Saturday, September 21, 2013

Doctor Who: Death to the Daleks (Story 72)



Nice Episode! One Disc DVD Extras are Fun!
This a pretty good episode of Dr. Who. The Daleks seem to show more initiative than I usually give them credit for. When their standard laser make-you-disappear weapons don't work, they fit themselves out with old-fashioned mechanical guns and even practice on a model TARDIS (which they must carry with them for fun?!).

"Death to the Daleks" originally aired in 1974. Story Synopsis: The TARDIS has (yet another) glitch, goes off course, and ends up on the planet of Exxilon. Something drains the TARDIS' power, and they're stranded. The Doctor and Sarah Jane leave to investigate. The Doctor meets up with a similarly stranded Marine Space Corp patrol. They came to Exxilon to gather the element parrinium, the only known antidote to a massive plague that is sweeping the galaxy.

Sarah Jane is fascinated with a giant white building with a beacon flashing on top. She is captured by a group of native Exxilons, who say she has defiled their city and must die. Unbeknownst to...

Humor, sci-fi, Pertwee...
First off, the Daleks are one of my favorite bad guys and Jon Pertwee is also a favorite of mine, not just as the Doctor but as a actor. I like the idea of a living city, even if it was inorganic in structure, and the acting was not that bad. I also like that the Daleks have tiny a TARDIS for target practice! Yes, the planet of Exxilon seems boring and lifeless. Yes, the natives look like something a five year old created. The idea that they would blend into the cave walls and sometimes glow seemed to be a interesting idea that does not REALLY comes across very well on the small screen. The special effects were, after all, BBC 1970's special effects so there is that. The maze to get into the city isn't half bad and the idea of aliens just visiting Earth is refreshing when compared to all the aliens who seem to have either tried to invade it or crash landed on it. How do you not see a planet? Were you adjusting the radio? Er...back to topic.
The plot is simple. The...

Classic Doctor Who: DEATH TO THE DALEKS
The 5-Star rating is for the quality and value of the DVD. Superb job as is typical of the Doctor Who restoration team for Classic Era Doctor Who DVD products.

DEATH TO THE DALEKS
Story # 72
Season 11's Third Story
Third Doctor, Jon Perwee Era, final season 1973-74
Third Classic Sarah Jane Smith Story

OVERALL STORY RATING 7/10
In Elisabeth Sladen's opinion, DEATH TO THE DALEKS was always an underrated and overlooked story. I agree totally with her assessment. I was pleasantly surprised to find DEATH TO THE DALEKS a very well-paced and entertaining story, full of interesting and unusual Sci-Fi concepts, as well as being a very unique Dalek story. Other than some very minor acting or special effects bobbles, DEATH TO THE DALEKS is a solid story and production.

It is entirely possible that the main reason DEATH TO THE DALEKS is not well-remembered among WHO fans is because the musical track is unusual in its support or...

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