| DAY OF THE DALEKS by Louis Marks |
| Story 60 Synopsis: Earth in the 22nd century is under Dalek control. Some of the few surviving rebels decide to travel back 200 years to assassinate the man who caused all the trouble : Sir Reginald Styles. But Styles is a diplomat, doing very well at keeping the nation states of the Earth from killing each other. The Doctor doesn't believe he will start the end of the world. Jo is transported forward in time, so the Doctor goes too. There, he falls foul of the Daleks, but inspires rebellion, still seeking the truth for Styles' actions. Finally, he works it out. In travelling back in time, three rebels set in process a chain of events which will lead one of them to blow up Styles' house, thinking they are avenging the future. But the Doctor shows them that this is the event that causes all the trouble. The Daleks travel back to ensure history goes as planned. But, instead of Styles and the diplomats getting blown up, it is the Daleks who fall. History is changed for the better. World War 3 is averted once more. |
| Review:- Hey-ho, the Doctor is still exiled on Earth. Aliens are obligingly invading, so there's lots to do. Now, a threat in time too. Super fun! This story is one of the few that really grab the attention. The central mystery presented, why Styles is considered a mass-murderer, is a clever gambit. Certainly, the concepts are mind-boggling, so it's no wonder the Brigadier is pleased to be dealing with World War 3! The fact that UNIT get special radio news broadcasts (presumably) is charming. Also fun is that scene where Yates pulls rank on Benton. This encapsulates many things. Benton is a decent straight-as-a-die man, saving the world as a good boy should. Yates is pleased to have power, thinking that he will get the girls, and can act as a cad to do it. Why Jo would want him for this, who can say? Although her background is rarely touched on, beyond the high-ranking uncle, she could conceivably feel fonder toward Benton. The Doctor has a run-out as super-sleuth. Indeed, the fact that this story turns on a simple whodunnit is a pleasant surprise. The Ogrons are a new species who benefit from colour, seem almost Klingony, to an untrained eye, and are a bit stupid. Which makes a change. So does the future Earth happen? Is it a canal or a river, that the railway runs over? Why does 1971 Earth look so pictureseque? Does the Doctor appreciate the qualities of wine and cheese because he has heightened senses? Am I reading too much into it? I like this story very much. Although it clearly could be Rent-A-Monster, couldn't it? Additional thoughts, having finished watching the edited video version:- The most important thing to say about the edited version is how did it stretch to 4 episodes? It barely keeps going as it is. There are many lovely touches throughout, but it just doesn't seem worth it. Despite the repeated suggestion that WW3 is on the horizon, the ending plays out so calmly. The Doctor's deduction of the culprit's true identity seems to drag on forever. It's a wonder no-one else has ever thought that Styles was framed. Though in the circumstances, who would suspect a future criminal who may not exist? Indeed, if Shura blows up the invading Daleks and not Styles and the diplomats, then the future as shown doesn't happen, so Shura never gets to go back in time... paradox? Or am I only just seeing something that has bothered others for decades? And why is it always Dalek stories that attract paradox (cf Evil, Destiny)? Alright, I must say I am suffering from the POV that the novelisations are better than the programme. I read Day Of The Daleks over a decade ago, and it seemed so full-plotted and the characters so definite. Such is the cross-media discrepancy, I know which version I'd be readier to take off the shelf. |
| Disclaimer: I've read the book and seen the edited video. |