Doctor Who: Victory of the Daleks

According to the story my parents tell, I've loved the Daleks ever since I was an incoherent toddler. We were watching, so the tale goes, Doctor Who when yet another Dalek was destroyed. The Doctor (Troughton?) and his pals were jubilant, but I was bawling. I toddled to the little TV we had and touched the screen where the burning remains of a Dalek was shown. Evidently, I didn't like it when Daleks were killed. Ergo, I loved the Daleks.

Regular readers of this blog will know something of my obsession with World War II, particularly that what was waged in Europe. I am drawn to stories - both real and fictional - that use that time as a setting. So, Daleks in London at the time of the blitz... what could possibly go wrong?

I thought "Victory" fair rollicked along. Winston Churchill was brilliant. A cheeky old geezer, determined, but with the strength of character to admit to an old friend, the Doctor, his doubts about his ability to see Britain through its darkest hour. That friendship. Gosh. There's a realm of back story potential there.

The Daleks in their khaki paint, wearing webbing and presumably carrying tea-making stuff in their kit, and black out hoods for their lights. I so want to see that toy range, which tea and box file accessories. Of course they were up to something. Of course the Doctor would cause that to be revealed. What a scene, though, which surely must convince anyone with any doubts still about Matt Smith's abilities as an actor ... as the Doctor.

Amy continues to be observant. She might not fully understand what the Doctor is on about or up to, but she can read his cues and deliver pretty damn quick. Sharp, she is. I did think she might kiss the android to get its humanity to override the bomb (gloriously daft, yet so Doctor Who!). Instead, she latches on to what the Doctor is trying to do by conjuring the emotional pain of memories but she sees it's the ache of love that deepens that emotional pain, and it's that which works. Beautiful, when you think about it, like the beast wanting to help in "The Beast Below" that humans enslave until Amy works out the good thing.

Having a lovely chat with 0tralala about "Victory of the Daleks" pointed out lots of interesting things about what might have made this episode ring truer on an emotional level. I'm not going to go into it here - but, boy, am I enjoying these fascinating conversations with fellow fans of what might have been. But, yet, I enjoyed this episode immensely - the sheer nonsense of Spitfires in space!

And then there are the new Daleks. Parts of the new design I rather like (the eyes, for one), but I'm not yet sure about the overall package. The ad for the computer game right after the BBC1 showing did make me think marketing is a driver, and I am pretty happy hearing about children who think the new Daleks are "cool". They are still Daleks, after all. Like the Doctor, the TARDIS, the Cybermen, the Master.... of course their outward appearance changes. It has before. But, is this the first time the change has been a part of the story being told? Is that part of the reason why so many - myself included - feels a dissonance with the change? Or is it that the changes are just that little bit too much? To be really honest, I am happy to go with the flow. They will change again, and I know I'll still bloody love those infernal Mark 3 Travel Machines and their quest to totally exterminate inferior life forms.

I know nothing of what's planned for later on, but I'm willing to bet these new Daleks will be back, and it's something to do with Amy's crack (sorry. Not my joke, but I couldn't resist, sadly).