Claw manipulator

Claw manipulator
Type:	Scanner
Place of origin:	Skaro
Made by:	Daleks
First appearance:	The Stolen Earth
Appearances:	TV: Journey's End PROSE: Prisoner of the Daleks TV: Resolution TV: Revolution of the Daleks PROSE: The Guide to the Dark Times COMIC: Tales of the Dark Times AUDIO: The Enemy of My Enemy WC: The Archive of Islos WC: The Sentinel of the Fifth Galaxy PROSE: Mission to the Known PROSE: Exit Strategy AUDIO: Mutually Assured Destruction PROSE: All Flesh is Grass TV: Eve of the Daleks COMIC: Liberation of the Daleks

The claw manipulator was a manipulator arm which was used by the Daleks as an alternative to the suction cup.

History

In one account of the genesis of the Daleks, Davros installed a multi-dextrous claw "capable of annihilating a million Thals" on his first Dalek. However, the claw was broken off when the Doctor's TARDIS collided with the Dalek. As compensation, the Fourteenth Doctor gave a plunger from the TARDIS to Castavillian to replace the claw. Discovering the modification to the casing he created, Davros decided that he liked it, (TV: Destination: Skaro ^[+]Loading...["Destination: Skaro (TV story)"]) leading to what would become known as the suction cup becoming the norm. (PROSE: Dalek Combat Training Manual)

During the Second Dalek War, a pair of Daleks fitted with claw manipulators used them to seize and restrain Koral, gripping her arms and practically lifting her off her feet as she struggled in vain. Dalek X had a squad of four Assault Daleks with laser-cutting claws. (PROSE: Prisoner of the Daleks)

The Dalek Executioner's unique manipulator arm. (PROSE: The Guide to the Dark Times)

The Dalek Executioners of the Restoration Empire wielded manipulator arms which ended in a three-fingered "claw", each "finger" resembling the blade of a scythe. (PROSE: The Guide to the Dark Times)

The Daleks who operated within the vault of the Crucible following the Last Great Time War possessed claw manipulators with eight pincers, used to operate special hardware within the vault. (TV: The Stolen Earth/Journey's End)

A reconstructed reconnaissance scout Dalek possessed a claw manipulator. (TV: Resolution) Defence Drones derived from the Reconnaissance Dalek used claws, as did the bronze Death Squad Daleks (TV: Revolution of the Daleks) and the Dalek Executioners. (TV: Eve of the Daleks)

Behind the scenes

• In the two Dalek films, Dr. Who and the Daleks and Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D., the Daleks alternately appear with suction cups or a two-fingered claw manipulator, which was not derived from the original serials; the films' basic Daleks, Blue Daleks and Silver Daleks respectively, appear alternately with suckers or claws, higher-ranking individuals such as the Red Dalek of Dr. Who and the Daleks, the Red Dalek and the Black Dalek of Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D., sport claws, while the Black Dalek of Dr. Who and the Daleks and the Gold Dalek of Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D., whom functioned as the Supreme Dalek leader in their respective films, sported sucker arms.
• A CGI model of a Dalek with a "claw probe" arm was made for The Parting of the Ways.
• The successive appearances of the Reconnaissance Dalek, Defence Drone, Death Squad Daleks and Dalek Executioners, all of which wielded a form of claw manipulator, led to The Power of the Doctor being the first and only appearance of Daleks with standard suction cups in the televised Thirteenth Doctor era.