Today, a major story in Doctor Who history turns thirty. We look back on Remembrance of the Daleks, and what makes it such a classic three decades later.
I need to be clear right now: I adore Remembrance of the Daleks. Quite honestly, it’s one of a few stories from the Classic Series that’s guaranteed to make my top ten list. It has so many brilliant Doctor Who elements.
It’s filled with huge action and spectacle. It’s a story with incredibly high stakes. And of course, it features Daleks. Lots and lots of Daleks!
But it’s also a more satisfyingly complex story, looking at mature themes like racism and the nature of hate. It expands on the Doctor’s mystery while actually revealing little, and it’s a key story that really fleshed out the Seventh Doctor’s character in a satisfying way.
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Big battles and cups of tea
I’ve lost count exactly how many times I’ve watched Remembrance. It’s just such a fantastic story. Not just because of the epic battles and huge explosions (although those are definitely awesome).
But it’s also the little moments, too. Like the Doctor using a cup of tea as an example of how actions can have unintended consequences. (It’s a moment so good, in fact, that it’s number two in my list of top five Seventh Doctor quotes.)
And all of these layers and themes are told in a very confidant script by Ben Aaronovitch. It’s surprising just how bold it is, considering that it was his first story for Doctor Who. But it really shows just how much he understood the series, while also bringing a huge amount of freshness with a very original story.
If you haven’t seen it, I’d strongly recommend checking out Remembrance of the Daleks. Even if you’ve only seen the New Series, it’s perfectly accessible, and even features a major event that could have very well lead to the Time War. Sadly, it’s one of the few stories of the Classic Series not on BritBox. Fortunately, you can still watch the show on iTunes and on DVD.
Have you seen Remembrance of the Daleks? Is it one of your favorite stories? Do you have fond memories of the serial? If so, let us know in the comments below.