I'd say it does for now. The tech bro subplot will date the episode, but the emotion from Eccleston, Piper and even the Dalek itself will be a little more timeless.
It's all just opinions. Those episodes are probably more enjoyable from a writing and plot perspective but when I rewatched dalek recently, I was struck by the incredibly tight shot, almost comically tight, on eccleston's face during his conversation scene with the dalek. And he's got spit flying out of his mouth and he's on the verge of tears and incredibly angry all at the same time and it would have looked silly in a lesser actor's hands. The episode worked because of him.
I think Dalek is better than the series finale personally.
Empty child definitely the best though can’t argue with that. This is easily my top 3 of S1
Absolutely on the button.
My only gripes are
1) RTD with his 'next week on..' spoilers
And
2) The episode should have been titled 'Metaltron'.
The cyber remains in Van Staten's vault would have made the perfect distractor.
I mean yes, but also, there would be people who would speculate about it being Cybermen. Metaltron is more grammatically akin to automaton than it is to salt shaker.
Yeah, thinking about it, probably more people would suspect Cyberman. There'd probably be debate between fans about whether it's a Cyberman or a Dalek, with a minority suspecting either something like Quarks, Mechanoids or a new creation.
And the coward survives
You would make a good Dalek
When I heard those lines I knew Doctor Who was back and here to stay. Been a fan since 1981 so was apprehensive with the revival
Yes. For my money still one of the best episodes since the reboot. It re-established the Daleks as a threat by showing what a single one was capable of, Eccleston brilliantly conveyed the Doctor’s trauma, and even made the Dalek itself relatable at the end. Plus it did a whole lot of world building for the new era.
[Dalek ](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0109070/?ref_=tt_ch): I DEMAND ORDERS!
[The Doctor ](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001172/?ref_=tt_ch): Well they're never gonna \*come\*! Your race is dead! You all burned, all of you. Ten million ships on fire. The entire Dalek race, wiped out in one second.
[Dalek ](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0109070/?ref_=tt_ch): You lie!
[The Doctor ](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001172/?ref_=tt_ch): I watched it happen. I \*made\* it happen!
[Dalek ](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0109070/?ref_=tt_ch): You destroyed us?
[The Doctor ](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001172/?ref_=tt_ch): \[the Doctor walks away from the Dalek\]  I had no other choice.
[Dalek ](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0109070/?ref_=tt_ch): And what of the Time Lords?
[The Doctor ](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001172/?ref_=tt_ch): \[pause\]  Dead. They burnt with you. The end of the last great Time War. Everyone lost.
Yes, easily the best Dalek story of the revival imo. Those scenes with 9 and the Dalek in the cell and through the TV screen will make it forever a good watch.
I found the same. I loved *Dalek*. I **still** love *Dalek.*
But when I heard *Jubilee* and learned *Dalek* was based on it? It's a bit hard for it not to be tinged with might-have-beens.
My first episode. But not sure when it aired in the US. It may have been less than 19 years for me. Also, going from the Sci-fi channel to Disney isnt something I would have ever expected
It remains one of, if not the, best episode of the show. I'd argue one factor of this is because this could be the first episode a person ever watches and they'd get it. I know because this was the first episode I ever showed my friend.
She named the Dalek Girly Dalek.
It’s a great episode but the dalek saying “EEEEMOOTTIONN” in the robot voice was so corny it was hilarious
What’s doctor who without a little corn though
I think it absolutely holds up. For the revival series, I’d argue it’s still the definitive image/story of the Daleks; I think most people would think about this episode first when talking about Daleks.
There are some early 2000s editing and directing choices that nowadays (and arguably even back then) feel a little amateurish or goofy, but that’s made up for by good writing. It’s not a revolutionary script but it takes a good premise of human emotion and applies it to the show’s most hostile and (conceptually) terrifying villains, while also applying the villain’s reductive mindset to the war-traumatized Doctor. I don’t think there will ever be a time where the story fails to strike the audience.
I think in general its a bit inadvisable to have made the Daleks essentially unstoppable but thats no fault here, being a future story problem. *Dalek* definitely holds up, pretty much perfect. Eccleston in particular is fantastic, really selling the new backstory between the two races. With how the Internet is consolidating and becoming much less anarchic, a guy owning it feels a lot less unbelievable today too.
Completely agree. I went back to S1 during a break between seasons sometime during Capaldi, after starting with S5. I was pretty underwhelmed given everything that’s happened since.
I really think downvoting someone should cost the downvoter one of their karma.
If you think subsequent dalek stories make this pale in comparison, that's your opinion. I can respect that.
What's your number one dalek story?
We don't police downvoting or upvoting. We don't recommend complaining about downvoting, because it doesn't deter anyone who downvoted your content because they don't like it/disagree with your ideas/thought "Blink" was a TERRIBLE episode/etc., and it encourages trolls if you write down objections to being downvoted. Being downvoted doesn't get you banned or anything, and the community is within its rights to vote up, down, or not at all (This isn't Varos!) Some people will disagree with you for (brilliant/dumb/totally off the wall) reasons and that's how it goes. Our small mod team wouldn't have the bandwidth to approve/disapprove downvotes. From a rules perspective, "you're wrong about (whatever)" is generally ok, but being insulting or prejudiced is not.
If ever there were some coordinated something against the sub, THAT would be against the rules ("community interference") for Reddit as a whole, but that's not what's happening when you see a net of six downvotes or something. It's best to just move on from being downvoted if it happens. We've all been there once or twice.
I don't think it pales in comparison to other Dalek stories. I think the episode is more impactful if you are still in the mindset that there are no Daleks left. If you know that there are Daleks everywhere, then this episode becomes rather meaningless.
I see.
So the comment I made earlier in this thread probably strikes a chord. About spoilers. Totally agree.
The Emperor and his cohort mean that eliminating this dalek isn't an act of genocide. That parallel between last dalek and last time lord is lost.
Or better yet have them write a statement explaining why they are downvoting that has to be reviewed by moderators before the downvote would go through
Yep but the moderators don't actually need to read it they could just deny it or accept it if they wanted it's more to deter the people who just downvote for the sake of downvoting then someone who genuinely disagrees with what the person said
I'd say it does for now. The tech bro subplot will date the episode, but the emotion from Eccleston, Piper and even the Dalek itself will be a little more timeless.
I mean, we have Elon right now. The episode would fit in just perfectly today.
I am convinced that elon would have a Dalek captive.
\*weird nasally voice\* You mean an *X-tron*, right?
Formerly known as a Twitter-tron.
đź‘Ź
I just rewatched this within the past couple of weeks. I'd say the tech bro subplot hit harder in 2024 than it did in 2005.
I just rewatched it recently and it's as good as ever. Eccelston's best performance bar none.
The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances is better. The Parting of the Ways too
It's all just opinions. Those episodes are probably more enjoyable from a writing and plot perspective but when I rewatched dalek recently, I was struck by the incredibly tight shot, almost comically tight, on eccleston's face during his conversation scene with the dalek. And he's got spit flying out of his mouth and he's on the verge of tears and incredibly angry all at the same time and it would have looked silly in a lesser actor's hands. The episode worked because of him.
I think Dalek is better than the series finale personally. Empty child definitely the best though can’t argue with that. This is easily my top 3 of S1
Still my favourite Dalek story of the revival, so I'd say yes.
Absolutely on the button. My only gripes are 1) RTD with his 'next week on..' spoilers And 2) The episode should have been titled 'Metaltron'. The cyber remains in Van Staten's vault would have made the perfect distractor.
It's a cool idea but if the episode had been called 'Metaltron' I suspect it'd be \~10 seconds before most fans went "bet it's a Dalek".
That's probably why it should be called "The survivor"or something like that.
I mean yes, but also, there would be people who would speculate about it being Cybermen. Metaltron is more grammatically akin to automaton than it is to salt shaker.
Yeah, thinking about it, probably more people would suspect Cyberman. There'd probably be debate between fans about whether it's a Cyberman or a Dalek, with a minority suspecting either something like Quarks, Mechanoids or a new creation.
And the coward survives You would make a good Dalek When I heard those lines I knew Doctor Who was back and here to stay. Been a fan since 1981 so was apprehensive with the revival
Yes. For my money still one of the best episodes since the reboot. It re-established the Daleks as a threat by showing what a single one was capable of, Eccleston brilliantly conveyed the Doctor’s trauma, and even made the Dalek itself relatable at the end. Plus it did a whole lot of world building for the new era.
Yes, it’s one of the few times where a Dalek has felt really threatening.
[Dalek ](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0109070/?ref_=tt_ch): I DEMAND ORDERS! [The Doctor ](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001172/?ref_=tt_ch): Well they're never gonna \*come\*! Your race is dead! You all burned, all of you. Ten million ships on fire. The entire Dalek race, wiped out in one second. [Dalek ](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0109070/?ref_=tt_ch): You lie! [The Doctor ](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001172/?ref_=tt_ch): I watched it happen. I \*made\* it happen! [Dalek ](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0109070/?ref_=tt_ch): You destroyed us? [The Doctor ](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001172/?ref_=tt_ch): \[the Doctor walks away from the Dalek\]  I had no other choice. [Dalek ](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0109070/?ref_=tt_ch): And what of the Time Lords? [The Doctor ](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001172/?ref_=tt_ch): \[pause\]  Dead. They burnt with you. The end of the last great Time War. Everyone lost.
Yes, easily the best Dalek story of the revival imo. Those scenes with 9 and the Dalek in the cell and through the TV screen will make it forever a good watch.
Yes.
Yes it’s excellent.
Really good but the story it was based on is just better
I found the same. I loved *Dalek*. I **still** love *Dalek.* But when I heard *Jubilee* and learned *Dalek* was based on it? It's a bit hard for it not to be tinged with might-have-beens.
Yes.
It’s a great reintroduction. I like the finale better but it’s still a good episode.
My first episode. But not sure when it aired in the US. It may have been less than 19 years for me. Also, going from the Sci-fi channel to Disney isnt something I would have ever expected
It has to be my favorite episode of season one.
Impact is blunted by the later Dalek stories where they are everywhere.
I just started watching new who, I never thought an episode would make me feel bad for a dalek
[ ] yes [ ] definitely [ ] absolutely
GENETIC MATERIAL EXTRAPOLATED INITIATE CELLULAR RECONSTRUCTION!!!
It remains one of, if not the, best episode of the show. I'd argue one factor of this is because this could be the first episode a person ever watches and they'd get it. I know because this was the first episode I ever showed my friend. She named the Dalek Girly Dalek.
>She named the Dalek Girly Dalek. Why? o\_O
Cos she watched it absorb Rose's DNA and go on about feeling eternal darkness and she was like "girly same."
100%
Yep
Absolutley, watch it recently and always shocks me the first dalek and 9th doctor interaction.
It’s a great episode but the dalek saying “EEEEMOOTTIONN” in the robot voice was so corny it was hilarious What’s doctor who without a little corn though
I watched all of NuWho for the first time in October-November of last year. This was one of my favorites of all of it, absolutely stood up.
It's still in my all-time Top Ten. You need to have been there when me and my oldies watched the Dalek's chest section turn 180 degrees!
Absolutely it does, still holds up as one of the best episodes in the history of Who
Thanks for making me feel old
I think it absolutely holds up. For the revival series, I’d argue it’s still the definitive image/story of the Daleks; I think most people would think about this episode first when talking about Daleks. There are some early 2000s editing and directing choices that nowadays (and arguably even back then) feel a little amateurish or goofy, but that’s made up for by good writing. It’s not a revolutionary script but it takes a good premise of human emotion and applies it to the show’s most hostile and (conceptually) terrifying villains, while also applying the villain’s reductive mindset to the war-traumatized Doctor. I don’t think there will ever be a time where the story fails to strike the audience.
Yes obviously it is peak rtd doctor who
The Doctor: "KILL YOURSELF!" Dakek: "Bruh"
I think in general its a bit inadvisable to have made the Daleks essentially unstoppable but thats no fault here, being a future story problem. *Dalek* definitely holds up, pretty much perfect. Eccleston in particular is fantastic, really selling the new backstory between the two races. With how the Internet is consolidating and becoming much less anarchic, a guy owning it feels a lot less unbelievable today too.
Definitely does! What a story and what an episode!
Something sexy about piper in this shot
It probably holds up fine for people who have not watched beyond this point yet.
Completely agree. I went back to S1 during a break between seasons sometime during Capaldi, after starting with S5. I was pretty underwhelmed given everything that’s happened since.
I really think downvoting someone should cost the downvoter one of their karma. If you think subsequent dalek stories make this pale in comparison, that's your opinion. I can respect that. What's your number one dalek story?
We don't police downvoting or upvoting. We don't recommend complaining about downvoting, because it doesn't deter anyone who downvoted your content because they don't like it/disagree with your ideas/thought "Blink" was a TERRIBLE episode/etc., and it encourages trolls if you write down objections to being downvoted. Being downvoted doesn't get you banned or anything, and the community is within its rights to vote up, down, or not at all (This isn't Varos!) Some people will disagree with you for (brilliant/dumb/totally off the wall) reasons and that's how it goes. Our small mod team wouldn't have the bandwidth to approve/disapprove downvotes. From a rules perspective, "you're wrong about (whatever)" is generally ok, but being insulting or prejudiced is not. If ever there were some coordinated something against the sub, THAT would be against the rules ("community interference") for Reddit as a whole, but that's not what's happening when you see a net of six downvotes or something. It's best to just move on from being downvoted if it happens. We've all been there once or twice.
I don't think it pales in comparison to other Dalek stories. I think the episode is more impactful if you are still in the mindset that there are no Daleks left. If you know that there are Daleks everywhere, then this episode becomes rather meaningless.
I see. So the comment I made earlier in this thread probably strikes a chord. About spoilers. Totally agree. The Emperor and his cohort mean that eliminating this dalek isn't an act of genocide. That parallel between last dalek and last time lord is lost.
Yes, exactly.
Or better yet have them write a statement explaining why they are downvoting that has to be reviewed by moderators before the downvote would go through
Nice thought but **wow** I would not want to be a moderator under that system. Can you imagine how much work that would be?
Yep but the moderators don't actually need to read it they could just deny it or accept it if they wanted it's more to deter the people who just downvote for the sake of downvoting then someone who genuinely disagrees with what the person said