Unfortunately after having really enjoyed the previous two stories, this one started to lose me a little.

I don't think there was enough emphasis put on the time-skip, it almost seems to get glossed over a little, especially as it doesn't really seem to affect our main character (Susan)'s situation all that much, the world changes around here, but it doesn't seem that she's really changed all that much since the previous story to reflect that.

The setup of project infinity, whatever it may be, discovering that Karlendorf is involved in it, and just generally where Alby is in this story on the other hand are a lot more interesting, but it's got the opposite problem to the Suz side of things, I think it almost expects you to take for granted the jump in situation for him.

There's a lot I do like in here, like I said, generally Alby's story is great, the conversations between Karlendorf and Susan about whether they've done too much and who's going to do the last bit, the bits of exploration we get as to what a dalek controlled universe looks like for people who aren't daleks or slaves, but generally I think this installment becomes a little hard to follow, and it doesn't feel it needs to be as long as it is.

Also, especially once again ending with the seeming death of one of our main characters, this feels a little like a repeat of The Human Factor.

It's not bad, but I feel it could've been better.

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

“DEATH TO THE DALEKS!: A SLOW STEP TOWARD REUNION”

Following the tense conclusion of The Human Factor, Death to the Daleks! opens with a rather underwhelming resolution—Alby wasn’t actually shot. While it’s a relief that one of the central characters is still in play, the moment feels like a bit of a cheat, undercutting the tension of the previous cliffhanger. It’s a reminder that in this kind of storytelling, main characters often come with a certain degree of plot armour.

TANLEE TAKES CHARGE, BUT TO WHAT END?

Tanlee, the Earth Alliance Security commander, steps into the spotlight, interrogating Alby and attempting to piece together the Daleks' grand scheme. While the performance is solid, the character himself feels somewhat forgettable. He serves a functional role in the narrative but lacks the presence or intrigue needed to leave a lasting impression.

SUZAN MENDES: THE RELUCTANT FIGUREHEAD

Susan Mendes remains one of the most compelling aspects of this series. Sarah Mowat continues to deliver a strong performance, portraying a Suz who is increasingly weary of her role yet still commands authority—even over the Daleks themselves. Her interactions with Kalendorf highlight the ongoing ideological conflict between them. Suz believes she can manipulate the Daleks to serve her goals, while Kalendorf remains sceptical, convinced that she is playing a dangerous game she cannot win. This push-and-pull dynamic remains one of the more engaging aspects of the story.

A TALKY EPISODE WITH LITTLE SPARK

Unfortunately, Death to the Daleks! struggles to maintain momentum. Much of the episode consists of characters discussing events rather than actively engaging in them. While it does serve to develop the strategic elements of the plot, the lack of a strong atmosphere makes it feel somewhat dry. Even the various alien voices, which could have added texture to the world-building, don’t quite carry the necessary impact.

A PROMISE OF REUNION TO COME

The most intriguing aspect of this episode is the slow build-up toward Alby reuniting with Suz and Kalendorf. While it doesn’t quite deliver in Death to the Daleks!, the groundwork is laid for an interesting confrontation in the next instalment.

📝VERDICT: 5/10

Death to the Daleks! is a slower-paced episode that prioritises dialogue and strategic manoeuvring over immediate tension or action. While Suz and Kalendorf’s conflict remains engaging, and the promise of a reunion adds some intrigue, the lack of atmosphere and energy makes this a somewhat underwhelming chapter in the Dalek Empire saga.

By this point, the story has completely lost me.  I was already wavering heavily with disinterest with The Human Factor, and Death to the Daleks! seems like a step even further back.

The whole premise with Suz being a sort of propagandist for the Daleks was interesting the first time but has gotten so old for me.  At this point, I just don't care about any of these characters or what happens to them.  I don't care what Alby or Miranda are up to, I don't care what happens to Susan, any intrigue I might have gotten from Kalendorf has long since withered and died.  It feels like this audio is spinning its wheels, repeating plot points from The Human Factor while failing to build on anything in any way that caught my attention.   I found this one really hard and kind of miserable to get through.  Nicholas Briggs writes some scripts I very much enjoy but often he has these long, drawn out, multi-part affairs that really feel like they could have been interesting as a single audio story, but are almost insufferable when drawn out into a full series.