REVIEW: I, Davros: Guilt (Doctor Who Audio Spin-Off)

With the rest of the series providing such excellent listening, I, Davros: Guilt had a lot to live up to. It also had the dual challenge of not only providing a suitable ending to the story, but also to set things up just right for ‘Genesis of the Daleks’. So, does ‘Guilt’ match up to the brilliance of the rest of the series?

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Well, one thing that it gets right absolutely perfectly is one final character it introduces, or in fact re-introduces, and a pretty major one, at that: Nyder. For those who haven’t seen or don’t remember Tom Baker story ‘Genesis of the Daleks’, Nyder was Davros’s henchman, but he was also so much more than that. Nyder is easily one of my favourite villainous characters in the entire history of Doctor Who, as he’s so horrifyingly believable. He has no questions or doubts about his actions. He absolutely believes that the work Davros is doing is the right thing to do, no matter what the cost. A role like that could’ve come across as merely two-dimensional in the wrong hands, but Peter Miles was able to turn the character into one of the most chilling and believable villians I’ve watched in the show. Along with Michael Wisher’s Davros, his character is a big reason why ‘Genesis’ is easily one of my favourites.

So to not only hear how the character met Davros, but to hear him played once again by Peter Miles is a sheer delight. It’s handled just right, too: after Davros suffers yet another betrayal, Nyder more than proves his loyalty upon their first meeting. Hearing the early stages of their relationship and how it develops, even in just one episode, is just fantastic to listen to.

Then there’s Davros himself. At the start of the series, as a 16 year old boy, while there was something ‘off’ about him, he still had some humanity, as well, some sense of morals. Across the series, we saw him have friends and even romantic feelings. By this episode, however, any sense of morality he might have had once is gone. The steps he takes for what he believes to be the survival of the Kaled species are truly terrible and absolutely horrifying to hear.

In fact, the tone of the whole series has been shockingly dark, and none moreso than this final episode. Not just with Davros’s actions, but with some rather gruesome imagery, as well. I never expected to be as genuinely disgusted by the idea of a mother reunited with her child as I was by what happens in this episode, that’s for sure!

I, Davros really has been a fantastic spin-off series to listen to. With the very possible exception of some Torchwood stories, this has been one of the darkest and chilling Doctor Who spin-offs I’ve ever listened to. Not only has it beautifully fleshed out one of the show’s most iconic villains but, by the end, you’ll be wanting to dig out your copy of ‘Genesis of the Daleks’ and watch it with a completely fresh perspective. I don’t know if the rumours about Series 9 are true, and I certainly do hope that whatever happens, it doesn’t contradict such an excellent series, but even if it does, I, Davros will still provide a unique and compelling take on the creator of the Daleks that’s well worth listening to.

Next: Strax Joins Jago & Litefood in a Big Finish Audio Spin-Off!

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