CLASSIC DOCTOR WHO | Death To The Daleks - Part 1 | REACTION

[@paulkennedy8701]

11:49 "If it had been Cybermen that walked through the door...." ...THEY would have been knocked off their feet. Did you see how low the doorway was?!

[@alexfletcher5192]

This was the first Jon Pertwee story i owned on VHS. I bought it cheap from a little shop in Bude and watched it in its entirety (the early home video releases were edited into one feature-length presentation) on a warm Summer afternoon by the sea. It fitted the ambience pretty well! While it seemed dated even then, what I enjoyed about it then is what I enjoy about it now: the atmosphere and general sense of eerie desolation.

[@bugsby4663]

Terry Nation was someone who could be relied upon to turn in a script even though it was generally the same one.

[@eclecticdog2k901]

Donald Tosh might beg to differ but I see your point 😉

[@frankshailes3205]

He nearly had an adventure with the Cybermen in one you've watched... Carnival of Monsters, they were shown to be in that Mini-Scope machine, but he took a wrong turn and met the Drashigs instead.

[@TomEyre]

I'd forgotten how atmospheric this first episode was with those dialogue-lite sequences and them both being stalked in the night by the Exxilons.

[@TomEyre]

@@TheNoiseySpectator Thank you :)

[@bobchisholm7487]

The Daleks are a tradition that I think the show can't escape from. My feeling is that every Doctor should meet them once, but that's it.

[@kemmdog4444]

“Don’t worry Sarah,I won’t wander off.”And what does he do?Wanders off.

[@kemmdog4444]

The Noisy Spectator Par for the course

[@dcsignal5241]

Wow, that 1st shot of Sarah heading towards the City was a huge blast from the Past for me.

[@toddbeilby6484]

So I think this is the earliest episode of Dr Who I saw as a child. I would have seen it on repeat in the late 1970s as a 5 or 6 year old here in Australia. And I love it. The chanting of the Exillions and Sarah in utter peril in the darkness freaked me out. 😱 You may be right about Dalek overuse, we shall see. 😊

[@blakesliberator3197]

This is amongst the best Dalek stories. Tom Baker's first Dalek story I now look upon as the best of all Dalek stories.

[@thatcedric]

Another of my favourites. 1974 Saturday tea time entertainment. For many of us Doctor Who is in a golden era. OK, we were children then and it was a huge influence on us.

[@duralinium1]

one of my all time favourite stories, the book is great, dead man running...

[@iansmith4023]

The fact that you didn't know the title of this serial ensured that this episode had more mystery for you. Nonetheless,it's an absolutely typical 'Terry Nation first-part': Hostile planet. Survivors trying to stay alive. Big on atmosphere,but not much plot. Cliffhanger consists of a Dalek appearing. Nation turns in a script. Gets a paycheque. Enjoys royalties from increased Dalek toy sales.

[@stuartwho]

The only Cybermen in the Pertwee era so far have been the image from the Keller Machine in The Mi d of Evil and on the mini scope scanner in Carnival of Monsters

[@dasnapper4831]

Writing to you (about 3 yrs after you posted!) to thank you for your channel - watching your reaction videos are like experiencing the shows for the first time again. I'm an old dude that can remember when these were broadcasted on free-to-air tv - one of my earliest memories was seeing the Cybermen trooping through the snow in their very first story!. Just one point on your commentaries: about the daleks moving on tracks at the edge of frame, or a microphone dipping into shot: before digital tv, there was a boundary at the edge of screen called "outside the safe title/action area". This was lost when broadcast, so it was always assumed it never seen - now the series are sold as dvds or online, the studios never bother to zoom in just a tad. One of the secrets of old tv.

[@MarieClaresWorld]

Thank you so much!

[@whobp8]

Terrance Dicks was the script editor for Doctor Who throughout the Pertwee era. At this point he had decided to move on after this season. His appointed successor, Robert Holmes, had been brought in early to work with Dicks on the latter half of this season, to learn the ropes as it were. Holmes also thought the Daleks were being overused and gave this story the title Death to the Daleks as an inside joke, referencing the fact that he personally would have preferred them to be killed off.

[@martinpakes5436]

Uncle Tewwy Dicks wasnt a Cyberman fan, so resisted them while he was script editor

[@GreatHealer.]

Love this story its one of my favourites for sure.

[@peterelliott3015]

Another great reaction. I mentioned on your reaction to invasion of the dinosaurs is one of two episodes from pertwees era. This is the second one found in 1979 about a year after the search began. You say the daleks were used to often I read somewhere that Jon pertwee didn't like working with the daleks.

[@d.-_-.b]

9:58 when you duck down as if you'll be able to see under the door quicker.. 🤓

[@garyhull5490]

This was my 1st ever story my mom and dad got me on vhs i love this story. :o)

[@mark-s]

Interesting fact the third doctor has not met the cybermen yet they appeared a lot with the second doctor but skipped the third doctor so far I so remember this story with Sarah in that city and the exillons were scary

[@blakesliberator3197]

Jon Pertwee experienced the Daleks 3 times, yet never experienced the Cyberman at all! Go figure!

[@johng5859]

There is an amusing story about how the title of this one came to be. By the time it went into production in the autumn of 1973, Robert Holmes was shadowing Terrance Dicks in preparation to succeed him as Script Editor at the end of Season 11. Holmes didn't like the Daleks, and apparently suggested the title as a result of his dislike! I know what you mean about the Daleks being used too often, but their previous two stories had both been ratings successes so Dicks and Barry Letts asked Terry Nation to write another one for this season. This feels like a typical Nation opening episode, albeit a very atmospherically directed one. Location filming for this took place in November, so I don't imagine Lis Sladen was too happy having to wear a swimming costume, even with a coat over it!

[@stevesm4]

It is a strange and intriguing start isn't it? And Sarah doesn't eff about with any helpless damsel in distress stuff either. My only other thought is that the actress playing the woman in the blue suit seems so delighted to be in this story, she can hardly contain herself.

[@moshly64]

This one's always in my top 10 list of classic Who's.

[@ftumschk]

It's not in my Top 10, but I do like it. It's a rather underrated story in my opinion.

[@ianmansfield68]

I understand what you mean about the Daleks being overused with Pertwee but there was a kind of recurring theme here, that they were trying to spread over several seasons. Frontier in Space and Planet of the Daleks (one of my favourites) were linked together in a loose way; it was only the departure of Roger Delgado that I think interrupted that ongoing sequence - just my tuppence worth. I thought the sets and costumes here were great and live up to my memories of the book. I didn't really like the violence though.

[@bananasaregood8655]

This story gets a bit silly, but this opening episode is great! So creepy and atmospheric. Kinda odd music tho, it was done by the guy who did the music for the silurians haha

[@MyAbridged]

There's two primary reasons behind the derth of Cybermen stories since the Troughton era. Firstly there was the face that during the Classic Who era certain aliens/monsters were usually written (or co-written) by their creator, for example Brian Hayles wrote most of the Ice Warrior stories, Terry Nation wrote the Dalek stories, etc. There were exceptions of course (Power of the Daleks for example), but the rule typically held and by this point both Gerry Davis and Kit Pedler who created the Cybermen had left to work on the show 'Doomwatch'. Now they could have asked permission for someone else to make the story, but this is where script editor Terrance Dicks comes in. It's unknown exactly why, but it's well documented that Dicks hated the Cybermen. So it would have been unlikely for them to ask, and not unreasonable to assume that Dicks would have shot down suggestions of a Cyberman stories, especially since his close friendship and working relationship with producer Barry Letts was well established. I definitely agree about the Daleks being overused, there were 15 stories between seasons 9, 10 and 11, and four of them were Dalek stories (well, three and a half). The much shorter seasons in the 3rd Doctor's era definitely hurts them, in the 1st and 2nd Doctor's eras a season had over 40 episodes, rather than 25 or 26, so having a Dalek story, or two, during a season didn't feel so overdone. And then after having the Daleks disappear for the entirety of seasons 5, 6, 7 and 8, only to suddenly be back as often as they were in the second half of the Pertwee era, well it leaves them feeling quite overused.

[@zoppie]

Even the Daleks themselves admitted once that there is one thing at which the Cybermen are superior. Dying. EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!!

[@ftumschk]

-Ironically- Unremarkably, although he met them quite often, Jon Pertwee didn't much care for the Daleks.

[@ftumschk]

@@TheNoiseySpectator What is this, an English exam? Anyway, I've changed the opening word to something that might be more suitable.

[@achinton]

Yeah, Daleks are a bit overused, and by this point we're definitely more ready for Cybermen than Daleks. You're forgiven for that one!

[@dubliam8064]

@Grimsby Reapers don't say that spoilers

[@philippaine2169]

Great reaction as always I do enjoy this one 😀

[@ListerDavid]

Yippee. I’ve been sitting here refreshing KZbin waiting for this episode. 😁 Well that was a rollercoaster of guesses, lol. You didn’t disappoint.

[@sixstanger00]

Not controversial. The Daleks are VERY over-used, especially in the revival. In fact, they've appeared in every revival season at least once.

[@GrilloTheFlightless]

The Target novelisation of this was one of the first Target books I ever owned. The front cover was awesome and the story enthralled me. I read and re-read it through the 80s. When I finally got the VHS it really didn’t live up to the expectation set by the book! What really spoils it for me is Carey Blyton’s incidental music. The first time we see the Daleks is hugely diminished by that hokey, almost comical, “creeping through a haunted house” music. It’s amazing how the wrong choice of incidental music can change the whole mood of a scene. Carey Blyton was the nephew of Enid Blyton. He also wrote the well-loved children’s song ‘Bananas In Pyjamas’. But I just don’t think he should ever have been let near Doctor Who.

[@simonbeaird7436]

6:37: No, you're not being stupid. These aliens are something new. 7:40: Green to blue, now black. The Doctors' outfit that is.

[@CRINOTH]

There can never be too many Dalek stories in my opinion (Hartnell met them 4 times and Troughton 2 times - so 3 times for Pertwee is the down the middle average of that) - and this is my favourite of the Pertwee Dalek encounters. :) The novelisation of this was the 2nd ever Doctor Who book that I ever bought (back in 1984) so I have extra fondness for it. :D

[@Polyglot85to90]

You're so right about the Daleks being over-used. Also, it would have been good if they had occasionally had Daleks without "Daleks" being in the story title to give it away, but I guess they wanted to guarantee ratings

[@liamfinn8126]

I miss Elizabeth she was my favourite sarah Jane oh the good old days

[@alexfletcher5192]

While it's true a blow by blow analysis of the plot for this episode reveals similarities to 'Planet of the Daleks' part one, any changes were ironed out in an amicable manner and sometimes in sumptuous surroundings. Terrance Dicks would later recall going to dinner with Terry Nation at a swanky restaurant and, on spying Sean Connery and (wife) Diane Cilento at an adjacent table, remarking 'I like working with you, Terry. You've got style!'

[@alexfletcher5192]

The Daleks make a comeback, I think, because they tended to put 'bums on seats' but it's a valid criticism. And, as you noted, the Cybermen haven't been seen since 1968 (apart from a couple of glimpses), so there is an obvious imbalance there. But this one at least plugs into a wider theme that seems to emerge across the season.

[@mattiow9664]

No you're absolutely right I wish it was death to the daleks ...and a chance for a less used monster instead ..(did you see what I did there ?!) Great reaction as ever xx

[@robalexander8065]

Obviously the first thing you do when meeting a stranger in a perilous position is to attack them...

[@ftumschk]

I found that a bit odd, too.

[@powerspyin2]

It is bizarre that we've gone through 4 plus seasons of classic who, and no Cybermen

[@CountScarlioni]

"I feel like the Daleks are a little bit overused" I don't think you'll get much disagreement there. We still love you! I think it's much the same reason we see them so often in Nu-Who. Every time they appear there's an extra boost to viewing figures. That's too much temptation for a producer to ignore!

[@oldwebshooter]

This episode is the last missing episode of Doctor Who, it was returned in 1981. So it wasn't missing for that long as it goes. Imagine if you were doing reactions 40 years ago on videotapes and had a bunch of missing Pertwee episodes too to get through.

[@peterdrewer2574]

Atmospherics is right. Had only the sound track and imagination the first time around with this one...

[@shadowwhosm]

I just watched this story about a week ago! :)

[@benbastianiartmusic1421]

Yep the Daleks are overused and they're too shouty, bellowing empty threats. Despite my distaste for the Daleks, however, if you stand next to a Dalek prop or costume in real life at a museum, they're more intimidating than you'd expect. Sounds daft but at a convention once they had one moving around and they're much scarier in person than on screen.

[@johntomlinson6849]

It is a bit of a weird title! Apparently it was the choice of Robert Holmes, the incoming script editor, as he disliked them so much.

[@duralinium1]

great music, on cd Carey Blyton

[@duralinium1]

I have the cover painting for the book

[@duralinium1]

john Abineri was in fury from the deep

[@ElectroTherapyFTSoul]

I've seen this one a few times, but there are only two things I can say about it. 1) I seem to remember enjoying each time, and yet... 2) I can never remember what it's actually about! Just watching this reaction, most of it is unrecognizable. Weird.

[@johngurnhill8743]

The third doctor met cybermen in the comics

[@isaackellogg3493]

The primitives worshipping the City and technology of their ancestors reminds me of the Bomb Cult from Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970).

[@gamegeek812]

JBC and Rowan Helliwell posted what could be a spoiler.

[@evandavid2816]

I can see where you're coming from in terms of the Daleks being over-used, even if I don't entirely agree...it's something that happens quite often in terms of the most popular member of any particular hero's rogues gallery, with one of the other prime examples being perhaps the Joker in Batman...you look forward to seeing the Daleks because they're so iconic and/or the sheer threat they pose makes the Doctor have to raise his or her game - and especially so when it's the first time that any particular Doctor encounters them - but at the same time, you don't necessarily want them to show up in every episode, or they stop being quite so special; to the point that they even might risk being de-fanged as a serious threat if the Doctor beats them too easily too often - a tricky balance to strike, yes? Anyway, as ever, hope you enjoy the rest of the story, and be sure to stay safe in the meantime, yes? See you Sunday...!!!

[@stewartlong9334]

The Daleks appearing so frequently is a little bit of your own doing. For the most part they've only appeared once a season... but you're watching those seasons at a vastly accelerated rate compared to how we had to experience the show in the gold old days (yes I'm THAT old! 😊). It was somewhat different, waiting from season to season, not knowing what enemies were going to appear. I know you're watching these blind but you're still powering through seasons faster than we ever could before the arrival of VHS, DVD or digital recordings. I didn't hear you say anything about The Master's constant inclusion during Jo's time with the Doctor (out of 77 episodes The Master appeared in about 40!) Don't worry, I still love your reactions 😀

[@joshbostock_2040]

It's so weird that you have watched death to the daleks since the release of todays doctor who magazine has a death to the daleks cover. So far Pertwee hasnt met the cybermen and trust me the daleks do have a long break somewhere in the future of classic who, great reaction. I believe a lot of reactors including Medusa had trouble uploading reactions to this story so I hope you dont have the same thing happen

[@andykey78]

The DWM cover is beautiful, what a coincidence to see this reaction!

[@matthewjh138]

I do agree this is a good story I do love the Daleks though I do agree they are overused. Also Unfortunately the creative team didn’t like the Cybermen which is why they where not used slot in this era.

[@stephensinclair3771]

Love it.

[@stephensinclair3771]

Your right the daleks are a bit overused. They then become underwhelming. Bit like a girl who wears skimpy tops too much.

[@stephensinclair3771]

The daleks can hover a little bit. Not spoiler. It's just kind of implied.

[@BronyDanProductions]

On your comment about the Daleks being overused, I do understand, but in comparison to the 60s and now, it’s not that bad. I mean, in the 60s, the Daleks made 7 appearances over 4 seasons, with a total of 44 episodes and in the New Series, by the time we got to Series 3, they were already on their fourth story. Also, the Dalek colour scheme in this story is very underrated one, it’s like a little nod to the 60s, with the silver.

[@kemmdog4444]

Daleks overused?That’s a hot take.😊

[@achinton]

SPOILER ALERT! Grimsby Reapers posted a spoiler in response to my earlier comment.

[@HooDie-Trench-GoTh2022]

Would love to see a remake of genesis of the daleks . Or at least some tweaking by the way of cgi . Would like to see the daleks format today being a darker translation entirely . Today's standards are way to camp & predictable. Even a slight deviation in design of the daleks would be welcoming.

[@Cruithneach]

Written by Terry Nation and edited by Bob Holmes and Terrance Dicks, this has a premium pedigree. The story is good enough for the Daleks to be an unnecessary addition, but, beyond that, I'll say no more

[@Jamienomore]

I could be wrong, but, I think you were confused. Just a feeling I had. So glad you enjoyed it. It keeps getting better, though it could have been even better if they let me be one of the Actors.

[@kemmdog4444]

Hot Take Police!

[@eddherring4972]

Loop hole, how does the Tardis translate when it’s totally powerless. Awaiting smug replies which won’t make any sense...

[@Cyber_Smoke]

Yes they are overused because they used them for ratings this season BTW I hate this story and you'll find out why later.

[@mrmorel1070]

This for me, is my least favourite Doctor Who episode. I reslly struggle to get through this story a lot.