Doctor Who: The Daleks' Master Plan

This is the audio soundtrack from the 1965 Doctor Who serial: "The Daleks' Masterplan" - starring William Hartnell in the title role--the original actor to play the part. This is one of many early stories that no longer exist (as video) in their entirety in the BBC archives, as they were among those deleted when the BBC was purging its video archives in the early 70's.

Dalekmania was in full swing at this point, and this twelve part story from the third season is simply space opera done Dalek style. The Daleks aren't just talking about universal domination here, they're doing something about it. The story opens with Doctor stumbling across a base of operations on the planet Kemball, from which the Daleks intend to launch a final conquest of everything in collusion with a number of power-hungry galactic leaders, including the traitorous Mavic Chen, guardian of our Solar System!

Action shifts from Kemball to numerous otherworldly and earth-based locales throughout time which lends an expansive feel to the story. Like many early Dalek stories, the Daleks are well characterized here and at their scheming best. The supporting cast is wonderful, and includes an extremely moving act of self-sacrifice by companion Katarina, as well as the welcome return of fellow time lord, The Meddling Monk.

There is some hammy dialogue in a few of the episodes as writer Terry Nation doesn't seem to understand the difference between "solar system", "galaxy" and "universe"; however, if you can overlook this The Daleks' Masterplan can be a real treat alternating between drama, humour and an engaging chase across time and space.

Note: episode 7 was aired on Christmas and is a bit of a self-aware slapstick run-around, ending with Hartnell turning to the camera wishing the audience a good holiday (which is much maligned by fans, however given Hartnell's love of the program is somewhat fitting). It is nice to see it included here.

Fans of the era won't be disappointed.

This is the audio track from a 1963 BBC TV (with the first Doctor, William Hartnell) program with naration to fill in the blanks. It's sort of like an old radio show. Dated perhaps, but hey, it's Dr. Who - - battling the Daleks no less. This is a 13 part story, which was the longest of any Dr. Who story. Since it's so long, the plot wanders. Dr. Who finds himself on the planet Mira, then later on a valcano planet, then on a silent movie set, then back in ancient Egypt, and so forth. At 5 hours long, it would be good for a plane trip. Campy enough not to be too stodgey, but serious enough not to be silly.

This contains the stand-alone episode "Mission to the Unknown", as well as the 12-part "Daleks' Master Plan". Mission to the Unknown sets up the events of the larger story arc.

I consider myself a huge Dr. Who fan, but this is too much. It's not a question of audio production, the audio's fine, it's the plot which is completely lame. Slow, uninteresting, and then downright braindead when the plot finally "thickens," the storyline revolves around a very predicatble powerplay between two cardboard figures. Ardent Dr. Who fans will avoid this one like the bird flu.