Doctor Who: Victory Of The Daleks
Doctor Who Series 5, Episode 3 - The Victory Of The Daleks
Mark Gatiss returns as writer for Victory of the Daleks, featuring the inexorable return of the Daleks in all their frightening pepper-pot splendour. Once again, the Doctor is late; in the month it took him to answer Winston Churchill’s summons, the Prime Minister has allowed Daleks to join his forces. Only they aren’t called Daleks - they’re Ironsides, apparently created by one Dr. Bracewell.
Taking place in World War II, the episode can be noted for its incredible attention to detail and historical accuracy. It can also be noted for, once again, changing up the Daleks. (Not that I’m going to spoil it for you, but let me just say: colour coding.) This could get interesting, even though I’m never excited to see Daleks. They terrify me, of course, just as they would anyone - but they are far from my favourite Doctor Who villains.
I would like to point out that I’m very picky about episodes taking place in sorta-recent human history. I loved Steven Moffat’s The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances immensely, which also took place during the London Blitz. It was gorgeous and emotional and dark. This episode was not any of that. It was a case of going through the motions in order to reach each plot point in the allotted forty-five minutes.
Admittedly, Victory of the Daleks has some truly brilliant scenes. The final scene with Bracewell, for instance. The scene with the detonator button in the Dalek’s ship. And yet again, Amy proves her worth as one of the sharper companions the Doctor has had in recent years. She never ceases to amaze and impress.
Similarly to Series 1 and 4, the first three episodes of Series 5 appear to roll into one another seamlessly - which begs the question, when do either Doctor or companion get to rest? We do see a meal eaten in this episode, so at least they’re feeding poor Amy Pond, but certainly each episode can’t occur in realtime.
I suppose I bring up this niggling issue because I have an ulterior motive: I really, really want to see an episode take place in the TARDIS. At least let us see what its other rooms look like, such as Amy’s bedroom or the library-swimming-pool. I don’t see how tiny glances would ruin the mystique. If anything, it would add depth to the journeys.
Some notes made while watching:
- Jammie dodgers are my favourite cookie ever. And it was not until this episode of Doctor Who that I realized they had a name; I just always thought of them as “Peak Freans.” (And yes, I realize that’s a brand and not a cookie.)
- The Doctor is fantastic. He’s a genius madmen. But you can’t count on him to be on time for anything. It’s a good thing he’s the Doctor rather than the Bus Driver or the Paramedic.
- Amy mysteriously doesn’t know anything about Daleks. Curious! Somehow I doubt this is something they’ll excuse by scuba diving in Spain.
- Power Rangers!!!!11! … sorry.