I got to thinking about this after a lively Twitter conversation the other day. It’s no surprise the Daleks are coming back for the first episode of Series Seven (or S33, depending on how you count) – and if it was till just now, I’m sorry for the “spoiler” (and you need to tell me how you managed to avoid it till now!) – but my question is “why?”.
Don’t get me wrong; I like Daleks well enough. I’m just really, really tired of them. Think about it. Series One (I’ll use the post-Hiatus numbering for simplicity) brings them back with the lovely Dalek, in which Nine has to face the horrible truth about the Time War, and then ends with a Dalek extravaganza. Series Two combines Daleks and Cybermen. Series Three doesn’t use them as the Big Bad, but does include a (lame) two-parter appearance. Series Four goes back to RTD’s basics, throwing both Daleks and Davros into the mix for the finale.
Moving onto The Moffat Years, we get new, glossy, candy-coated Power Ranger pop-up toys Daleks in Series Five. Only in the most recent series are they – very nearly – absent. In the end Moffat couldn’t resist a few-second cameo, so they still appeared.
Anyone noticing a trend yet?
Yes, Daleks are the narrative equivalent of a cash cow: you can always count on them for a little boost in ratings. But the Daleks’ menace is greatest when they come as a surprise. All this, “oh yeah. Daleks again. ~yawn~” stuff is really undermining their credibility as a threat. The Doctor will always beat them in the end, so the more often they appear (and get beaten), the more rubbish they end up seeming. What they really need to do is go off to some deserted corner of the universe and lie in wait quietly, patiently (I’m talking at least 3 years), until – like Jaws – we finally think it’s safe to get back out of the TARDIS. Then – BZAP! – “Ex-ter-mi-nate!” Now THAT would be the way to do it.
It’s not going to happen, though, because 2013 is shaping up to be a big ol’ epic-celebration year for Doctor Who, as the 50th anniversary year (the first-ever transmission was in November 1963). Realistically, what sort of massive, fan-worthy retrospective would it be without the Daleks? So they must appear for the 50th – I get that. But this series (set to begin August 2012) marks the 49th anniversary. So why start off with Dalek Overload?
I’d like to think Moffat has some sort of clever, must-be-told story that revolves around them. (Frankly, if he used it as a way to retcon RTD’s Last Great Time War Time-Lords-don’t-need-to-exist quasi-revisionist in-universe history, I could forgive him almost anything.) Experience tells me that won’t necessarily be the case, but I might get something fairly cool out of it anyway. So I’ll grit my teeth and watch some Daleks and hope for the best (at least there will be a Special Weapons Dalek to keep me happy).
Familiarity breeds contempt, as they say, and at this point, I must admit I’m feeling pretty contemptuous. I don’t actually want the Daleks to go away completely (that’s never going to happen anyway) – just long enough for their absence to make my heart grow fonder. Is that really so much to ask?
It’s not too much to ask
…but it IS too much to expect.
Oh, I want to get excited about the 50th anniversary but, so far, I’ve heard nothing that gets me even remotely worked up. Even Amy leaving has barely raised my temperature.
I think I don’t want a special story. I want an 11 Faces of Doctor Who repeat series on BBC2, I want some expertly produced documentaries broadcast on BBC1 – and everything to look back on the last 50 years with joy, rather than the usual slightly-embarrassed tone about the first 26 years.
Muttergrumblesulk
~sigh~
I'm afraid you're right that it's too much to expect. :
I do like the idea of a special story, though. However, I'll admit the one I want (another multi-Doctor, including McGann's Eight especially) is bloody unlikely.
And there's absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about for those first 26 years. (Well… not nothing… But no more than post-Hiatus has to be embarrassed about.) They completely enhance the experience of the new stuff, among other things. But that's a rant for another time. Or a Gally panel. 😉
An Adventure in Time and Space
Whilst it would be nice to see more of all the living doctors I suspect we will probably have to be happy with the recently announced Adventure in Time and Space being written by the ubiquitous Mr Gattis. Den of Geek did a good write up on who should play the major players, if you have not read it already it is worth a read
Gatiss’ Contribution
As I read it, Gatiss' drama is going to be about the showrunners (e.g., Verity Lambert and Sydney Newman) rather than anything in-universe. I think there's a lot more in the works than that, but it just hasn't been announced yet. However, as I mentioned in Confession #27, I'm certainly not holding my breath for a multi-Doctor shindig.
And let’s face it
…without the first 26 years, there’d be no Nu-Who for people to unfairly judge the original run against!
Exactly!
Personally, I think the pre-Hiatus stuff holds up just fine. (Then again, I’m a convert, so don’t listen to me…) All that’s really changed is production values. It’s all one show. So there. 😛
Agreed on Dalek Overuse
“Cash cow” was an accurate phrase to use, yeah. 🙁
No relief in sight
And the thing is, with the 50th on its way, you just know they’re going to be all over the place this coming year. ~gags~