CLASSIC DOCTOR WHO | Death To The Daleks - Part 3 | REACTION

[@TomEyre]

That little 'Oh good shot, sir!' bit is one of my favourite little Third Doctor moments :)

[@simonbeaird7436]

1:05: And here's Belal, one of the best supporting characters in Classic Who.

[@thatcedric]

Arnold Yarrow who plays Balal turned 100 this year. Many fans sent messages and he sent a message to the fandom which was tweeted on his behalf.

[@seedhillbruisermusic7939]

the ones who died in the maze room made one mistake when they tried to solve the puzzle and the map of the maze vanished never to return so they were trapped and died of thirst. At least that was the explanation in the book version of this story.

[@AubreySciFi]

I remember that from the Target novel too!

[@RoundTheArchives]

A mention here for Arnold Yarrow as Bellal - although an actor he was also Script Editor and writer for 'Softly, Softly : Task Force'. His name at the start of an episode is always a mark of quality.

[@robalexander8065]

Great actor and writer and in April he turned 100 years young.

[@toddbeilby6484]

The cliffhanger of the floor in the city is so random...it's fantastic! 😂 (actually this part was overrunning and part 4 under time so the cliffhanger was moved back to this point)...The meeting of Sarah and Belal is iconic for me. She is so freaked out at first, but acting so brave and then you can see her getting more comfortable and then them bonding 😍 Unfortunately many of the native exillions are not of high intellect and may manage to get into the city by fluke but not much further. Great questions MC, great reaction 🤗

[@alansmith1989]

Arnold Yarrow was brilliant!

[@whobp8]

I think the fact that so many of the Exxilons have regressed to a stone age level of development explains why they were unable to solve the maze. The Exxilons costumes were covered with a glow-in-the-dark material to suggest they were faintly radioactive. Unfortunately it was never quite dark enough in the studio for this to work, so the effect doesn't come across as well as it should.

[@AubreySciFi]

I never took it that Bellal was radioactive, I took it that he was faintly luminescent like some marine life at extreme depths. An adaptation that his people got from living underground for so long.

[@dubliam8064]

Best cliffhanger ever!

[@petersvillage7447]

And a superb introduction for one of the greatest villains, The Floor Pattern. "Terror of the Floor Pattern" is my favourite Doctor Who story, though I realise people usually prefer "Planet of the Floor Patterns". I can't wait for the Floor Pattern to return in New Who.

[@Cires789]

Behold...The Lino floor of DEATH!

[@alexfletcher5192]

Death by Vacuum Cleaner Crevice Nozzle is a new one for Dr Who - or was at the time. You'd almost think James Dyson was behind it all.

[@robalexander8065]

The Floor of Doom!!

[@kranser]

Great to see more reviews from you. That cliff hanger is well remembered by fans for being so sudden and badly edited!

[@dwseblingg9360]

Awesome video! That cliffhanger always makes me laugh. "Oh no, its my nan's kitchen tiles on the floor!!"

[@mark-s]

Loved this story with all the mazes and puzzles very underrated story the city and now bellal introduced its like the crystal maze

[@danieljohnson6975]

Ah yes the best cliffhanger the evil floor of Doom!!!!!!

[@d.-_-.b]

That last bit was like today's Escape Rooms that people love going to.

[@AubreySciFi]

Fair enough, my favorite part of this story is the journey through the Exxilion city too! So much fun to see the Doctor solving ancient puzzles and such classic adventure story fare like that, especially with Daleks hot on his tail!

[@alexfletcher5192]

The whole business with the labyrinth reminds of me of the tilt-and-twist table labyrinth game (I don't know if it's still being made) where you directed a ball from one corner of the table to other, through a similar arrangement of diversions, while avoiding holes in the surface. My eldest brother had managed it fairly easily and so the younger HAD to do it in order to save face! The show was partially for children, after all, but maybe the idea is that the city progressively roots out lower intelligences as it progresses - and there may be a suggestion of that in the next episode...

[@ListerDavid]

I love this cliff hanger! Oh My God a Floor! 😱 If they’ve never seen a maze before they wouldn’t have a clue.

[@bananasaregood8655]

I still find it quite weird seeing the cliffhangers in this story. I had death to the daleks on vhs and watchd it a lot but it was an omnibus version. So didnt get the full exciting cliffhanger experience of the floor patern haha

[@johng5859]

The cliffhanger in this episode is a bit unfortunate - it wasn't meant to be the cliffhanger, but ended up so because of timing issues with the episode. Glad to see you are enjoying the story's sudden turn into an amalgam of The Adventure Game and The Crystal Maze, as I agree that it does liven things up a bit after the rather derivative earlier events of the story. Terry Nation also wrote The Keys of Marinus, of course, so like you he was clearly a fan of quest narratives. The "roots" are quite impressive, though if you look very closely at the outdoors one you can see the strings that were holding it up! Bellal and his fellow friendly natives were meant to glow, using the same technique seen in The Green Death, but it didn't really work here. The actor playing Bellal, Arnold Yarrow, is now I think the oldest living actor to appear in the show, following the death just last week of Tenth Planet guest star Earl Cameron.

[@stimulusrespond]

As others have pointed out, the bizarre cliffhanger originally wasn't intended as such. The episode was under-running, so the ending was moved from its original position, which was the Doctor and Bellal seemingly cornered by the Daleks just before entering the city.

[@robertmcghintheorca49]

9:15 To be fair to Terry Nation, this wasn't supposed to be the cliffhanger. But it has to be hastily added in since the episode was a bit shorter than intended.

[@GrilloTheFlightless]

Components from the Dalek gun held by the Doctor in this episode were later repurposed and reappeared in a little known film you may have heard of called Empire Strikes Back, and was one of Boba Fett weapons. Regarding the maze, I always assumed you had to complete it all in one go with no chance of second attempt, which wouldn’t be so easy. I’m more baffled as to how a Dalek can successfully trace the maze with their whacking great sink plungers!

[@peterdrewer2574]

This was my favourite bit too. Temples and space, very oo ah, and a gift from the 60s to the 70s... 😯

[@benbastianiartmusic1421]

Yeah, they had to make the floor tiles the cliffhanger for timing reasons. Funnily enough, I watched this cliffhanger on KZbin a couple of weeks ago and the top comment was someone explaining the story behind the cliffhanger and I thought oh ok that makes sense - the comment was actually written by myself on an old account years ago so I kind of taught myself !

[@ianmansfield68]

I enjoyed the book of this story so much as a kid I read it at least twice. Strangely enough, the pace of the story seemed much faster in the book; I agree that the first 2 episodes here seemed a bit slower. The citadel is exactly as described in the book, the producers did a really good job with the sets here. The puzzle solving bit reminds me of the climax of Indiana Jones and the last crusade where he has to solve the biblical puzzles to get to the Holy Grail, though of course this was made about 15 years earlier.

[@eddherring4972]

Surely the programme came first?

[@ianmansfield68]

@@eddherring4972 Ok so my wording is a bit confusing maybe; 'though this was made about 15 years earlier' is referring to the Dr Who episode.

[@eddherring4972]

@@ianmansfield68 sorry, what I meant (which I didn’t make clear) surely the tv programme episodes for Death To The Daleks were made before the book was produced so the book would likely take the description of the Exxilon City from the programme. Where you say “The citadel is exactly as described in the book.” Surely that’s because the book describes the city as seen in the programme. I know I’m being picky here and books can be way more descriptive and in depth than either tv programmes or films as the only limits in books are the ability of the author and the imagination of the reader.

[@ianmansfield68]

@@eddherring4972 Ok, I see your point. That is very true but what is interesting for Dr Who novelisations at that time was the writers who wrote them were maybe better? I remember getting drawn into the narration of Terence Dicks (who wrote Death to the Daleks novelisation; yeah I relaise that Terry Nation wrote the story for the TV show) and Malcolm Hulke (who turned Frontier in Space into Dr Who and the Space War) more so than later novelisations. Perhaps the story ideas were better and hence the settings were more engrossing. I certainly enjoyed the 3rd Dr and early part of the 4th Dr more than the later 4th Dr and so these retrospective viewings are more fun. Equally, I was surprised how good the effects were on Planet of the Daleks after reading the book and getting that mental image - I guess that's what I was trying to convey in my original comment. By comparison, I was surprised at the Mutants TV show (pretty average) compared to the book (which is atmospheric and creepy).

[@eddherring4972]

@@ianmansfield68 yes I agree with you, I’ve always read the books thinking of the programmes, as you say the books can go into far greater detail than the programmes and your imagination can also embellish that. I’d also think that because the writers are involved in Doctor Who that they describe significant objects, buildings, monsters etc as they appear on screen.

[@alexfletcher5192]

Bellal (one always looks for etymology in Terry Nation stories - Exxilon for 'people now exiled to the planet', so Bellal because 'his appearance belies his intentions'?) is played by Arnold Yarrow, who recalls the role here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaGogqlnoJmCq5I

[@TheZodiacz]

I think the Exxilon in the water was meant to be electrocuted which is why he stood there quivering on fire and then fell back rather than try to douse the flames with the water. Also this is set in the far future.

[@kemmdog4444]

Looks like the Exilons are some of the ancient aliens who visited Earth.

[@Concreteowl]

There have been quite a few of them now. 😁

[@GreatHealer.]

Odd that when I first watched this one on vhs yearsss ago there was no cliffhangers as the original video versions were all edited together as one omnibus story.

[@AubreySciFi]

When I was watching these as a kid on PBS there were two different channels running Doctor Who that I could pick up in my area. Interestingly, one was running the Omnibus versions and the other was running them Episodic. So that was something to get used to.

[@GreatHealer.]

@@TheNoiseySpectator ??

[@CountScarlioni]

The VHS omnibus is how I first saw this story too. I had to wait a few more years before I got to enjoy the full glory of part 3's cliffhanger!

[@soupdragon1971]

As many others have mentioned the infamous part 3 cliffhanger, I won't say too much about it. As for the music I don't think there is anything wrong with it particularly except it being wrong tonally. I do get a 1970s BBC primary children's educational show vibe off it. Every time the incidental music finishes, I keep expecting the show to cut to Jonathan Cohen sitting at a piano, explaining the different instruments used and style of music in a patronising manner.

[@mikeoxmaul3449]

Brilliant as always

[@CountScarlioni]

The music score by Carey Blyton in this story still makes me chuckle, especially whenever the Daleks are on screen! As was the case with his previous score for The Silurians, he's just not well suited to Doctor Who, but they kept on bringing him back! I think some of his creepy music for the Exxilon cultists is quite effective though.

[@johng5859]

CountScarlioni Michael Briant evidently rated him, as he brought him back for the next story he directed. I quite enjoy his Silurians score, but the Dalek theme he uses here is completely inappropriate and sounds like it belongs in some kind of slapstick comedy.

[@kierenevans2521]

@@johng5859 Both Silurians and this one have some very effective bits and some very annoying parts. Blyton's next one is more nostalgic for me as that story was the first DW VHS I owned. I feel it has less irritating bits as well.

[@CRINOTH]

Yes, I think a baby Exxilon would be very cute. Mind you, so would a baby Sensorite and maybe even a baby Ogron?

[@philippaine2169]

Great reaction as always 😀

[@CountScarlioni]

So when it comes to compiling your top ten list of favourite Dr Who cliffhangers, am I to assume that this _might_ not feature among them??

[@owenwildish331]

You're getting rather good at this... first you guessed correctly it's the Daleks, then you figure that that alien chap was a goodie and that the Doctor was holding that gun :)

[@bananasaregood8655]

Quite an underrated story i think. I like it, but ok the cliffhangers are a bit lame 😂

[@PaulKeywood]

Definitely War of the Worlds vibes with the creature in this story!

[@alansmith1989]

The Maze only allows one try at it. Get it wrong and that's yer lot!

[@katie2940]

5:17 that was an incredibly expensive prop they just blew up and hurled down a cliff! it's safe to say at this point they didnt really care about the daleks too much

[@xedalpha1]

And now I can’t help but wonder what baby Exxilons look like...

[@geoffmason7215]

Daleks getting rooted

[@PaulsScene]

I do like that you're wearing a t shirt with me and my missus on it. Seriously. A couple of years ago I was in an amateur theatre production of _Beauty and the Beast,_ as the Beast, so I can absolutely claim to be an unofficial Disney Prince and the lovely Belle is indeed my wife. 😁 *Note - If anybody mentions Stockholm Syndrome I'll eat them...

[@stephensinclair3771]

Love the stuff in the city. Read the book of this as a kid. It was actually better than tv. This is not the Daleks finest hour.

[@joshbostock_2040]

You have come across one of the weirdest cliffhangers of doctor who, dont worry theres more to come. I also agree, the music in this Is really not good, the composer I think does 1 more score in doctor who and then never returns

[@CRINOTH]

It is memorable though. :) That bouncy comedy music that play each time the Daleks come on screen is so wonderfully inappropriate but I can't help liking it.

[@stimulusrespond]

I dunno, it kind of works because it highlights the Daleks' uselessness without weaponry. That's how I justify it, anyway! It is certainly memorable.

[@AubreySciFi]

Yes, Carey Blyton scored three stories for Doctor Who. The Silurians, this one and another one later on. His music is memorable certainly. He seemed to like using woodwinds and raspy acoustic stings from the percussion section. An acquired taste certainly. Not my favorite, but I'm used to it with this story, hehe. The Pertwee era was an era of musical experimentation. Sometimes it worked (Like the piece: "Blue Veils and Golden Sands" used in "Inferno") and sometimes it didn't (Like Blyton's odd scores to "Silurians" and "Death to the Daleks")

[@MyAbridged]

This wasn't originally meant to be the cliffhanger, in the original scripts they were meant to have the Doctor explain this trap and then have the Daleks coming up behind them as the cliffhanger moment, but it ran long. So they cut that down for pacing reasons.

[@coltonbrantley9713]

New Week New Slate Same Old Whovian Routine As Usual Looking Forward To More Content From You This Week Marie-Clare Keep Up The Good Work As Always,Lord Colton Of Gallifrey

[@duralinium1]

I love Bellal....

[@joshsimmons6156]

That ending is up there as one of the worst episode cliffhangers ever

[@michaellevenson2200]

Marie Clare, just in case you haven't started it yet, good idea to avoid title of next story, you're in for a surprise.

[@MarieClaresWorld]

Thank you! I did avoid the title for it 😀

[@robertmcghintheorca49]

Worst cliffhanger ever!

[@Concreteowl]

The comedic Dalek theme doesn't help this episode.

[@Jamienomore]

As you have seen the next Episoide, I bet you an empty bottle of Vodka you still don't know why. They couldn't get out the room because they were very Primative. By the way, I think your Turban was a little on the short side. What do you mean it wasn't a Turban?