Doctor Who Review: ‘The Time of the Daleks’ (Eighth Doctor Audio)
By James Aggas
The Daleks face the Doctor’s Eighth incarnation for the first time in ‘The Time of the Daleks.’
‘The Time of the Daleks‘ is a pretty notable story, and was especially back when it was released. A year and a half since his first audio story, and six years since his TV movie, we finally got to hear a story with Paul McGann and the Daleks. There were a lot of expectations for ‘The Time of the Daleks.’ Perhaps it’s unsurprising that for some fans, it didn’t quite live up to them.
I think one problem is that it crammed in a lot of ideas. Along with the Eighth Doctor and the Daleks, it also includes people forgetting Shakespeare, a rebellion against a future dictatorship, links to previous Dalek audios, and considerable development in the season’s arc. Honestly, that’s quite a lot to fit into just two hours.
I loved hearing the Daleks quoting Shakespeare, but there was definitely one plotline too many in there somewhere. Especially when it involves a good deal of complex time travel tropes. These include paradoxes, time loops, and constantly changing history. Trying to keep it all in your head is challenging. Especially when it’s an audio story!
That’s not to say I don’t like ‘The Time of the Daleks.’ In fact, one thing I can admit to is that, after multiple listens, it’s grown on me. There are some really great nods to ‘The Evil of the Daleks,’ one of the greatest Dalek stories. And like I said, I also have to admit that it is interesting to hear the Daleks quoting Shakespeare. It’s not something you hear everyday. Heck, it’s not something you hear in every Dalek story. It’s odd, but it works.
More from Winter is Coming
- For All Mankind finally gives us information in Episode 405, “Goldilocks”
- Watch a stunning VFX breakdown of The Wheel of Time season 2
- Of course Steve Toussaint (Corlys Velaryon) thinks Eve Best (Rhaenys Targaryen) should rule Westeros
- Confirmed: The Last of Us season 2 will air in 2025
- Final season of Star Trek: Discovery will have “a lot of action, a lot of adventure, a lot of fun”
And I like a lot of the time travel used in the story. I think my favourite element was hearing how history completely started to change under the Daleks’ influence. A story focusing more on that element could have been considerably more successful, I think. Here, it’s not quite developed enough, which is a shame.
This is especially after several stories of build-up with the ‘Dalek Empire’ arc. Focusing on the Seventh, Sixth, and Fifth Doctors, the arc focused on particular events and actions of the Daleks that developed in each particular release. ‘The Time of the Daleks’ was meant to be something of a conclusion to that arc. Hearing how it all wraps up feels slightly rushed, as a result.
However, while ‘Time’ isn’t on the same level as ‘Evil,’ it’s not a bad story. Especially after several listens, when the complex time travel ideas start to make sense.
(Article continues below the next post link.)
Next: It is Unclear Whether or Not a ‘Sleep No More’ Sequel Will Be Made