Genesis of the Daleks: Part Two

Davros is the great all seeing eye, has his fingers in all Kaled pies, he introduces a Dalek, to the latest mark 3 spec, Sarah Jane needs to learn how to fly.

Review of all 6 episodes:

One of the most famous and most loved stories in Doctor Who history, this really deserves the fame and praise it receives. It is a fabulous story with brilliance in every aspect of its production.

The Doctor, Sarah and Harry are intercepted by the Time Lords as they try to return to the Nerva space station via Transmat. The Time Lord who speaks to The Doctor gives him a mission to interfere with the creation of the Daleks as they are considered a threat to the Universe. He is told he can stop their creation or influence their nature for the better. They find themselves in the middle of a war on Skaro between the Thals and the Kaleds. The war has gone on for a very long time and scientist Davros has created the Daleks in order to bring the war to an end. Davros is power crazed and has evil intent for his Daleks to become all powerful creatures. There are adventures as The Doctor seeks to interfere with Davros' plans. Finally when he has the chance to destroy the Daleks, The Doctor has a moral dilemma as to whether to destroy the Dalek race is excusable due to their evil or if it makes him as bad as the Daleks with such a genocidal act.

The script, story and acting are top class throughout. Davros is an inspired creation, a villain of the finest quality and acted amazingly well by Michael Wisher. Baker is on top form and his scenes with Davros and their intellectual duelling is gripping. The scene with the dilemma of conscience for The Doctor trying to decide whether to destroy the Daleks is genius and the story as a whole is exceptionally well written.

One of the most exceptional stories in Doctor Who and therefore television history.

Although he features in episode one, this is the episode where we really get to grips with Davros. He is clearly modelled on a Dr Mengele-type figure but instead of just being ugly on the inside his twisted form is an expression of his twisted ideology. Hey! but don't let that put you off, this episode is great fun, moving along at a fair clip.

The situation becomes more tricky for our heroes as The Doctor and Harry are separated from their time-ring (and thus unable to get back to the Tardis) and poor Sarah Jane has her own adventures with Mutos, Thals and Distropic weaponry. The freeze frame cliff-hanger is particularly effective.

Fortunately the second part continues in the same fantastic way as the first started. So much is packed into this episode, Sarah has witnessed the weapon testing of an early Dalek, Davros is fully introduced as the Scientific genius, The Doctor, Sarah and Harry are each placed in true danger throughout, plus we learn more about the Thaals.

Production values are superb, they certainly made the most of the budget, the music is fabulous, truly adds to the story, creating tension. The pacing is excellent, but it's the performances that strike me most of all, the entire cast are incredibly, notably Michael Wisher and Peter Miles. That cliffhanger at the end, sheer brilliance.

It's no wonder this story is still seen by many fans as the high point from Classic Who, it is superb. I don't think the Daleks ever recaptured this form, the threat here was very real.

Brilliant 10/10