Remembrance of the Daleks: Part Four
First Broadcast October 26th, 1988 @ 7.35pm (5m viewers)
In the concluding episode of Season 25 opener ‘Remembrance of the Daleks’, the two Dalek factions battle over the Hand of Omega. This means we get to see the newly introduced Special Weapons Dalek in a spectacularly explosive assault. The Imperial-Renegade Dalek Civil War is a really intelligent and fresh direction for the Daleks. Two conflicting ideologies within Dalek society adds more depth to the Skarosian terrors, 25 years on from their first appearance. But as the story draws to a close a clever twist reveals that the Emperor Dalek is in fact, Davros himself!
Memorable Moment (Spoiler Warning)
The reappearance of Davros as the Emperor Dalek is a humorous pivot on the last time viewers had seen him, being led away by the Daleks to stand trial for his crimes. Given his unique abilities to navigate his way out of difficult situations it shouldn’t have been much of a surprise that Davros had managed to go from being on trial to becoming Emperor of the Daleks. The dialogue exchanges between The Doctor and Davros are superb. Sylvester McCoy’s casting proves to be a masterstroke in this scene alone. The Time Lord goads Davros, manipulating his short temper and tricking him into using the Hand, exposing a new side to The Doctor which viewers had not seen before.
‘Remembrance of the Daleks’ unveils a much more manipulative Doctor. This was a deliberate new direction from Script Editor Andrew Cartmel. He wanted to make The Doctor more proactive, rather than reactive. Travelling with a purpose and combatting the evils of the universe head on. The Time Lord carefully orchestrates events, enticing the Daleks into coming after the Hand. That decision then backfires on them. Spectacularly. Skaro is destroyed in an action which no doubt fanned the flames of what would become the Time War. In the meantime, the Seventh Doctor would stretch his muscles further by taking down a government on a human colony, a malevolent circus and his other great nemesis the Cybermen…
Cast:
The Doctor – Sylvester McCoy
Ace – Sophie Aldred
Allison – Karen Gledhill
Black Dalek Operator – Hugh Spight
Davros – Terry Molloy
Embery – Peter Hamilton Dyer
Emperor Dalek – Roy Tromelly
Gilmore – Simon Williams
Harry – Harry Fowler
Headmaster – Michael Sheard
John – Joseph Marcell
Kaufman – Derek Keller
Martin – William Thomas
Mike – Dursley McLinden
Rachel – Pamela Salem
Ratcliffe – George Sewell
The Girl – Jasmine Breaks
Crew:
Director – Andrew Morgan
Producer – John Nathan-Turner
Also First Aired On This Day…
- Paradise Towers: Part Four
- The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Death of the Doctor: Episode Two
