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5x03 Victory of the Daleks (Grading/Discussion) SPOILERS!

How did you like the episode?


  • Total voters
    163
My only big issue with this was the resolution of the Bracewell-bomb. I think that if The Doctor had been forced to deactivate/kill Bracewell in order to save the Earth it would have made for a far more decisive victory for the Daleks.

It would have meant The Doctor doing the unthinkable, one life for a billion. Sure, Amy would have tried to rationalise it for him by saying he was just a robot, but The Doctor would have known better. Bracewell had the memories of a man and behaved as a man, for all intents and purposes he was a man and The Doctor had killed him.

I'm don't think I'm particularly bloodthirsty by nature, but IMHO that would have elevated this from one of the best Dalek eps of nuwho to the best Dalek ep of nuwho.
 
the main problem I have with this episode is that there were so many things that defied sense, such as getting spitfires ready for fighting in space in about 10 mins and the whole disarming the bomb with getting the android to think about love, which is a shame as i think this episode had huge potential to be awesome and a real homage to the 2nd doctor era dalek stories. and i utterly hate the newly designed daleks

however I feel that both Smith and Gillian did well in their roles
 
the main problem I have with this episode is that there were so many things that defied sense, such as getting spitfires ready for fighting in space in about 10 mins and the whole disarming the bomb with getting the android to think about love, which is a shame as i think this episode had huge potential to be awesome and a real homage to the 2nd doctor era dalek stories. and i utterly hate the newly designed daleks

however I feel that both Smith and Gillian did well in their roles

I was going to make a big post that said essentially this, so...this.
 
I like the alt uni & crack in the wall explanation for Amy not knowing about Daleks. Hey, maybe we're in the twin ten uni now. And maybe Time Lords exist here.
 
I wasn't keen either. Aside from the new Daleks (Sorry, but I've never liked the Cushing films, so introducing technicolout Daleks in that style doesn't work for me), it feels like the cut-down version of the two-parter it needed to be to do any of the plotlines properly.
 
And the best the Daleks could do by means of attack was to turn the lights on?

Turn the lights on and the Luftwaffe can see everything when they come and bomb London, the Daleks knew they didn't have the ability to destroy London themselves, but they could make it one great big target instead of just guessing where everything was.
Yes, thank you, I understood that. So they somehow have the power to control all the lights in London, but can't fire down an actual weapon or something?

I'll say this for the episode though: it absolutely flew by.

I agree, in fact it felt like it was just 39 minutes or something! So much for 65 minutes, Gatiss didn't even have enough plot for 45!

Ok I liked some of it but disliked other bits...

The Good:


Broadsword calling Danny Boy! Hurrah for a Where Eagles Dare reference!

Khaki Daleks, I love that look.

Spitfires in space.

The Dalek shooting Bracewell's hand off, genuinely shocking moment.

The Doctor seeming like a maniac because the Daleks seem so nice. Great portryal by Smith.

Daleks happy to be exterminated for the greater Dalek race.

Did I mention Spitfires in space?

Holding off the Daleks with a jammy dodger ('In fainress I was promised tea')

The Bad:

Churchill, seriously they couldn't get a more appropriate acor for the role? The guy tried but way too big and felt too much like a pastiche, also didn't have nearly the gravitas needed for the role.

The new Daleks, hmm, liked the pics but not sure. Why do they all have to be different colours?

Defusing the Bracewell bomb.

Union Jacks, everywhere! Seriously I'm more patriotic than the next guy but when they feel the need to even slap a UJ on a Spitfire....

The crack! Much like RTD it seems Moffat and co feel the arc must be mentioned in every episode. Not needed, and not so obviously.

The interesting:

Amy not remembering Jouney's End.

Where did the first set of Daleks originate from? They were clearly impure but was this because; A/ They were made from Davros's DNA ala Journey's End. or B/ They actually originated from the Daleks the emperor created out of humans in Parting of the Ways? I'm guessing it's A.
 
Oh yeah, and seriously next year they should just call the episode

Contractual Obligation of the Daleks!


[Arnie} It would cut the note of confusion [/Arnie]
 
I assume that was with technology developed by the robot professor, my own question is, how did he get them upgraded so quickly?

I wondered this as well. It would have to have happened in about 10 minutes. That was really the weak spot of the episode for me.

I actually quite liked this one. Matt Smith was very good in this, his understated acting lent itself well to the situation he was in. I loved his expression when he says "history" at the beginning of the story while standing on the roof with Amy.
There were several interesting ideas (Bracewell's being convinced he invented the Daleks, then finding out that he's not human) but I feel it would have been nicer to have more time to explore them or to leave their resolution open a bit longer.
I didn't mind the way the bomb was defused, even though it doesn't make technical sense. But I like the idea of talking a bomb out of thinking that it's a bomb. It's sort of like that Monty Python sketch about the houses you have to trust in lest they collapse.
The dialogue the Doctor had with the Daleks was great. Matt Smith really shone here. However, the Daleks not killing the Doctor or destroying Earth when they have the chance instead of just talking and talking does come off as a bit comical. But I guess it can't be helped, given how powerful a foe they are supposed to be. I must admit, though, I nearly laughed when - after the dramatic build-up - the colourful Daleks emerged.
I'm not sure what to think about the actor who portrayed Churchill. His performance seemed almost farcical at times.

I think we could have done without the gratuitous patriotism shot. ;)

Concerning the overall arc, I'm now quite intrigued. The 'crack in space-time' foreshadowing is extremely heavy-handed but the new aspect of Amy not remembering the Daleks (or the Dalek invasion not happening) is interesting. I wonder what's that all about?
 
Airplanes that can somehow travel from London to Earths orbit. I don't normally nitpick Dr Who but how the hell does plan fly? How did it get there so quickly?
I assume that was with technology developed by the robot professor, my own question is, how did he get them upgraded so quickly?

and enough with the Scottish stuff, gees its like Moffatt is writing this stuff in, for no other reason than to wind up the folks at Galifery Base.

The technology he used on the planes was a gravity sphere. It allowed the figthers to escape from Earths gravity. Which still doesn't explain how they were able to fly and fight in space. Nor the upgrade has you mentioned it.

Oh and I did find the Scottish stuff annoying. I don't mind her being talking about Scottish. But Scottish pride? Completely unnecessary in a show that is not only national but international.
 
Just notice something the fire warders hat has a R on it instead of a W :confused:
I know W meant warden but what did R stand for?
 
It was entertaining. Perhaps not a classic, but fun enough.

I'd love it if they used this crack business to wipe the continuity clean. :D
 
My favourite part of the episode was the Doctor bashing the Dalek with a giant spanner, and the Dalek actually recoiling. I was actually scared of him. I don't think I was ever scared of Tennant.

And yes the Amy not knowing thing... seems very important. I'm almost certain now something else is up and that it actually was 1990. The only thing that makes us think that's not the case is the use of mobile phones and the laptop, but otherwise it could well have been.

Do we know what episodes the Cybermen are going to be in? I'd imagine maybe they are the big bad this season.
 
Did they have to do that US victory flag pose, with the UK flag, its too American for a British show IMO.
 
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