An entertaining conclusion brings up what would otherwise be a rather boring outing for Doctor Who's most famous foes.

The first three episodes of the story are entertaining, but definitely moreso thanks to Pertwee, Manning, and the UNIT family (part 1 especially having some truly delightful moments). The actual plot seems to be somewhat treading water for episodes 2 and 3 after Jo and Three end up in the future, which is a shame, showing us a future under Dalek rule should be exciting and scary, but the vast majority of the world-building is just allusions to what's happening off screen, we don't get enough of a sense as to what this world really looks like, and it feels like you're meant to see that the Daleks are there, and for that to be enough.

On the subject of the Daleks, they do almost feel like a non-entity for most of the story. Humans and Ogrons to most of the heavy lifting which is a real shame for the Daleks' big return to the silver screen after five years off. On the one hand, I appreciate this not watering them down, making them a force that UNIT can equal, or even defeat, on the other, it does feel like they could be replaced with a lot of other enemies here, once again it feels like the fact that we're seeing Daleks is meant to be enough, but looking back on the story 50+ years on, it's just not.

That all said, as I mention at the top of the review, that last part really does bring the story up for me immensely. The bootstrap paradox with the rebels going back in time being what ends up causing the Daleks to come to power is brilliant, and you can really feel the 'oh s**t' moment when the characters all realise that's the case. I love the politician's arguing with Three and The Brig, and the self-sacrifice of the rebel at the end is a brilliant moment. Changing history in the simple act of waiting, bringing down the Daleks that'd made their way to the present. The speech Three has to the politician afterwards as well, stressing the importance of the conference, of peace between nations, and what can happen when it's not achieved, is great, and a perfect reminder that Doctor Who has always been political, absolutely to its benefit.