Evil of the Daleks (20-5-67 – 1-7-67)
I’ve seen criticisms/observations over the years that this story is a bit long winded, and I’d certainly say that of the Daleks’ plan doesn’t seem very direct to say the least. But I must admit that I enjoyed the opening couple of episodes, particularly once we go back to Victorian times. They’re very atmospheric, helped by some excellent incidental music (which sounds remarkably like stock footage music used in ‘Outer Limits’ & ‘Twilight Zone’), and the supporting characters are very convincingly acted, which helps a lot. John Bailey/Waterfield in particular stands out for me. His concern for his daughter, and his fearful, hateful descriptions of the Daleks are very well played.
The Dalek voices sound at their best so far in the chronological history of Who, and the Dalek that we see in Episode 2 conducts itself with total arrogance, as any good Dalek should! 😀
Meanwhile, we get a chance to see Troughton really on form as the Doctor in the existing second episode. I particularly enjoy his confrontation scene with the Dalek towards the end of the episode. “DO NOT QUESTION!” – “I will not be your slave!”.
But episode 3 feels a little bit patchy what with virtually the whole ep taken up with Kemel’s tests, and chit chat with the maid etc.., Although it’s quite funny to see/hear Windsor Davies mixed up the proceedings as Toby. The best bit is probably the ‘argument’ between the Doctor and Jamie, as Jamie is primed to try to rescue Victoria.
Unfortunately, I find episode 4 is a bit on the dull side. Mostly concerned with the fight and the consequent ‘coalition’ between Jamie and Kemel, as they are manoeuvred into trying to rescue Victoria; This ep just seems to plod along. And i have to say that Episode 5 feels much the same. There’s a few nice atmospheric moments like the disembodied Dalek-ish voices affecting Terral, and Maxatable’s hypnotism scene; but aside from that it all feels a bit long and drawn out. There’s another bit of a good scene between Jamie and the Doctor though, towards the end of the ep where Jamie berates the Doctor for being callous. Troughton is good here.
Episode 6 is a much better ep, even though i don’t really like the childish Daleks, they obviously fit with the overall concept of the story. Also, the Doctor’s child-like delight doesn’t really do it for me either. Having said that, i think the episode picks up in the latter half, as things get more interesting once we arrive on Skaro. The highlight for me though is the iconic appearance of the Emperor Dalek with its booming, grating voice, and that excellent confrontation with the Doctor that brings the episode to a close.
The final episode is a good one as well. Especially for us Dalek fans, as there’s plenty of good Emperor Dalek, and Black Dalek dialogue. And of course the concept of giving the ‘Dalek factor’ to the whole of humanity is a chilling idea……. But the Doctor tricks the Daleks and switches the factors over so that some of the Daleks get the human factor, resulting in a huge conflict between the two Dalek factions; ultimately causing the destruction of the emperor in an exciting final battle in which everything is destroyed!
All in all, i think I’d agree with those that see this story as a little bit overrated. For my money, it certainly flags in the middle, but I do think that the the good things about this story definitely outweigh the not so good things. I personally think that ‘Power of the Daleks’ is the better of the two Troughton Dalek stories; but for me, neither is as good as the two best Hartnell Dalek stories; ie: the original story, followed by DMP.
On balance, I’d give this story 7/10.
During the Hartnell era of the show, the Dr Who comic strips ran in TV Comic, whilst the Daleks had their own separate strip in TV21, as detailed a couple of posts back. But the Daleks never appeared in the actual Doctor Who comic strips. This didn’t happen until January 21st, 1967.
One week after the final Daleks comic strip appeared in TV21; the Daleks were finally reunited in print with their greatest enemy; now into his second incarnation, in the pages of TV Comic; billed as Dr Who and the Daleks.
The strips coincided roughly with the broadcast of ‘Evil of the Daleks’, which was the last time the Daleks would appear in the tv series until January 1972, as Terry Nation tried to engineer a tv series for the Daleks in their own right. Sadly, this would never materialise.
That almost 5 year period was almost equally barren for the Daleks in the merchandise and comic strip world. Walls Ice Cream ran a ‘Sky Ray’ lollies tie-in, which ultimately resulted in 1967’s Doctor Who Space Adventure Book, featuring a story called ‘Daleks Invade Zaos’. (In which the second doctor was 20 years ahead of his time; sporting a very eighties looking mullet) 😆
A short, and somewhat underwhelming strip appeared in the TV Comic 1968 annual released on new years day, after which there was nothing in the comic strip world for the Daleks until early 1972.
On the tv screens, the Cybermen had become the biggest thing since the Daleks, by the end of the decade; and as Dr Who turned to colour tv, with a new actor and a new gritty realism; the Daleks were nowhere to be seen. But their popularity endured….
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