There were a lot of hit or miss episodes in the first new series back in 2005, as is only to be expected. Aside from being a generally good episode, Dalek serves as a statement of the newly rebooted program's vision, an example of the type of story we could expect from Doctor Who. It's a markedly different take on the show's most iconic villain, creating a Dalek whose isolation left it vulnerable to the influence of Rose's humanity. A Dalek whose dying wish is something to feel sunlight on its ravaged physical body. But if that was all there was to Dalek, it wouldn't be such a special episode. What we really take away from this story is Eccleston's performance as the Doctor -- a vindictive man, filled with hate and tortured by his still fresh emotional wounds from the Time War. The Doctor spends a lot of time telling us that he's not a good man, but this is one of the few episodes where we catch more than a glimpse of that person.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
