10 Doctor Who Controversies That Divide Fans
2. Should The Fourth Doctor Have Destroyed The Daleks?
There are few moments in Doctor Who history as pivotal as 1975's Genesis of the Daleks. As the name suggests, this Fourth Doctor serial tells the story of the Daleks' origins, but if Tom Baker's mad-eyed Time Lord had acted differently, it could also have told the story of their end.
"Just touch these two strands together and the Daleks are finished... have I that right?" muses the Doctor, his hands clutching the device that could end the tin cans forever. His hesitation is understandable - after all, genocide is a pretty big thing to have on your conscience, no matter how deserving the target species may be - but at the same time, Sarah Jane also makes a valid point, reminding the Doctor that he will cause untold amounts of suffering if he lets the Daleks live.
For many years, fans have also had this same debate. Was the Doctor's decision to not destroy the Daleks his greatest mistake? Or was he right to not alter the future?
From the atrocities of the Time War to their regular attempts to invade Earth, there's no doubt that the Daleks have done some pretty heinous stuff, but, as the Doctor notes, fear of the Daleks will prompt many worlds to become allies, united against a common enemy. Maybe that's worth all the pain they cause.