Doctor Who Review: Into The Dalek - 7 Thoughts On A Fantastic Voyage

Can a dalek question its code?

By Mary Ogle /

WARNING! SPOILERS: This post contains spoilers and speculation for the Doctor Who series eight episode €œInto the Dalek€. A Dalek is hatred given physical form €“ a closed system with a singular focus. It cannot learn for every neural pathway that deviates from its central mission is blocked. Hatred is a selective emotion. To hate is to block out light, to choose to huddle in darkness ignoring any other option. Hatred is a construct, a thing that we cling to due to our past experience or upon listening to the guiding voices whispering in our ears. It€™s fueled by betrayal, deceit and fear of not only what€™s going on externally but of the chaos within ourselves. Daleks are bound to hate from the second they are born. They are not given any other choice. They are not soldiers they are slaves. Soldiers choose to carry their weapons and what they will do with them. Slaves do what they are told. For a dalek there is no hope, only obedience to a set of instructions. So what happens when a new variable is introduced? Can a dalek question its code? Let's try and find out...