Doctor Who: Every Series 3 Episode Ranked From Worst To Best
9. Daleks In Manhattan/Evolution Of The Daleks
The Doctor and Martha Jones arrive in 1930s New York City and wind up investigating a string of mysterious disappearances. Backed by the residents of Hooverville, this leads them to discover that the Daleks have taken control over the construction of the Empire State Building.
As a set-up, that is incredibly interesting... but it's a clear example of the writing not living up to the idea.
The main issue with this story is the whiplash between this and the Daleks' most recent appearance the prior year. Fans saw the Cult of Skaro fleeing the Torchwood Institute so it was no surprise that they would return but Daleks in Manhattan presents a dramatic fall from grace.
The actual concept of a Dalek unit designed to think of new solutions is forward-thinking in itself but this two-parter shows that they can't function as a unit and wind up falling apart before their story has begun. A few more appearances before this would've given it the gravitas it tries so hard to obtain, instead of denying them of real threat.
Like Shakespeare's Code, it's worth going back to for the cameo - a pre Spider-Man Andrew Garfield shows up as the chipper Frank to climb the Estate building with our heroes... using the lift instead of climbing up the walls, unfortunately.