Doctor Who Review: The Witch’s Familiar – How 7 Characters Reveal Their Relationship Status

2. Adult Davros

Adult Davros is a twisted parent. He is the beauty pageant mom living through the achievements of his children. He is a shell powered by a mind driven mad with fear and resentment. When the universe did not give him what he wanted he invented engines of vengeance. Davros never grew past the frightened little boy. He does not know how to cope in a wider universe and is trapped within his own perceptions. He survived his abusive past but has no idea how to stop it from controlling him.

Davros does not want to kill the Doctor he wants to destroy everything he is. He wants the Doctor to feel responsible for the rise of the Daleks. He seeks to turn the Doctor into himself, quite literally giving up his throne. Davros desperately wants someone to blame while at the same time he refuses to accept culpability for his own actions. Davros uses his question of “Am I a good man?” as a shameless ploy for the Doctor’s compassion but he has no real doubts. Every dictator is convinced of his own self righteousness. Only people who have learned how to give up control question their own actions and biases.