Day Of The Daleks (1972) Review

Gosh! He's a worse snob than my dad!

Day Of The Daleks is an admittedly unexpected way to return the Daleks to the show, but not bad at all. No, I think the season's opened with quite a good bang.

PLOT

Rebels from the future come to assassinate a politician to prevent a Dalek occupation in the 2170s. It's up to the Doctor to uncover the mystery of a perfectly harmless human being's effect on the timeline.

The Ogrons are a really good addition to the Dalek list of henchmen - although the Robomen might've been more appropriate.

CHARACTERS

Jon Pertwee shines here in his aristocratic glory, consuming wine and cheese whilst battling with guerrillas. His arguments with the Controller are also excellently performed.

I thought the Controller was brilliant. He was extremely villainous, but proved himself capable of seeing beyond the borders. Nice hair, too.

Jo Grant was surprisingly toned down. She was actually likable instead of childish.

I hate it when the aliens talk like theeeey'reeee iiiin sloooooww moootioooon, which is why I wasn't too fond of the Ogrons, but they look and act alright in battle.

The Daleks' voices are complete crap, that has to be said. Even the repetition of the Nick Briggs voice is far better, as the special edition proves.

The rebels were mostly faceless, other than the woman who comes to believe the Doctor's claims.

NOTES

*How does the Dalek invasion relate to the one from The Dalek Invasion Of Earth, which takes place in the same time period, but seems completely different?

*How did the Chinese go so hostile again? I would've thought all that trouble ended after the events of The Mind Of Evil. At least there's some continuity.

*The Master isn't present! What a shock twist for the kids.

*I think this story takes place before the events of The Chase, since the Daleks seem to be experimenting with time travel.

*It also seems to take place after the events of The Dalek Invasion Of Earth, since the Dalekanium bombs are freely available now. I guess the Daleks just came back for a second strike or something. From what I've told, this whole story's a paradox that is supposed to not make sense.

*Why on Earth does the Doctor still take the console outside? I thought they fixed all their set issues after season 7. And I can't believe we're still dealing with that dematerialisation circuit.

*Who left that trike near the control center and whatever for?

CONCLUSION

An epic start to season 9. Just what the doctor ordered.