"Death to the Daleks" Published in CT Number 271
This story features one of the most interesting developments Dr Who has ever had: an alliance between the Doctor and the Daleks! This feature makes this story stand out amongst others - in fact it is the only feature, as the story is rather mediocre all told.
The story starts impressively; creating a perfect level of suspense as the TARDIS inexplicably loses power. The 1st episode is well done, and introduces the characters, with the Daleks creating the perfect cliffhanger to the episode. Shades of Planet of the Daleks are evident, which can only bode well for the story.
Sadly, the story loses it way from then on. Whilst the 2nd episode does have its highlights, such as the Dalek's testing their new weaponry on a model TARDIS and the superb cliff-hanger (one of the best in Who), it is rather unexceptional. This trend is repeated in the last 2 episodes, as the plot never really develops. The Daleks are never fully utilised, and another episode or two with the Daleks at full strength are desperately needed.
The use of the Daleks fails too, why would the Daleks need to blackmail Earth when, as shown in the last 2 stories featuring them (Day of the Daleks and Planet of the Daleks) they simply used Dalek might to defeat them? This plot is sidelined with the exploration of the sentient city, which, again, is never fully utilised. The plot is re-used from Planet of the Daleks, but never manages to develop or capture much suspense or live up to Planet of the Daleks.
The music score for this story is hideous! It is really dire, which is a pity as the 3rd Doctor had some pretty good music in his earlier adventures, sadly this was not evident in this one. The sound effects suffer too. The Daleks' new weaponry sometimes sounds like a raygun, which is perfect. All too often though it sounds like a cheap popgun, and this ruins their deadliness. I know the budget was limited, but surely it wouldn't have cost that much more to use the raygun effects throughout?
As the plot and sound are so poor, the viewer is forced to concentrate on the moral side to the story, which actually is pretty good. Galloway’s ruthlessness matches the Daleks' perfectly, and provides a sharp contrast with the rest of the Earth Mission crew and the Doctor. This captures both sides of human nature rather well. The Daleks' display just how robotic they are, using computer scans to solve the city's tests, whereas the Doctor uses experience and initiative.
The last episode has a major flaw in it that is totally inexcusable. Galloway plans to steal a Dalek bomb and place inside the Dalek ship in this episode. So far so good, except that in order to take the (arm-sized) bomb past the Daleks guards, he hides it under his coat! How could anyone, least of all the Daleks, fail to notice this? How much more imagination and money would it have required to have had him wear a backpack during the story so he could have hidden it in there? This is totally inexcusable, and really lets the story down
A highlight of the story was the dissolving of the city, which was exceptionally well done. Who ever said Dr Who models all looked fake? This is done superbly- it is a shame the rest if the story did not live up to this standard.
To sum up, this story promised so much, and failed so badly. Neither the Daleks nor the evil (but inactive) city are ever fully utilised, and the plot never develops. Perhaps an extra couple of episodes are needed to do this, but they were not given. The music is hideous too. This is a shame as both Jon Pertwee and Elizabeth Salden give very good performances as the Doctor and Sarah-Jane. The story is watchable, but could have been made a lot better, and as such rates only 55%.
By Peter Witney