"Pity? I have no understanding of the word. It is not registered in my vocabulary bank. Exterminate!" Be sure to leave a comment, "like" this video and share it around to appease the almighty algorithm!
Considering this story is now 45 years old it is a testament to the awesomeness of the 4th Doctors era how good this story still stands up to this day. It contains the best Davros to date who was a ruthless cunning villain, the best use and back story of the Daleks to date, Tom Bakers awesome "do I have the right" speech, amazing perfect performances from everybody in the story, the unforgettable beginning with the wartime soldiers in gas masks being gunned down and loads of other top notch scenes. This one gets a 10 out of 10 from me despite the silly rejected clam experiments.
The Clams can be included in Canon as, given they are clearly fitted with "Knuckles," a Later version of the Hand Mines....then they become a lot more Disturbing!
"To hold in my hand, a capsule that contained such power." "To know that life and death on such a scale was my choice." "To know that the tiny pressure of my thumb, enough to break the glass, would end everything!" "Yes.." "I would do it!" "That power would set me up above the gods!" "And through the Daleks, I SHALL HAVE THAT POWER!"
4 decades later: "Imagine, to hold in your hand, the heartbeat of every Dalek on Skaro." [...] "Genocide in a moment. Such slaughter, not in self-defence. Not as a simple act of war. Genocide as a choice. Are you ready Doctor? So many backs with a single knife. Are you ready to be a god?
Every time I watch that scene, I wince when Davros closes his fingers together. Michael Wisher really conveys that yes, Davros would absolutely eliminate all life just to prove a point.
As a child believing everything in the world was black and white this story was quite a milestone piece of entertainment for me. First it introduced me to the concept of a Moral Dilemma and secondly to the concept of Irony- the latter being manifest in someone creating a creature with a murderous superiority complex and then that same person trying to give those same creatures orders!
Interesting thing about the "Do I have the right?" scene. While it's often remembered for it's musings that killing the Daleks would be wrong and The Doctor ultimately is saved from having to make the decision when he hears there's a more peaceful solution, something that people often forget is this: The Doctor goes back later to do it. He goes back to destroy the incubator and the Dalek embryos with it. While he does so, it's a bit little too late, as the Daleks are now in full production, but the point is that he realised the he did, in fact, have the right. In fact, a lot of later stories (mostly in the EU) would go on to say that that moment was one of The Doctor's biggest regrets - that if he could go back, he would do it. "Resurrection of the Daleks" (5th Doctor episode), "Terror Firma" (8th Doctor audio), "Engines of War" (War Doctor book) and many all reference this. He should have destroyed the Daleks. It was the right thing to do. But he didn't. Because he's not a killer. "Coward, any day."
Russell Tietjen after the atrocities of the Time War I would especially imagine him wanting to do that, if only to prevent the war from even happening. But if it wasn’t the Daleks, imagine if the Cybermen or something worse started the time war
@@crimsondynamo615 I don't even think they Time Locked it in War Master 4. They just say both sides treated it as an unspoken rule not to mess with each other's origins even more. Would end up causing more trouble than it's worth. Which kinda makes sense lol
'Genesis' is a CLASSIC!!! Definitely the best Dalek stories of the 70's. I just wish the glorious way the Daleks were filmed here was done in other 70's/80's Dalek stories...
Being born in 1972 this is my era of Doctor Who and has left a lasting impression on me that will never fade the acting was superb it was dark and gritty and so well written that the story still holds up today and shames the writing of many dramas today. The only small detail wrong.with this story is the Dalek Props themselves they should have been MK 1 versions with no vertical slats fitted around the shoulders .They were also in very good condition having had recent refurbishment and painting . Michael Wisher to my mind was the best Davros he portrayed a psychopath perfectly without doing it over theatrically as many have done since him.
I think what they should have done is have a mix between sliver and grey dalek casings, inprder to reference the decade old 60s stories and the more relevant 70s stories.
@@vinnynj78 Yeah, Davros is just a chill guy. He used to go swimming as a kid in Drammakin lake on Sakro. He also likes to lie down on soft beds since he doesn't get that feeling often.
Honestly I feel like Davros, atleast in this particular story, might actually be MORE competent/intelligent than Hitler as far as genocidal dictatorial fascists go But tbf I've had way more in-depth exposure to Davros (a fictional character) than Hitler (a real person) So that may just be my internal bias talking
Sorry, I don't see it. Revelation of the Daleks: Davros is written a conniving, snake-tongued businessman (whose mask of civility often slips while dealing with Kara) forced to build his empire again from scratch by wheeling and dealing, setting himself up as a philanthropic food merchant saving the galaxy from starvation. He's also a predatory svengali to the meek, homely Tasambeker, manipulating her into killing Jobel by preying on her low self-esteem, then sending Daleks to dispose of her when she's served her purpose. Brilliant story, awesome characterization of Davros. Remembrance of the Daleks: Davros is a one-dimensional shrieking madman who literally looks like he's now living in a toilet bowl, shoehorned into the story at the last minute as a novelty.
I’ll agree, while he didn’t need to return as his character arc ends perfectly in genesis, I enjoy & like seeing him in every story he’s appeared in after. He’s one of the few good things of the magicians Apprentice/the Witch’s familiar
@@jaymagoo336 I don't really see how those are contradictory. One appearance may be less interesting, sure, but thats just cause his presence is utilised differently.
I know this is a super-duper-ultra-mega unpopular opinion, but i honestly hate the fact that they brought Davros back after this story. His ending here is beyond perfect.
kiarash608 to me every Davros story afterwards should have just be about his past. Which is why I liked the I, Davros series so much. It really paints a picture of why he is the way he is.
He’s a fun villain but this is a damn good place to end his story (the only thing g that comes close as a conclusion is that 12tj Doctor story with him
I won't lie, while I do love seeing Davros return and cause havoc, I can see where you're coming with this; this was basically Davros fully realizing what The Doctor was talking about during their one-on-one conversation, realizing what horrors he'd unleashed, and regretting exerting that pressure from his thumb on that capsule when his creations exterminated him. But at the same time, I can't help but think the only reason why the producers keep bringing him back is because it's suppost too mirror The Daleks; even when defeated, they still come back. Much like the extreme hatred and bigotry that plagues us, so long as there's hate and discrimination in our society, the Daleks will always be there too reflect that.
The direction of this story is so good, that even when you're talking over the images on screen, Davros, the Daleks, and even the flipping giant clam look terrifying with the combination of the direction and the acting. Also, kudos on properly dissecting fascism and it's implementation in this story. You really illuminate Terry Nation's portrayal of Davros and his supporters as a fascist regime that spawn an army that cannot be controlled. After years of popularity and exposure, it's easy to forget how dark and terrifying the Daleks are as characters. They are so evil, so hellbent on destroying anything that isn't like them, that their first instinct is to destroy the very first thing it comes across that it does not recognize. That is horrifying.
Don't forget the Stealth WW2 commentary on "the Allies were as bad" (one word. "Dresden". *Absolute Unforgivable Atrocity* !) by having the Thals, who are shown to be *every bit as bad* at the Kaleds in many ways in their Brutal Treatment of the Muto's, wear British and American Uniforms.
If you've ever seen the Doctor Who Discontinuity Guide, they make a very good argument to suggest that the Doctor DID change history here, if not exactly how he would have wished. Essentially, his actions ensure Davros's survival. Before Genesis, Davros forms no part in Dalek history, and the Daleks became the greatest conquerors the galaxy had ever known. The Doctor manages to defeat the Daleks several times, but he can never totally destroy them. But in Genesis, Davros did force the Doctor into revealing every future Dalek defeat he was aware of, so Davros had to suspect what would come next. Then, in Destiny of the Daleks, we find he DID survive the attempt of his creations to kill him. So, he finds out that the Daleks STILL lost many of the encounters the Doctor mentioned, and he begins to "improve" the Daleks -- which results in a civil war between Davros' Imperial Daleks that worship him as their Emperor and the original Daleks. As Ace once said, "they hate each other's chromosomes!" The argument is: with Davros alive, the Daleks are trapped in a never-ending civil war, with neither side strong enough to become the total galactic threat feared by the Time Lords. But, IF the Doctor's actions in Genesis DO inevitably lead to the Great Time War, as Stephen Moffat [correction: Russell Davies] hypothesized, it is likely that it was the Daleks' own civil war that inevitably led to the Time War. The Daleks' thought process -- or possibly Davros' -- is straightforward: A Gallifreyan committed the first act of war by interfering in Dalek history; the Gallefreyans must be exterminated to preserve the Daleks' own existence. The Daleks themselves won't see their own failures, and so they begin the greatest war to destroy those they consider responsible: the Time Lords of Gallifrey. In the end, the Doctor DOES change history -- and guarantees the Time War will take place.
And the Doctor later says during the time war that he should have destroyed them, if only to prevent such a horrible war from happening in the first place. Course who’s to say that the Cybermen or the Sontarans takes the Daleks place and start the time war.
Damn, Guy Siner said that opening line from your intro! That's incredible I never realised he was a serious actor as I only know him from 'Allo 'Allo. Incredible stuff.
Hilary Minster, 'Allo 'Allo's General von Klinkerhoffen, also appears in this story as a Thal guard. I presume Arthur "Officer Crabtree" Bostrom was turned down for the part of Davros on account of his height ;)
Best Dalek story ever and honestly I don't need to say much more. One of the greatest Doctor Who stories of all time. 1:10: I'd argue Pertwee (Inferno), Davison (Kinda), Eccleston (Dalek), Tennant (School Reunion), Smith (Vincent and the Doctor) and Whittaker (It Takes You Away) in their first seasons have stories equivalent to Genesis. But I get the point and I agree.
If you decide TH-cam can't work out naymore, what a way to go out with an advent calendar of great video content. I'm seriously really impressed with the amount of work put into this. Great stuff. Hope we see Cyber-Cember next year! ;)
I Do Monologues i remember in his review of Attack of the Cybermen, he wished that Cybermania was a thing and that the Cybermen would get as much love as the Daleks. I would love to see him go into as much detail with the Cybermen as he is doing with the Daleks.
It’s funny, after I watched your ’The Year Doctor Who Died’ video, I rewatched this episode and all the way through I thought to myself: “Just imagine the backlash this episode would get if it was a Series 11 story.”
Yeah lmao. Resolution is probably the only Dalek story ever made without at least some political undertones and people still say it's more political than Genesis of the Daleks.
No Davros story lives up to his portrayal here, though The Magician's Apprentice and The Witch's Familiar definitely comes close! Davros is never more threatening or creepy than when he's talking quietly or plotting away.
Yeah Magician's Apprentice and Witch's Familiar comes close mainly cause it really focuses on the Doctor/Davros dynamic (which Moffat was definitely aiming for and appreciated when coming up with the story). And it felt like it came at a good time since there hadn't been too much Davros focus in the new series up to that point and a different kind of Dalek story was kind of needed at that point.
Spectrum Storms six slowly pissing off Davros will always make me laugh. I really like when he is paired with Davros because he knows just what buttons to push to make Davros mad.
Excellent stuff! This video is a bit longer than the others so far, but you use the time well, really hammering home the strengths of this story and the importance of its allegories. And loved the Idris Elba cameo; considering the amount of work this project will have required, I’m glad you found ways of making the editing process enjoyable.
This is the story that made the Daleks one of my favorite sci-fi antagonists of all time. And made Tom Baker one of my favorite Doctors...and made me marathon Classic Who 10 years ago.
Ah this is a special one. I remember watching your earlier 'Genesis' review so many times. The terrible audio quality, the 'Doctor Stepping on a Landmine' gag, and who can forget the Fedora? Either way, this video made me nostalgic. Which just makes me all the more hyped for the next video!
You're forgetting the fact that every human is born pure, while Daleks are creatures that were genetically-modified to be nothing but killing machines. Humans learn to be evil, Daleks are evil the moment they are born.
Canyon pollard i bet the bitch never even watched a single episode of Doctor Who. She’s just complaining because she doesn’t like it and saying she’s all for helping the children, but all she was was an annoying busy body who helped ruin Doctor Who in the late 70’s and 80’s along with BBC towards the end.
Doctor Who made its U.S. debut in 1978, starting with airings of the beginning of the Tom Baker era, and while I (age 13) found "Robot" to be rather cheesy, I was intrigued enough to stick around. Glad I did, because as of "The Ark in Space" I was hooked. And when "Genesis of the Daleks" aired, I had heard of the Daleks via some British expat schoolmates, but I had no idea as to what they were or what they represented in an allegorical sense. "Genesis" blew my mind, especially since I had initially heard Doctor Who blithely dismissed as just a "kiddie" show.
Great video. It's the first episode of Who I saw as a kid. Davros is in rare form and the Dalek voices sound great. A very dark, scary, and well written story.
Thank you to Barry Letts for putting the idea into Terry Nation's head. "You've never told us the genesis of the Daleks..." so Terry comes back with a story funnily enough called, Genesis of the Daleks. One of my all-time favourite stories and frankly one of the best Doctor Who stories ever... A true classic. For me, the next great Dalek story won't happen until 1988 with Remembrance of the Daleks.
I honestly wish Davros had never appeared again after this story, it's a shame that ever Dalek story until 1989 had them playing second fiddle to him, maybe that's why they waited until Remembrance of the Daleks Part Four to reveal.
Back when the show was first brought over to the US and shown on PBS, this is the story that got me into Doctor Who as a kid. I still have a bunch of the novelizations that bought back then to this day. This story is simply amazing and one of the reasons I still prefer classic to modern (I do like modern Who just not as much); all that character and background development is virtually impossible to do in the modern format and it really brings this amazing story to life. I do wish Davros would have actually died here. Like Sutekh from Pyramids of mars, he'd have been better served by being a one off villain. This is especially true when we consider the next Dalek story...
I just watched it twice recently & it was timeless, never dull at all. Quite simply done too ,very easy to follow despite the adult themes .and the Dr , Harry & Sarah aren't the catalysts in the story too .
Appreciate your reviews and the Dalekcember effort here. I very recently watched this, and was surprised to find myself reluctant to watch it; after considering this, the story drags in parts; the Doctor and Harry wandering about in the mutant-invested area just doesn't replay well, nor does the whole Sarah captured and failed escape attempt. These are sections that I could have just skipped over. Having said that, Davros is great and treacherous in this story - little wonder that the Daleks are what they are. Love his comeuppance at the end of the story, especially after he betrays his own people.
The fact that Genesis of the Daleks was the penultimate serial in Tom Baker’s first season is a testament to how monumental this story is. But, it’s disappointing when you realise that the massive quality drop serial known as Destiny of the Daleks was the next time we would see the pepper pods.
Y’know for a long time I wondered what it was about Tom Baker’s Doctor that made him so special, and I think I figured it out. Throughout his run his best episodes were dark, gritty, and sometimes disturbing with the rest of the cast matching that bleak and grim environment. But not Tom Baker, not the 4th doctor. Its what makes his era standout from the rest. The other doctors even the most positive ones like Matt Smith, or David Tennant often match a grim environment with a grim or serious emotion. The 4th Doctor however is an overwhelmingly positive force that no matter the situation manages to create smiles on the audience face while having one on his own, despite the theme being extremely deadly and serious. Thats how you know a situation is really bad if even the 4th doctor is angry, scared, or sad. Genesis Of the Daleks is one of those times as while he finds good moments and ultimately has faith in the end, the doctor does feel upset that he failed to change the Daleks and had to just delay them. What a masterpiece, and to think that this episode wouldn’t have happened if Terry Nation hadn’t been told to rewrite a Dalek Story that talked about their origin.
“Today, the Kaled Race has ended, consumed in a fire of war, But! From its ashes will rise a new race! The Supreme Creature, The Ultimate Conqueror of the Universe, THE DALEK!!”
9/10… I was bored and even annoyed by the Daleks during the last few serials they were on coz the plot wasn’t good and the Daleks annoying and even unneeded. But this one here really brought the excitement and fire back these Daleks needed. The design, the plot, the cast. Everything was on point. The origin of the Daleks and the introduction of their planet Skaro was really fascinating. OFC this mission came from The Time Lords lol What was really got me going and excited was the introduction of Davros! His setting, looks and characterization was frightening and really well written! He is definitely one of the best villains like everyone else was claiming before I started my DW watch. I’m on my first time watch of DW 1963 and now here. I was upset that Harry wasn’t more involved even though he did kinda saved the Doctor three times and had a lot to do in the first episode. Sarah Jane had a lot more to do. I was shocked about how brutal this serial was and people acted like we never had so much before which isn’t quite true. Especially during the Hartnell era there were a few heavy serials with a lot of moral and brutal outcome of it. But this one here was really something else in a good way! I was shocked that Sarah Jane’s escape plan did cost a few people their lives! The 4th Doctor was right not to kill off the Daleks! Because even with erhielt evilness something good will emerge and come out of it. Look how many people fought together, built a new society after their heavy encounters with them. I do think sometimes bad things have to happen to let you grow and become better. I was so positive surprised that they even brought up old encounters with the Daleks! Great twist at the end that they gained a will of their own and turned on Davros!
I would’ve really liked to see Jon Pertwee during this.. I Love Tom Baker already but Pertwee had something on him that made his doctor work. I would’ve loved to see his take during the scenes with Davros and later on when he was forced to tell him about the failure of the Daleks!
"They talk of democracy, freedom, fairness, those are the creeds of cowards. The ones who will listen to 1,000 viewpoints and try to satisfy them all. Achievement comes through absolute power and power through strength!" Davros would make a good Sith.
It's not an irrational fear, davros has seen great devastation(for his whole life), the destruction and fear being caused by an outside aggressor. His logic is distorted by his excperience. He is wrong but you can understand why he would come to such conclusions
It's irrational when he refers to experiences outside his own. He has extreme tunnel vision which he will enforce on other cultures, life-forms and planets.
MrTARDISreviews well afterall he never even knew they existed until this story. Everyone on Skaro believed that their planet was the only one that could support intelligent life, War was all that anyone knew
My headcanon has always been that what the time lords saw that scared them into forcing the doctor to destroying the kaleds before they became the daleks was a possible outcome of the time war, or maybe just the time war itself
The irony was this epic philosophical issue is that Davros is more than likely Terry Nation's representation of Adolf Hitler. And in fact in World War One while Hitler was still a German soldier, he was found wounded in a battlefield by a British soldier and was saved. That too is a majorly complex situation. If Hitler hadn't been saved, the Second World War probably wouldn't have happened, or at worst, it would've been started by something else, but on the other hand, society could be drastically different.
7:00 Davros considering using the Daleks for good is a good origin point for a divergent timeline where Davros uses the Daleks for good or at the very least tries to.
An interesting aspect is the Thals, the wiped out the Kaleds without a second thought. I mean that's pretty cold. As a result I never really felt all that bad for the Thals when watching, if anything the Dalek's were just wiping out another race of genocidal people.
I love how he talks about him and his daleks being the supreme race, when they're so crippled that they need special travel machines to function, in fact, I'm pretty sure Davros and his Daleks ARE EXACTLY the kinds of people who would be exterminated by IRL facist regimes in search of the "pure breed". So much so that he is later betrayed by his own Daleks for this very reason, because they cannot acknowledge any being as superior to them. It's the most fitting end imaginable. Him asking his Daleks to have pity just shows how much of a coward Davros and any other facist really is.
Two important points: you talk about Davros being crippled and his ideology, but never connect how these are related, he acts like true peace is unreachable because he knows nothing but of War and suffering. Second, I'm going to keep in mind your comments on genocide being probably acceptable if they are the bad guys for the rest of your videos (an option I disagree with, genocide is never acceptable to me).
I always wonder how much of Genesis is Terry Nation and how much of it was Robert Holmes rewrites behind the scenes. I suppose it doesn't matter because the result is one of the most complex and riveting stories in all of Doctor Who canon. And from this point forward, it's a quick downhill slide until we get to Remembrance...
"Pity? I have no understanding of the word. It is not registered in my vocabulary bank. Exterminate!"
Be sure to leave a comment, "like" this video and share it around to appease the almighty algorithm!
What an ending like you said exterminating Davros!
So let's see your resume oh great purswader your hired!
The great Roy Skelton!
MrTARDISreviews can you do a month of videos on the Cybermen next?
This video went up on my 17th birthday, brilliant. Certainly one of the best Doctor Who stories ever, and your reviews are brilliant!
Rest in peace Elizabeth, our Sarah Jane Smith
It's hard to believe next year she'll be gone for ten years
@@jeffgalus8454 And Ian Marter, taken from us at a shockingly early age.
My daughter still refers to this story as "the one with the clam."
Next time on Dalekcember one of the biggest quality drops in Doctor Who history.
Considering this story is now 45 years old it is a testament to the awesomeness of the 4th Doctors era how good this story still stands up to this day. It contains the best Davros to date who was a ruthless cunning villain, the best use and back story of the Daleks to date, Tom Bakers awesome "do I have the right" speech, amazing perfect performances from everybody in the story, the unforgettable beginning with the wartime soldiers in gas masks being gunned down and loads of other top notch scenes. This one gets a 10 out of 10 from me despite the silly rejected clam experiments.
there is a reason why many consider this the best dr who story of all time, and is on MANY peoples top ten list
The Clams can be included in Canon as, given they are clearly fitted with "Knuckles," a Later version of the Hand Mines....then they become a lot more Disturbing!
“And then we will have peace, wars will end.”
In other words, they create a solitude and call it peace.
Yeah, all due to an irrational fear of anything that is different from them.
"To hold in my hand, a capsule that contained such power."
"To know that life and death on such a scale was my choice."
"To know that the tiny pressure of my thumb, enough to break the glass, would end everything!"
"Yes.."
"I would do it!"
"That power would set me up above the gods!"
"And through the Daleks, I SHALL HAVE THAT POWER!"
4 decades later:
"Imagine, to hold in your hand, the heartbeat of every Dalek on Skaro."
[...]
"Genocide in a moment. Such slaughter, not in self-defence. Not as a simple act of war. Genocide as a choice. Are you ready Doctor? So many backs with a single knife. Are you ready to be a god?
Every time I watch that scene, I wince when Davros closes his fingers together. Michael Wisher really conveys that yes, Davros would absolutely eliminate all life just to prove a point.
@@DalekTheSupreme He also did create the Virus! "Terror Firma" from Big Finish... that one is Nightmare Rocket Fuel!
As a child believing everything in the world was black and white this story was quite a milestone piece of entertainment for me. First it introduced me to the concept of a Moral Dilemma and secondly to the concept of Irony- the latter being manifest in someone creating a creature with a murderous superiority complex and then that same person trying to give those same creatures orders!
Interesting thing about the "Do I have the right?" scene. While it's often remembered for it's musings that killing the Daleks would be wrong and The Doctor ultimately is saved from having to make the decision when he hears there's a more peaceful solution, something that people often forget is this:
The Doctor goes back later to do it. He goes back to destroy the incubator and the Dalek embryos with it.
While he does so, it's a bit little too late, as the Daleks are now in full production, but the point is that he realised the he did, in fact, have the right.
In fact, a lot of later stories (mostly in the EU) would go on to say that that moment was one of The Doctor's biggest regrets - that if he could go back, he would do it. "Resurrection of the Daleks" (5th Doctor episode), "Terror Firma" (8th Doctor audio), "Engines of War" (War Doctor book) and many all reference this.
He should have destroyed the Daleks. It was the right thing to do. But he didn't. Because he's not a killer. "Coward, any day."
Russell Tietjen after the atrocities of the Time War I would especially imagine him wanting to do that, if only to prevent the war from even happening. But if it wasn’t the Daleks, imagine if the Cybermen or something worse started the time war
@@crimsondynamo615 The sad part is that the Genesis of the Daleks is time locked, since it's considered the opening salvo of the time war.
Nicolas Charron seems the war master somehow found a way to it
@@crimsondynamo615 I don't even think they Time Locked it in War Master 4. They just say both sides treated it as an unspoken rule not to mess with each other's origins even more. Would end up causing more trouble than it's worth. Which kinda makes sense lol
Russell Tietjen considering how it ended, a lot more trouble than both sides could handle even if they worked together
'Genesis' is a CLASSIC!!!
Definitely the best Dalek stories of the 70's.
I just wish the glorious way the Daleks were filmed here was done in other 70's/80's Dalek stories...
16:44 Ian, indeed, that's Ian, that's total Ian Sulivan
Ian marter I guess
No, you dolt. That's obviously Harry Chatterton- uh, Chesterman- CHESTERTON
Being born in 1972 this is my era of Doctor Who and has left a lasting impression on me that will never fade the acting was superb it was dark and gritty and so well written that the story still holds up today and shames the writing of many dramas today. The only small detail wrong.with this story is the Dalek Props themselves they should have been MK 1 versions with no vertical slats fitted around the shoulders .They were also in very good condition having had recent refurbishment and painting . Michael Wisher to my mind was the best Davros he portrayed a psychopath perfectly without doing it over theatrically as many have done since him.
I think what they should have done is have a mix between sliver and grey dalek casings, inprder to reference the decade old 60s stories and the more relevant 70s stories.
Even when I first met Davros, I always thought Terry Nation based him on Adolf Hitler.
But since you've been spending some quality time with him at the pub you have come to realize he is a pretty swell guy, just with an erratic temper.
@@vinnynj78 Yeah, Davros is just a chill guy. He used to go swimming as a kid in Drammakin lake on Sakro. He also likes to lie down on soft beds since he doesn't get that feeling often.
Honestly I feel like Davros, atleast in this particular story, might actually be MORE competent/intelligent than Hitler as far as genocidal dictatorial fascists go
But tbf I've had way more in-depth exposure to Davros (a fictional character) than Hitler (a real person)
So that may just be my internal bias talking
Davros is probably the most consistently written character in all of Doctor Who.
I'm gonna have to disagree on that, but my argument will come in tomorrow's video :)
@@MrTARDIS Yeah, Destiny is a bit crap, but I always have fun watching it. "Oh look! Rocks!"
Sorry, I don't see it.
Revelation of the Daleks: Davros is written a conniving, snake-tongued businessman (whose mask of civility often slips while dealing with Kara) forced to build his empire again from scratch by wheeling and dealing, setting himself up as a philanthropic food merchant saving the galaxy from starvation. He's also a predatory svengali to the meek, homely Tasambeker, manipulating her into killing Jobel by preying on her low self-esteem, then sending Daleks to dispose of her when she's served her purpose. Brilliant story, awesome characterization of Davros.
Remembrance of the Daleks: Davros is a one-dimensional shrieking madman who literally looks like he's now living in a toilet bowl, shoehorned into the story at the last minute as a novelty.
I’ll agree, while he didn’t need to return as his character arc ends perfectly in genesis, I enjoy & like seeing him in every story he’s appeared in after. He’s one of the few good things of the magicians Apprentice/the Witch’s familiar
@@jaymagoo336 I don't really see how those are contradictory. One appearance may be less interesting, sure, but thats just cause his presence is utilised differently.
First 4th Doctor story I ever watched and first classic dalek story I ever watched. Amazing in every single way, apart from the giant clams!
I know this is a super-duper-ultra-mega unpopular opinion, but i honestly hate the fact that they brought Davros back after this story. His ending here is beyond perfect.
kiarash608 to me every Davros story afterwards should have just be about his past. Which is why I liked the I, Davros series so much. It really paints a picture of why he is the way he is.
He’s a fun villain but this is a damn good place to end his story (the only thing g that comes close as a conclusion is that 12tj Doctor story with him
I won't lie, while I do love seeing Davros return and cause havoc, I can see where you're coming with this; this was basically Davros fully realizing what The Doctor was talking about during their one-on-one conversation, realizing what horrors he'd unleashed, and regretting exerting that pressure from his thumb on that capsule when his creations exterminated him.
But at the same time, I can't help but think the only reason why the producers keep bringing him back is because it's suppost too mirror The Daleks; even when defeated, they still come back. Much like the extreme hatred and bigotry that plagues us, so long as there's hate and discrimination in our society, the Daleks will always be there too reflect that.
@@tommyfox854 The writers fell into the habit during Tom's time of Doctor versus single supervillain.
The greatest Doctor who and Dalek story of all time ;)
An ad dropped at 11:56 into the video! Perfect timing! So suspenseful!
The direction of this story is so good, that even when you're talking over the images on screen, Davros, the Daleks, and even the flipping giant clam look terrifying with the combination of the direction and the acting.
Also, kudos on properly dissecting fascism and it's implementation in this story. You really illuminate Terry Nation's portrayal of Davros and his supporters as a fascist regime that spawn an army that cannot be controlled. After years of popularity and exposure, it's easy to forget how dark and terrifying the Daleks are as characters. They are so evil, so hellbent on destroying anything that isn't like them, that their first instinct is to destroy the very first thing it comes across that it does not recognize. That is horrifying.
Don't forget the Stealth WW2 commentary on "the Allies were as bad" (one word. "Dresden". *Absolute Unforgivable Atrocity* !) by having the Thals, who are shown to be *every bit as bad* at the Kaleds in many ways in their Brutal Treatment of the Muto's, wear British and American Uniforms.
If you've ever seen the Doctor Who Discontinuity Guide, they make a very good argument to suggest that the Doctor DID change history here, if not exactly how he would have wished. Essentially, his actions ensure Davros's survival. Before Genesis, Davros forms no part in Dalek history, and the Daleks became the greatest conquerors the galaxy had ever known. The Doctor manages to defeat the Daleks several times, but he can never totally destroy them.
But in Genesis, Davros did force the Doctor into revealing every future Dalek defeat he was aware of, so Davros had to suspect what would come next. Then, in Destiny of the Daleks, we find he DID survive the attempt of his creations to kill him.
So, he finds out that the Daleks STILL lost many of the encounters the Doctor mentioned, and he begins to "improve" the Daleks -- which results in a civil war between Davros' Imperial Daleks that worship him as their Emperor and the original Daleks. As Ace once said, "they hate each other's chromosomes!"
The argument is: with Davros alive, the Daleks are trapped in a never-ending civil war, with neither side strong enough to become the total galactic threat feared by the Time Lords.
But, IF the Doctor's actions in Genesis DO inevitably lead to the Great Time War, as Stephen Moffat [correction: Russell Davies] hypothesized, it is likely that it was the Daleks' own civil war that inevitably led to the Time War. The Daleks' thought process -- or possibly Davros' -- is straightforward: A Gallifreyan committed the first act of war by interfering in Dalek history; the Gallefreyans must be exterminated to preserve the Daleks' own existence. The Daleks themselves won't see their own failures, and so they begin the greatest war to destroy those they consider responsible: the Time Lords of Gallifrey.
In the end, the Doctor DOES change history -- and guarantees the Time War will take place.
Is RTD who say that Genesis is the start of the Time War.
@@mayotango1317 Yes, thank you - I stand corrected.
And the Doctor later says during the time war that he should have destroyed them, if only to prevent such a horrible war from happening in the first place. Course who’s to say that the Cybermen or the Sontarans takes the Daleks place and start the time war.
Damn, Guy Siner said that opening line from your intro! That's incredible I never realised he was a serious actor as I only know him from 'Allo 'Allo. Incredible stuff.
Hilary Minster, 'Allo 'Allo's General von Klinkerhoffen, also appears in this story as a Thal guard. I presume Arthur "Officer Crabtree" Bostrom was turned down for the part of Davros on account of his height ;)
ftumschk “Exastomanate my doolicks!”
@@FatSnorlax I'd love to have a Dalek who pismronounced his worms :)
Best Dalek story ever and honestly I don't need to say much more. One of the greatest Doctor Who stories of all time.
1:10: I'd argue Pertwee (Inferno), Davison (Kinda), Eccleston (Dalek), Tennant (School Reunion), Smith (Vincent and the Doctor) and Whittaker (It Takes You Away) in their first seasons have stories equivalent to Genesis. But I get the point and I agree.
If you decide TH-cam can't work out naymore, what a way to go out with an advent calendar of great video content. I'm seriously really impressed with the amount of work put into this. Great stuff. Hope we see Cyber-Cember next year! ;)
I Do Monologues i remember in his review of Attack of the Cybermen, he wished that Cybermania was a thing and that the Cybermen would get as much love as the Daleks. I would love to see him go into as much detail with the Cybermen as he is doing with the Daleks.
It’s funny, after I watched your ’The Year Doctor Who Died’ video, I rewatched this episode and all the way through I thought to myself:
“Just imagine the backlash this episode would get if it was a Series 11 story.”
Yeah lmao. Resolution is probably the only Dalek story ever made without at least some political undertones and people still say it's more political than Genesis of the Daleks.
No Davros story lives up to his portrayal here, though The Magician's Apprentice and The Witch's Familiar definitely comes close! Davros is never more threatening or creepy than when he's talking quietly or plotting away.
Yeah Magician's Apprentice and Witch's Familiar comes close mainly cause it really focuses on the Doctor/Davros dynamic (which Moffat was definitely aiming for and appreciated when coming up with the story). And it felt like it came at a good time since there hadn't been too much Davros focus in the new series up to that point and a different kind of Dalek story was kind of needed at that point.
Big Finish's 'Davros' would like a word with you.
Spectrum Storms six slowly pissing off Davros will always make me laugh. I really like when he is paired with Davros because he knows just what buttons to push to make Davros mad.
Excellent stuff! This video is a bit longer than the others so far, but you use the time well, really hammering home the strengths of this story and the importance of its allegories. And loved the Idris Elba cameo; considering the amount of work this project will have required, I’m glad you found ways of making the editing process enjoyable.
‘Harry I’ve stepped on a land mine’ - Tom baker
This is the story that made the Daleks one of my favorite sci-fi antagonists of all time.
And made Tom Baker one of my favorite Doctors...and made me marathon Classic Who 10 years ago.
Ah this is a special one. I remember watching your earlier 'Genesis' review so many times. The terrible audio quality, the 'Doctor Stepping on a Landmine' gag, and who can forget the Fedora? Either way, this video made me nostalgic. Which just makes me all the more hyped for the next video!
‘Do I have the right?!’
Tom Baker 1975.
"Retard Morality"
The Turn Based Gamer That’s a bit harsh.
@@SegaNintendoGuy64 The Daleks killed billions. If I could save billions of lives by killing baby Hitler or in this case baby dalek, I would.
You're forgetting the fact that every human is born pure, while Daleks are creatures that were genetically-modified to be nothing but killing machines. Humans learn to be evil, Daleks are evil the moment they are born.
You are insane, Davros-
I want a pizza, Davros.
Phillip Hinchcliffe’s tenure on the show produced some of the best Doctor Who episodes, crying shame Mary Whitehouse exterminated him off the show
Canyon pollard i bet the bitch never even watched a single episode of Doctor Who. She’s just complaining because she doesn’t like it and saying she’s all for helping the children, but all she was was an annoying busy body who helped ruin Doctor Who in the late 70’s and 80’s along with BBC towards the end.
Robert McGhin make her grave another unisex bathroom along with thatchers
I remember watching Mr. Tardis’s original Genesis of the Daleks review like 3 years ago that got me into this channel. So nostalgic
The History Critic Guy i almost expected a call back to that episode when he got to the clams for him to just dub spongebob laugh over it again
Ha same
1:07 for me inferno for Jon Pertwee
I would say both The Silurians and Inferno for Jon Pertwee.
Doctor Who made its U.S. debut in 1978, starting with airings of the beginning of the Tom Baker era, and while I (age 13) found "Robot" to be rather cheesy, I was intrigued enough to stick around. Glad I did, because as of "The Ark in Space" I was hooked. And when "Genesis of the Daleks" aired, I had heard of the Daleks via some British expat schoolmates, but I had no idea as to what they were or what they represented in an allegorical sense. "Genesis" blew my mind, especially since I had initially heard Doctor Who blithely dismissed as just a "kiddie" show.
Oh yeah, it's all coming together
1:07 *laughs in Inferno*
16:43 Don't you mean Harry?
MRTARDIS IS AN IMBECILE!!!
He was close! Ian Marter!
Maybe he means Ian Marter
Harry was basically just an Ian clone so 🤷♀️
Great video. It's the first episode of Who I saw as a kid. Davros is in rare form and the Dalek voices sound great. A very dark, scary, and well written story.
Best Tom Baker every been in this series
I think I might like him in City of Death a bit more, tho that's a bit of a different performance.
This was the episode that me and my friends would talk about at school all the time, we love Genesis of the Daleks! 😀
I do believe you talked about this Dalek story years ago.
Oh god, that means tomorrow... Oh god.
DAVROSH LIVESS! 😂 😂
NOW SPACK OFF!!
Seek, Locate, Exterminate
@@dubliam8064 DO NOT DEVIATE.
Surface! Disturbance! Humanoid! Footprints! Follow! Follow! Follow!
Thank you to Barry Letts for putting the idea into Terry Nation's head. "You've never told us the genesis of the Daleks..." so Terry comes back with a story funnily enough called, Genesis of the Daleks.
One of my all-time favourite stories and frankly one of the best Doctor Who stories ever... A true classic. For me, the next great Dalek story won't happen until 1988 with Remembrance of the Daleks.
I honestly wish Davros had never appeared again after this story, it's a shame that ever Dalek story until 1989 had them playing second fiddle to him, maybe that's why they waited until Remembrance of the Daleks Part Four to reveal.
Back when the show was first brought over to the US and shown on PBS, this is the story that got me into Doctor Who as a kid. I still have a bunch of the novelizations that bought back then to this day.
This story is simply amazing and one of the reasons I still prefer classic to modern (I do like modern Who just not as much); all that character and background development is virtually impossible to do in the modern format and it really brings this amazing story to life.
I do wish Davros would have actually died here. Like Sutekh from Pyramids of mars, he'd have been better served by being a one off villain. This is especially true when we consider the next Dalek story...
How do you possibly follow this chilling, exciting and ever-relevant warning up by making Destiny of the Daleks
Tom Baker is my Favorite Doctor and this is my Favorite Story of all time Also.
3:29 ah ah! He said it!
I just watched it twice recently & it was timeless, never dull at all. Quite simply done too ,very easy to follow despite the adult themes .and the Dr , Harry & Sarah aren't the catalysts in the story too .
Prefect.. Now we can begin!
Was the first story I ever saw here in the U.S. been a fan ever since
Appreciate your reviews and the Dalekcember effort here.
I very recently watched this, and was surprised to find myself reluctant to watch it; after considering this, the story drags in parts; the Doctor and Harry wandering about in the mutant-invested area just doesn't replay well, nor does the whole Sarah captured and failed escape attempt. These are sections that I could have just skipped over.
Having said that, Davros is great and treacherous in this story - little wonder that the Daleks are what they are. Love his comeuppance at the end of the story, especially after he betrays his own people.
The fact that Genesis of the Daleks was the penultimate serial in Tom Baker’s first season is a testament to how monumental this story is. But, it’s disappointing when you realise that the massive quality drop serial known as Destiny of the Daleks was the next time we would see the pepper pods.
At least the entire run of Daleks stories between Relevation to Journey's End is either good or great.
Y’know for a long time I wondered what it was about Tom Baker’s Doctor that made him so special, and I think I figured it out. Throughout his run his best episodes were dark, gritty, and sometimes disturbing with the rest of the cast matching that bleak and grim environment. But not Tom Baker, not the 4th doctor. Its what makes his era standout from the rest. The other doctors even the most positive ones like Matt Smith, or David Tennant often match a grim environment with a grim or serious emotion. The 4th Doctor however is an overwhelmingly positive force that no matter the situation manages to create smiles on the audience face while having one on his own, despite the theme being extremely deadly and serious. Thats how you know a situation is really bad if even the 4th doctor is angry, scared, or sad. Genesis Of the Daleks is one of those times as while he finds good moments and ultimately has faith in the end, the doctor does feel upset that he failed to change the Daleks and had to just delay them. What a masterpiece, and to think that this episode wouldn’t have happened if Terry Nation hadn’t been told to rewrite a Dalek Story that talked about their origin.
“Today, the Kaled Race has ended, consumed in a fire of war, But! From its ashes will rise a new race! The Supreme Creature, The Ultimate Conqueror of the Universe, THE DALEK!!”
Still one of my favorite Dalek stories -- and my second favorite Fourth Doctor story [after City of Death].
It's so damn good, Baker is such a perfect foil for the horror elements
10:13 Literally what Netanyahu did.
This was my first classic who story
Same here
9/10… I was bored and even annoyed by the Daleks during the last few serials they were on coz the plot wasn’t good and the Daleks annoying and even unneeded. But this one here really brought the excitement and fire back these Daleks needed. The design, the plot, the cast. Everything was on point. The origin of the Daleks and the introduction of their planet Skaro was really fascinating. OFC this mission came from The Time Lords lol What was really got me going and excited was the introduction of Davros! His setting, looks and characterization was frightening and really well written! He is definitely one of the best villains like everyone else was claiming before I started my DW watch. I’m on my first time watch of DW 1963 and now here. I was upset that Harry wasn’t more involved even though he did kinda saved the Doctor three times and had a lot to do in the first episode. Sarah Jane had a lot more to do. I was shocked about how brutal this serial was and people acted like we never had so much before which isn’t quite true. Especially during the Hartnell era there were a few heavy serials with a lot of moral and brutal outcome of it. But this one here was really something else in a good way! I was shocked that Sarah Jane’s escape plan did cost a few people their lives! The 4th Doctor was right not to kill off the Daleks! Because even with erhielt evilness something good will emerge and come out of it. Look how many people fought together, built a new society after their heavy encounters with them. I do think sometimes bad things have to happen to let you grow and become better. I was so positive surprised that they even brought up old encounters with the Daleks! Great twist at the end that they gained a will of their own and turned on Davros!
I would’ve really liked to see Jon Pertwee during this.. I Love Tom Baker already but Pertwee had something on him that made his doctor work. I would’ve loved to see his take during the scenes with Davros and later on when he was forced to tell him about the failure of the Daleks!
After watching this story the scene in the stolen earth where we see sarah jane crying when she hears the daleks hits even harder
"They talk of democracy, freedom, fairness, those are the creeds of cowards. The ones who will listen to 1,000 viewpoints and try to satisfy them all. Achievement comes through absolute power and power through strength!"
Davros would make a good Sith.
It's not an irrational fear, davros has seen great devastation(for his whole life), the destruction and fear being caused by an outside aggressor. His logic is distorted by his excperience. He is wrong but you can understand why he would come to such conclusions
It's irrational when he refers to experiences outside his own. He has extreme tunnel vision which he will enforce on other cultures, life-forms and planets.
MrTARDISreviews well afterall he never even knew they existed until this story. Everyone on Skaro believed that their planet was the only one that could support intelligent life, War was all that anyone knew
My headcanon has always been that what the time lords saw that scared them into forcing the doctor to destroying the kaleds before they became the daleks was a possible outcome of the time war, or maybe just the time war itself
“Now...exterminate”
That’s got to be the creepiest dalek exterminate I’ve heard yet.
Terrance Dicks🥺🥺 saw this story and loved it the only complaint he had with that it to dark and dour
Bit of a slip there, calling Harry "Ian" during the clam part
Apparently Davros was just resting his eyes
A great moment in Doctor Who
The irony was this epic philosophical issue is that Davros is more than likely Terry Nation's representation of Adolf Hitler. And in fact in World War One while Hitler was still a German soldier, he was found wounded in a battlefield by a British soldier and was saved. That too is a majorly complex situation. If Hitler hadn't been saved, the Second World War probably wouldn't have happened, or at worst, it would've been started by something else, but on the other hand, society could be drastically different.
This is my favorite Doctor Who episode
7:00 Davros considering using the Daleks for good is a good origin point for a divergent timeline where Davros uses the Daleks for good or at the very least tries to.
Nyder/ neider is welsh for snake
Can we skip destiny? 😂
I wish other Dalek stories had the gun sound effect...
BEST, WHO, STORY, EVER !!!!
Loving these dalek reviews!
3:20 Man, somebody get Lieutenant Gruber a Snickers or something.
Maybe he misses his little tank.
An interesting aspect is the Thals, the wiped out the Kaleds without a second thought. I mean that's pretty cold. As a result I never really felt all that bad for the Thals when watching, if anything the Dalek's were just wiping out another race of genocidal people.
I love genesis of the daleks it is a great doctor who story and I love davros In this doctor who story
WE GOT THERE 🥳🥳🥳 YAY 🙌
Enjoyable review. Cheers!
Hello MTR, can you please make your original review (2010?) of GotD public? It was great and I miss watching it.
16:44 - You accidentally called Harry Ian 😄
I love how he talks about him and his daleks being the supreme race, when they're so crippled that they need special travel machines to function, in fact, I'm pretty sure Davros and his Daleks ARE EXACTLY the kinds of people who would be exterminated by IRL facist regimes in search of the "pure breed". So much so that he is later betrayed by his own Daleks for this very reason, because they cannot acknowledge any being as superior to them. It's the most fitting end imaginable. Him asking his Daleks to have pity just shows how much of a coward Davros and any other facist really is.
In my opinion it's great story buts it's never been my favourite Dalek story
Such giant clamps really exist and killed some people by catching their legs inside.
Dav-ross -watchmojouk
10:54 Honestly, I kinda see more of Joseph Goebbels in Nyder than Himmler
Lt. Gruber got super dark!
Why is there a clam in skaro? And this might be the best episode of all time
15:08 Cast the ring into the fire Frodo. Destroy it.
Do I have the right.
Your commentary follows an old Doctor Who companion book O used to have. Are you citing your sources?
I wanna see a gory genisis episode... Like see half mutated kaleds, genuine deatg and gross kaled mutants... And davros becoming crippled
Someone needs to Animate "I, Davros"...
I still hate that they decided to revive Davros after this story.
Two important points: you talk about Davros being crippled and his ideology, but never connect how these are related, he acts like true peace is unreachable because he knows nothing but of War and suffering. Second, I'm going to keep in mind your comments on genocide being probably acceptable if they are the bad guys for the rest of your videos (an option I disagree with, genocide is never acceptable to me).
I always wonder how much of Genesis is Terry Nation and how much of it was Robert Holmes rewrites behind the scenes. I suppose it doesn't matter because the result is one of the most complex and riveting stories in all of Doctor Who canon. And from this point forward, it's a quick downhill slide until we get to Remembrance...
It’s actually good so probably next to none of terry
I do quite suspect it’s mostly Holmes tbh. Nation never wrote this good whereas Holmes did.