10 Classic Doctor Who Moments That Really Haven’t Aged Well
5. The Attack On Auderley House Day Of The Daleks (1972)
The Story The Doctor is drawn into an attempt to change history by a group of guerrilla fighters from a future ruled by the Daleks. The Moment The Daleks attack a manor house in England to disrupt a peace conference and provoke the war that will enable them to conquer Earth. Why It Hasnt Aged Well This story initially didnt feature the Daleks at all until the decision was made to move the Daleks comeback from the end of Season Eight to its start in order to give it more impact and secure higher viewing figures. This change in plans is the main reason for the weak portrayal of the Daleks, particularly the subpar performance by their new voice actors. And the fact that the BBC only had three Daleks available to use brings down the story even more. While it doesnt impede the excellent storyline, it makes the final battle scenes both amusing and a little embarrassing to watch forty years later. The final battle scene is ultimately little more than some Ogrons and three Daleks crossing a lawn very very slowly while shooting at UNIT soldiers. And because it was a scene shot on an open location and in full colour, the usual visual trickery of swelling the Dalek ranks with cardboard cutouts, or clever camera techniques creating the illusion of more Daleks wasn't an option Its a very slow and un-engaging scene that serves as a damp squib of an ending to an otherwise well written and produced story. The lack of spectacle for what is supposed to be both a climactic action scene and the Daleks first story in five years dates it considerably.
JG Moore is a writer and filmmaker from the south of England. He also works as an editor and VFX artist, and has a BA in Media Production from the University Of Winchester.
