Hello, dear audience! I want to share a few of my favourites scenes in the blog today. Also, I will keep track of the improvement of the TARDIS crews. In the end, there is a section about the visual part. Before we begin, you can find the link to the video of this story on the resources page of our website as always.
The TARDIS Crews
Recall what I wrote in the previous blog. The Daleks are composed of two main parts. Barbara and Ian are not separated from the Doctor and Susan until the fifth episode, the beginning of the second part. Until then, the TARDIS crews face some external conflicts (the Daleks) as well as some internal conflicts. The most notable is between Ian and the Doctor. There are several nuanced scenes in which Ian and the Doctor had an implicit conflict. For instance, when the Doctor eats with Susan next to the food machine, Ian just stands there. He is watching them eating. The whole scene was filled with awkwardness before the Doctor offers Ian food from the machine. A few conflicts between them are more explicit. An example is when Ian forces the Doctor to stay in search of Barbara. Ian and Barbara are still not fully trusted by the Doctor yet. This is the space for ‘Edge of Destruction’ to fill in.
The Doctor admitted there is a minor issue of communication with Susan. He and she have an age gap. I will not elaborate on this one because it is never broached again for a long time. Its resolution happens in The Daleks Invasion of Earth.
Before I go on to some other aspect of the serial, I would like to mention the acting to conclude the discussion of characters. Both the supporting and the regular cast acted naturally. Ian’s paralysis was done convincingly. The movement of the Dalek eyestalk and the contraction of its eye resemble how a man conspire. It was certainly well-acted.
A Few Memorable Scenes
1. The first scene to feature the Daleks
The introduction of the Daleks is accompanied by a sharp noise. Through their robotic voice, the TARDIS crews are taken prisoners. How the Daleks are ruthless is presented superbly. This scene is a pivot point in the history of the show and will always be important.
2. Susan meets Alydon (the first scene of ep. 3)
I mean, if they call us mutations, what must they be like?
-Alydon
I want to comment on the cinematography and the irony in this scene. When Susan is asked whether she trusts Alydon or not, her face is partially shaded. Then she answers with a smile and moves out of the shade. Her trust feels genuine. It was beautifully acted by Carole.
Alydon delivers dramatic irony afterwards. Dramatic irony is about the uneven distribution of information among the character. We as the audience know of the hideousness of the Daleks, yet none of the Thals has experienced it at the moment. His line amplified the tension in the episode.
3. Ian vs The Doctor (the beginning of ep. 5)
Now listen, you two. What victory are you going to show these people when most of them have been killed? A fluid link? Is this what you’re going to hold up to them and say, ‘Thank you very much. This is what you fought and died for’?
-Ian Chesterton
A huge collision between the two characters’ morality. I loved how Ian presents the Doctor’s idea in an ironic way. That is when I decided to side with Ian. His way of talking makes the audience feel the monstrosity of the Doctor. That was a frightening moment for me.
4. Scream of the last Dalek (ep. 7, at about 15:30)
DALEK: Listen to me.
DOCTOR: Yes.
DALEK: Stop our power from wasting or it will be the end of the Daleks.
DOCTOR: Even if I wanted to, I don’t know how.
The last one of the Daleks grabbed my attention. It implores for empathy despite the fact they have none. Another good example of irony in the story. We seldom think of the pain antagonist feel when they are defeated, because the triumph of the heroes is more prominent. But the immediate shriek of the Daleks following the Doctor’s line was painful to watch.
Honourable mentions
1. Comical fights with the Daleks (ep. 3, at about 21:00; ep. 7 at about 14:00)
These two scenes are particularly fun to watch.
2. The Doctor’s sabotage (ep. 6 at about 12:30)
The Doctor is such a naughty person… Funnily, his accomplishment turns on him and sends him a couple of Daleks…
Design and Visual Work
First off, the Daleks have this iconic pepper pot shape since their first scene. This is a timeless classic design that will be recognised even hundreds of years later if Doctor Who is still running.
After that, the interior of the Dalek architecture should be praised. The doors, the corridor, the control room and the cylindrical lift look quite…Dalek. Death ray from the Dalek gun had a similar effect compared to the modern ones. The exterior of the Dalek city has been the same. It is pretty utopian in design.
But it was not flawless. You may not have noticed this before. In the Dalek control room, a few of the Dalek near the wall is on a wallpaper. It is quite obvious. There is also a scene after the TARDIS crews arrived at Skaro, due to the dim light, the characters look like the figure on a coin. I mean, they don’t exactly look like if they are in the film. It feels like they are popped out of the screen. After the light was on, they seemed normal.
Conclusion
This is an absolutely underrated story. People ignore most aspects of this story and only remember it is the first appearance of the Daleks. Of course, they are excellent antagonists. But the Thals and the regular casts should be more appreciated.
Here is my rating:
8.3/10 for the plot (weight 6)
8/10 for the guest casts (weight 6)
8.5/10 for the regular casts (weight 6)
9/10 for the visual and score (weight 2)
8.34/10 overall
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