The Daleks

Christopher Barry, Richard Martin

Directed by

Runtime

175 minutes

Time Travel

Future

Tropes (Potential Spoilers!)

Monster Vision

Inventory (Potential Spoilers!)

Fluid Link, Food Replicator

Location (Potential Spoilers!)

Skaro

Synopsis

The TARDIS has brought the travellers to the planet Skaro where they meet two indigenous races — the Daleks, malicious mutant creatures encased in armoured travel machines, and the Thals, beautiful humanoids with pacifist principles. They convince the Thals of the need to fight for their own survival.

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7 Episodes

The Dead Planet

First aired

Saturday, December 21, 1963

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

6.9 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

Time Unknown, Planet Unknown. The TARDIS lands in an eerie petrified forest overlooking a magnificent steel city. The Doctor wants to explore the city – but what is waiting there?

The Survivors

First aired

Saturday, December 28, 1963

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

6.4 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

The dead planet is not uninhabited after all. The Doctor is about to meet what will become his greatest enemies. And he and his crew are dying of radiation sickness.

The Escape

First aired

Saturday, January 4, 1964

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

Richard Martin

UK Viewers

8.9 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

Imprisoned on Skaro by the scheming Daleks, the Doctor and his companions work to escape their clutches.

The Ambush

First aired

Saturday, January 11, 1964

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

9.9 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

The time travellers work desperately to both escape the Dalek city and prevent a bloody massacre.

The Expedition

First aired

Saturday, January 18, 1964

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

9.9 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

The time travellers have escaped from the Daleks, but left a vital piece of the TARDIS behind. Getting it back will mean pushing the Thals to mount a dangerous operation.

The Ordeal

First aired

Saturday, January 25, 1964

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

Richard Martin

UK Viewers

10.4 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

Ian, Barbara and the Thals struggle through the caves to reach the Dalek city. Will they get there in time? Is there even a way through the treacherous caves? And what are the Daleks planning?

The Rescue

First aired

Saturday, February 1, 1964

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

Richard Martin

UK Viewers

10.4 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

Time is running out as the Doctor and his companions try to defeat the Daleks before they wipe out all life on Skaro.

Characters

First Doctor

William Hartnell

Susan

Carole Ann Ford

How to watch The Daleks:

Watch on iPlayer

DVD

The Monster Collection: The Daleks

DVD

The Beginning – An Unearthly Child / The Daleks / The Edge of Destruction

Blu-Ray

The Daleks in Colour [Steelbook]

Blu-Ray

The Daleks in Colour

DVD

The Daleks in Colour

The Daleks (VHS) (Part 1)

The Daleks (VHS) (Part 2)

Daleks: The Early Years (VHS)

The Daleks (VHS) (Limited Edition Boxed Set)

The Daleks (VHS) (Remastered)

Reviews
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20 reviews

I had been told that it'd be tedious to watch this, but even if it did feel a bit long, it's nothing too bothersome. Very funny to see people nowadays complaining about this show being "too woke" when it began with progressive storylines like these. It's not world-changing but it is very telling of what DW is about. Honorary mention to Ian always being the hero and protecting everyone while also arguing constantly with The Doctor, he's just amazing. The Daleks are iconic, as always, btw.

rainbownixie

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Review last edited on 30-03-25

A good introduction to the most iconic villains of the show. Drags a bit in the middle with the Thals. Would have been a fantastic four parter, but it's still a good watch.

Scottybguud

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Review last edited on 25-03-25

This review contains spoilers!

And here's where it really all began, Doctor Who's first aliens, the first alien world, the introduction of the iconic villians.

Overall, I think it's... yeah no, I think it's good!

I think there's some really great stuff here. First off, as someone who's never really cared to learn anything about the Thals, I found myself surprised by how much I enjoyed them here, their presence really humanises what could otherwise be a very alien story. I think Barbara's growing fondness with one is a highlight of the story too. It's also pretty interesting to compare them with the cavemen of the previous story, both more 'primitive' peoples, one lusting for the power of fire, one where having it all brought them to ruin. One generally acting violently and confrontationally with the TARDIS team, the other trying to help them, before even having met them.

My favourite part of this story however is the start, the building of the atmosphere and dread, landing on a dead planet, finding out that something horrific has clearly happened here and learning more as the group explore, then seeing the magnificent city in the distance. How different the city is and how empty it is at first, with that magnificant cliffhanger, Barbara through the Dalek's eyes. It really is incredible.

Unfortunately, the rest of the serial suffers from the same problem I have with a lot of Classic Who, the story seems to drag a bit for me, and it gets a little repetitive with the TARDIS Team once again being captured multiple times in a single story. I also dont' think this story really needed to be Seven parts (though admittedly, my ADHD doesn't help with that).

It definitely helped that I didn't watch this story all at once for me, and in writing this review, I think I've realised that I like it a lot more reflecting on the whole than I did watching any individual part.

If nothing else, it's a piece of Doctor Who History, and it'll always have a place for being that, the fact it holds up as an solidly entertaining story sixty years on just makes that even more deserved.

JayPea

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Review last edited on 22-02-25

Ah, the fabled introduction of the Daleks. I found this serial entertaining if a bit long. Especially towards the last couple episodes, it felt unnecessarily slow.

InterstellarCas

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Review last edited on 21-02-25

This review contains spoilers!

Primeira aparição dos daleks na série, um arco longo 7 episódios mas mesmo sendo longo não fica cansativo, Ian está se tornando um dos meus companions favoritos kkk sempre tomando a iniciativa pra tudo. O Doctor melhorou nesse arco acho que estou muito acostumado com o New who onde o Doctor é um cara mais experiente e quase sempre com o protagonismo nas histórias, quando eu for assistir o clássico tenho que tirar isso da minha mente. Bom tido tudo isso um excelente arco bem superiorior ao anterior personagens melhores, histórias, cenários. Gostei

GGVICTOR

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Review last edited on 9-02-25