Doctor Who review: Palindrome brings Davros back in a big way

After fifteen years, the Eighth Doctor is reunited with Davros in the two-part Doctor Who story Palindrome. But is this the Davros we know…?

Ever since Palindrome by John Dorney was first announced, I was really looking forward to The Eighth Doctor: Time War 4‘s opening two-part story. A Doctor Who story with that title – referring to something that reads the same either backwards or forwards – written by one of Big Finish’s best writers, was definitely exciting.

But – even more exciting than that – was that this story saw the long-overdue return of Terry Molloy as Davros. While he’s appeared in many Big Finish stories during the past few years, he hasn’t played the iconic villain since 2014. Even more surprising than that is that this is Davros’s first story with the Eighth Doctor since Terror Firma in 2005 – the same year that Doctor Who came back! Has Davros’s return been worth the fifteen-year wait?

Definitely. Palindrome is an extremely unique look at this iconic character. As a Doctor Who story, it’s definitely satisfying to listen to, providing a strong explanation for the character’s return. But it’s how well the story works as a drama – as a tragedy, in fact – that makes it really stand out.

Terry Molloy and Isla Blair play the happily married couple Davros and Charn. But their lives are about to change…

Image Courtesy Big Finish Productions

A new Davros

When the story begins, we’re introduced to a Davros who’s living a happy, quiet life with his wife Charn (Isla Blair). He’s never known war on Skaro, and he’s never even heard of a “Dalek”. But that’s about to change…

As you’ve probably guessed, this story takes place in an alternative universe. As a result, Molloy gets to play a Davros that’s more grounded and more human. He’s extremely clever, but he’s never been given any reason to be as ambitious or ruthless as the Davros we know. The result is that we’re given a depiction of the character that’s extremely sympathetic. Which works very well, especially as both episodes are seen through his eyes.

If you’re worried that this story will be a cop-out and that we won’t get to see the dangerous and horrifying villain that we’re all familiar with, don’t be. The Davros we know definitely shows up in this story. I won’t spoil how or why, but the creator of the Daleks certainly has a key role to play in this story. In fact, in many ways, Palindrome is very much the story of how he comes back.

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Tragedy

But it’s also far more than that. Palindrome is the story of a good man put in an impossible situation. Of how he becomes desperate enough to make a dangerous decision. In short, it’s a tragedy, and an extremely strong one, too.

It has to be said that – as both versions of Davros – Terry Molloy is just fantastic to listen to in this story. You really get to hear him at his best. As the Davros we know, he continues to show us just why his take on the character is so iconic. As the alternative version of the character, he portrays a brilliantly three-dimensional and tragic character with a lot of depth.

Overall, Palindrome is an excellent two-part story. As both the return of a classic Doctor Who villain and as a tragedy, it works extremely well on both levels. A brilliant way to kick off the latest Time War box set.

Are you a fan of Davros? What’s your favorite Davros story? Are you a fan of Terry Molloy’s take on the character? Let us know in the comments below.