Parts 11-12
(Getting back to the scary stuff/an horrific end)
Part 11 has the task to set up and fix the tone back to a creepy desperation story. It nails it perfectly. We get some great scenes here and I loved seeing Marvic Chens descent into madness. He just can't get over his greed of power, he really believes the Daleks follow him, the whole story does a great job of building up to that moment when he realises there going to kill him and it pays off. It's starts with the Daleks locking up all the alien delegates, seeing the effect of the time destucter at the end adds to this moment, the Daleks were going to leave them to die with the universe. Finally when Chen meets the supreme his time has come, the scene is so creepy and chilling, the music adding to it. What makes it so good is that we see Chen going mad, screaming for answers, the supreme just starring at him coldly not saying a word. This has to be the most chilling dalek death yet. So simple yet so effective. For the audience this so satisfying to see his end but still so scary, I can imagine this was especially scary for kids. Finally we get to see the time destucter in action, the dr uses it back against them and it almost kills him. The final scene is so tense/full of chilling moments that it's arguably the most horrifying end to a Dalek/Doctor who episode. I do wish though that when the alien delegates flee in there ships that Marvic Chen had hidden some explosions on them, would of been an shocking twist and shown how power mad he's gone and how closely he's becoming a Dalek. Plus although I like that the alien delegates get to flee to warn there people etc, it's an development arc that just happens and with no build up just feels like a wasted opportunity. I do really like how the characters personality effects there outcome, Steven often quite stubborn is safe and eventually saves the dr, Sara wanting to redeem her actions/be a good person is aged to death. It's a very impressive scene, not only horrific because the production decided to show us her skeletal remains. The doctor then moaning in agony just adds to this perfect scene, you just wonder what the hell is going to happen! It's a mix of excitement and fear. I even love the Daleks destruction too showing us a dying mutant. Animation can have alot of creative fun with this. The final moment of the Dr/Steven shows why you don't need over the top music, let the drama come from the scene. Just a wind sfx with the drs lines "what a terrible waste" makes the perfect cold ending.
For me Parts 1-6/10mins of part 8 (up to Trantis's death)/parts 11-12 is the best way to watch this. But I do think you should at least watch the whole thing at least once. Sadly though the Daleks master plan does create a severe problem, at this point in time the Daleks were everywhere, toys, books, films, stage plays etc you couldn't escape them. But adding to all this by making a 12 part story spanning several months was possibly the main reason Daleks/dalekmania eventually died. Rule number 1 of anything that gets really popular don't give the public/fans too much or you'll burn them out and they'll move on, which sadly some of the public did. Thankfully the Daleks/their popularity did come back. I do utterly love the daleks plan here, how they've waited patiently for Chens core to build up, and how horrible it is for him to spend all his life to be to used and killed, what a wasted life. Here the idea of using the time destucter that wipes out anything and turns it too dust is so creepy that I'm shocked and annoyed they've never tried to used it again. Or least let us see another or more in-depth episode/story of its effects. The stolen earth/journeys end did try this and it does also fall into the same problems this story did (mainly parts 8-10). Good set up with some good horror then ruined by a jokey light-hearted runaround. Except this story redeems it's self by bringing that tension and horror back plus going/pushing it far more darker in the final two parts. I've always said that a great way to make daleks scary is to show them being patient, evil and cunning with the characters around them being just like them or show us how people can become them or how they effect people. This story does mange to do all those some better than others, but what an amazing first try.
Rating: 4/5 8/10
Overall story Rating: 4/5, 7/10.
For me Parts 1-6/10mins of part 8 (up to Trantis's death)/parts 11-12 is the best way to watch this. But I do think you should at least watch the whole thing at least once. Sadly though the Daleks master plan does create a severe problem, at this point in time the Daleks were everywhere, toys, books, films, stage plays etc you couldn't escape them. But adding to all this by making a 12 part story spanning several months was possibly the main reason Daleks/dalekmania eventually died. Rule number 1 of anything that gets really popular don't give the public/fans too much or you'll burn them out and they'll move on, which sadly some of the public did. Thankfully the Daleks/their popularity did come back. I do utterly love the daleks plan here, how they've waited patiently for Chens core to build up, and how horrible it is for him to spend all his life to be to used and killed, what a wasted life. Here the idea of using the time destucter that wipes out anything and turns it too dust is so creepy that I'm shocked and annoyed they've never tried to used it again. Or least let us see another or more in-depth episode/story of its effects. The stolen earth/journeys end did try this and it does also fall into the same problems this story did (mainly parts 8-10). Good set up with some good horror then ruined by a jokey light-hearted runaround. Except this story redeems it's self by bringing that tension and horror back plus going/pushing it far more darker in the final two parts. I've always said that a great way to make daleks scary is to show them being patient, evil and cunning with the characters around them being just like them or show us how people can become them or how they effect people. This story does mange to do all those some better than others, but what an amazing first try.
Rating: 4/5 8/10
Overall story Rating: 4/5, 7/10.
