Doctor Who Classic Reviews #14: Power of the Daleks

For my last review: The Enemy of the World

Power of the Daleks by David Whitaker and Dennis Spooner

Power of the Daleks is the 3rd story of the 4 season. It is Patrick Troughton's debut story and the Daleks' 6th story. It is the first story to be completely redone for animation.

Power of the Daleks is considered to be a very good story. I for one would not give it the highest of ratings but it is certainly a very good story. Some fans have said that the animation was poor for this story but considering how this is 50 years old and the BBC would only have released it for the fans, I think we shouldn't really complain so that we can get more lost classics to get re-animated. I find it very interesting how this episode is set in 2020 which is only a few years from now.

Doctor Rating

2nd Doctor: 8/10

He was good but he could have been better. He could have confirmed that he was the Doctor a little sooner and the episode didn't show his personality to the best.

Companion Rating

Ben Jackson: 7/10

Polly Wright: 7/10

Ben and Polly are really quite pointless to the plot itself. They do assist with the plot with the Doctor being the Doctor or not but that's it.

Enemy Rating

The Daleks: 8/10

Really interesting twist on the Daleks that we haven't seen before but we do see again in Victory of the Daleks. The Daleks were a lot more threatening then they are these days but they don't do much until episode 6.

Story Rating

Story: 8/10

Scariness: 7/10

Humour: 6/10

Total: 21/30

Total: 51/70

1. The Aztecs: 73.5%

2. The Moonbase: 81.8%

3. The Ark in Space: 82.5%

4. The Sontaran Experiment: 78.7%

5. The Brain of Morbius: 87.2%

6. The Tomb of the Cybermen: 82.73%

7. The Web of Fear: 85%

8.  Arc of Infinity: 66.3%

9. The Monster of Peladon: 66%

10. Vengeance on Varos: 76.25%

11. Earthshock: 65%

12. Time and the Rani: 60%

13. The Enemy of the World: 77.12%

14. Power of the Daleks: 73.58%

Sci Fi Debates: Is it time for a female Doctor?

So Peter Capaldi has announced that he is leaving the role as the famous Time Lord. Now of course speculation is going round to who is going to replace him. Ben Wishaw, Richard Ayoade and Rory Kinnear are all favourites. I think Richard is my personal pick of the three to be the next Doctor.

Now every time an actor who leaves the role of the Doctor it is always speculated that the next Doctor should be female and of course this has never happened. This time however the cry for a female Doctor seems to be bigger than ever before.

I for one am not in favour for a female Doctor. I just don't feel that it would be right. I think the whole idea of  a female Doctor just doesn't fit. I know lots disagree and now thanks to Moffat it is possible for a Time Lord to change gender so therefore in-universally speaking it is possible for the next Doctor to be female. There have been 12 doctors + 2 others who have always been white males. No other ethnic or being a female. Now I also took a dislike to the Master being female and the Master is only a guest villain and sometimes, like the moment, recurring. The Doctor is it all the time, every story, every episode. I would hate it.

Those who want a female Doctor just for equality reasons are stupid. You don't here anyone going around wanted a male Bridget Jones for a equality reasons. No! No! No! If the Doctor is going to be female it has to be because the actress is perfect for the Doctor that the show runner imagines. They shouldn't just go "well the Doctor has to be female this time"

Steven Moffat actually made a good point about this debate. A lot of people who want a female Doctor are those who don't really know the show well (this is a broad statement but from my community this seems to be the case). They automatically assume that the Doctor is the main character of Doctor Who and he certainly whose in the classic era there's no debate about that. However in the modern era to say the Doctor is the main character is somewhat presumptive. The companion is the audience surrogate and the one we follow in a lot of stories such as the first of the revival, Rose. The actress who plays the companion has their name in the opening titles along with the Doctor. A lot of people who think that the Doctor is the main character also are people who think that the Doctor is called "Doctor Who" (again generally speaking). Now of course us Whovians no that the name of the Doctor is not "Doctor Who" but the Doctor. Doctor Who? is the question that is asked by the companion, who is generally a female. Therefore a woman is in the lead role in Doctor Who.

Now let's see what other people's opinion is on this subject.

Poll Results

Doctor Who TV:
For: 47%
Against: 53%

The Escapist:
For: 51%
Against: 49%

You Gov:
For: 48%
Against: 52%

Debate.org:
For: 38%
Against: 62%

USD Poll:
For: 57%
Against: 43%

Digital Spy:
For: 38%
Against: 62%

So of the six different sites I saw 4 of them are against the idea and 2 suggest that it was time. It can be said that is generally close. Digital Spy and Debate.org both have quite a clear lead - more Brits don't want a female Doctor than Scots want independence. The List will run its own poll on this sooner or later.

People involved with Doctor Who's Views

For:
David Tennant - 10th Doctor
Peter Capaldi - 12th Docotor
John Barrowman - Jack Harkness
Billie Piper - Rose Tyler
Noel Clarke - Micky Smith
Mark Gattiss - Professor Lazarus/Writer
Colin Baker - 6th Doctor
Arthur Darvill - Rory Williams
Tom Baker - 4th Doctor
Paul McGann - 8th Doctor
Sydney Newman - Creator

Against
Peter Davison - 5th Doctor
Micahael Grade - Former head of BBC Head of Drama

On the Fence
Russel T Davies - Showrunner (series 1-4)
Steven Moffat - Showrunner (series 5-10)
Matt Smith - 11th Doctor
Sylvester McCoy - 7th Doctor

Most want it as you can see from former stars. I however are firmly against it.

Doctor Who Series 10: What we Know so far: February 2017

December 2016
November
October
September
July
April
December 2015

Everything in italics is rumour and speculation

Regular Cast

12th Doctor - Peter Capaldi (All episodes - departing Christmas Special 2017)
Bill Potts - Pearl Mackie (Episode 1+)
Nardole - Matt Lucas (Chrismas Special 2016 + Episode 1-2 + Episode 5-7 + Episode 10)

Recurring Cast

Ram Singh - Faye Elsayad (TBD)
The Cast of Class - Various
Osgood
Clara Osworld

Enemies

Daleks (Episode 5 + TBD)
Missy (Episode 6-7 + TBD + Christmas Special 2)
Movelans (Episode 5)
Emoji Robots (Episode 2)
Truth Soldiers (Episode 6-7)
The Ice Warriors (Episode 9)
The Great Intelligence 
The Valeyard
The Flood (Episode 1)
Androzani Trees
The Sea Devils
Giant Woodlice (Episode 4)

Episode Titles

Christmas Special = The Return of the Doctor Mysterio
Episode 1 = Stars in her Eyes
Episode 4 = The Haunted Hub
Episode 6 = Extremis
Episode 10 = The Eaters of the Light
Episode 2-3, 5-8, 10-12, Christmas Special 2 = TBD

Filming

June 2016 - March 2017

Release

15th April 2017

Showrunner

Steven Moffat

Writers

Christmas Special 1: Steven Moffat
Episode 1: Steven Moaffat
Episode 2: Frank Cottrell Boyce
Episode 3: Sarah Dollard
Episode 4: Mike Barlett
Episode 5: Jamie Mathieson
Episode 6/7: Steven Moffat and Peter Harness
Episode 8: Toby Whithouse
Episode 9: Mark Gattis
Episode 10: Rona Munro
Episode 11: Steven Moffat
Episode 12: Steven Moffat
Christmas Special 2: Steven Moffat

Directors

Peter Jackson 
Episode 12-13: Rachael Talay
Christmas Special 1: Ed Bazalgette 
Episode 1: Lawrence Gough
Episode 2: Lawrence Gough
Episode 3: Bill Anderson
Episode 4: Bill Anderson
Episode 5: Charles Palmer
Episode 6: Daniel Nethiam
Episode 7: Daniel Nethiam
Episode 8: Wayne Yip
Episode 9: Charles Palmer

Updates since December 2016

1. Peter Capaldi is leaving as the Doctor on Christmas Special 2017.
2. Nardole has been confirmed as a regular companion but he won't be in every episode.
3. Nardole has been confirmed for episode 2, 6 and 7. 
4. Matt Smith has confirmed that he won't be appearing in series 10.
5. The Daleks have been confirmed for Episode 5
6. Missy is not in Episode 5 or 9 has previously rumoured.
7. Missy is in Episode 6 and 7.
8. Missy is rumoured to be in the 2nd Christmas Special
9. The Movellans are in Episode 5
10. The Emoji Robots are in Episode 2.
11. Truth Soldiers are to debut and will appear in Episode 6-7
12. The Ice Warriors will return in Episode 9. 
13. Giant Woodlice are rumoured to be in Episode 4.
14. Episode 1 will be called "A Star in her Eye" which was previously rumoured.
15. Episode 6 will be called Extremis
16. "The Eaters of the Light" has been moved from Episode 9 to Episode 10.
17. It is rumoured that filming will finish in March.
18. Episode 1 will debut on 15th April 2017.
19. Episode 10 will not be written by Steven Moffat
20. Episode 6 and 7 will be a two-parter by Steven Moffat and Peter Harness.
21. Mark Gattis who was already confirmed to be writing will be writing episode 9.
22. Rachael Talay is rumoured to direct the two final episodes.
23. Charles Palmer has been cofirmed as a director
24. Daniel Nethiam has been confirmed as a director
25. Wayne Yip has bee confirmed as a director.

Small coincidence of Showrunners

I have long notice a coincidence between the showrunners of New Doctor Who.

There are two coincidences that I have noted. 

1. Minisodes

During Russel T Davies' era the only other writer to write a minisode was Steven Moffat who wrote "Time Crash". Obviously Moffat succeeded him. During Moffat's tenure as showrunner the only writer to write a minisode that wasn't him was Chris Chinball who wrote "Pond Life" and "PS". Now Chinball will be the new showrunner

2. Two-Parters

In both Russel's and Steven's first series of Doctor Who they wrote 2 of the 3 two parters. The other writer for Russel's first series was Steven Moffat who succeeded him and in Moffat's first series as showrunner the other writer was Chinball who is going to succeed him.