a lot to suspend the viewer’s disbelief during the initial scenes of the BBC budget ‘petrified jungle.’ The first glimpse of the Dalek city is wonderfully imaginative, and inside the city itself, the budget is far better served.
As a story, Terry Nation’s script is well adapted, although it does feel a bit padded over Eps 5 and 6, which could easily have been condensed into one, making a very solid 6 parter. But this story is largely so good that even that criticism feels a little churlish.
For the cast this is early days, but the performances are compelling, mistakes n’ all. We see quite a devious side to the Doctor, with the deliberate ‘misplacement’ of the fluid link; and any subsequent remorse is almost grudgingly given. This is one of my favourite Hartnell performances. The scenes early on where the Doctor is being questioned by the Daleks is an excellent display of obstinacy and apprehension. I love Billy’s Doctor so much that I’ve always remained unfazed by his fluffiness, but it has to be said that he comes across that bit better in these early stories than some of the later ones, in putting across the sharpness of the Doctor’s mind.
Although I adore Ian and Barbara, and have a particular appreciation for Jackie Hill’s acting skills; I’ve never been a massive fan of Susan. However, part of the problem with Susan is that she seems very much surplus to requirements much of the time, but at least in this story she does have a few good scenes that have been written for the character. She doesn’t just hang around.
Meanwhile, the Daleks themselves are shown to be ruthless, and concerned only with their own survival. I do like the way in which the Doctor’s attempt to bargain with them for the secrets of the Tardis are dismissed. The Daleks have cultivated their own dangerous brand of patience and methodology…..
There’s so much more to be said about this story; but perhaps the most important thing is that it secured the future of Dr Who; and the resulting ‘Dalekmania’ in the mid-sixties established the Daleks as an entity in their own right, to a degree which no other Dr Who ‘monster’ could quite live up to. They put both themselves and Dr Who on the map.
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