Acting Coach Reacts to Doctor Who S01E06 'Dalek' | A Deep Dive into Character and Storytelling
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ม.ค. 2024
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Join me as I delve into the emotionally charged episode 'Dalek' from the first series of the modern 'Doctor Who'. This reaction and analysis video explores the intricate layers of character development and storytelling that make this episode a standout in the series. Witness my first-time reactions and get an in-depth look at how the episode crafts its narrative and characters, particularly the complex dynamics between the Doctor and the Dalek.
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The Emotional Complexity of 'Dalek'
'Dalek', the sixth episode of the first series of 'Doctor Who', stands out as a particularly poignant chapter in the series. My first-time reaction to this episode was a mix of surprise and admiration for the depth of character development and narrative complexity. The episode introduces the Daleks, not just as villains, but as beings capable of evoking a range of emotions, from fear to a strange sense of empathy.
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Character Dynamics and Storytelling
What struck me most was the dynamic between the Doctor and the Dalek. It's a dance of two characters, both scarred and shaped by war, reflecting each other's pain and anger. The episode does an excellent job of exploring themes of hatred, fear, and the consequences of war. As an acting coach, I appreciated the nuanced performances that brought these themes to life, showcasing the power of minimalism in acting.
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The Impact on Long-Time Fans and New Viewers
For long-time fans of 'Doctor Who', this episode marks a significant moment, redefining the Daleks in the modern era. For new viewers, it's an intense introduction to the series' ability to blend sci-fi with deep emotional storytelling. The episode serves as a testament to the show's enduring appeal, combining thrilling sci-fi elements with profound character studies.
Remember to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into your favorite shows and movies. Stay tuned for more reactions and analyses that explore the art of storytelling and performance.
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"You would make a *good* Dalek" is to this day one of the most *cutting* lines spoken to the Doctor by any of his villains. Mainly because it was at least partially intended as a compliment.
Good men don't need rules. Today is not the day to find out why I have so many.
And he just skipped over that part. Sad face.
Also, Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper are both rightly praised for their performances in this episode, but some time ago I came to the realisation that Nick Briggs' voice work for the Dalek is also key to us genuinely fearing but also feeling sorry for it. He worked with the other actors in rehearsal and on set; it wasn't simply a case of recording the audio afterwards. It's a shame he doesn't get more recognition for it.
agreed. I think I fell into that trap too. He did do a remarkable job.
well he already had experiance doing dalek voices for the Big Finish audio dramas during the widerness years. one of my favorites in performance of his is blood of the daleks. he also voiced basicly every dalek since.
I definitely admit that without the "humanity" he brings to the Dalek's voice in this episode, it wouldn't be as great as it is. Voice acting is such a unique type of acting, and it takes a lot of skill to do it right - and he definitely does it right.
@@tna_ All the actors did a great job here but I think the Darlek lives and dies on its voice. For me it was always the scariest part about them. A cold exterior housing a caged beast, screaming at the world in its frustration.
15:00 "It's a fascist" Exactly. The Daleks were explicitly written back in 1963 as a direct parallel of the Nazis. It is no coincidence that the Dalek clarion call is "Exterminate!".
There is a reason the Doctor travels with a companion. The companions are often the only anchor that keeps him from drifting completely in to darkness. Even still, there are scenes to come where the Doctor will make your blood run cold.
That scene when the Doctor shouts "Why don't you just die!" at the Dalek. Christopher Eccleston's delivery of that line is incredible. He has spittle on his face, which was unintended, but I believe Eccleston insisted that they use the take.
As to the Doctor not seeming to be able to know or control where/when the Tardis ends up, there’s a saying that “The Tardis doesn’t always take him where he wants to go, but it always takes him where he NEEDS to go.”
Shhh! Spoilers!
@@robertmartin9029This is the first time we've met this guy, but this is the last time he'll meet us.
I go with the Fallout Who Vegas idea that a lot of the times the doctor let's the auto pilot run free much of the time and CAN pilot it accurately when he wants to
A friend directed me to your video - and I'm glad he did! I wrote the episode, twenty long years ago now - and had the great privilege of working with Chris Eccleston and Billie Piper, who took my script and did extraordinary emotional things with it. I felt so proud watching your reactions, prouder than I have of the story in a long time, actually! So glad you enjoyed it. Enjoy the rest of the series - I really think the best is yet to come!
One of the best Ninth Doctor stories, for sure! I do have a bone to pick with you though. This was my daughter's introduction to the Daleks at age 9 - she had no back story to call on to help her understand the embodimenet of evil it represented- and she empathised with the poor damaged creature, and was outraged at the way it was treated. This has resulted in her being unable to stomach any harm being done to a Dalek to this day!!!!😂
The Dalek should have chased Rose faster so that it made more sense why the Doctor couldn't keep the door open for five more seconds. I know it was supposed to be a Terminator moment, but dang!
This is a little insane. I hate to ask but I feel like I have to: are you seriously the writer of this episode? Is your comment sincere? If so and you would ever care to I would LOVE to have you on the channel and just have a short conversation about this script and other things you’ve written. I think my audience would love it but, most importantly, it would make my year! My email is in the description of all my videos.
@jlinkous05 yes. This has been a problem for my analytical brain in a few episodes of the first series, but this is a director thing. A script a- and correct me if I’m wrong - would read some semblance of, “the DALEK follows close behind” or something to that effect. After that it’s the the DP and mostly the Director who most directly determines the pacing. Think about the scene in The End Of The World when the Doctor is running through those giant gear-things. I think I called it manufactured tension. It was the same issue with pacing. Not on the writers, however.
@@jlinkous05 I take your point! But we were really going for the idea of the Dalek being in no hurry whatsoever - it wanted to kill everyone as slowly and deliberately as it could. It believed it couldn't be defeated. That's why it kills those guards with electrocution - it's showing off, really. It's been imprisoned for decades just biding its time, waiting for some reason to *do* something, and now that it's out, it'll do it as slowly and methodically as possible. :)
“You would make a good Dalek.” Such a savage burn for the Doctor, more so because in some ways it can be true.
This episode is an acting powerhouse for Eccleston!
Also Joe Aherne directed this episode, TV director born in Ireland who grew up with a mad love of comics, and he planned so many of the shots in this episode like comic book panels fun fact. Especially close ups during tense moments.
Ultraviolet, love that show.
The Daleks were first introduced in the 2nd story of the first season of Doctor Who, back in 1963. Surprisingly, their creator, Terry Nation, was originally a comedy writer, and was asked to write for the series. He turned them down, thinking it would be beneath him to write something for a ‘kids show,’ but when a comedy assignment fell through (and needing the money), he put forward the idea for the first Dalek story which was accepted.
And you’re right, the Daleks were an analogy for the Nazi’s. World War II had only finished 18 years previously, so people of Nation’s age would still have remembered vividly what the British people went through in World War II. Nation used this idea and turned the Daleks into the Nazi’s, fighting against an enemy, The Thals, who were the allies. In this story both the Daleks and the Thals shared their world, Skaro, but The Daleks mistrust and hatred of all things different to them made them want to exterminate the entire Thal race!
A better way to understand the Daleks would be to watch the story that featured the 4th Doctor (Tom Baker), called Genesis of the Daleks, penned by Nation in 1975. The story takes place just as the Daleks come into being, created by a mad scientist called Davros. It’s a fantastic story that always tops the story polls and really delves into why the Daleks become as they are, and the struggle by the Doctor to obey the Time Lords order to either avert their creation, or turn the Daleks into less aggressive creatures!
Christopher Eccleston gets some crap sometimes for having such a short tenure in the role, but his performances are incredible, I love this angry, wounded version of the character.
"Oh Rose. They're all dead.." Eccleston packs so much into those four words, it's like a magic trick.
not to be a pedant but that's 5 words.
The Daleks are among the Doctors oldest foes. Irl, relatively easy to make an manufacture prop-wise for serealization.
People took them thanks largely to the actors who played the Doctor, but there were always people joking about the plungers and the inability to climb stairs.
This episode is not only a love-letter to the original series, but manages to recontextualize the Daleks through the simple Trope of Conservation of Ninjitsu:
If ONE Dalek can wipe out a near-millitary base, and shake the unshakeable Doctor.... what could an army of then do,
Fantastic reaction. I loved your journey from finding the Dalek vaguely comical to unnerving and scary, they're such a cultural icon in the UK it's really uncommon to find anyone that doesn't know what they are.
This story really showed how frightening just one lone Dalek could be and does a great job showing how much trauma and inner darkness the Doctor has experienced having fought and defeated them. I think one of the key themes in this story is that it contrasts different versions of what The Doctor could be in the other 'geniuses' identified in the story: VanStatten, Adam and the Dalek itself. In the end it isn't the Doctor that defeats the Dalek, the resolution comes from the Dalek's relationship with Rose and her compassion and empathy, the very qualities the Doctor himself needs.
World War 2 had been over for less than 20 years and the memories of it were still pretty fresh. So when these things first rocked up, in a kids show no less, the Daleks genuinely disturbed people.
What’s amazing about Murray Gold’s score is that it is mostly all done on a computer. Just wait until later when he got money and had full orchestras. Kudos for shouting out the music. Too many people sleep on it.
"Good men don't need rules..."
You're starting to find out why the Doctor has so many
Every now and then you see the dark side of the Doctor. As the season unfolds you will learn more. This episode really showed how deadly and frightening the Daleks are. Design is virtually unchanged from the cobbled together design of 1963… shouldn’t be that terrifying, but they are.
And 1963…the WW2 was very fresh. There is a classic doctor who episode called “Genesis of the Daleks” that makes the parallel very clear
Yes, it's here! The episode a lot of us have waited for!
Honestly, can't put it into words how satisfying and fun it is to see blind reactions to the the "You would make a good Dalek" -moment. And it's not surprising either, no spoilers or anything, but there are many absolutely awesome and great moments on Doctor Who as the series goes on (I think I can speak for all of us that we can not wait to get on to certain episode on season 9, no matter how far it still is lol) but even so this moment, no matter that it's THIS early in the new-Who's lifecycle, is still one of THE best moments on the show in my opinion, and probably for lot others as well.
Eccleston just absolutely kills it in this one! Even if you don't know what Daleks are and what they're capable of you can just feel the absolute loath and hate the Doctor has for them when Ninth lets all his anger explode and by god I never get tired of seeing Eccleston just shouting that "The Daleks have failed! Why don't you finish the job and make Daleks extinct? Rid the universe of your FILTH!! Why don't YOUJUSTDIEEEHH!!!" -line.
Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic!
Waiting for that series 9 episode is gonna be like counting the seconds in eternity
*mod mode* Please don't put spoilers of anticipation. Thank you :)
Christopher eccleston is phenomenally underrated. I can’t wait to see you enjoy more of this show! It’s a rollercoaster of emotions
You’re one of my all time favorite Doctor Who reactors. You GET it! The silliness sometimes masks stellar writing, performances, soundtracks, but it’s all still there. Yeah, a squid in a tin can isn’t scary, but the writers and actors have made lightening in a bottle with this show, and you FEEL it all! Thanks again and cant wait for the next episode!
Back in 1963, Terry Nation created The Daleks for the original Doctor William Hartnell. He based this creature on The Nazi's. My eyes still fill with tears when I re-watch the Ecclestone scene from this episode. The menace and might of theses creatures can be seen in future episodes. Take care
Your reaction has genuinely given me a greater appreciation for this episode! Thanks!!
This was a great episode. IMO, it's where the revival series really found its feet and the storytelling went up a level. The Daleks were the Doctor's most iconic foe from the original series. It's really interesting how they make you feel sorry for the Dalek before it reverts to form and is more terrifying than ever.
Re the stairs, the Daleks were originally played by men in suits that ran around on castors, and there was a running joke that they could be defeated by stairs.
I agree.
This is one of my favorite episodes of the first 4 seasons. Eccleston is an amazing actor. His performances make me feel things and that is huge for me. The Doctor said "maybe we ae the same" and "I know what you deserve". I always felt the Doctor honestly tries to do to the Dalek what he believes should be done to him. His hatred for the Daleks mirrors the hatred he has for himself...It breaks my heart.
Something to know about the TARDIS, it was designed to be flown by 6 people simultaneously. The Doctor stole it. So that plays a part in why he is often off a bit on location or time. Another bigger aspect is the TARDIS is so advanced it has a bit of a consciousness to it, and a love for the Doctor. It doesn't always take him where he wants to go, but it usually takes him where he NEEDS to go.
Also (don’t know where exactly I heard it) but isn’t the sound that the Tardis makes, the sound of the “handbrake”? I believe I heard that (somewhere) that the sound is a warning to tell whoever is driving the Tardis that they need to disconnect or take up/off the brake.
@@Bigvig_of_bogvog that was more of a one liner that could either be taken seriously or just meant to be funny. On the one hand, the person who said that did fly it without it making that sound, on the other hand it would be very in line with that person to say this is the reason as a way of jabbing at the Doctor. Spoilers and all, so I won't say much more than that, but I really just chalk it up to a one liner gag inserted for laughs.
Another point to note is the fact that the navigation has a ramdomising unit to prevent a very powerful enemy of the Doctor, the Black Guardian, from tracking him down.
@@greenpeasuit but if it isn’t just for a gag, if you would have owned a Tardis, would you have flown/operated it with the “handbrake” on so that it would make the iconic sound, or would you have flown it correctly without any sound? (If you had known how to do it)
In the end the Dalek could not accept being impure due to Roses DNA - you got it spot on with what the Daleks represent (although i've recently read that it wasn't supposed to be the case at the very start in '64.
I've heard that claim too, but I honestly can't understand it if you see their first two stories the analogy is crystal clear. In the original serial we meet the survivors of a world destroyed by war: one, the Thals, is blond and 'beautiful' and tell us they were once 'war-like' until they saw the destruction of their world and became pacifists; the other, the Daleks, retreated inside metal shells and became isolationists obsessed with racial purity, removing all positive emotions and wanting to exterminate anything not like them.
In their second story, they invade Earth in the future and we see a devastated London as would have been very familiar to anyone who lived through The Blitz and have iconic shots of Daleks rolling around various London landmarks waving their plungers up and down in an unmistakable salute.
They go around with their arms raised shouting about how they want to exterminate the impure races, I really can't understand how it wasn't intended to be a direct allegory
You are absolutely right that the Doctor has a darkness in him and this is the first hints of it in the new series. It's explored further in an episode towards the end of season 4 and many more seasons after that.
There’s a tiny detail I love, which I’m not even sure if it was deliberate or not- when the doctor lowers the gun, he doesn’t so much lower it as he almost seems to drop it or ‘forget he’s holding it’ in the shock of realizing what he did or almost did. So when it falls enough to reach the end of how far his arm will stretch, the weight of it seems to suddenly jerk him off balance for a split second. I don’t know if that was a deliberate choice or instruction or not, but I hope it was because it’s great - but soo subtle. I love it.
As you watch more of the new series, I think you will find that Murray Gold's music can really be the heart and soul of the series.
Oh god this whole scene with the Dalek was one of my fave Chistopher moments, and I passed it on to him at a con.
Wait till he sees the eyebrows.
The power house of acting.
this specific perspective for a DW reaction is actually really cool! one of the greatest strengths of Doctor Who has always been its acting, rising above potentially/occasionally off-mark writing or special effects.
Also I really love that you immediately clocked Adam being selfish through his performance. Almost proves my point really.
It really is a fantastic performance from Eccleston here.
The script for the episode - including the stair bit - was basically an exercise in turning every little joke that became a part of British pop culture about the Daleks and turning them on their head. This is an excellent television script, with top-notch direction. Also, for this version of the Daleks, the design was made for this specific episode - Notice that the eyestalk is head height with Billie Piper. That's specifically because of how many scenes she has with the Dalek in this episode.
And, yeah. As you said - Daleks are fascists. This is probably most explicit in the 1970s episode Genesis of the Daleks where there is approximately zero attempts to hide WWII influences from the uniforms of the Kaleds, but even in the original 1963 serial it's pretty explicit, and in the second - The Dalek Invasion of Earth - there's some visual imagery that in the 60s would have been absolutely nightmarish when you've got a creature design that's meant to resemble miniature tanks coming out of the Thames, when that creature is pretty unambiguously fascist.
Seriously, I got goosebumps. Again. Just watching your YT cut. This episode is incredible.
1. This episode solidified Christopher Eccleston as an all time great choice to have played the Doctor. The sheer spite, hate and grief he exudes every time he interacts with the Dalek is *masterclass*
2. This was the episode where the revival series genuinely started to hit its stride. While there are some "meh" and stinker episodes here and there after this, it really is only uphill from here
16:32
You actually are 100% correct in that. In 1963, the series of episodes labeled The Daleks, starting with the episode The Dead Planet. They made the episode setting of rubble and ruin to look like what a lot of people in England saw after, what some refer to as "The Blitz"
In fact, some of the crew for the show were actually immigrants from other countries.
This was in 1963.
It takes several seasons and they build on it but they do answer your question on what happens if the doctor loses it
All the questions that you have are answered as the series goes on. The following doctors 10, 11, and 12 explore the psyche of the time lord there are dark episodes and amazing ones but as you go on the layers of such a complicated character get pulled back and it’s simply fantastic
dont know if you're gonna keep this series going on long enough but if you do you're gonna love waters of mars
And Midnight. And Blink.
These reactions are brilliant please keep it up with Doctor Who! So many great moments to go
I’m losing my mind right now, the actual writer of the story this episode is adapted from, Robert Shearman, commented?!?
If you’re (for whatever reason) reading this several days later, Rob, thank you for penning this masterpiece.
Classic Doctor Who was serialized in half hour episodes - each story lasting multiple episodes. The 1st episode aired Nov 23, 1963 (coincided with UK coverage of the Kennedy assassination) and had a 4.4 million viewership (most people glued to the Kennedy coverage) by the 4th (final) episode viewership rose to 6.4 million - this story introduces the Doctor but gives very little background information on him. The 1st episode of the 2nd story aired .Dec 21st 1963 viewership started at 6.9 million - by the 7th (final) episode viewership was at 10.4 million - this is the story that introduced the Daleks.
The actor playing van Statten, Corey Johnson, is the son of New Orleans news broadxasting legend Phil Johnson. He was also in The Mummy (with Brandon Frasier), Hellboy, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Captain Philips, The Bourne Ultimatum, Kick-Ass, and Ex Machina (just a sample - the list is long),
Rose's "new boyfriend" used the word "fantastic" which is the byword for this Doctor - apparenty the only other person to use the word in Rose's lifetime..
This has been really cool to catch up on! You notice a lot of things, watching these, and your perspective as someone almost completely unfamiliar with the source material combined with that perceptiveness and your expertise is genuinely fascinating. Definitely looking forward to more of these!
Doctor Who long had a tradition of occasionally having extra specials be part of the ongoing story that aren't part of any particular season that you need to watch at the correct time - the revival *really* kicked this up a notch, along with adding spin-off shows that occasionally cross back into the main show. It can be hard to keep track of all of this, especially in retrospect.
In case no one has provided one for you yet, allow me to give you a release order guide so you can follow along without missing anything! This'll be important starting from the transition from Series 1 to Series 2. The spin-offs are technically optional, the children's specials more so, almost all other specials (Children In Need, Holiday Specials, etc.) are very much important.
Note that prologues to finale episodes are sometimes listed directly _after_ the Series in question for simplicity's sake; they should still be watched before (for obvious reasons)!
Feel free to ask if you have any questions ^_^
*Series 1*
Doctor Who: Children In Need Special 2005
The Christmas Invasion (*Christmas Special*)
_Attack of the Graske (short interactive children's special)_
*Series 2*
Torchwood: Season 1(up to ep. 10)
The Runaway Bride (*Christmas Special*)
The Sarah Jane Adventures: Episode Zero
Torchwood: Season 1(continued)
*Series 3* (up to ep. 5)
_The Infinite Quest (animated children's special)_
*Series 3* (continued)
The Sarah Jane Adventures: Series 1
Time Crash (Children In Need Special 2007)
Voyage of the Damned (*Christmas Special*)
Torchwood: Season 2
*Series 4*
_Music of the Spheres (live event tie-in)_
The Sarah Jane Adventures: Series 2
The Next Doctor (*Christmas Special*)
Planet of the Dead (*Easter Special*)
Torchwood: Season 3
The Sarah Jane Adventures: Series 3
The Waters of Mars (Fall Special)
_Dreamland (animated children's special)_
*The End of Time* (Christmas and New Year's Specials)
*Series 5* (Each episode has a bonus epilogue that was added in the DVD version, titled "Meanwhile in the TARDIS")
_Doctor Who: The Adventure Games (Series 1)_
The Sarah Jane Adventures: Series 4
A Christmas Carol (*Christmas Special*)
Space / Time (Charity Special for Comic Relief)
*Series 6: Volume 1*
Torchwood: Season 4 (final, continued as audio dramas)
*Series 6: Volume 2*
_The Gunpowder Plot (The Adventure Games Series 2)_
_Death Is the Only Answer (children's writing contest result)_
The Sarah Jane Adventures: Series 5 (final, due to death of lead actress)
Night and the Doctor (Series 6 coda)
The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe (*Christmas Special*)
_Good as Gold (children's writing contest result)_
Pond Life (Series 7 prologue)
*Series 7: Volume 1*
The Inforarium (prequel short to Volume 1's finale)
P.S. (epilogue to Volume 1)
The Great Detective (Children In Need 2012)
_Songtaran Carols (web bonus feature)_
The Snowmen (*Christmas Special*)
Rain Gods (Series 7 interquel short)
*Series 7: Volume 2* (The short "Clara and the TARDIS" can be watched at any time during this Volume)
Clarence and the Whispermen (prequel to Volume 2's finale)
The Night of the Doctor
The Last Day
The Day of the Doctor (*50th anniversary*)
The Time of the Doctor (*Christmas Special*)
*Series 8*
Last Christmas (*Christmas Special*)
Series 9: Prologue
The Doctor's Mediatation (Theatrical opener)
*Series 9*
The Husbands of River Song (*Christmas Special*)
Friend from the Future (minisode)
Class (spin-off series)
The Return of Doctor Mysterio (Christmas Special)
*Series 10*
Twice Upon a Time (*Christmas Special*)
Series 11
2019 New Year's Special
Series 12
2021 New Year's Special
Series 13 ("Flux")
2022 New Year's Special
2022 Easter Special
The Power of the Doctor (100 Years BBC)
Doctor Who: Children In Need 2023
*The Star Beast*
*Wild Blue Yonder*
*The Giggle*
The Church on Ruby Road (Christmas Special)
You are correct about the Doctor often not ending up where he intended to. This was usually due to his ineptitude at piloting his TARDIS. However, in one episode, the Doctor had a conversation with a human embodiment his sentient craft. Complaining, that it never took him where he wanted to go. To which it responded; No, I took you to where you were needed to go.
If it hasn't been said, I STRONGLY recommend going through all the Dalek episodes of the original series. Part of the reason for the Dalek's strong reaction to him is that he's been a presence in their history since their ancestors were humanoids, and has been working against them for pretty much that entire time. They ended up at war with the Time Lords (and everyone else), but the doctor is PERSONALLY their ancestral enemy.
If you’re unfamiliar with ‘Classic’ Dr. Who, you’ll miss some of the references, the Cyberman helmet was from the 1970s/1980’s era, the Cybermen were the predecessors to the Borg, absorbing and ‘upgrading’ their victims into cybermen, although in the ‘70’s that was downplayed a bit and they were just ‘scary genetic robot men’, they did use ‘cybermats’ (Giant robotic silverfish things) to attack victims, and they had a weakness to gold, it clogged their breathing apparatus, so the most effective weapon against them was the ‘Glittergun’ they shot powdered gold dust
As far as the Dalek’s first appearance in this episode, us long time fans got suspicious with that blue eyestalk light in the dark, then the iconic raspy voice with the matching dome lights flashing just sent a chill up our spines… as we knew, it was a Dalek…
And the staircase thing, that was a reference to classic Who, Daleks could not navigate stairs, leading to the fan response “Daleks don’t climb stairs, they level the building!”
Tbh the Daleks were never quite this scary in terms of physical traits, they were never this tank-ish and also practically indestructible, they relied on the actors around them to make them themselves scary. The Dalek props used for Classic Who looked lightweight AF too, like you could tip and push them over with ease, very unbelievable as conquering monsters hell bent on universal domination. The revival came in and made them physically capable machines that were believably intimidating.
At least for me growing up watching this as it broadcast.
BTW, the bit with the stairs is almost certainly a deliberate nod-and-wink to a common joke/meme thing that the British public had about the Daleks in the classic show, always asking jokingly "what do they do if they run into stairs?" Now we have the answer!
Regarding the hover: that was new to Daleks from the Classic system, back in the old days, Daleks were there by stairs.
glad to see you back from holiday, I like what you add to a reaction. This is a really great story for understanding this Doctor and Doctor Who in general.
Thank you so much! Glad to be back
Such a powerful episode! A testament to all involved in this one.
There are a few times in later series when the Doctor goes over the edge, and breaks his own rules
Welcome to the enemy that stopped Who being axed just a few episodes in. Daleks became the iconic enemy for the whole of the Classic run, with more myth and lore added over the following 25 years - and more again in the revival. The plunger and stuff is due to budgets in 1963/64, the BBC were not putting money (not even by BBC budgets of the time) into an experimental childrens science fiction filler program. Like the TARDIS the design had to be cheap, but the voices and the fact these are not robots; but were humanoids who chose to become this in order to survive; added a layer beyond the normal "evil robot" or "bug eyed monster" trope of pulp sci-fi at the time.
A big thing was made out of stairs because until very late in the classic series they had never been shown using stairs. They had used flying disks in some comic books etc of the time.
Bringing back just one and making it so terrifying to the Doctor was the perfect way to play out the horror that when broadcast had already been part of British (and a few other nations) pop culture for 40+ years.
And Eccleston's mix of fear, anger and regret is perfectly played. The the Doctor might cross the line "You would make a good dalek", and did in the Time War, rarely happens without a dalek presence.
Yes, as you surmise, they are fascists with direct influence from the Nazis; not surprising in an era when every adult had lived through WWII. That it committed suicide due to the genetic infiltration, and resulting feelings, brought in from Rose underlines the dalek commitment to pure dalek.
i love your videos pls keep bringing them to youtube i love seeing your reactions. i have been a HUGE fan of doctor who for 14 years now. im 20. i love seeing ppl watch doctor who ❤
Eccleston, when he monologued as The Doctor he was fantastic. Capaldi was the same.
Yeh, the Doctor is always on the edge. 'A madman with a box'
the 12th doctor's second and third series in my opinion contain the some of the best acting in all of who, i do hope you get there, especially THAT episode in the second one
A fantastic episode,great reaction mate looking forward to seeing the next 😀😀
I've been checking your page every now and then hoping to see more doctor who! Thanks for this :) Raelly looking forward to the rest of series 1! And series 2 obviously!
More to come!
20:19 You can tell someone understands doctor who when they can basically predict the waters of mars and hell bent just from a performance in series 1
This is the first time I've seen a reaction that fully appreciated the performance & true dynamics between the characters in this brilliant episode. Fantastic viewing. If you have Spotify look up Dalek Empire by Nicolas Briggs, the man who voices the Dalek in this episode. He writes his own Fantastic love chase across the galaxy against the Daleks!
As much as it is a while away, we do get to see what extremes the doctor will go to if he does lose it with Peter Capaldi's tenure, it's done insanely well and I can't wait for you to see it
You're absolutely correct in identifying the Daleks as a stand in for nazis, they were initally created in the '60s by people who had personally fought in the second world war.
They were stumped by stairs for decades ... but not any longer.
Just finished binging you watching the Dr who episodes. Great videos, loved the insight and love how you break down certain things. Will deffo be checking out your other videos from now on. Keep up the good work! ❤
The Daleks are from 1963, Dr Who was a low budget show filling a gap in the schedule between Sport and Entertainment. The Daleks are ultimate killing machines from the future built of plywood, glass fibre, an egg whisk for gun. a toilet plunger for an arm and with Mini car indicator lights on top. We British love to be scared of the Daleks, but we joke how they can't climb stairs and that the toilet plunger arm is useless. Russel T Davis responded to the critics, the toilet plunger suffocated a man to death then downloaded the internet, the Dalek reaching the stairs rose above them, this Dalek is intelligent, logical and deadly but it's still built of plywood and glass fibre, you can download the plans and build your own Dalek.
The Dalek did not stay in Van Statten's vault because it was awaiting orders. It was too weak to break out because it was badly damaged. It needed time energy from the Doctor or another time traveller - in the end, Rose - in order to be able to recharge itself so that it could break free and carry out its standing orders. When Daleks do not have a remaining hierarchy to report to, their standing order is always the same - KILL. ABSOLUTELY. EVERYTHING.
"They really thought that that thing could be defeated by a set of stairs?" Well.... yes
For almost the entirety of the Classic series run, a LOT was made of the fact that the Daleks were incapable of going up/down stairs. They sometimes in a serial would have humanoid soldiers under their control who could use staircases (Ogrons on a couple of occasions, mind controlled "Robomen" humans in an older one) , just to get around this limitation.
The most shocking moment for many viewers of Classic Who came at the end of episode 1 of Remembrance of the Daleks, when the Doctor thinks he can escape a Dalek by running up the stairs - the door at the top is locked, but at least he's out of range...until the Dalek (just like in this episode) says "El-ev-aaaaate" and begins to lift up towards him. It was one of the most surprising cliffhangers the show ever had! And this scene was a direct callback to it for the Nu series. :)
You are back! Yes 😁
Hi Mr. That’s Not Acting. You’re reactions to this show are the most insightful and thoughtful that I’ve ever seen. It would make my day if you continued past season 1.
You need to review The Day of the Doctor, the 50th Anniversary special to get the context for the character.
Eccleston was working from generalised instructions - the full context hadn't been written at this point. BTW, the deadliness of The Daleks was known from the start of the original Doctor back in the 60s.
2:39 fun fact, this is because the Tardis is alive and sentient. It can override his wishes to bring him wherever he is actually needed.
16:26 when the idea of the Daleks was first conceived in 1963, just 18 years after the end of WW2, they were absolutely a meta for for the Nazis. Watch the classic Who serial Genesis of the Daleks for further insight.
The Daleks first appeared in Doctor Who since 1963 and it was because of the Daleks that made the show a success and they became iconic and known for saying their famous catchphrase "Exterminate!" You are correct that they were based on Nazi germany one thing to never do is feel sorry for a Dalek anything that's un-Dalek they kill as for the flight of stairs that was an ongoing joke for years up until 1988 when they first made their little flight on the stairs.
This is the first time ever we see the Doctor this angry and traumatised onscreen as Christopher Eccleston was going through his own personal problems at the time of filming as his father was suffering through alzheimers so he put his anger in real life towards the Dalek it was originally suppose to be an angry but toned down conversation but Eccleston pulled it off brilliantly so they kept it.
"Daleks do not climb the stairs, they instead level the building."
the true tragedy of the Daleks, so thoroughly conditioned to be monsters that they'd genuinely rather die than improve
This season rules.
You could name an episode as the best one, and people would always have another episode to contest it with.
Ok now I’m freaking out. I just saw you posted a reminder for a season 1 wrap for Saturday!! But, but, but there are two two-parters I absolutely must have your thoughts on!! How can we be wrapping the season already??? I absolutely love your reactions and your analysis. There are some really interesting characters we meet (Nancy) along the way.
I'm thinking the exact same
Yeah, lol. You have to remember that I posted the episode 14 reaction on Patreon on Christmas Day! I'm doing my best to get them to TH-cam but I already dug into my holiday budget to get episode 4 and 5 edited. I just basically ran out of money. But I'm working on it to get them to you as fast as I can.
I am taking questions on my discord and my instagram, and I will be taking questions on the day of the livestream if you want to stop by.
If it helps at all - think of the Daleks as the Lex Luthor to Superman. Lex has been Superman's archenemy since the late 1930s, and the Daleks made their debut in the first season of Doctor Who way back in '63. These metallic foes have been a constant thorn in the Doctor's side for over half a century.
In the '80s, the Daleks started grappling with the notion of racial purity, scattered across space and time, leading to internal factions. They serve as a cautionary tale for the Doctor, a reminder to temper his actions when things get a bit too extreme.
Now, let's talk about the infamous "Stair Thing." Initially, they couldn't even budge off the metal floors of their home base, and some were easily thwarted by a well-placed mat. But, as production expanded its shooting locations, the Daleks adapted. Still, they remained stumped by stairs, prompting the 4th Doctor (Tom Baker) to mock, "Greatest race in the galaxy, defeated by a set of stairs!" Fast forward to the 7th Doctor (Sylvester McCoy), as he reveled in outsmarting them by ascending stairs, only for the Dalek to start hovering. Yes, the stair thing has been a whole thing.
Oh, and when you meet Sarah Jane Smith, a companion of the 3rd and 4th Doctors in the '70s, she was widely considered one of the most popular companions until the reboot in '06 with Eccleston. Not a spoiler - just perspective for when it happens.
So, given with anything that has been in the public eye for 60 years, expect some chaff, but like the worst of times, there WILL be better, and best of times as well. There will be laughs. There will be fezzes. There will be groans of disappointment. There. Will. Be. Tears.
Welcome aboard the Tardis.
th-cam.com/video/muw6SSbVNNY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=5AItNyPJfHxTDb2j
It's such a shame that the bbc did Eccleston so dirty because he's a great actor and has basically been blacklisted over here because of how things went with his short time on doctor who.
I'd love to see you tackle some Star Trek Deep Space Nine episode acting. Such as s6e13 Far Beyond the Stars, s6e19 In the Pale Moonlight, or s7e10 Only a Paper Moon.
A Dalek's kill beam could instantly disintegrate a human, with no effort at all. But the Daleks are cruel, and full of hate, so dial back the intensity of the beam, and instead scramble all the internal organs of whoever it is fired at, causing them to die in the most horrific agony.
Daleks were introduced in December 1963. So na-zi metaphore is very posible.
16:30 oh, absolutely
last episode you said "oh the doctor might have trauma" and bam next episode he talks about murdering his whole own race xD
14:23 no, he wasn’t capable of breaking free until rose touched him, that’s why he was manipulating her at the start
15:01
Yep the Daleks are fascists, they were created for the show’s second serial adventure in 1963, a time when WW2 and the onslaught of fascism across Europe that left millions dead was in recent living memory. They were ABSOLUTELY created to be like space Nazis.
And you have idiots on the Internet these days who genuinely think “Doctor Who never used to be woke” when it’s pretty much an Antifa show if you’re going by its most iconic villains.
Yes they were created out of fascism. Check out the classic Doctor who story Genesis of the Daleks. You can see how they are inspired by the SS in that story.
The acting from CE was awesome.
The Daleks are genuinely one of the most terrifying villains in Who if you think about it. They always say exterminate, and if you think about what humans exterminate, rodents, insects, vermin, that's how they view every other race in the universe. And of course the allegory for fascism, the Nazis used the word exterminate for so called undesirable groups.
Terry Nation created the Daleks in the 60's when the memory of the Nazis was still fresh in Europe. They were intended to be like a metaphor of them.
Wow.
So, if this is what your channel is about, what you said in the intro there, I'd be glad for you to check out more of Peter Capaldi's run as the Doctor.
For instance his anti war speech from "The Zygon Inversion".
Series 9 episode 8....
This episode made Daleks scary after decades of them being mostly a joke in British pop culture (Rememrance of the Daleks in 1988 did a lot that Dalek did, but it was in the second-to-last season of the classic show, so it didn't help) and while the writing did a ton to make them physically dangerous, Ecclestone's performance made them EMOTIONALLY TERRIFYING.
Oh also, fun fact - this episode is partially inspired by a 6th Doctor audio called Jubilee, which is maybe Colin Baker's best voice-acting performance
Got it in one. The Daleks are the ultimate Fascists. In Classic Who the Daleks didn't hover so stairs, hills & ponds were a problem.
Very interesting reaction, your calling the Dalek a fascist is exactly correct as the designer of the Daleks Terry Nation based the Dalek character on the Nazis.
Wait til you see The Empty Child!
To learn about Daleks you really need to watch these four stories from the Classic Era of Doctor Who....
- Day of the Daleks (1972 - Jon Pertwee}
- Genesis of the Daleks (1975 - Tom Baker}
- Resurrection of the Daleks {1984 - Peter Davison}
- Remembrance of the Daleks {1988 - Sylvester McCoy}
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another obvious choice is the very first Dalek Story - The Dead Planet AKA The Daleks {1963 - William Hartnell} but there were a few retcons over the years and I'd call that story more a completionist's choice than a required watch.
Same goes for the original Dalek Invasion of Earth {1964 - Hartnell} which clashes quite heavily continuity wise with the for me much stronger Day of the Daleks.
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Destiny of the Daleks {1979 - Tom Baker} and Revelation of the Daleks {1985 - Colin Baker} fill in some more lore between Genesis-Resurrection-Remembrance but I wouldn't say they're necessary to watch to understand those latter two stories.
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I really like The Chase {1965 - William Hartnell} but many others don't and it's a bit of a romp compared to most Dalek stories.
The Daleks were created in 1963 as a metaphor for the Nazis. The original story was a take on The Time Machine, where they fought against a more peaceful human-like race.
Piper got infinitely better after Who. She's won numerous UK stage awards. She came back a while back for the 50th special (as a different character no less) and was so much better.
You asked if the Daleks are a Nazi metaphor. The answer is yes. Peter Capaldi said that, as a Brit, when he did the Doctor Who press tour in Germany, he was told not to mention the Nazis. The first question Capaldi was asked was “Is it true that the Daleks were based off of the Nazis?” and he said that it was true. Terry Nation explicitly based them off of the Nazis and included the idea of racial and genetic “purity” and “impurity” for those reasons.
I love the story this tells about a Dalek and how deeply sad it is as a commentary on fascists and their own self-hatred.
Also, obviously Christopher Eccleston is a powerhouse here, but can we talk about the vocal performance from Nicolas Briggs as the Dalek. ♥️
This Doctor’s acting is my second favorite. Capaldi is IMO the best actor to play the Doctor. The writing wasn’t always on point but the acting was amazeballs. You have many seasons to go.
Enjoy.