Dalek

"YOU ARE AN ENEMY OF THE DALEKS! YOU. MUST. BE. DESTROYED!" - Last of the Daleks #1

The Daleks first true outing on screen since 1988 was hotly anticipated, and almost didn't come about. Thankfully the icon of the series was revived and updated, making this Dalek far more vicious than it's grey cousins.

The episode begins mundanely enough half a mile underground in a bunker in Utah. It would seem someone has been collecting alien artefacts, as on display are statues, milometers, a stuffed Raxacoricofalapatorian arm and the Ninth Doctor's sole encounter with a Cyberman. Before long the protagonists are seized and held at gunpoint, to be taken to Mr. Spoiled brat Van Statten, the antagonistic turd of the episode.

"I know what you deserve. Exterminate!"

One thing that flummoxes me about this episode is the mystery they try to give over the Dalek, inventing an pseudonym for the Dalek (Metaltron), and enshrouding it in a dark room, when we've already found out what was in the cage thanks to the title sequence. Futility aside it is a tense moment, perhaps more for the fact you know what's coming.

Eccleston throws out a furious performance against the Dalek that comes as a contrast to all the previous Doctor's more abiding mood toward the pepper-pots. It's clear from this encounter however there are no second chances, as the Doctor rages at his enemy, mocking it;s inability to kill anything. The mood of the scene soon changes to grief as the two combatants reflect on the loss of their species, mocking one another in the process. One more brutal contrast to the previous eight Doctors is number nine's deliberate attempt to inflict harm, giving gravity to the war the two species fought.

"My race is dead. I shall die alone"

Rose meanwhile carries on the tradition of the bumbling companion nicely by sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. That said her motivations of compassion make a fitting contrast to the Doctor's anger, and we see the deception of the Daleks, as this one begins an emotional campaign to try an coax, successfully, a compassionate hand from Rose. Thus hell is unleashed.

"I am contaminated!"

The Dalek's menacing the bunker brought about the rejuvenation of the Daleks, as a few new tricks are unleashed on us, such as it's ability to regenerate by absorbing a heavy amount of power and of course that swivelling midsection, which seems to have disappeared recently for some reason. All the same the biggest change in this Dalek was it's absorption of the human factor, though rather than playing trains, this Dalek is having a bit of a mid-life crisis, which ultimately results in the touching scenes at the end, with the Dalek only wanting the sunlight. Indeed it allows us to see both how innocent a Dalek can be, and how dark the Doctor can go, arming himself ready to kill it. We all knew a Dalek could make you scream, no one however knew they could make you cry as well.