Victory of the Daleks

I can't.

This was honestly one of the more contrived episodes since the series' reprisal five years ago.

Moffat has brought back the Daleks, the villains that have been run into the ground over and over again!

The previous week's episode had the same type of fear with the smiling faces in the carnival booths that one would typical expect of Moffat's writing; however, the only "victory" in this week's episode is surprisingly with Amy and The Doctor as these two actors start sliding into their respective roles.

Not the actors' fault here, just a thin plot.

Victory of the Daleks is a solid story for furthering the Doctor's ongoing battle with the Daleks. I do think this episode is way more hated than it should be. It's definitely not terrible, but also not outstanding. I think it falls through in it's climax but is excellent in the emotional scenes with Bracewell. Both Karen Gillan and Bill Paterson really are amazing in their scenes together and this episode does a great job at further showing Amy's human contribution to the show. After having a very "human" doctor with David Tennant, Matt Smith is more alien-y and, in my opinion, needs a stronger human, rational mind in the TARDIS. Amy (so far) is perfect for this and is almost pulling the Doctor along. Anyways, it's pretty good but is brought down by the actual plot. Could be better, could be worse! 7.3/10.

Winston's new weapon will shorten the war, though he's wise enough to know that he can't be too sure, so he's called an old friend to ask his advice, who has said he'll be there in less than a trice (he's a month late).

When the Doctor appears with Amelia Pond, he's welcomed by a weapon made of Dalekanium bond, but the Ironsides are friendly, courteous and polite, avoiding the Time Lord's aggression and spite.

Like a leopard however they can't change their dots, they're conniving to realise a cunning Dalek plot, in the blink of one eye they've teleported away, Victory for the Daleks, not the Doctor's day today.

Overall, I've really enjoyed season 5 Doctor Who. I really like the new Doctor, Amy pond and Rory, and haven't had any major problems with any of the episodes up to and including The Hungry Earth, except this one. This episode I hate.

First the good: I liked Ian McNeice as Winston Churchill, great choice I thought. And the Daleks looked pretty good in Khaki green, a suitable colour for Daleks.

I know that Doctor Who is fantastical, but please let's have a story and events that make sense on some level. Was having Spitfires in space really worth just how ridiculous and unbelievable the whole idea was? But it was the new Daleks that really got me down, they look terrible! Daleks aren't supposed to look like they're made of plastic (even if they are). There was no need to change their size or basic design, the original shape is iconic, and has stood the test of time for almost fifty years.

So making them bigger was supposed to make them look more menacing? Well, that might work if they weren't painted in florescent colours. Would Darth Vader have been as menacing as he was if his armour was bright orange? Daleks need to be in dark, or metallic colours, or both. Mark Gatiss and Steve Moffat, you have taken liberties with an icon. Keep your horrible new design if you must, but at least paint them metallic grey, or black, or something. Watch Genesis of the Daleks, and then try to tell me these new day glow Daleks are scarier or cooler looking.

Winston Churchill calls for the Doctor's help, at the bunker the Doctor discovers Churchill has a secret weapon helping him win the war, Daleks! (Bracewell's Ironsides.) Seemingly subservient The Daleks have been waiting for something.....activation from the Doctor, with a purpose of

Bold statement, but this is the worst Dalek story of all time, it's so bad it's even worse then the Manhattan Dalek fiasco, and that was shocking.

The good bits, Bill Patterson is one of my favourite actors, he does as well as he can with this awful script, Ian McNeice makes a good Churchill, he's a little less badly scripted. I love the World War 2 Daleks, they look pretty good. The effects of a War torn London look great, especially the effect with the lights.

The bad bits, the script is shocking, the attempt to recapture some of the feel of 'Power of the Daleks,' was a big fail, I am your Soldier, not loving that. The testimony obviously got intercepted by a transmission of the Teletubbies, the new batch of Daleks were totally terrible, what were they thinking? The Kandyman is more terrifying then these, bigger and brasher does not equal scary, especially those colours, yukkkk

I really dislike the music it's totally over the top and too heavy, sometimes subtle can be good.

A really naff plot, which doesn't really hang together well. Hopefully those Daleks will never see daylight again. Gatiss really has thrown in some awful scripts, his best still way back The unquiet dead. 3/10