072 - Death to the Daleks

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I've never been a huge fan of this one. I don't know why, really, it just never really holds my interest. It's one of Elisabeth Sladen's favorites, so obviously I'm missing something...

The model of the Exxilon city is pretty cool. I also like the silver with black Daleks, which are only seen in this story. The machine gun armaments on them are pretty unique, too, and make for a nasty weapon.


SeaDevil

This was pretty mediocre. Maybe a little bit below average, in fact. I was falling asleep all the way through episode one (I haven't done that during a Doctor Who story in a long time).

I did enjoy seeing them team up with the Daleks, but really there wasn't enough substance to keep me fully interested.

3/5.

This has to be one of my favorite Dalek stories. The beginning is a little slow, but things pick up once the Daleks arrive at the end of episode 1. (Or, if you have the tape of Death to the Daleks, about 25 minutes into the show, since they eschewed with cliffhangers for that version.) The voices are provided entirely by Micheal Wisher, and although I prefer Roy Skelton's, I think he holds up very well, barking orders in the signature Dalek style. The concept of a city that drains energy from passing spacecraft and the atmosphere like a parasite is interesting, if a bit dull until the fourth part. However, the ever-clever Daleks of course have a solution, and that is machine guns. Very effective against the Exxilons. All in all, it's solid because it does a lot with a little. I really enjoy the ending, when the city is decaying, and the Doctor makes a rather solemn comment. Very good ending. And, they discreetly avoided the question of whether Bellal would join the Doctor as a companion.

4/5

I.S.