1. How The Daleks Work
BBCIn a very surprising move for an enemy so ingrained into Doctor Whos history and owned by another party (Dalek creator Terry Nations estate), Into The Dalek goes beyond just being a run of the mill sci-fi romp by greatly expanding the central Dalek mythos in more detail than any story since Genesis Of The Daleks (1975). But rather than going into Dalek history as Genesis did, Into The Dalek is a comprehensive look at the nuts and bolts of how a Dalek functions. By virtue of it largely being set inside a Dalek shell, Into The Dalek is practically a televised Dalek owners manual. But the most important aspect of this isnt how much information we are provided with, its that its new information; finally nailing down how a Dalek works other than it being a racist squid in a metal tank with a sink plunger and an egg whisk attached. As well as fun little bits and pieces that serve the story like the Dalek shell being outfitted with robotic antibodies to repel intruders (though a fat lot of good that did against the Movellan virus), we also get an insight into how the Daleks stay alive apart from the panels on their midsection collecting solar energy. This is thanks to the rather unsettling addition that the Daleks still need protein to stay alive. Which they get by liquefying their enemies and consuming the remains. Though presumably that happens offscreen since Into The Dalek is the first time we see it happen. But most importantly is that we learn how the mind of the Dalek works. The Kaled mutants are still genetically engineered to hate. No writer would be brazen enough to retcon that. But the latest and most significant addition to the Dalek mythos is that this genetic engineering isnt permanent and requires constant computer reinforcement and memory suppression. It almost makes you feel for the genocidal nutcases a bit, doesnt it.
What did you learn from Into The Dalek? Let us know in the comments section below...