They’re Baaaaaaaack! Has it really been five years? I’ve quite missed those pepperpot sociopaths. I mean, as much as one can miss pepperpot sociopaths...
I have to admit, I've been looking forward to this story since we began the Pertwee era. I have such fond memories of "Day of the Daleks", but haven't seen it in at least seven years.
Harry -
Was it everything you remembered it to be? I too saw it many moons ago and found myself liking it even more this time around.
Sarah -
Happily, it was! I made the entire family watch with me.
Harry -
It's always more fun with more people on the sofa. But you know who's missing? Our friends Rob & Toby. Can't believe we've almost gotten halfway through the Pertwee era without them as our guides. I'm missing Rob's savvy interpretations and Toby's encyclopedic asides. I've been keeping an eye on their publisher's website, but there's still no sign of when we'll see Volume II of the series that inspired our little adventure.
Sarah -
We are of one mind, Old Boy! I found myself really missing Toby and Rob while watching "Day of the Daleks". They were by our sides us for the first six seasons and I felt like we were getting by without them for the past two -- but now I've had enough! I want our pals back on the Sofa with us, already!
Harry -
Me too! I hope the next volume arrives soon. Until then, let's continue to grope our way through this dimly lit corridor.
Yes, Season 9 kicks off with lots of guns and mayhem, new monsters and classic villains, and yet another international peace conference for UNIT to safeguard. Everything old is new again!
Sarah -
There’s so much packed into these four episodes. It begins so quietly, with the Doctor trying, once again, to get the TARDIS operating properly. When Jo points out that the TARDIS was operating when they went to the colony in space, the Doctor explains that the Time Lords were in charge then, and “No one’s going to turn me into an interplanetary puppet.” We even get a tidy little time paradox before the Brig charges in to order them off to Auderly House to protect Sir Reginald Styles from mysteriously disappearing freedom fighters!
Harry -
The good production and on-location filming really elevated this story. The interior and exteriors of Auderly House looked great. All those Ogrons, future guerrillas, and UNIT troops racing around the grounds gave the story a great spike of energy.
Sarah -
I know there are gripes about the Ogron and Dalek attack force not being terribly menacing, but I love the image of them stalking over the grounds.
Harry -
But there were the quirky little moments too, like Jo "feeding the troops." There was something so sweet about that.
Sarah -
I was slightly outraged by Yates' behavior towards Benton. "Rank has its privileges," indeed, Posh Jerk! Yeah, I just called Yates a posh jerk for showing up Benton -- got a problem with that?
Harry -
Jerky Yates!
Once the story kicks into gear, it really roars to life. Who are these mysterious guerrillas appearing out of thin air? Are they heroes or villains? They almost kill the Doctor and Jo before Jo ends up getting zapped into the 22nd century. And that's when it really gets groovy.
Sarah -
I was half wanting the War Chief to show up and sex up the grooviness a bit.
Harry -
Well I can understand that.
I loved - LOVED - the future sets. One room had the Controller in his white swivel chair, issuing commands to a team of identical looking assistants (especially loved the hand-waving action). The other room had the comfy cushions for everyone to lounge on, even though the actors seemed to have an awkward time of it. I love the 70s vision of the future. It's so funky!
Sarah -
The cushions gave me some ideas for a redesign of the Sofa, if you're up for a bit of lounging... of Rassilon.
Harry -
We could kick the cushions to the floor and sprawl out. I'll bring some grapes next time.
One curious point: there was so much interesting stuff going on, I barely noticed that the Daleks were barely seen for the first half of the story.
Sarah -
Oh yes, them. It does eventually become apparent that the Daleks were a late addition to the story. Also, if I can quibble just a wee bit, the blue Daleks didn't really have proper Dalek voices, did they? I can't even tell you how bothered I was by that.
Harry -
Yeah, the Dalek voices seemed a bit meek here. Same with the Ogrons. I remember seeing pictures of the Ogrons as a kid and thinking they were fantastic terrifying monsters... only to find them as subservient guard dogs in this story. Meh.
Sarah -
The Ogrons are definitely striking. It’s long past time for a return, would you say? They will have escaped their Dalek overlords by that point and found a way to bring their own havoc to the universe. Or, perhaps a prequel about how they became the slaves of the Daleks.
Harry -
What we lose in limited screen time for the Daleks, we more than make up for in action sequences. The Doctor gets to roar around in a Jeep, and his escape with Jo on the Randomly Placed Three Wheeler was awesome.
Sarah -
There’s little as exciting as a three-mile-per-hour chase!
Harry -
Health and Safety must have been going mad over that stunt.
Everything finally converges back at Auderly House in the 20th century. It's going to kill me every time we see a TV announcer in the Pertwee era. Alex MacIntosh was an actual TV announcer at the time, but his brief role cried out for more Michael Wisher!
Sarah -
I’m starting to think that every story cries out for more Michael Wisher.
Harry -
Hear, hear!
Sarah -
Just a few more seasons, my friend.
With no Wisher to tide us over, I was happy to make due with Aubrey Woods’ brilliant performance as the controller. He started out a mere lackey of the Daleks, but managed to redeem himself in the end by helping the Doctor and Jo escape. Bureaucrats so rarely have that opportunity in the Third Doctor’s run.
While looking up information on Woods, I learned that he died earlier this month. He's perhaps best known for performing "Candy Man" in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Harry -
Very sad and untimely. We've had a couple of untimely deaths happen during this marathon. Aubrey Woods will certainly not be forgotten; he was fantastic in this role.
Back to the assault on the house. Would you call it an assault, or more like a slow procession of three Daleks and some Ogrons? The visuals failed there, unfortunately.
Sarah -
As I mentioned above, this little sequence, while disappointing, manages to warm my heart in only a way Doctor Who can. I spent so many hours defending the series against attack back in the 80s. This scene is exactly the sort of thing I had to defend and one of the things I love so much about the show.
Harry -
Overall though, this was a nice comeback story for the Daleks. They are still at their scheming, dominating, and exterminating, now in colour!
Sarah -
It’s a whole new Technicolor universe!
Harry -
"Day of the Daleks" is one of those stories that captures all of the Pertwee era. The action and stunts, the classic enemies, the bureaucrats and conferences, and some otherworldly time travel to sort out. For me, this one gets better with every viewing.
Sarah -
It absolutely does!
Best Line: “That’s a most good-humored wine. A touch sardonic perhaps, but not cynical.” It’s one of my favorite lines ever in Doctor Who and I was eagerly awaiting it from the first note of the opening theme!
Favorite Moment: When the Doctor and Jo are tied up in the cellar. The Doctor is trying to figure out what’s going on, and Jo responds with, “I’m the one who’s supposed to be asking the questions.” I laughed out loud – we can’t say Jo doesn’t know her place!
Lasting Image: The fast-paced ATV chase.
8/10
Harry -
Best Line: "A family of Quislings, eh?" - the Doctor deflates the Controller's pompous self-aggrandizement with one cutting quip.
Favourite moment: Had to be the "fast-paced" ATV chase.
Lasting image: Everyone lounging around on the 22nd century cushions.
8/10
Our marathon continues with Story #61: The Curse of Peladon...
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