Doctor Who Review: Into The Dalek - 7 Thoughts On A Fantastic Voyage
6. The Ambiguity Of Evil
Daleks are sentient life forms that have turned themselves into robots. This is not due to the mechanical devices they live in but because of their inability to do anything but follow their insane programming. They cannot think outside the tank. The Doctor refers to them as evil refined as engineering. Yet are they inherently evil? It would seem they are not if Clara and the Doctor are able to change a daleks attitude by allowing it access to suppressed memories and expose it to philosophies outside its own cultural programming. The dalek is not so much evil as trapped. The Doctor asks Clara if he is a good man but that is not the right question. What is good? Right and wrong are often situational. You cannot judge an action without context. The Doctor is quick to condemn the soldiers but he does not know them. Perhaps they are as unfathomable to him as he is to them.
Mary Ogle is the author and illustrator of “Orangeroof Zoo” a whimsical tale of magical realism told through the pages of a coloring book for adults. Working as a professional artist in the digital medium, Mary’s commissions have included everything from fine art to fan art, book cover design, illustration and book layout. Find more of Mary’s work at www.maryogle.com. Mary currently finds inspiration in the Ojai Valley, residing in a snug little cottage with a recalcitrant cat.
