Classic Doctor Who Review - Remembrance of the Daleks

[@hollyturner4186]

"Ace, give me some of that Nitro-9 that you're not carrying" is a fantastic line! I love Ace.

[@eyeofhorus3286]

ACE, YOU SAID 10 SECONDS!!!!!!!!!

[@nathanyou1899]

@@eyeofhorus3286 nobody's perfect professor

[@Rangerdave7946]

To this day, shouting "Unlimited Rice Pudding!" when people get carried away in their political ramblings is my most favorite thing.

[@simonbeaird7436]

The scene in the cafe is a hidden gem. But there's a lot of great stuff in this story.

[@Reprodestruxion]

Simon Beaird kind of poignant in view of what’s going on with that Windrush generation now

[@TheMarcHicks]

Battlefield & Curse of Fenric were excellent episodes too.

[@kirstyshadowdancer5095]

I also got weird excitement from Greatest show in the galexy evennif the production value was lacking. And the series finaly Survival.

[@meris8486]

I love Ghost Light as well

[@meris8486]

@@chriszone50 Yes I'm looking forward to A Death In The Family but there's a lot of stuff leading up to it; most of the Ace and Hex arc, Evelyns arc with the sixth Doctor. Looking forward to it when I get there though :)

[@paulbeardsley4095]

Curse had some good moments. Battlefield, though... I tried to rewatch it a few years ago, and simply couldn’t do it.

[@TheMarcHicks]

@@paulbeardsley4095 Battlefield is an acquired taste, I will admit.....but I loved it.

[@ZakJordan98]

"Bye Davros, it hasn't been pleasant"

[@meris8486]

"PITY ME!" "I have pity _for_ you"

[@doctorthirteen5727]

Zak Rosenfeld *Davros' face in closeup as REM's "Everybody Hurts" plays*

[@glenmcculla6843]

The imagery from the scene where the Dalek is materialising in the school basement is scorched into my mind. I was eight years old when i saw that, and it lurked quite vividly in my memory ("You can see its guts!") It's not quite my favourite Seventh Doctor story - that will always be either 'The Curse of Fenric' or 'Greatest Show in the Galaxy' - but 'i will always remember 'Remembrance'. As it were.

[@highvoltage7797]

My favourite Doctor and the most underrated imo. Good episodes would be Remembrance of the Daleks, The Happiness patrol, The greatest show in the galaxy, Battlefield, Ghost light, Curse of Fenric and Survival.

[@drummerwarrior1]

Yes, all those stories are brilliant - unfortunately Silver Nemesis has so much promise but never quite delivers.

[@elliottnoad1270]

Could have been the start of a glorious silver age if there was a s27 but then we may never have the 1996 movie or the revival in 2005 Can't dwell on what could've been though, best to look to future I guess

[@highvoltage7797]

Elliott Noad I wouldn’t mind not having the 2005 revival. I grew up on both but it’s just never felt like Doctor Who, imo. The quality also fluctuates so much. Even when classic Doctor Who was bad it had charm.

[@elliottnoad1270]

@@highvoltage7797 i came on board as a four year watching new who series one 'watched' some tom baker on ITV 2 when I was like 8 then began classic who properly in 2013 after 12th birthday so biased but I kinda like new and classic the same🤷‍♂️ but yeah get what you mean, for example, the fact classic used practical effects lends charm (kinda-mara and survival-kitlings) to it more than CGI effects that will look not great in time (Lazarus experiment- Lazarus skeletal form and cold war- unarmoured ice warrior)

[@elliottnoad1270]

^ sorry to everyone that its such a ramble

[@danielsleeper2307]

Back when BORDERS was still in business, my brother and I would get classics for my Dad and one of the very first was Remembrance of the Daleks. It was my first 7th Doctor story, I think my first classic Dalek story, and my first classic Davros story. And it was FAN. TAS. TIC. One of my absolute favorite Classic Doctor Who stories EVER.

[@Cruithneach]

S26, with Battlefield, Ghost Light, The Curse of Fenric and Survival, is an absolute joy. The show was cancelled at precisely the wrong time

[@GCAbleism158]

Agreed.

[@sbi168]

100% on that evidence however I think the break probably did it good in the long run. Shame it had to happen tho

[@GCAbleism158]

I know the break was good for it in the long run but they should have gave it 1 more season.

[@Cruithneach]

@Scott Lewis Morris When one thinks that when the show would have been broadcast in 1990, Steven Moffat, Russell T Davies, Ben Aaronovitch, Paul Cornell, Rob Shearman and Neil Gaiman were all in their 20s, Rona Munro and Ian Briggs were in their 30s and with Graeme Harper, Marc Platt and Eric Saward all still creative, it was perhaps a missed opportunity, but we shall never know. There was a strong rumour that Richard Griffiths would have taken over from Sylvester McCoy. If so, there was a tantalising and hilarious possibility that Withnail, Marwood and Uncle Monty could all have been The Doctor

[@SuperFunkmachine]

Every thing had just been fixed, we had such a good run before it ended.

[@Terry.W]

Isn't Ace just wonderful..... please bring back Ace she is needed.

[@SirMeowsAlot89]

TERRY. W if Ace came back in just one new Who episode and we got a proper send off/tv canon what she has been doing or is doing now. It would be the best episode of new Who for me. Love Ace!!

[@8LiterallyJustTheNumber8]

I would love to see Ace return for a story on TV, but I would be worried about them messing with what Big Finish has been doing with the character

[@meris8486]

Ace is awesome if you want more with her Big Finish have a lot of good stories with her travelling with the Doctor and another companion called Hex who's great. There's even an episode where she leaves.

[@43ozzy]

Yes bring back ace she is great and so is Sophie 😁

[@ZakJordan98]

@@meris8486 No there isn't, they've still yet to make an episode where she leaves for good. Though they have had Ace stories post her time with The Doctor

[@ryantwombly720]

This story deserves all the credit it's given and more. With The Curse of Fenric, it fueled fandom hope for the first half of the wilderness years and beyond.

[@kirstyshadowdancer5095]

Oh tidbit. Sophie actually DID hit a man in a dalek costume with a baseball bat not knowing someone was in it. And she actually DID sprain her ankle. Fortunately it was one of their last shots and they were able to do a pick up scene to hide what could have been a continuity error.

[@benoitassouekotto_7387]

This is my favourite Doctor Who story of all time. There, I said it.

[@enigmatickendo]

McCoy is my fave doctor and this episode is a great example of why!

[@Cruithneach]

The third story in the great "R*** of the Daleks" triology

[@theastrogamer710]

Ace! Give me a bottle of that Nitro-9 that you aren't carrying!

[@Galvion1980]

Sylvester McCoy played the Fool to Ian McKellen's King Lear some years ago and I swear by Rassilon, his Fool had more than a touch ofthe 7th Doctor on him...

[@leecoulson4224]

The novelisation of his story by Ben Aaronovitch is also phenomenal, one of, if not the best novelisation of the original range-well worth a read, adds even more layers to this fantastic story

[@jvblhc]

A year or so ago, after I had made it through the entire new series, a friend of mine sent me individual episodes of each classic Doctor. The McCoy episode he sent me was Battlefield, and I liked it a lot. Enjoyed Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred as The Doctor and Ace, enough that I bought the DVD of Remembrance of the Doctor. After watching Ace blowing off a Dalek's head with a bazooka, take a baseball bat to another, and then crash through a glass window, she immediately because my favorite Classic Who companion. And McCoy's "unlimited rice pudding!" cry made me want to see more of him too. Long story short, I joined BritBox last year and went through the entire series. And the McCoy/Ace years rank among my top favorites. Nice to see you review this one, and... Happy New Year!

[@dthompson1450]

It’s even more brilliant than you may realise; the school featured in the episode is Coal Hill School, in 1963, which featured in the original Doctor Who pilot “An Unearthly Child” that year; the junkyard is the same one the TARDIS was parked in. It’s implied that the Doctor was there with Susan to arrange for the Hand of Omega to be hidden, but the plan was interrupted when Ian and Barbara stumbled into the TARDIS and they hurriedly left the planet, leaving the Hand of Omega with the funeral director (who thought the Doctor was “an older geezer with white hair”). By the time of Remembrance, possibly a matter of weeks later, the two Dalek factions have arrived and infiltrated the junkyard and school because those are the locations the First Doctor could be tracked to. All this calling-back could seem like gratuitous fan service, and the “loopiness” is quite Moffat-esqe and way before its time, yet it’s all done in a quite subtle way, such that many viewers don’t notice, while long term fans would have spotted the connections and been really excited, which is nice.

[@harrybrowne4552]

This is one of my favourite classic episodes along with City of Death Seeds of Doom Inferno Genesis of the Daleks Revelation of the Daleks

[@stuartreinkewilliams6774]

One of my favourite seventh doctor stories ever. This is the reason he's one of my top three Doctors.

[@Pyrais]

Let an older Doctor Who geek give you some details what was happening in Series 25. The script editor, Andrew Cartmel, had come up with the Cartmel Master-plan. The idea was to bring the mystery back into the Doctor. And, yes, the Seventh Doctor was meant to be more manipulative, darker without strangling a companion. Which you can see in other episodes like Ghost Light and Curse of Fenric (where he playing chess), which plays Ace's faith in him like the 11th Doctor in the God Complex. At the same time, he was planning to make him the Other. The idea was the Other was part of a triad at the beginning of the Time Lord's history. The idea was he, Rassilon and Omega were the ones that came up with the technology that pulled the Time Lords out of the Dark Times where they worshiped Pythias and created an Enlightenment. Also, he planned to have Ace leave the 7th Doctor (on his wishes) to be trained on Gallifrey. How this would happen, especially with the attitude of the Time Lord with Leela, we have no idea A lot of the ideas Cartmel had played out in the novels that came during the Wilderness Years, which culminated in the amazing novel, Lungbarrow. The sad thing was watching this series, there was so much potential for amazing storytelling but the BBC and Lord Grade decided to put the show on "hiatus". At least it ended with a high note with the Doctor's telling Ace: "There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, and the sea's asleep, and the rivers dream; people made of smoke and cities made of song. Somewhere there's danger, somewhere there's injustice, and somewhere else the tea's getting cold. Come on, Ace. We've got work to do."

[@theultimatevideoman1143]

Best Dalek story since Genesis. FACT!

[@enigmatickendo]

I actually prefer this to Genesis.. Don't get me wrong, Genesis is great; but this is just next level scale.

[@SpectrumStorms]

I'd go so far as to say it's the best Dalek story since Evil.

[@theultimatevideoman1143]

@@enigmatickendo That's fair enough really. Genesis is quite a different story and was made 13 years before. Remembrance has a greater nostalgic feel to it, which is understandable as it was the 25th season opener.

[@SpectrumStorms]

@@chriszone50 In terms of televised Dalek stories, Genesis isn't even in my top 5 (probably #9 or #10). In no particular order, my top 5 is Master Plan, Power, Evil, Revelation, Remembrance. If we're including expanded universe stories, it's not even in my top 30.

[@paulbeardsley4095]

I wouldn’t put Genesis in the top 10 Dalek stories. Remembrance was good but spoiled by having Davros in. He should never have been brought back from the dead, and his presence always diminishes Dalek stories.

[@MrRjhyt]

Didn't know he was the butler in 'Fresh Prince', it's just a beautiful scene, conversation...

[@adampoll4977]

That little scene where Ace finds the "No Coloured's" sign and calls out to the landlady - then thinks better of it and almost spits out "Never mind" or words to that effect. Because Doctor Who NEVER dealt with social issues on a smaller human level before new series 11, right? ;) And that bit where the TV is announcing a "brand new science fiction show..." The second season of the McCoy era has some true masterpieces that were more than the sum of their parts and give more with repeated viewings where a few of the earlier "classics" sometimes lose a bit with scrutiny. There certainly wasn't as much filler.

[@dcsignal5241]

Ace is OK, but Barbara ran over Daleks with a Truck. Nuff said.

[@JoelCornah]

Still my all time favourite Dalek story. :D Also reminds me that this year's new year special should be called Resolution... of the Daleks. ;)

[@SirMeowsAlot89]

Joel Cornah right! It’s like they didn’t name it that to make us wonder who the Alien/monster would be... but then in the trailer at the end you hear a Dalek say exterminate. So it is no longer a mystery and the episode should be called Resolution of the Daleks.

[@lwaves]

@@SirMeowsAlot89I I also wondered why the revealed the Dalek at the end of the trailer, especially as they'd previously stated they weren't going to give anything away for this series. I know a lot of people were guessing it was the Daleks from the clues but they also fit for Omega too (nicely fitting in to the video above). As you say, not including that 'Exterminate' would have introduced a degree of mystery and uncertainty. I can see the episode being unofficially called Resolution Of The Daleks, even if it never becomes official.

[@DarkXaven]

I can think of two reasons why Davros fits in the story. One: His presence adds credibility to the Dalek Civil War. We have Daleks who believe that Davros is on the same level or superior to them, being the creator of the Daleks. The other side contains Daleks who believe Davros is nothing more than an inferior Kaled. Two: The Doctor was able to trick Davros into using the Hand because of Davros' ego. He wouldn't have been able to use this method on the Daleks. That's why the Doctor was so determined to make sure it was the Imperial Dalek faction who got the Hand. He didn't have a method to trick the Renegade faction into using the Hand on Skaro's sun. However, there is one thing I would've changed about the civil war, as it was presented to us. I would switch the factions. To me, the Imperial Daleks should've been the ones who reject Davros, as the Daleks were originally designed to not consider Davros to be on the same level or superior to them. Davros should've been the leader of the Renegade faction, wanting to claim the mantle of Emperor Dalek alongside Daleks he's managed to reprogram to obey him. Having said all that, I do have a counter to Point One. When it comes to the Dalek Civil War, a question pops up. What could cause a Dalek Civil War? One possible answer is used in this episode, with Davros. However, there is another possible way for a Dalek Civil War to occur: mutations. Here's what I mean. The Imperial faction would consist of normal Daleks. The Renegade faction would consist of Daleks who have mutated themselves into stronger beings, in order for the Daleks to conquer other species who have been able to resist them. The Imperial Daleks would want the Renegade Daleks to be destroyed, as they are no longer pure Daleks and are therefore abominations that must be exterminated. The Renegade Daleks would consider themselves a superior form of Daleks, who have helped ensure victories in the conquest of the universe. As such, to them, all other Daleks should undergo the mutations to strengthen the species as a whole, and they should be in charge in order to facilitate this change, as well as research further ways to strengthen the Daleks. This method allows the Dalek Civil War to exist, without requiring Davros. As for Point Two, I don't have a counter to it. I suppose it is possible for the Doctor to figure out a way to trick the Daleks into using the Hand of Omega, but I can't think of a way for him to do so. But, then again, I'm not the scheming game master the Seventh Doctor is. I'm intelligent, but I'm not cunning.

[@ftumschk]

"Two: The Doctor was able to trick Davros into using the Hand because of Davros' ego. He wouldn't have been able to use this method on the Daleks" Agreed, and perhaps there's poetic justice in the fact that Davros, who created the Daleks, is ultimately responsible for destroying them. He is the Daleks' beginning and end... their Alpha and Omega, in other words.

[@paulbeardsley4095]

ftumschk This would work if the show ever dealt with consequences. Then again, if they did that, Davros would have stayed dead after Genesis. Instead, it’s basically Tom and Jerry. Now and then Davros gets flattened with an anvil, and a scene later he’s okay again. It makes for very unsatisfying viewing.

[@iHuzza]

Paul Beardsley Yeah, Davros definitely should have died permanently in this story, it would’ve made perfect thematic sense and if the show *really* wanted to resurrect him for an episode or two after this point, have it take place earlier in Davros’ timeline. Tbh the show needs to do this with more reoccurring characters, instead of them happening to meet the Doctor in chronological order ad infinitum.

[@thegreatstapley]

I think your counter to the first point has been done now, in at least three instances I can think of, but most notably on TV in Evil of the Daleks. I like that they did something new and different with this story, while feeding it in to Davros' plans from the previous two Dalek stories.

[@DarkXaven]

@@thegreatstapley Huh, I completely forgot about Evil of the Daleks. Thanks for reminding me about that one.

[@meiketorkelson4437]

My favourite trivia from the "making of" is about the pyrotechnic crew going overboard with the explosions and getting told off after designing the explosions for the special weapons Dalek.

[@anthonynosworthy3619]

I always liked the Easter egg that the scientist was probably the aunt of Sara Jane Smith

[@drummerwarrior1]

One of the best Dalek stories and certainly a highlight of McCoy’s run as the Doctor. Outside of this story his last season is truly amazing. Ace is a terrific companion, one of the very best. Had an actual character arc which you never really see in Classic Who.

[@JohnAShort]

'Little green blobs in bonded poly-carbide armour!' It's one of my favourite Classic DW stories and if anyone hasnt seen it I would really recommend it. Its stand-alone, so its very easy to watch if you havent tried Classic Who before. That's the point, Group Captain, it isn't remotely human!' Other good 7th Doctor stories 'Ghostlight', 'Battlefield' and 'Curse of Fenric.

[@reversethepolarityoftheneu773]

UNLIMITED RICE PUDDING!!!

[@percentsteam5811]

In the car ride to coal hill after they exploded a Dalek in part one, the doctor tells Ace that the Daleks conquer the earth in the 22nd century

[@alunrundle162]

A very excellent review. The Cartmel masterplan was beginning to take root in this story but the lines that most alluded to it were cut and only appeared in the novelisation. Davros: In the long run, YOU are Just another Time Lord! Doctor: Oh, Davros. I am far more than 'just another Time Lord'. And how could you not mention that, as well as using the baseball bat, Ace destroys a Dalek with an Anti-Tank Rocket after 'aiming at the eye-piece'? Love that scene. Oh, there's a reference to another seminal BBC Sci-Fi show there too. When they say "I wish Bernard was here" and "British Rocket Group has its own problems" they're referring to Professor Bernard Quatermass from the Quatermass films (natch)

[@chanceneck8072]

One of the few classic episodes, I was actually able to see in German. Very different than modern Who. But I already knew the defining McCoy moment at the end (thanks to underappreciated KZbinr of the year, dear fella *Stubagful* ) at that funeral "time to leave"! VERY AWESOME!! And you just gotta love Ace!

[@MiroDaisuke]

I actually got into the writer of this episode, Ben Aaronovitch, before I ever watched Doctor Who. His Rivers of London series is pure diamond and I always recommend it to everyone. Then when I started watching New Who and reading up on old Who, this story bumped to the top of my "I have to see it" list fast. It's a great story and I was happy to hear your thoughts on it!

[@klisher]

micheal sheard as the school teacher (dalek agent) is classic. at the time he was/ is most remembered for playing mr Broson in Grange Hill (childrens school drama). a really nasty piece of work who bullied kids. then quits teaching when his most bullied student is found dead from a heroin overdose in the back of a car (yes childrens dramas were alot more hard hitting in the 1980s in england) if there are any clips of my bronson in grange hill on youtube have a look. happy new year

[@maxeyre2024]

One of my favourite Dalek episodes

[@BenS-dy9eq]

Well, Davros in this story sets up Terror Firma, which I could never bash. Also, if you’re looking for great 7th Doctor stories, all of season 25 and 26 are great (besides Silver Nemesis), but a surprise highlight is The Greatest Show on Earth because it’s a commentary of the state of Doctor Who and the BBC at the time. Just super cool, especially if you are fascinated with the era like I was when watching it for the first time.

[@paulbeardsley4095]

Zagreus sits inside your head Terror Firma was beyond abysmal. I put Joseph Lidster on my blacklist because of it.

[@iHuzza]

Paul Beardsley Really? Terror Firma certainly has some *interesting* writing decisions and it’s quite inconsistent, but I wouldn’t go as far as abysmal, it’s got some really strong scenes and plot points in it that at least partially redeem it for me.

[@ihateunicorns867]

This was the story that got me into Doctor Who (back in 1988). I watched it before with Colin Baker, but it was this story that turned me into a fan. Although, The Curse of Fenric is not only my favourite 7th Doctor story, but also my favourite classic Who story.

[@TheAlte111]

One of the best story in Doctor Who history. For many years I thought the 7th Doctor is really goofy character (my impression after watching TV movie), but he really is sort of a mischivious (maybe even a bit evil) genius. And Ace rules. One of my favourite 7th/Ace Big Finish story is Protect and Survive. Great story. I can strongly recommend it.

[@stevesstuff1450]

Sylvester McCoy was a brilliant Doctor - horribly overlooked, and underated by many, but also fortunately has a great many admirers from those that had followed the show from the start - myself included! Yes, I'm 'old'!! :-) "Remembrance" is still one of the best... a brilliant script, and some 'for the time' amazing visual FX; apart from all the wobbly sections of the Dalek props seen in close-up shots!!! Having said that, the look of the 'new' Imperial Daleks was sublime; one of the best looks since the earliest silver/blue Daleks - in my opinion...! What was also great was the level of scheming and plotting that the Imperial Daleks were doing to capture the Omega Device; the human network already being controlled and subverted to that end. That was some clever Dalek writing that we haven't seen yet in the 'new' series to such an extent, and final coup-de-gras from the Doctor, as performed so brilliantly by Sylvester McCoy, was just incredible...the way that he led them all to their own destruction, using a device set-up by his 'original' (Hartnell) incarnation, was just masterful. Brilliant writing by Ben Aaronovitch there. So yeah... for me, it was the best 7th Doctor story overall, but McCoy had many other great moments too.... he ranks up there for me not far off my lifelong favourite Jon Pertwee; Pertwee was MY Doctor as a 9 or 10 year old back in 1970/71, but yeah... McCoy comes close!!! :-D

[@obijon7283]

I watched it when it was first aired and it blew my mind especially the part when the Dalek levated up the stairs. I also loved the tank Dalek which was very cool. Cheers bringing back those memories.

[@ewanmurphy6362]

That's so weird, Remembrance of the Daleks was the first classic who story I ever watched ...... six days ago

[@zakjaggs9761]

Planning on watching more?

[@lizzie8561]

The reason Davros appeared in every Dalek story from Genesis of the Daleks to the end of the original series had to do with creator Terry Nation. As co-owner of the rights to the Daleks he received royalty payments every time the Daleks appeared. He received additional royalty payments for the use of Davros, so Davros ended up in every Dalek story, whether he was necessary to the story or not.

[@thegreatstapley]

I do like having Davros in this one, as Resurrection/Revelation/Rememberance all serve to add to the escalation of the Dalek civil war. While he doesn't add much in this specific story, having Davros as the emperor ties the narrative into the previous two, and the ongoing conflict, that would have probably continued in later stories if the show had remained on the air. I get the desire for a Davros-less 80s Doctor Who story, but the long running, interconnected narrative, for me, really elevates this era's Dalek stories, and is unlike anything else the show did in the classic run.

[@MrPaulMorris]

The use of youthful (human) creativity to break out of a fixed mindset not only foreshadows _School Reunion_ but also harks back to logical weakness that lead to the stalemate reached in the Dalek-Movellan War (as we saw in _Destiny of the Daleks_ some eight seasons earlier) which caused the Daleks to seek out and revive Davros.

[@theevildalek5425]

Even though this story would have been fine without Davros, I think it is a nice last appearance for the character and Terry Molloy who played Davros in the story gives his best performance of the character.

[@ZakJordan98]

I highly recommend listening to Counter Measures, Big Finish's Spin Off series with the Proto Unit team from this story

[@stevetayler9518]

Looking for this comment. 🙂 Brilliant example of Big Finish giving opportunities to interesting characters who never got fleshed out in the original series

[@Azphreal]

You forgot to mention that the episode takes place the day after the first ever episode as Ace picks up the book that Susan left on the desk. This is my favourite of his and I think my favourite ever Dalek episode, would love to see a Dalek civil war.

[@magnifique909]

(Happy new year! You are one of highlights of my year in media. ) Love 7 with Ace dearly!

[@evaserration6223]

The little girl's theme was reused for Sister of Mine in Family of Blood

[@DenniWintyr]

Yep... Ace is the best ^_^ It's worth remembering that this was the 25th anniversary special, which is why it got some extra budget, & has so many callbacks to the first episode. Did the version you saw have the "oh, I'm much more than just a time lord" retort from the Doctor to Davros? They cut it just before the initial UK release, but it was still in the copies that were sent out to other places like New Zealand & Canada... I edited it back into my copy. Which adds to the bit of the Doctor talking about being there when the hand of omega was created

[@TheMorlun]

This wasn't 25th special. Silver Nemesis was.

[@DenniWintyr]

@@TheMorlun that was what aired 25 years after the original date, yes, but it wasn't the special, which is plainly obvious by the content

[@lwaves]

+Denni Wintyr +The Morium You are both correct and also wrong by saying they weren't specials. Remembrance Of The Daleks AND Silver Nemesis were BOTH 25th Anniversary Specials. JNT essentially saw the whole season as an anniversary season and started it with a big story and lots of references, which is why Remembrance gets the anniversary treatment. Remembrance was aired in October (to start the new season) and Silver Nemesis in November to mark the original airdate of the first ever episode. Both of them are 25th Anniversary Specials but Silver Nemesis is apparently considered the 'official' special, partly due to the date it aired and because silver represents 25 years.

[@HereComesPopoBawa]

@@DenniWintyr - "plainly obvious by the content" - One would think so. But in the US, at least, BBC/Lionheart publicized Silver Nemesis as being the official anniversary special.

[@zipadeedooda7938]

I love the little bits too. Like how Ace always calls the Doctor "Professor" unless she's really upset and worried about him. Overall I think this was the best McCoy serial. The Happiness Patrol is oddly fun and Ghost Light is just wonderfully weird. The Curse of Fenric may be as good as Remembrance, but Remembrance will always be my favorite Seventh Doctor story.

[@rocklobsterjwt]

Greatest Show in the Galaxy is underrated.

[@paulbeardsley4095]

jason thayer By whom? This is the story in which a man is savaged to death by a werewolf, and his clothes aren’t even torn! And that grin on the werewolf’s face. “Look, Mum, I’m playing a werewolf in Doctor Who! Isn’t it funny! I’m probably not meant to be grinning at this point, but hey, it’s funny, and it’s not like they’re going to reshoot it!”

[@rocklobsterjwt]

I don't know. I just don't hear it talked about a lot.

[@rocketcon]

I watched that again during the recent Twitch DW marathon (the first time I have seen it since I was a kid) and it was unintentionally funny. One of those "so bad it's good" stories.

[@doctorthirteen5727]

jason thayer "You were right, clowns can be creepy".

[@hilarymajor3983]

Please tell me you either have done or will do Happiness Patrol. It’s a bit of you either love it or hate it, but dear God I love it! Usually the Doctor is trying to make things better, but for one story he is fighting for the right for people to feel bad. Plus, Fifi.

[@benw4409]

One of my favourite Doctor Who stories of all time. Simply a brilliant experience from beginning to end.

[@garethmitchell7723]

******** retracted ******Unfortunately at the time the deal with the Terry Nation estate was that Davros had to be included in every single season featuring the Daleks after genesis. ( on review cannot find evidence for this, was always told this was the case)

[@CouncilofGeeks]

* Citation needed.

[@garethmitchell7723]

I retract my comment above as I'd always been told this from childhood, should check my sources before posting.

[@CouncilofGeeks]

No worries. Sometimes if we hear something long enough we don’t question it like we might hearing it for the first time.

[@garethmitchell7723]

Cheers for making me check though I hate it when I end up doing behaviours I dislike in others :) also being cool about it.

[@garethmitchell7723]

@OpenComments JFGariepy so he was, again sorry my memory is messed up from that time of life but I did find it weird how Davros was in every classic who dalek story after genesis ( or am I wrong about that as well?)

[@pnut2552]

watched it before i watched your review.. which is pretty normal at this point, lol. and i gotta say, i agree 100% with ya, i loved it. made me wonder if i was remembering the 7th doctor wrong..lol, growing up i never liked him that much, so i dont watch much of him now, but this ep was great! loved ace

[@cassiemcguire8314]

Contender for my favourite episode of all time alongside survival, caves of androzani and the mind robber it’s just beautiful television

[@adampeacock8867]

First classic Doctor Who story I ever brought, this episode always has a reserved place for me, could possibly just be nostalgia. But I do love this story to pieces.

[@clomiancalcifer]

The little girl is a precursor of the station manager in Bad Wolf/Parting of the Ways actually...and a bit of an evolution of the Robomen from The Dalek Invasion of Earth.

[@SplotchTheCatThing]

I saw this one a couple times about seven or eight years ago when it was actually re-aired on Canada's equivalent of the Sci-Fi channel for... some reason (they never do that!) I remember really liking it but thinking that if there was one big improvement that could have been made they might have made it more clear -- maybe not from the get-go but certainly by the end of the story -- that the Doctor actually came to this particular place and time to pick this particular fight with the Daleks on his own terms, and didn't just stumble into it like he initially seems to pretend. As for Davros, having now gotten the chance to see Revelation of the Daleks (Colin Baker's only televised Dalek story) I think the reason Davros is here might be because, from what I remember of Remembrance, it may have been meant as a sequel-of-sorts to that story, and that was a story where Davros played a very big role and he kind of got away with his schemes there too. The writers may have wanted to give him a delayed sort of comeuppance here. Don't be so sure that stuff like that seemingly-flirting wasn't intentional... I don't remember those exact characters well enough to say but I seem to recall reading somewhere that Ace was quite deliberately written as either bi or lesbian (don't remember which). And BTW if you want to find another really good Seventh Doctor story, The Curse of Fenric is another one of my all-time favourites for the show as a whole.

[@sirjedisentinel]

In a vacuum, on its own, I don't think you needed Davros in this story, no. But, that being said, this story is part of a larger picture, a trilogy of stories (not that you need to see all three, they're also good as standalones). It begin with the Fifth Doctor in Resurrection of the Daleks. And then it continued with the Sixth Doctor in Revelation of the Daleks. Remembrance of the Daleks is the conclusion of that story arc, and that's why Davros is featured here. (Also a bit of bias there, Terry Molloy is my favorite Davros)

[@ZoeMalDoran]

This is the only 7th Doctor... in fact the only Classic Who that I have on DVD. It's one that I really enjoy. All hail Ace :) But what you were saying about how Seven's approach is very different reminded me of what Ten says to Wilf in 'The End of Time' . "I'm not innocent. I've taken lives. Then I got worse; I got clever. Manipulated people into taking their own" is pretty much all about Seven.

[@andreapinzow1630]

I have shown this episode and I love it. I agree with you. It shows the doctor's plan. He could not let either Dalek group get that hand. His plan to destroy it by destroying the Daleks. The scene in the Cafe was a Gem .The Doctor does not like to destroy or kill but in this situation he had no choice. I like Ace she is a street kid and she is tough. She is learning from the doctor. But under that street wise character she is a sensitive young and troubled past which she has to learn to accept to grow up .

[@therealjoker9027]

Survival was good shame it had to be the last

[@williamhowe1]

"UNLIMITED RICE PUDDING!!!"

[@NarcoticCasseroleProductions]

Definitely a classic and easily one of my favorite Dalek stories I’d say a seventh Doctor seventh that’ll hit you pretty hard that had some incredible moments it The Curse of Fenric, it’s got some incredible action, performances, horror, and atmosphere, ntm a wrenching finale Though I’ll definitely be intrigued to see your reaction to Ghost Light

[@josephfernandez8015]

This was probably the second best classic Dalek episode next to Genesis. I’d like to think that the events in this helped to lay the groundwork for time war as what the doctor did here put a huge target on gallifrey.

[@manzanaproductions]

This season of McCoy’s is the best: you’ve also got Curse of Fenric, Ghost Light; Battlefield, and Survival.

[@jonathankozenko]

This episode and Battlefield are my two favorite stories of McCoy's era, and interestingly, they're written by the same person (who only got to write these two - he described how he was going to introduce the next Companion, however, and it was Brilliant). Love it and thought that this proved McCoy's Doctor was as strong as just about any other. Unlike you, I actually thought that Ace and the others did the Sargent character dirty --- He discovered he was working for the Daleks, but he did what he could to keep the others away from them, and he only continued doing things for the Dalek pawn because he truly believed that giving the Daleks what they wanted would make them leave to rejoin the main Civil War taking place. On that note, I COMLETELY agree that the Dalek Civil War (which was actually introduced in the 5th Doctor's Resurrection of the Daleks, with the "mutation" being an element Davros bestowed on them allowing the Daleks to out-think the Movellans) was something that should have been re-introduced in the current series! I do feel that 'Victory of the Daleks' did actually slightly give a nod to the notion of it, however, as it featured the Resurrected Daleks (Paradigm Daleks) seeing the Earth-modified Daleks as impure, and killed them on-site.

[@lizzie8561]

This story also brought Professor Quatermass and British Rocket Group into the Doctor Who Universe. Alison and Rachel make mention of a "Bernard" from the "British Rocket Group". This is a reference to Bernard Quatermass and his British Experimental Rocket Group, of the 1950s Quatermass science-fiction television serials. Hopefully one day Bernard Quatermass will actually make an appearance in a Doctor Who episode.

[@zakjaggs9761]

Ah the imperal-renegade Dalek civil war, part of a 3 year long trilogy.

[@jackaylward-williams9064]

I have a personal theory that The Duffer Brothers watched a lot of Doctor Who before writing Stranger Things and one of the main clues that point that that conclusion is the concept of a 16 year old overcoming a seemingly unstoppable monster by hitting it with a baseball bat.

[@possiblystevo9141]

I saw this as an 8 year old the day it aired, unforgettable TV. curse of ferric is the other highlight from this era, the wilderness years that followed were so upsetting to me at that age

[@59rlmccormack]

Crush the lesser races, conquer the galaxy, unimaginable power, unlimited rice pudding, etc, etc....

[@charlestownsend9280]

This is probably my favourite dalek story alongside genesis of the classic era (and I like more than most modern dalek stories) and has a lot of worlds building for them in both (flying, civil war, special weapons, etc). Yes ace is the best, she beats up a dalek with a baseball bat (and also has an interesting character backstory and progression, which had the show continued would have ended with her becoming a timelord and an interesting relationship with the doctor, carries explosives around and is just a great character). Also I like all of the subtle things in their about the era. There are other good 7th doctor stories like curse of fenric and survival (a lot of his post first series is actually good).

[@johnsensebe3153]

I think it had to be Davros at the end. The Doctor and Davros have a personal thing going, making it easier for the Doctor to predict what would happen.

[@MrValeska]

My favourite story of all time.

[@richardoverton4425]

Davros is in every story after and including 'Genesis' because Terry Nation who had the copyright for the Daleks decided the BBC could only use them if Davros app3ared too. There is also a rumour that Nation's estate only allows them to be used in the revival if they are in every series which is why they appear far too often.

[@timbogymbro66]

This is as of now my favorite Classic Story, and it has quite a shot at being my favorite Who Story OF ALL TIME. Wonderful stuff. Incidentally, it's highly possible the two scientists could be flirting. The McCoy era has a few subtexts involving Aces sexuality. (See Battlefield and Survival for that).

[@martins8587]

The story is a huge love letter to 1960s and 1970s Doctor Who. I think you missed the very clever Easter egg on bringing back the original 60s Emperor Dalek and then kicking expectations by adding Davros into the mythology, by mixing together eras. It's one of the slightly more subtle homages and I applaud it.

[@lawrencestalbow-best2317]

"Crush the lesser races! Unimaginable power!! UNLIMITED RICE PUDDING!!!" This episode IS pure brilliance. Just action after action. Probably objectively his best story, but not my favourite... that would have to be Greatest Show In The Galaxy

[@M-E_123]

Always loved this story. Always loved the seventh Doctor and this really is one of his best. Ace & 7 are one of the top Doctor - Companion pairings of all time. And the Daleks are used very well here - arguably their best story since Genesis of the Daleks.

[@IceStorm-l4t]

Wish I had a way to see some of these but everything cost so much these days. Thumbs up on your video review. Happy Holidays.

[@wolf1066]

I loved this story. It made the Daleks a credible threat - the first soldier to "fall" (or, rather, get blasted across the yard and slammed into a wall) followed by the emergence of a Dalek! Awesome! Then the fact that they could levitate - all these people going "New Who introduced levitating Daleks" and I'm going "Nope. Daleks were doing that shit back in McCoy's era." Ace is brilliant, the first female companion who didn't just get all Damsel in Distress the minute shit went down. I want her to return during Jodie's run as the Doctor. Damn it, they brought back Sarah Jane, they can bloody-well bring back an older version of Ace.

[@kirstyshadowdancer5095]

Actually this was the first in a run of good sylvester. A couple of 1988 were weird but all of 1989 was awesome.

[@StarlightTigger]

'Remembrance of the Daleks' was the first Classic Who story I ever saw. I recently got my DVD signed by Sophie Aldred.

[@TurtleDustin]

Curious of where you got your shirt. Happy you enjoyed the story, I remember liking it a lot. Look forward to seeing it once I get to that era. Been watching the classics in order on britbox

[@gumdeo]

It's chilling how the Seventh Doctor so calmly and deliberately commits genocide.

[@WhovianOrWhatever]

Isn't Davros the whole point of the Civil War? I thought the Dalek Civil War occurred because Davros created the Imperial Daleks to be loyal to him and started in a Colin Baker story where Davros implanted the Dalek factor into people seeking refuge.

[@zakjaggs9761]

It certainly was caused by davros wanting to overthrow the supreme Dalek

[@SirMeowsAlot89]

The part where the Doctor was telling Ace about Rasilon and Omega and the stellar manipulator prototype. “And boy did we have trouble with the prototype”. Ace says “we”? Than the Doctor goes “uh they” and gives her that look. Setting up the thread that the Doctor was the 3rd mysterious Time Lord with Rasilon and Omega at the start of Time Lord “modern” society as we know it!

[@CouncilofGeeks]

Can I be honest? I’m really glad that never got to play out. Because I personally can’t stand that idea.

[@SirMeowsAlot89]

Council of Geeks I am kinda on the fence about it. I lean towards liking it. Just for the fact that, for me it helps make more sense of in other Classic Doctor Who’s. 4th and 5th Doctor stories (maybe a 6th as well) when the Doctor has a story dealing with Gallifrey. They always want him to stay and be president. When I go back and watch these stories I never can notice or pick up on The reason why the Doctor should be president of the Time Lords. Isn’t the Doctor considered a renegade Time Lord Who has been punished by the Time Lords on many occasions? 2nd Doctor forced to regenerate for interference with history and lower life forms. 3rd Doctor they strand on earth until they give him his knowledge of time travel back. Then you get to the fourth Doctor and they are like hey your the only one left to be president... If someone knows why please let me know. But that is my rambling on why I like the idea of him being that 3rd ancient Time Lord of legend. So it makes a little more sense that he is the only one left most qualified to be president.

[@Elementa2006]

@@CouncilofGeeks they did a version of that concept in the IDW comics but it's actually the 11th Doctor who was suddenly transported to Gallifrey's past and met Rassilon and assisted in the creation of time travel under a fake identify The Other.

[@HereComesPopoBawa]

@@CouncilofGeeks - I can see it working very well or very badly. Personally I kind of prefer the Doctor having mysterious legendary origins that have been long forgotten, to NuWho's push of always making the Doctor a modern celebrity/superhero. At least as weird is the question of whether or not the Doctor is also Grandfather Paradox.

[@theastrogamer710]

@@Elementa2006 But then how was 7 aware of that? Sorry didnt read it myself.

[@shaunhouse8469]

I'm wouldn't go as far as to say as what I'd call 7.1 (meaning season 25 & 26 Doctor) wouldn't have had issue with the things the War Doctor believed he did, but I think he would be the most able to - John Hurt's incarnation included

[@johnlochness]

One of my favourites from classic who. Always loved the special weapons Dalek, shame modern Who hasn't done more with it other than cameos in Asylum and Witches Familiar. My biggest problem with the Daleks in this era was them being voiced by Roy Skelton, growing up in the 70's he was the voice of Zippy from Rainbow and that always jarred with me in Doctor Who. Ace too was excellent. Probably my 2nd favourite companion ever after Donna. John Pertwee and Tom Baker were my Doctors growing up, after that it kinda lost it for me with Peter Davidson and Colin Baker. I didn't love it, didn't hate it, just wasn't bothered about it, not interested, which is kind of how I now feel about modern Who especially S11. It was only when Sylvester Mcoy and Ace came along that it got interesting again and then of course they cancelled it.

[@laughingman19]

Really great story. Not sure it's the best of the McCoy era. Both Battlefield and Curse of Fenric give it a run for its money. Also, they tend to be a bit more divisive or at least not QUITE as beloved, but I really love Greatest Show in the Galaxy and Survival.

[@meris8486]

Looking forward to a review for Curse Of Fenric :)

[@IronSalamander8]

Definitely one of the best 80s stories and a top 7th Doctor story for sure. Loved it very much and I think it's a brilliant story for Ace too.