Into the Dalek (TV story): Difference between revisions

From Tardis Wiki, the free Doctor Who reference
mNo edit summary
 
(8 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 5: Line 5:
|image          = Shrunken Twelve at eye level with Rusty.jpg
|image          = Shrunken Twelve at eye level with Rusty.jpg
|series          = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
|series          = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
|season number  = Series 8 (Doctor Who)
|season number  = Series 8 (Doctor Who 2005)
|series episode number = 2
|series episode number = 2
|story number    = 243
|story number    = 243
|scripturl      = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writers/documents/doctor-who-8-episode-2-into-the-dalek-post-production-script.pdf
|doctor          = Twelfth Doctor
|doctor          = Twelfth Doctor
|companions      = [[Clara Oswald|Clara]]
|companions      = [[Clara Oswald|Clara]]
Line 15: Line 16:
|featuring5      = Missy
|featuring5      = Missy
|enemy          = [[Bronze Dalek]]s
|enemy          = [[Bronze Dalek]]s
|setting        = {{il|The ''[[Aristotle (spaceship)|Aristotle]]''/[[Ryzak solar system]]|Inside [[Rusty (Into the Dalek)|Rusty]]'s casting |[[Coal Hill School]], [[2010s]]}}
|setting        = {{il|The ''[[Aristotle (spacecraft)|Aristotle]]''/[[Ryzak solar system]]|Inside [[Rusty (Into the Dalek)|Rusty]]'s casting |[[Coal Hill School]], [[2010s]]}}
|writer          = Phil Ford, Steven Moffat
|writer          = Phil Ford, Steven Moffat
|director        = [[Ben Wheatley]]
|director        = [[Ben Wheatley]]
Line 35: Line 36:
|bts3            = DOCTOR WHO Exclusive Inside Look at Ep 2 INTO THE DALEK - BBC AMERICA
|bts3            = DOCTOR WHO Exclusive Inside Look at Ep 2 INTO THE DALEK - BBC AMERICA
}}
}}
'''''Into the Dalek''''' was the second episode of [[Series 8 (Doctor Who)|series 8]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''.
'''''Into the Dalek''''' was the second episode of [[Series 8 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 8]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''.


It marked the Twelfth Doctor's first encounter with the [[Dalek]]s. [[Danny Pink]] is also introduced in this episode, as well as his background of being an ex-soldier. However, he doesn't interact with the Doctor yet. Also making his first appearance is [[Coal Hill School]] headmaster [[Frank Armitage|Mr. Armitage]], who would be a recurring character in ''Doctor Who'' and its spin-off ''[[Class (TV series)|Class]]''.
It marked the Twelfth Doctor's first encounter with the [[Dalek]]s. [[Danny Pink]] is also introduced in this episode, as well as his background of being an ex-soldier. However, he doesn't interact with the Doctor yet. Also making his first appearance is [[Coal Hill School]] headmaster [[Frank Armitage|Mr. Armitage]], who would be a recurring character in ''Doctor Who'' and its spin-off ''[[Class (TV series)|Class]]''.
Line 51: Line 52:
She awakens, finding herself in the [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] [[TARDIS console room|console room]]. The Doctor stares at her silently, holding coffee. Grabbing her gun, Journey demands to know what is going on, as she examines the control room to see if anyone else is there. The Doctor explains that he materialised his time capsule around her the moment of the explosion, saving her. Journey tells him her brother just died; the Doctor retorts that Kai's sister didn't, so she should take some peace in that.
She awakens, finding herself in the [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] [[TARDIS console room|console room]]. The Doctor stares at her silently, holding coffee. Grabbing her gun, Journey demands to know what is going on, as she examines the control room to see if anyone else is there. The Doctor explains that he materialised his time capsule around her the moment of the explosion, saving her. Journey tells him her brother just died; the Doctor retorts that Kai's sister didn't, so she should take some peace in that.


Angered, Journey points her gun at the Doctor. He asks her to put her weapon away because she might shoot him. When Journey says it will put her in control of his vessel, the Doctor laughs, telling her she'd "starve to death looking for the light-switch". She demands to be brought back to her command ship, the ''[[Aristotle (spaceship)|Aristotle]]'', which is hidden behind an asteroid. However, the Doctor does not do so until Journey puts down her gun and asks politely.
Angered, Journey points her gun at the Doctor. He asks her to put her weapon away because she might shoot him. When Journey says it will put her in control of his vessel, the Doctor laughs, telling her she'd "starve to death looking for the light-switch". She demands to be brought back to her command ship, the ''[[Aristotle (spacecraft)|Aristotle]]'', which is hidden behind an asteroid. However, the Doctor does not do so until Journey puts down her gun and asks politely.


The TARDIS lands inside the ship and the pair depart. The Doctor notes that the ''Aristotle'' is a space hospital. Other soldiers arrive and are grateful for the Doctor for saving Journey, but they plan to kill him regardless, to maintain the security of the base. Journey points out that they have need of a physician, however.
The TARDIS lands inside the ship and the pair depart. The Doctor notes that the ''Aristotle'' is a space hospital. Other soldiers arrive and are grateful for the Doctor for saving Journey, but they plan to kill him regardless, to maintain the security of the base. Journey points out that they have need of a physician, however.
Line 86: Line 87:
Clara angrily notes that some part of the Doctor is actually pleased, as this has justified his belief that there is no such thing as a "good" Dalek. Clara slaps him and points out that what they have learned is ''not'' that there is no such thing as a good Dalek, but that it is ''possible''. Inspired by Clara's words, the Doctor instructs her, Gretchen, and Journey to make their way back to the memory drive and try to restore Rusty's memories of the star while he tries to reason with Rusty.
Clara angrily notes that some part of the Doctor is actually pleased, as this has justified his belief that there is no such thing as a "good" Dalek. Clara slaps him and points out that what they have learned is ''not'' that there is no such thing as a good Dalek, but that it is ''possible''. Inspired by Clara's words, the Doctor instructs her, Gretchen, and Journey to make their way back to the memory drive and try to restore Rusty's memories of the star while he tries to reason with Rusty.


Gretchen sacrifices herself to set up a zip line to get Clara and Journey to the memory core while she fends off the antibodies coming after them. Dying from the antibodies, Gretchen finds herself in [[Matrix data slice|Heaven]], where {{Gomez}} introduces herself and offers her tea. Meanwhile, Rusty calls for backup from the Dalek fleet and plots to join in their slaughter of the rebels.
Gretchen sacrifices herself to set up a zip line to get Clara and Journey to the memory core while she fends off the antibodies coming after them. Dying from the antibodies, Gretchen finds herself in [[Matrix data slice|Heaven]], where [[Missy]] introduces herself and offers her tea. Meanwhile, Rusty calls for backup from the Dalek fleet and plots to join in their slaughter of the rebels.


[[File:Shrunken Twelve at eye level with Rusty.jpg|thumb|The Doctor tries getting Rusty to remember his epiphany.]]
[[File:Shrunken Twelve at eye level with Rusty.jpg|thumb|The Doctor tries getting Rusty to remember his epiphany.]]
Line 111: Line 112:
* [[Frank Armitage|Mr Armitage]] - [[Nigel Betts]]
* [[Frank Armitage|Mr Armitage]] - [[Nigel Betts]]
* [[Courtney Woods|Courtney]] - [[Ellis George]]
* [[Courtney Woods|Courtney]] - [[Ellis George]]
* [[Dalek operator|Dalek]] - [[Barnaby Edwards (actor)|Barnaby Edwards]]
* [[Dalek operator|Dalek]] - [[Barnaby Edwards]]
* [[Dalek|Voice of the Daleks]] - [[Nicholas Briggs]]
* [[Dalek|Voice of the Daleks]] - [[Nicholas Briggs]]


=== Uncredited cast ===
=== Uncredited cast ===
* {{Gomez}} - [[Michelle Gomez]]<ref>Gomez' credit is taken from [[TV]]: ''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]''</ref>
* [[Missy]] - [[Michelle Gomez]]<ref>Gomez' credit is taken from [[TV]]: ''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]''</ref>
* [[Kai Blue]] - [[Jonathan Lloyd]]
* [[Kai Blue]] - [[Jonathan Lloyd]]


Line 488: Line 489:


== Story notes ==
== Story notes ==
*Clara's angry retort to the Doctor when he finally comes back with the coffee includes the line "that's dead in a ditch". Considering Gladgow is 4 hours away from where her family was havign Christmas dinner, they very well may have thoufht Clara may have gotten suicidal over being "dumped" by her (fake) boyfriend on Christmas.
[[File:IntoTheDalekPlayset.jpg|thumb|''Into the Dalek'' [[Character Options]] playset.]]
[[File:IntoTheDalekPlayset.jpg|thumb|''Into the Dalek'' [[Character Options]] playset.]]
* Footage of the extermination of security guard [[Bywater]] in ''[[Dalek (TV story)|Dalek]]'' and the Dalek attack on the [[Valiant (aircraft carrier)|Valiant]] in ''[[The Stolen Earth (TV story)|The Stolen Earth]]'' is seen in "[[Rusty (Into the Dalek)|Rusty]]'s" Dalek memories, and the destruction of the Daleks and the [[Crucible]] in ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'' is seen when Rusty looks into the Doctor's mind.
* Footage of the extermination of security guard [[Bywater]] in ''[[Dalek (TV story)|Dalek]]'' and the Dalek attack on the [[Valiant (aircraft carrier)|Valiant]] in ''[[The Stolen Earth (TV story)|The Stolen Earth]]'' is seen in "[[Rusty (Into the Dalek)|Rusty]]'s" Dalek memories, and the destruction of the Daleks and the [[Crucible]] in ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'' is seen when Rusty looks into the Doctor's mind.
Line 523: Line 523:
* The Doctor recalls his first encounter with the [[Dalek]]s on [[Skaro]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks (TV story)|The Daleks]]'') and comments on how that experience shaped his identity. In his [[Seventh Doctor|seventh incarnation]], he believed in his darkest thoughts that he was responsible for the Daleks actions because they didn't know of other worlds before he came to Skaro. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Lights of Skaro (audio story)|the Lights of Skaro]]'')
* The Doctor recalls his first encounter with the [[Dalek]]s on [[Skaro]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks (TV story)|The Daleks]]'') and comments on how that experience shaped his identity. In his [[Seventh Doctor|seventh incarnation]], he believed in his darkest thoughts that he was responsible for the Daleks actions because they didn't know of other worlds before he came to Skaro. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Lights of Skaro (audio story)|the Lights of Skaro]]'')
* Rusty mingles the ideas of beauty and hatred, a similar comment having been made by the [[Prime Minister of the Daleks]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Asylum of the Daleks (TV story)|Asylum of the Daleks]]'')
* Rusty mingles the ideas of beauty and hatred, a similar comment having been made by the [[Prime Minister of the Daleks]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Asylum of the Daleks (TV story)|Asylum of the Daleks]]'')
* After the Dalek antibodies seemingly kill Gretchen, she encounters {{Gomez}}, who welcomes her to "[[Nethersphere|Heaven]]". ([[TV]]: ''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]'')
* After the Dalek antibodies seemingly kill Gretchen, she encounters [[Missy]], who welcomes her to "[[Nethersphere|Heaven]]". ([[TV]]: ''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]'')
* Despite her request, the Doctor refuses to allow Journey Blue to travel with him, much as he did when [[Lady Christina de Souza]] asked the same. ([[TV]]: ''[[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]]'')
* Despite her request, the Doctor refuses to allow Journey Blue to travel with him, much as he did when [[Lady Christina de Souza]] asked the same. ([[TV]]: ''[[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]]'')
* Danny Pink retiring from the army to teach mathematics mirrors what [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]] did upon retiring from [[UNIT]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]'')
* Danny Pink retiring from the army to teach mathematics mirrors what [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]] did upon retiring from [[UNIT]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]'')
Line 530: Line 530:
* The Twelfth Doctor questions his morality. Right before the [[Sixth Doctor]]'s conscious identity of who he was and what he stood for faded out of existence after inducing his own regeneration, he decided to let go of his moral restraints and hesitations, ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Brink of Death (audio story)|The Brink of Death]]'') giving rise to the much more manipulative [[Seventh Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)|Remembrance of the Daleks]]'') The [[Eighth Doctor]] took this a step further and let go of the name of the Doctor to become a warrior, regenerating into the aggressive and uncompromising [[War Doctor]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Night of the Doctor (TV story)|The Night of the Doctor]]'') who no longer made promises to people. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Four Doctors (comic story)|Four Doctors]]'') After forgetting how he saved [[Gallifrey]], the Ninth Doctor showed a higher level of aggression and darkness than his predecessors. ([[TV]]: ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]]'') Similarly, the [[Tenth Doctor]] turned unwilling to give anyone second chances shortly after regenerating. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]'') His self-questioning of "Am I a good man?", and Clara's response, also invokes the philosophy of [[Marcus Aurelius]], as taught by Aurelius fan Clara to her students ([[TV]]: ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]'').
* The Twelfth Doctor questions his morality. Right before the [[Sixth Doctor]]'s conscious identity of who he was and what he stood for faded out of existence after inducing his own regeneration, he decided to let go of his moral restraints and hesitations, ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Brink of Death (audio story)|The Brink of Death]]'') giving rise to the much more manipulative [[Seventh Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)|Remembrance of the Daleks]]'') The [[Eighth Doctor]] took this a step further and let go of the name of the Doctor to become a warrior, regenerating into the aggressive and uncompromising [[War Doctor]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Night of the Doctor (TV story)|The Night of the Doctor]]'') who no longer made promises to people. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Four Doctors (comic story)|Four Doctors]]'') After forgetting how he saved [[Gallifrey]], the Ninth Doctor showed a higher level of aggression and darkness than his predecessors. ([[TV]]: ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]]'') Similarly, the [[Tenth Doctor]] turned unwilling to give anyone second chances shortly after regenerating. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]'') His self-questioning of "Am I a good man?", and Clara's response, also invokes the philosophy of [[Marcus Aurelius]], as taught by Aurelius fan Clara to her students ([[TV]]: ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]'').
* According to [[Dalek: The Astounding Untold History of the Greatest Enemies of the Universe]], the Daleks launch the war seen in this story immediately after the events of [[TV]]: ''[[Death to the Daleks (TV story)|Death to the Daleks]].''
* According to [[Dalek: The Astounding Untold History of the Greatest Enemies of the Universe]], the Daleks launch the war seen in this story immediately after the events of [[TV]]: ''[[Death to the Daleks (TV story)|Death to the Daleks]].''
* Danny insults the Cadet Corps by saying, "I've never seen such a miserable bunch!" This is an inversion of the Second Doctor's comment on his choice of regenerations: "I've never seen such an incredible bunch!" ([[TV]]: ''[[The War Games (TV story)|The War Games]]'')




== Home video releases ==
== Home video releases ==
=== DVD and Blu-ray ===
=== DVD & Blu-ray releases ===
[[File:Complete 8th Series UK Cover.jpg|thumb|Series Full Box-set Region 2]]
[[File:Complete 8th Series UK Cover.jpg|thumb|Series Full Box-set Region 2]]
* The episode was released as part of [[Series 8 (Doctor Who)|the Complete Eighth Series]] boxset on [[9 December (releases)|9 December]] [[2014 (releases)|2014]] in Region 1, [[24 November (releases)|24 November]] 2014 in Region 2, and [[19 November (releases)|19 November]] in Region 4.
* ''Into the Dalek'' was released as part of [[Series 8 (Doctor Who 2005)|the Complete Eighth Series]] DVD and Blu-ray boxsets in region 1/A on [[9 December (releases)|9 December]] [[2014 (releases)|2014]], in region 2/B on [[24 November (releases)|24 November]] 2014 and in region 4/B on [[19 November (releases)|19 November]] 2014.
* It was later included in the Series 8, Part One DVD boxset in region 1 on [[20 September (releases)|20 September]] [[2016 (releases)|2016]].


=== Digital releases ===
=== Digital releases ===

Latest revision as of 10:39, 4 September 2024

RealWorld.png

Into the Dalek was the second episode of series 8 of Doctor Who.

It marked the Twelfth Doctor's first encounter with the Daleks. Danny Pink is also introduced in this episode, as well as his background of being an ex-soldier. However, he doesn't interact with the Doctor yet. Also making his first appearance is Coal Hill School headmaster Mr. Armitage, who would be a recurring character in Doctor Who and its spin-off Class.

Featuring the Doctor and Clara leading a miniaturised team inside a Dalek, this story originated as a pitch by Steven Moffat for a Doctor Who video game before deciding to save the idea for an episode, handing it over to Phil Ford. (DOC: Into the Dalek)

The episode explores the Doctor questioning whether or not he is a "good man", which would be a recurring theme addressed in Series 8. The episode also shows the Doctor's first encounter with the Daleks after the Siege of Trenzalore, with the Doctor's hatred for the Daleks shown to have intensified.

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

Surrounded by his greatest enemies, the newest Doctor will journey into the most dangerous place in all of the universe. With the limits of his compassion being tested, the Doctor will be forced to ask a question about himself that he doesn't know: "Am I a good man?"

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Journey Blue's ship is being shot at by a Dalek ship, and her brother Kai is unconscious. She tries calling for help but gets no response from the rest of her team as the Dalek ship closes in. The Dalek ship fires a powerful blast at Journey's vessel and she screams in terror as everything begins blowing up around her.

She awakens, finding herself in the TARDIS console room. The Doctor stares at her silently, holding coffee. Grabbing her gun, Journey demands to know what is going on, as she examines the control room to see if anyone else is there. The Doctor explains that he materialised his time capsule around her the moment of the explosion, saving her. Journey tells him her brother just died; the Doctor retorts that Kai's sister didn't, so she should take some peace in that.

Angered, Journey points her gun at the Doctor. He asks her to put her weapon away because she might shoot him. When Journey says it will put her in control of his vessel, the Doctor laughs, telling her she'd "starve to death looking for the light-switch". She demands to be brought back to her command ship, the Aristotle, which is hidden behind an asteroid. However, the Doctor does not do so until Journey puts down her gun and asks politely.

The TARDIS lands inside the ship and the pair depart. The Doctor notes that the Aristotle is a space hospital. Other soldiers arrive and are grateful for the Doctor for saving Journey, but they plan to kill him regardless, to maintain the security of the base. Journey points out that they have need of a physician, however.

"Doc... tor?"

Journey's uncle, Colonel Morgan Blue shows the Doctor to a medical wing. The Doctor asks why a hospital needs a doctor, to which Morgan explains that the Aristotle wasn't always hidden; the Daleks got to it first. Passing a capsule, the Doctor immediately recognises it as shrinking technology. Morgan confirms that the Doctor will be shrunk down and inserted into the patient. Morgan then brings the Doctor to a set of doors, introducing the Doctor to his patient: a Dalek!

Meanwhile, at Coal Hill School, a new Maths teacher, Danny Pink, a war veteran, meets with some students, the Coal Hill Cadet Squad, in the courtyard. Clara Oswald and he briefly catch each other's eye. Later, Danny is ending a class when one of his students asks if he has ever killed anyone. The rest of the students groan, and Danny implies that as a soldier, he may have killed enemy soldiers. The student persists by asking if he ever killed anyone who was not a soldier. Danny does not answer, but a lone tear appears in his eye as he dismisses class. Sometime later, Danny is properly introduced to Clara, who recalls having seen him in the yard earlier. She then asks if he is going to another colleague's event later, which he indicates that he is not. Having awkwardly turned down her subsequent invitation for a drink, he verbally berates himself later once he has returned to his classroom. Unbeknownst to him, Clara has overheard him. Given another chance, he now accepts her invitation to have a drink.

Entering a supply cupboard, Clara is greeted by the Doctor standing there with the takeaway coffee she sent him for three weeks ago. The Doctor apologises, telling Clara that he got distracted. She asks by what, to which he says they can always find something and heads to the TARDIS. Clara tries to stop him, but the Doctor grimly says he needs her help.

They enter the TARDIS, with the Doctor muttering to himself; he sits on the stairs. Clara sits with him, noticing that he's scared; the Doctor tells her that he's terrified. When asked by what, the Doctor tells her it's the answer to the question he's about to ask; it needs to be well-thought, considered and without restraint. Sipping her coffee, Clara hears the Doctor's question "Am I a good man?" Stunned, Clara tells him that she doesn't know. Sighing, the Doctor admits that he doesn't know either. He heads to the controls, telling Clara that he needs her for what he's about to do next. When asked where they're going, the Doctor replies "into darkness" and they leave for to the Aristotle.

A flashback shows the Doctor asking how the Dalek knows who he is as he's yet to run into them in his current incarnation. Morgan tells the Doctor that the Dalek doesn't know who he is; they promised it medical assistance. Journey explains they found the Dalek floating in space, deactivated; they didn't know there was a living thing inside until they tried to open it up. The Doctor asks the Dalek why he should help it. It states that Daleks will die; the Doctor tells it to die all it wants and heads to leave. The Dalek then states that its own kind must be destroyed. Annoyed, the Doctor turns around to mock it but realises what it just said and asks the Dalek to repeat itself. The Dalek declares that its kind is evil and must be destroyed.

Back in the TARDIS, Clara finishes her coffee, considering the idea of a moral Dalek. The Doctor tells her that there is no such thing. Clara notes that's very inflexible thinking for him, even prejudice. Smiling to himself, the Doctor asks if he pays Clara for being his companion, noting that she deserves a raise. Clara smiles broadly, telling the Doctor that he's not her boss; he's one of her hobbies.

Back on the Aristotle, the Doctor returns with Clara, mere moments after he left. He introduces Clara to Journey and Morgan but has forgotten their names. He introduces Clara as his "carer"; she cares so he doesn't have to. The Doctor greets the Dalek again, telling it he will do his best to help him; a Dalek so damaged that it's developed a conscience, how could he resist? Clara wonders how they are going to do help the Dalek, to which the Doctor tells her; they are literally getting inside its head.

The group, consisting of the Doctor, Clara, Journey and two other rebel soldiers, Ross and Gretchen are to be shrunken down and inserted into the Dalek. The Doctor is against having armed babysitters with them but calms down when he's informed they're only there to kill him and Clara if they turn out to spies. When warned not to hold her breath when being shrunk, Clara asks why; the Doctor explains it's like microwaving lasagne without pricking the top: it explodes.

Everyone is safely shrunk down and inserted into the Dalek through its eyestalk and begin exploring the upper levels. The Doctor takes the liberty of introducing the group to the Dalek's artificial memory drive which filters out good memories and reinforces bad ones, calling it "evil refined and turned into a machine". The Dalek calls for the Doctor, to which he responds with a kind greeting and names him Rusty. Wondering what they're going to do, the Doctor tells them that they can't do a medical examination from there. Ross sets up a zip line, causing the Dalek to scream in agony. The Doctor yells at Ross; the Dalek is a cyborg, a complete living thing. And what happens when a living thing is wounded?

Antibodies arrive, with the Doctor telling everyone to remain still or they will be tagged as other invading infections. The Doctor tosses Ross a pill, telling him to swallow; however, Ross is still reduced to dust by the antibodies and hoovered up. Journey asks what Ross swallowed, to which the Doctor answers was a spare power cell. He traces it with the sonic screwdriver, running after the eye that swallowed the ash. This leads everyone to a hole, where the Dalek's victims end up. The Doctor tells them that the antibodies won't stop until they're inside, and it's better going in alive than dead. Everyone jumps in, screaming in terror; except the Doctor, who enjoys the slide.

They end up in green goo, which is actually protein made of the victims; the Daleks harvest sometimes to make sure they are nourished. Ross is on the top layer, so the Doctor tells them to say a few words if they like. Journey pins him against a wall, upset at his indifference towards Ross being killed. The Doctor tells her that this is the weakest point in the Dalek's defence system; "nobody guards the dead." He mutters that mortuaries and larders are the easiest places to break out of, noting that he's lived a life. Journey informs Morgan of Ross's death.

The Doctor finds a bolt with a screen in it, undoing the bolt with his sonic screwdriver. Clara tells Journey and Gretchen that the Doctor will get them out of this if they listen to his instructions; the hardest part is not killing him before he can do so. They enter the passage, which the Doctor says is a decontamination tube, so it's a bit hot.

They exit the passage, as the Doctor hears a Geiger counter crackle; it's coming from Gretchen, who hands the scanner to the Doctor. The Doctor explains that he's figured out what's wrong with Rusty, leading them further in. Clara wonders what caused Rusty to change his point of view, to which the Doctor asks it. Rusty explains it saw beauty, endless divine perfection; the birth of a star. The Daleks try wiping out all life in the universe, but "life returns, life prevails. Resistance is futile."

They get to the batteries, which the Doctor says are leaking radiation; it's scrambled the casing's memory core, allowing Rusty's morality. The Doctor seals it off, accidentally causing Rusty to revert back to a normal Dalek. Rusty breaks free of his restraints and starts killing the crew of the Aristotle.

Clara angrily notes that some part of the Doctor is actually pleased, as this has justified his belief that there is no such thing as a "good" Dalek. Clara slaps him and points out that what they have learned is not that there is no such thing as a good Dalek, but that it is possible. Inspired by Clara's words, the Doctor instructs her, Gretchen, and Journey to make their way back to the memory drive and try to restore Rusty's memories of the star while he tries to reason with Rusty.

Gretchen sacrifices herself to set up a zip line to get Clara and Journey to the memory core while she fends off the antibodies coming after them. Dying from the antibodies, Gretchen finds herself in Heaven, where Missy introduces herself and offers her tea. Meanwhile, Rusty calls for backup from the Dalek fleet and plots to join in their slaughter of the rebels.

The Doctor tries getting Rusty to remember his epiphany.

Clara is able to deduce how Rusty's memory core works and reactivates all of his suppressed memories about the star and his realisation about life. The Doctor, meanwhile, is able to form a psychic link with Rusty and transfer memories to him. The beauty of the universe is shown to Rusty, who is in awe. However, soon, the Doctor's hatred of the Daleks manifests and Rusty sees all the mass-murders the Doctor has committed towards the Daleks. Despite the Doctor pleading with Rusty to see beyond that, Rusty is more drawn to the hatred towards Daleks and partially reverts back to its enlightened self.

Rusty destroys the rest of the Daleks on the station and the Doctor, Clara and Journey are returned to their proper size. Rusty has broadcast a retreat signal to the rest of the Daleks, falsely indicating the humans' intention to set the station to self-destruct. Rusty leaves to rejoin its kind, stating it will continue to work against them. Before it goes Rusty disagrees with the Doctor's assessment that there is no such thing as a good Dalek: it says that the Doctor himself is a "good Dalek". The Doctor also views the day as something of a hollow victory: Rusty looked into his soul and saw nothing but hatred.

Journey attempts to see the Doctor off when he abruptly begins to depart. She wishes to join him on the TARDIS as a companion, but the Doctor turns her down. While he recognises the good in her under the battle-hardened exterior, he just wishes that she wasn't a soldier. Journey watches with a subdued smile as the Doctor and Clara leave.

Clara is returned to Coal Hill School 30 seconds after the Doctor had picked her up, changing into new clothes in the meantime for her evening with Danny. As she leaves, she at last answers the Doctor's question about whether or not he is a good man — while she cannot say for sure that he is a good man, she notes that he tries to be one, which is the important thing. This somewhat reassures the Doctor.

Clara joins Danny for their date, trying not to adopt the Doctor's policy against soldiers.

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Uncredited cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

General production staff

Script department

Camera and lighting department

Art department

Costume department

Make-up and prosthetics

Movement

Casting

General post-production staff

Special and visual effects

Sound



Not every person who worked on this adventure was credited. The absence of a credit for a position doesn't necessarily mean the job wasn't required. The information above is based solely on observations of the actual end credits of the episodes as broadcast, and does not relay information from IMDB or other sources.


Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Journey uses the call sign Wasp Delta while evading the Daleks.
  • Beth and Kathy are staff members at Coal Hill School.
  • When talking to Danny about the meetup, Clara holds a pupil report that has Gareth Williams' name on it.

Technology[[edit] | [edit source]]

Mathematics[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • In the TARDIS console room there is a blackboard, written with chalk, full of obscure calculations.
  • Danny's classroom has a poster of quadrilaterals.

Daleks[[edit] | [edit source]]

Story notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Into the Dalek Character Options playset.

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

Filming locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Production errors[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • A bouncing cushion is visible inside the remains of an exploding Dalek.
  • The close-up composite shot of the burning effect on the door is visibly pixelated, suggesting the source video is of a lower-quality than the surrounding material.
  • When Journey Blue revives in the TARDIS, the dematerialization handles are positioned downward (they are the first things she sees.) When she rises, the handles are in the upward position.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]


Home video releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

DVD & Blu-ray releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

Series Full Box-set Region 2

Digital releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The episode was released on Google Play, iTunes and Amazon Instant Video in HD or SD, also available as part of the Series 8 digital boxset. The digital boxset contains various features: trailer, interviews, The Ultimate Companion, The Ultimate Time Lord, Inside the World Tour and Doctor Who Extra episodes for each episode.
  • In the US, the series was released through digital streaming services Hulu and Netflix with a subscription.
  • In the United Kingdom, this story is available on BBC iPlayer.

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]