Stories Television Doctor Who Season 12 Serial: 1 2 3 4 5 Genesis of the Daleks Original Story TV Soundtrack Original Story TV Soundtrack 1 image Overview Episodes Characters How to Watch Reviews 10 Statistics Related Stories Quotes 4 Transcript Overview First aired Saturday, March 8, 1975 Production Code 4E Written by Terry Nation Directed by David Maloney Runtime 150 minutes Time Travel Past Tropes (Potential Spoilers!) Breaking the Fourth Wall, Consequences, Lost the TARDIS, Mission from the Time Lords, Monster Origin Story, Time Travel Pivotal Story Arc (Potential Spoilers!) Nerva Beacon Inventory (Potential Spoilers!) Etheric beam locator, Sonic Screwdriver Location (Potential Spoilers!) Skaro Synopsis Intercepted while travelling between Earth and the Ark, the Fourth Doctor and his companions are transported to the planet Skaro, thousands of years in the past, on a mission for the Time Lords — to prevent the creation of the Daleks. Watch Watched Favourite Favourited Add Review Edit Review Log a repeat Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Owned Save to my list Saved Edit date completed Custom Date Release Date Archive (no date) Save 6 Episodes Part One First aired Saturday, March 8, 1975 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Terry Nation Directed by David Maloney UK Viewers 10.7 million Synopsis The planet Skaro, the distant past. The Time Lords divert the Doctor, Sarah Jane and Harry to this war-torn world, and give the Doctor a mission: the evil of the Daleks is about to be born here, and the Doctor is to try to ensure they evolve into less lethally aggressive beings - or, failing that, to avert their creation altogether. But has even the Doctor the right to commit genocide? Part Two First aired Saturday, March 15, 1975 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Terry Nation Directed by David Maloney UK Viewers 10.5 million Appreciation Index 57 Synopsis The Doctor and Harry are taken to the Kaled bunker where Davros is preparing to demonstrate the Daleks, while Sarah Jane is captured by the Thals and taken to their city as a slave worker. Part Three First aired Saturday, March 22, 1975 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Terry Nation Directed by David Maloney UK Viewers 8.5 million Synopsis The Doctor and Harry head to the Kaled city to alert the authorities to Davros' plans while Sarah Jane and Sevrin are forced to work on the completion of the Thals' rocket. Part Four First aired Saturday, March 29, 1975 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Terry Nation Directed by David Maloney UK Viewers 8.8 million Appreciation Index 58 Synopsis The Doctor fails to prevent the Thals from destroying the Kaled city but they don't have long to enjoy their victory before the Daleks attack. Part Five First aired Saturday, April 5, 1975 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Terry Nation Directed by David Maloney UK Viewers 9.8 million Appreciation Index 57 Synopsis The Doctor is forced to give Davros full details of future Dalek victories but opposition to Davros' plans is growing among the Kaleds and soon there is open rebellion. Part Six First aired Saturday, April 12, 1975 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Terry Nation Directed by David Maloney UK Viewers 9.1 million Appreciation Index 56 Synopsis Gharman tries to convince the Kaleds to vote against the Dalek project but Davros has a trick up his sleeve, while the Doctor works to destroy the tape recording of Dalek victory and the Thals plan an intervention of their own. Show All Episodes Characters Fourth Doctor Tom Baker Sarah Jane Smith Elisabeth Sladen Harry Sullivan Ian Marter Daleks Davros Michael Wisher First Appearance The Time Lords Time Lord messenger First Appearance Show All Characters (7) How to watch Genesis of the Daleks: Watch on iPlayer Blu-Ray The Collection – Season 12 Blu-Ray Time Lord Victorious: Road to the Dark Times DVD An Introduction to the Fourth Doctor DVD The Monster Collection: Davros DVD The Complete Davros Collection DVD The Dalek Collection DVD Genesis of the Daleks VHS The Sontaran Experiment & The Genesis of the Daleks (VHS) VHS The Davros Collection (VHS) Reviews Add Review Edit Review Sort: Date (Newest First) Date (Oldest First) Likes (High-Low) Likes (Low-High) Rating (High-Low) Rating (Low-High) Word count (High-Low) Word count (Low-High) Username (A-Z) Username (Z-A) Spoilers First Spoilers Last 10 reviews 24 April 2025 · 39 words Review by Azurillkirby Wow. This one is pretty hyped up by the community, and I can see why. Davros is an fantastic villain, and the political theming is incredible. Extremely compelling story that deserves all the hype it gets. A+. Maybe S. Azurillkirby View profile Like Liked 0 14 April 2025 · 146 words Review by Jonathan_ Spoilers 1 This review contains spoilers! One of the best serials I have seen so far. We finally get to see the origin of the Daleks, and are introduced to Davros, their creator. The Doctor seems to kind of fail in this episode, which is unusual The Time Lords basically hijack what he is doing to send him on an errand to stop the creation of the Daleks, but he is very unprepared for this. Both the Kaleds and the Thals are working against him at various points of the story and in the end he only manages to delay the creation of the Daleks. Davros is really what makes this episode shine. Through Davros we see why the Daleks are so hateful, as well as their other mannerisms like lack of mercy and way of speaking. Davros appears to die in this episode, but I expect we will see him again Jonathan_ View profile Like Liked 1 12 April 2025 · 175 words Review by Guardax Spoilers This review contains spoilers! It's been a fun six weeks re-watching this just all-time story. It's an incredible achievement as Terry Nation returns to give us an incredible account of the madman that created the Daleks. Although this is his only performance, Michael Wisher is incredible as Davros, a being of pure malice and evil who is somehow even more chilling than the Daleks as he has human form. Peter Miles is fantastic as the collaborator Nyder, and if everyone wasn't picking up on the Nazi allegory before the Kaleds are very much the SS. The Thals are shown as slightly better, green uniforms and more well-lit, but Sarah still spends time doing slave labor in their camp. It's anchored by a phenomenal performance by Tom Baker, and I'm here to bust an urban myth: the Doctor does blow up the incubator room! Even if he hadn't hesitated the first time, it would not have destroyed the Daleks forever as the ones that exterminate the Kaleds still existed. This story is gripping at all times, and a great watch. Guardax View profile Like Liked 0 7 February 2025 · 401 words Review by DanDunn 1 A story that often crops up in the debate of the “greatest Doctor Who story of all time”. If you’ve seen any episode of Classic Who or are planning to watch an episode of Classic Who, chances are this is it. I think it’s safe to say that Genesis of the Daleks is the most iconic episode in the show’s history. It’s event television unlike any other and the effects are still rippling out in Doctor Who even today. You all know the story; the Doctor is sent back to Skaro to prevent the creation of the Daleks. I can’t imagine what was going through Tom Baker’s head to be given an episode like this in only his first year! But my god does he approach this like a pro, he really deserves all the credit he gets for perfectly cementing his own take on the Doctor while carrying the wisdom of all his predecessors in such a short space of time. If you read back on the production troubles of his first season where he almost broke his collar bone and risked ending his career there and then, can you imagine being robbed of this story for such a small thing. Genesis of the Daleks is a perfect example of how to do a villain’s origin story by introducing new concepts such as Davros, expanding on the lore previously established such as the war between the Dalek’s forbearers and the Thals but doing so in a way that doesn’t let the Dalek’s popularity and how they’ve been absorbed by the fandom get in the way of telling a compelling story. All the plot points and the events in this episode just play out in a natural, organic way. There aren’t many episodes in Doctor Who that successfully flesh out an alien world and give it such attention to detail to the degree Genesis of the Daleks gives to Skaro. It does have its silly moments for sure such as the killer clams and the Nazi imagery is a bit on the nose, but they’re completely drowned out by the countless incredible scenes, quotable lines and amazing performances from everyone involved. If there’s one episode of Classic Doctor Who you’re going to watch, make it this one! But then again you probably already have, it’s one of the most memorable and highly acclaimed Doctor Who stories for a very good reason. DanDunn View profile Like Liked 1 24 November 2024 · 20 words Review by Rock_Angel 1 Oh she left the audience hungry she left the whole cake she left plenty of crumbs Basically it’s s**t Rock_Angel View profile Like Liked 1 Show All Reviews (10) Open in new window Statistics AVG. Rating577 members 4.44 / 5 Trakt.tv AVG. Rating777 votes 4.15 / 5 Member Statistics Watched 1016 Favourited 197 Reviewed 10 Saved 9 Skipped 1 Related Stories The Lost Stories S7 • Episode 1 Daleks! Genesis of Terror Rating: 0.98 Story Skipped Audio Book Reviews(4) More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: The Lost Stories Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved 60th Anniversary Specials (Children in Need) (Minisode) Destination: Skaro Rating: 3.35 Story Skipped Minisode Reviews(6) More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: Minisodes Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved The Blogs of Doom Sevrin Rating: 1.92 Story Skipped Short Story Reviews(1) More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: The Blogs of Doom Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved Other adaptations of this story: We define an adaptation as a recreation of a similar story but on a different medium or with different characters. Target Collection Doctor Who and the Genesis of the Daleks Rating: 3.88 Story Skipped Book Reviews(1) More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: Target Collection Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved The Lost Stories S7 • Episode 1 Daleks! Genesis of Terror Rating: 0.98 Story Skipped Audio Book Reviews(4) More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: The Lost Stories Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved BBC Audio Single Releases Genesis of the Daleks (BBC Audio Soundtrack) Rating: 3.15 Story Skipped Soundtrack Reviews(1) More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: BBC Audio Soundtracks Set of Stories: BBC Radio Collection Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved Other variations of this story We define a variation as another way of experiencing the exact same story - like an autiobook, a reconstruction or an omnibus edition. BBC Audio Single Releases Genesis of the Daleks (BBC Audio Soundtrack) Rating: 3.15 Story Skipped Soundtrack Reviews(1) More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: BBC Audio Soundtracks Set of Stories: BBC Radio Collection Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved Quotes Add Quote Link to Quote Favourite DOCTOR: But the final responsibility is mine, and mine alone. Listen, if someone who knew the future pointed out a child to you and told you that that child would grow up totally evil, to be a ruthless dictator who would destroy millions of lives, could you then kill that child? — Fourth Doctor, Genesis of the Daleks Show All Quotes (4) Open in new window Transcript Needs checking Part One [Skaro] (Mist swirls across the rocky ground of Betchworth Quarry. Suddenly, a head in tin helmet and gas mask pops up from behind a ridge. Then a second, and a third, and more. Like World War One troops going over the top of the trenches, they advance - and promptly get mown down by machine gun fire.The Doctor appears, trying to keep warm, and looks around him. There is no one to be seen.)TIMELORD: Ah. Welcome, Doctor.DOCTOR: What's going on? Don't you realise how dangerous it is to intercept a transmat beam?TIMELORD: Oh come, Doctor, not with our techniques. We Time Lords transcended such simple mechanical devices when the universe was less than half its present size.DOCTOR: Look, whatever I've done for you in the past, I've more than made up for. I will not tolerate this continual interference in my life.TIMELORD: Continual? We pride ourselves we seldom interfere in the affairs of others.DOCTOR: Except mine.TIMELORD: You, Doctor, are a special case. You enjoy the freedom we allow you. In return, occasionally, not continually, we ask you to do something for us.DOCTOR: I won't do it. Whatever it is, I refuse.TIMELORD: Daleks.DOCTOR: Daleks? Tell me more.TIMELORD: We foresee a time when they will have destroyed all other lifeforms and become the dominant creature in the universe.DOCTOR: That's possible. Tell on.TIMELORD: We'd like you to return to Skaro at a point in time before the Daleks evolved.DOCTOR: Do you mean avert their creation?TIMELORD: Or affect their genetic development so that they evolve into less aggressive creatures.DOCTOR: Hmm. That's feasible.TIMELORD: Alternatively, if you learn enough about their very beginnings, you might discover some inherent weakness.DOCTOR: All right, just one more time.TIMELORD: You'll do it?DOCTOR: Yes. If you'll let me have the space time coordinates, I'll set the TARDIS for Skaro.TIMELORD: There's no need for that, Doctor.DOCTOR: Huh?TIMELORD: You're here. This is Skaro.DOCTOR: What?TIMELORD: We thought it would save time if we assumed your agreement. (The Time Lord holds up a gold bangle with a three-ended swirl on it.) DOCTOR: What's this?TIMELORD: A Time Ring. It will return you to the TARDIS when you've finished here. There's just one thing.DOCTOR: What's that?TIMELORD: Be careful not to lose it. That Time Ring is your lifeline. Good luck, Doctor.DOCTOR: Just a moment. Show Full Transcript Open in new window
