29.05: Evolution of the Daleks

[Pyan]

Re: 29.05 Evolution of the Daleks

Definitely not up to the standards we are coming to expect from this series, but not quite down to the bottom of the barrel.
I agree completely about the Dalek overuse - there must be hundreds of old enemies that could be brought back, so why not give the Destroyer, Sutekh, or the Krynoids a chance?

The main thing I didn't like in the episode was the huge jumps in the location of the Doctor and his companions in the last half hour or so - from the Empire State building to Hoovertown,to the theatre, back to the top of the ESB

Spoiler

(and you're telling me that the elevators still work after such a massive lightning strike?

all with split second timing!

Oh, and Daleks shouldn't fly. They're meant to glide along in a sinister manner, not behave like demented WWII fighter planes. I'll just about allow them a gentle upward hover, for stairs(!) but all this zooming around....they're just not designed to do it, and look silly rather than evil.

Perhaps it will pick up again next week - I do hope so.

 

[Dr.Jackson]

Re: 29.05 Evolution of the Daleks

I might be going against the grain here, but I wouldn't call this episode boring, dull, or too predictable. I was pleasantly surprised by some of it, but a bit narked about other things.

As I said about the hybrid Sec in the 'Daleks in Manhattan' thread, his ultimate downfall was brought about by his newly aquired emotion. We all guessed he was going to die, but I never thought it would be in a selfless act - throwing himself in the path of a Dalek laser to save The Doctor.

I did think that the conspiratorial look around was daft. Who did he think would be listening?
They may be Cult of Skaro, a little bit more imaginative than your standard issue Dalek, but when did they turn Cult of Stupid? Sec went soft before he merged with Diagoras, the whole load of them failed to notice so many things, or intelligently plan up until near the end when Sec was overthrown - and even then they screwed up! I'm sure that Sec could have pulled on his chains and snapped the plungers off Jasc and Thay!
The Daleks are meant to be menacing, this episode took the shine right off that. It may as well have been deep-fried calamari in those pepper pot shells for all of the intellect and menace they showed!

The Doctor clinging to the mast of the Empire State Building as what is apparently the largest lightning strike in history hits it - and yet somehow he survives - without regenerating. I know he's meant to be tougher than us mere humans, but you have to draw the line somewhere!

Considering the standard of this series, this is hopefully just a little bump in the road, and not the start of a slide. I do hope next week is better, because it does look rather good.

 

[WarlikeMenelaos]

Re: 29.05 Evolution of the Daleks

So...with Dalek Caan still alive, who thinks the next Dalek episode should be called 'The Wrath of Caan'?

 

[PTeppic]

Re: 29.05 Evolution of the Daleks

So...with Dalek Caan still alive, who thinks the next Dalek episode should be called 'The Wrath of Caan'?

In which case, will it be a good episode so long as it's an even number in the season?

 

[Alienweirdo]

Re: 29.05 Evolution of the Daleks

In which case, will it be a good episode so long as it's an even number in the season?

lol

What would be interesting, is if Caan turns out to be the Dalek in the Episode 'Dalek' from the Eccelston Series. In which case, Tennant's Doctor may have a hand in the outcome of that original episode if he ends up at that point, a bit like the Star trek DS9 episode where the DS9 crew ended up on the Enterprise and those little furry ball things (their names escape me).

Then again, that may not happen. in which case BBC, leave the Daleks and Cybermen alone for a while. Please.

 

[SpaceShip]

Re: 29.05 Evolution of the Daleks

... then again, if there is only one Dalek left, surely the word "exterminate" will never have to be used again (in fact the word "exterminate" will be exterminated) as he will just do it - otherwise he'll be giving his enemy a chance to escape (at best) or be accused or talking to himself (at worst).

 

[Kostmayer]

Re: 29.05 Evolution of the Daleks

You have to do the "Exteeminate" bit. Its mandatory

Besides, would you have the guts to tell a Dalek he was talking to himself?

 

[The Ace]

Re: 29.05 Evolution of the Daleks

I didn't think much of this one, but when the dalek looked 'round to see if anyone was listening, I nearly fell off my chair.

 

[Pyan]

Re: 29.05 Evolution of the Daleks

lol

What would be interesting, is if Caan turns out to be the Dalek in the Episode 'Dalek' from the Eccelston Series.

That would be very neat and tidy, wouldn't it? Which is why it probably won't happen


Can I also point out, by the way, that we never did find out the ultimate fate of Davros

 

[PTeppic]

Re: 29.05 Evolution of the Daleks

Have now seen the episode - and I didn't think it was that bad. A bit slow in places, but they all have been. A bit lame, more than most this season. Some of the criticisms/queries raised here perhaps have answers:

dropping the sonic screwdriver - its VERY cold at the top of the ESB (as mentioned in the first half)
Sec jumping in the way of the laser - not entirely: I thought he was more standing up to argue the case
looking round for eavesdroppers - why not? as Daleks they've never really done insurrection before so they had to be sure Sec wasn't there
lighting strike on the Doctor - weird one since it was half lightning and half gamma radiation (the latter of which he'd be able to withstand, perhaps)
...ah whatever, it's only the tele!

 

[PTeppic]

Re: 29.05 Evolution of the Daleks

And, sitting in the bath just now, I realised we may have been given the clues for the next Dalek episode:

+ the Doctor said the "emergency temporal shift" for four Daleks by 75 years had virtually depleted their energy cells
+ there was a large gamma radiation strike, which may have provided some Dalek-recharging capability
+ the Doctor mentioned that in the 1930s our primitive race hadn't even split the atom
+ there is only one Dalek left (Caan), who emergency temporal shifted

So, I foresee (and RTD, please feel free) the Dalek ending up in the height of the cold war. Could be at a bunker on either side: maybe the Russians - TPTB like using accents after all. So, Caan gets access to nuclear technology. Firstly to get power for itself, secondly to destroy the human population. And this time, it makes the device sensitive to sonic probes - so a certain screw driver will be no use. And, hmmmm, a Dalek called Caan so annoyed it wants to blow up the whole world... I wonder what the episode could be called...

 

[High Eight]

Re: 29.05 Evolution of the Daleks

Two things that really annoyed me about this episode:

1)the death of Solomon- more or less a straight lift from the death of the priest in the 1953 War Of The Worlds.

I'm glad somebody else noticed that! (Though I thought of the book rather than the film)

And as for the future of the Daleks - Putting Caan face-to-eyestalk with Hitler would be interesting.

 

[Dave]

Re: 29.05 Evolution of the Daleks

What would be interesting, is if Caan turns out to be the Dalek in the Episode 'Dalek' from the Eccleston Series.

I think that is the smartest and cleverest conclusion, and neatly explains where that Dalek came from, but it would mean the final end of the Dalek race (except for Davros, who is still out there somewhere apparently, alone and bitter.)

Unfortunately, there are rumours of Dalek Caan appearing in the final episode of this season. That's not a spoiler, as I have no idea if it is true or not. I hope it isn't.

The other ideas that I've read concerning the future of Dalek Caan were:

1. Going to Paris and performing the Caan Caan.
2. Going to Mexico and inventing Chilli Con Caani.

3. More seriously, shifting to Mongolia in 1150 where he becomes known as Genghis Khan.

 

[Pyan]

Or how about reviving the clone technology, calling himself "James", and starring in Rollerball?

Or it might explain Bob the Builder's plan to take over the world:

"Bob the Builder: Caan; we fix it, Caan; we fix it!"

 

[Harpo]

or perhaps Caan could get a new haircut and be the Last Of The MohiCaans

 

[Pyan]

Caan we stop this, please - I've got to go and open a Caan of Beans for tea.

 

[PTeppic]

Depending on how far the temporal shift went, and how much genetic engineering went on before he left, he might be Able to get himself into a very well known family tree...

 

[Pyan]

Caan you believe it - Suzie Quatro wrote a song about him!

So make a stand for a man honey,
try to caan the caan
Put your man in the caan honey,
get him while you caan.
Caan the caan ....
if you caan ..

 

[Dave]

Let's be Candid, these jokes are bad!

 

[Lenny]

Let's be Caandid, these jokes are bad!

There. I've fixed it for you.