Dalek War has been a pretty bumpy road overall, hell, Dalek Empire so far has been, but there's one thing that's always kept me coming back to this series (apart from the TARDIS Guide Clubs): Karlendorf.

Here, Karlendorf truly comes to center stage, we learn more of his motivations, his reasonings, he's never presented a bastion of morality, but his morals are clear and unshakeable. Honestly from the way he's presented, he sometimes feels more like a force of nature than a character, an oncoming storm, if you will, and the way this story is told, being uncovered by historians as a tale from thousands of years ago just adds to that larger than life character he builds up for himself.

Albie's death here surprisingly kind of just doesn't affect the story, almost proving how much of a secondary character he really was in Dalek Empire. It's almost a shame, but also yeah, I just don't really feel anything about it at all.

But back to Karlendorf, I think the two best scenes in this story are him talking to the leaders of the two dalek factions. His conversation with The Mentor especially is really interesting. The way The Mentor is characterised here, not as a good dalek, still a monster in the way that she and her daleks have treated planets that didn't join the war, but still somewhat reasonable. There's a cruel logic to her actions, and you can really see how the differences between her and davros ended up creating such similar yet different daleks. Her and her daleks, to me at least, feel like what you would get if you replaced the rage and fury of N-Space's daleks, with a cold pragmatism. I love that they choose to leave, not because they think they'd loose, but because they can forsee that the conflict would lead to death for everyone, and that Karlendorf would let that happen rather than give in.

And then the final confrontation with the Susan-Emperor. The tale that the historians are telling in the future of the story that inspired Karlendorf, Karlendorf's plans all coming together, forcing Susan to the forefront and using her connection to the emperor to the daleks, to kill them all in one fell swoop. Karlendorf killing countless millions of lives, dalek and otherwise as all dalek technology is destroyed. Where the Ninth Doctor refused to kill all people on earth to wipe out the daleks, Karlendorf doesn't hesitate to wipe out solar systems.

Victory or Death.

How else was a Dalek War meant to end, I suppose.

A spectacular finale to the series, and I'm so glad I stuck with it for that.

definitely better than the previous parts, including some interesting philosophising, but i dont think it was worth the time it took to get there

overall, dalek empire 2 is definitely a downgrade. they were clearly trying to do something based on "absence of tension vs presence of justice", and i think thats a great concept to base a story on, but i dont think they entirely succeeded in making it that interesting. oh well

Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time! 

“DALEK WAR: CHAPTER 4: A QUIET END TO A GRAND CONFLICT”

Dalek War concludes with Chapter 4, taking an interesting narrative approach by presenting much of the story through a framing device set thousands of years after the events themselves. This perspective, centred on the legends surrounding Kalendorf’s final stand against the Daleks, offers a unique way to explore the fallout of the war. However, despite this intriguing setup, the finale itself is surprisingly understated, focusing more on character-driven resolutions than on the large-scale spectacle one might expect from the conclusion of such an ambitious arc.

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THE WAR

Rather than diving straight into the events of the final battle, the story unfolds through the lens of future generations on Velyshaa, who recount the catastrophe that ended the Dalek War. This allows for a sense of mythmaking, as we dip into key moments from the past to witness how Kalendorf, Suz, and Alby played their final roles in the conflict. It’s an interesting way to structure the story, adding a layer of historical perspective to the narrative.

That said, if you haven’t been deeply engaged with the Dalek War arc throughout, this approach might feel somewhat detached. Since I hadn’t kept close track of all the details leading up to this finale, I found myself struggling to recall some of the finer points—something that suggests the story, as a whole, may not have been as gripping or memorable as it should have been.

A LACK OF ACTION AND A CHARACTER-FOCUSED ENDING

Surprisingly, this final chapter dials back the action significantly. The Daleks themselves take a step back, leaving much of the plot to unfold through conversations—particularly between Kalendorf and what remains of the Mentor, as well as his exchanges with the Dalek Emperor, now fully inhabiting Suz’s body. The decision to make the conclusion more introspective rather than explosive is an intriguing one, and while it does allow for some strong character moments, it also means the story never reaches the dramatic heights one might have hoped for.

Instead of a grand, cinematic showdown, the conflict is resolved in a relatively subdued manner, tying up loose ends without much fanfare. Given the weight of the preceding episodes, it feels like Dalek War should have built up to something bigger—a final confrontation that left a lasting impact. Instead, it quietly concludes, leaving me feeling more indifferent than satisfied.

A PROMISING PREMISE THAT NEVER QUITE DELIVERS

From the beginning, Dalek War had an exciting premise, but as the story unfolded, it struggled to maintain its momentum. What started with great potential gradually lost its energy, never quite reaching the heights it aimed for. While this final chapter does offer a fitting end in terms of character arcs, it lacks the intensity and payoff that a saga of this scale truly needed.

📝 VERDICT: 6/10

While Dalek War: Chapter 4 attempts a unique storytelling approach with its framing device and character-driven focus, it ultimately feels like an underwhelming conclusion. The lack of action, combined with a finale that fizzles out rather than ignites, makes it difficult to feel truly satisfied. The arc had so much potential, but it never fully capitalised on its premise, leaving this ending feeling more like a quiet whimper than a triumphant crescendo.