Why These 5 Hated Doctor Who Episodes Aren't As Bad As You Think
3. Daleks In Manhattan / Evolution Of The Daleks
WHY IT'S HATED: This two-parter is considered as the beginning of the downfall and overuse of the Daleks in Nuwho. Without a doubt, its most common criticism is the transformation of Dalek Sec into a human hybrid and the resulting monstrosity. The poor New-Yorker accents and pig slaves round this one off as another episode fans struggle to take seriously
WHY IT'S NOT SO BAD: Hot take: this is one of the most interesting directions the show has ever taken with the Daleks. The Cult of Skaro are just as deliciously sassy as they were in Doomsday, and having them decide to evolve to survive is a natural progression for them, using these smarter and less single-minded Daleks to explore uncharted territory makes for very interesting viewing. Of course, taking away the very essence of what makes them Daleks causes some dissent among the ranks, and the resulting infighting really helps to sell each individual Dalek's personality. The army of Dalek-humans in the final moments are an unnecessary and ultimately detrimental addition, but the build up to this moment and the conversations between Ten and Dalek Sec somehow manage to tread entirely new ground, despite a fifty year history of exchanges between our hero and his most notorious enemies.
This was NuWho's first trip to the US (the proper US, New New York doesn't count) and accents aside, the Big Apple looks gorgeous in this episode - impressive considering the cast never actually crossed the Atlantic during shooting. Whilst some of the supporting cast leave something to be desired, the key residents of Hooverville feel very real and charming, especially Frank, who is played by a young, pre-fame Andrew Garfield.