OMG OKAY I LOVE THIS ONE TO BITS. 5/5, one of my favourite Who stories ever - this is going to be a long one. Buckle up buttercups; we're unpacking British nationalism.

This whole audio is a truly chilling exploration of British nationalism and xenophobia, showing them as the horror they are; I am never getting over how incredible this audio is. I can very much see the later Dalek story in this - the roots are clear. I think this might even have 'Dalek' beat for me. I enjoyed the slower pace at the beginning. Also, I am tone deaf so I might be wrong hear, but, was the theme music thingy in a minor key?? Beautiful. Obsessed.

I really don't think I can say anything more than the audio said itself: we are become a culture based on hatred and humiliation. We create what we mock; we turn ourselves into monsters by mocking our fallen foes. The term 'stormtrooper' is even used - I guess we're forgoing any semblance of subtlety in the whole "Brits as Nazis" thing then. This isn't a bad thing, though - I like the heavy-handedness of it all. The free will as an alternative to power was fascinating and a very moving argument, and I feel like this story was finally asking the big questions about conquest and war and fascism and Daleks that we've all been waiting for. This is definitely the most interesting exploration of Daleks and their role in Doctor Who that I've ever seen - the return to their roots as nazis, plain and simple, was much appreciated. Go off Rob Shearman, you will always be famous.

Miriam, so desparate for a man to control her that she'd even kill her own husband - the whole audio was a very accurate portrayal of ingrained societal misogyny, especially of internal misogyny. The repeated line about needing a man who hits "hard enough to break the skin" has really stuck with me.

I really didn't think you could do anything new with people being two places at once in doctor who until I listened to this audio. The height of innovation and creativity. I think the moment that stood out to me most was when all the humans started chanting "Exterminate!". Chilling. Feels far too close to home.

Hell yeah suicidal last Dalek alive with no purpose mirroring the Time Lords/Doctor just like in 'Dalek' - Sherman was COOKING. WHERE ARE MY ORDERS. I am a Brit; tell me who to hate. I am a Time Lord so I am a Brit so I am a Dalek and as the last one left I deserve this hate, I get to commit these horrible atrocities because I am the most powerful and the only worthy; I hold the beliefs of all those who died before me. F*ck this goes hard.

I'd also like to single out two more lines - "your information is worthless" was the Daleks quite literally refusing to learn from history. Also, from my notes, "omg omg "the Daleks can only survive if they die" holy s**t" - clearly, I was very excited about the resolution! And I can see why past-me was obsessed with this ending. Fascism is unsustainable, and a self-contradiction - it collapses in on itself. It devours everything, including it's own proponents. The paradox of totalitarianism.

A wonderful focus on the 'soldierification' of companions - always one of my favourite ideas! We love traumatising our favourite companions!! And with the Dalek having empathy for the Doctor's compassionate companion who just believes in doing what's right - again, I can really see how this became 'Dalek'. Evelyn/Rose challenging the Doctor's pre-conceived notions so brilliantly... she just makes such a truly perfect foil to the Doctor.

I have to admit the whole "two times fusing together" thing wasn't the most well thought-through explanation I've heard, but the emotional and political side of this audio far make up for it. That's what's important anyway; the exploration of our colonialist society and it's misogynistic and fascist core, not the technobabble!

A wonderfully terrifying display of madness, of government, of blaming your personality on larger forces to escape the blame you fear will make you mad... I just feel like I cannot make any observations here that the audio didn't say explicitly itself. I have nothing to add. It's just such an incredibly written story. I feel like this should be required reading (or, uh, listening) for learning about democracy and fascism, right alongside things like 1984 and Animal Farm. A 5/5 story that I recommend to anyone who can take listening to Britain's descent into fascism. It is a truly horrific story that hits far, far too close to home for comfort, but that's the point. It's not supposed to be comfortable.

We can never allow ourselves to become comfortable with fascism.

Feel sick rn, need him back (Robert Shearman)