35. Spitfires in Space Battle The Daleks Victory Of The Daleks
Victory of the Daleks may not be everyone's favourite Dalek story but it did have a unique, to Doctor Who, feel of the classic World War Two movies, something shown no better than in the episode's big showdown when British spitfires fly into space to shoot down the Dalek mothership. The incongruity of seeing a spitfire shooting laser beams at a spaceship is pure Doctor Who and another example of pitting the Daleks against other enemies besides the Doctor, in this case the RAF! K.B.O!
34. The Truth Behind The Mary Celeste The Chase
One of the great uses of time travel in Doctor Who is to solve famous mysteries. Want to know what happened to the dinosaurs? Watch Earthshock. Curious as to how the Great Fire of London began? The Visitation will tell you. Where did the crew of the infamously abandoned Mary Celeste go? Well, it was to do with Daleks... Landing on the ship in search of the Doctor, the Daleks attempt to question the crew as to the whereabouts of their enemy. Unfortunately, the superstitious sailors are terrified of them and so flee into the sea. Well, there's that solved.
33. The Alternate Origins of the Daleks - Genesis of Evil
Before Davros was introduced to the series in 1976, Dalek creator Terry Nation detailed an alternative origin of his monsters in the pages of 60s strip TV COMIC 21. According to this, the Daleks were originally short blue-skinned aliens who mutated due to radiation fallout from their war with the Thals. To protect his people, scientist Yarvelling gave his life to build life support systems for his fellow Daleks. The result: the beloved pepperpots we know today. For anyone familiar with Genesis of the Daleks, this presents quite a different story. While it is unknown why Nation decided to change his ideas, one idea could be that when it came to putting the Dalek's origins on screen, he wanted the 'Daddy Dalek' to be a less savoury character. Compared to Davros' genetic experiments with his own non-mutating race Yarvelling is a saint. Apart from helping to create the deadliest species in the universe.
32. Dalek Caan Is Insane Journey's End
Speaking of unsavoury characters, Dalek Caan is one of the strangest Daleks ever met. Once one of the distinguished Cult of Skaro, tasked with imagining new ways of survival, Caan found his way into the Time War and lost his mind in the process. With casing burst open, tentacles swinging all over the place and a gleeful, giggling voice, Caan is an unsettling creation. Even to his own kind who lock him in the Vault with Davros, and known as 'the Abomination.' Seeing a Dalek act so unlike a Dalek makes the reveal of what has happened to Caan one of the great moments in an episode packed full of them.
31. Treachery Of The Daleks - The Daleks' Master Plan
In their quest to take over the Solar System (see previous page) in The Daleks' Master Plan, the Daleks form an alliance with the two-timing Guardian of the Solar System, Mavic Chen. For several episodes, he uses his political edge to help the Daleks get their grubby little protuberances on the Time Destructor, a weapon of awesome power. However, what Chen doesn't realise is that when he has outgrown his usefulness, the Daleks plan to exterminate him and take the power all for themselves. Which is indeed what they do in the serial's final episode. This scene proves as an important reminder that the Daleks are not just trigger-happy killing machines but also creatures of great cunning and intelligence, willing to play a long game to get what they want. The lesson here then, children: beware Daleks bearing gifts.
Speaking of unsavoury characters, Dalek Caan is one of the strangest Daleks ever met. Once one of the distinguished Cult of Skaro, tasked with imagining new ways of survival, Caan found his way into the Time War and lost his mind in the process. With casing burst open, tentacles swinging all over the place and a gleeful, giggling voice, Caan is an unsettling creation. Even to his own kind who lock him in the Vault with Davros, and known as 'the Abomination.' Seeing a Dalek act so unlike a Dalek makes the reveal of what has happened to Caan one of the great moments in an episode packed full of them. 