Tamino

I thought this episode was awesome.  The first episode with daleks.  Thals and Dals, or something.  Though my one critique was that it was too long and drawn out.

I think they had at least 20 minutes worth of filler (Most of the episode of Ian and the Thals coming through the jungle, if I remember correctly), and the 7 episodes could have been compacted down to 6 easily, with no significant loss.  7 episode was a bit too much to hold my attention span, and I got fed up after about the 5th-6th-ish.

The Daleks were wonderful as always.

Oh, and Hartnell was awesome.  *nods*

And now, I have the following to say:

Well, that was awesome.  Much better than I thought originally.  I think it's a case of paying more attention, my attention was mostly elsewhere on the first watch.

I originally stated that there was at least a full episodes worth of filler, but now on rewatching I see that everything that happened was totally necessary to keep the viewer interested.  I originally though "..What's the point of the jumping-over-cliff scene", and "What's the point of the swamp scene", but yes.  I now realise that they were totally required, for character development, and stuff.

Or, to put it another way, I'd be complaining a lot more if it had just been: 

Ian: Right!  Lets go thwack those Daleks, eh?  Lets go over the mountains!
*cut*
Ian: Right!  We're here, now--Ooh look, neutron bomb!

So despite it probably being 'filler', I now realise that they ARE needed, not only as a transition between the two scenes, but also as Thal/Ian/Barbara character development.

The Daleks were.. not as Dalek-y as we have come to know them as.  But then, they always seem to suddenly lose the will to shoot whenever the Doctor walks in front of them, so that's not a problem.  I'm just wondering.. why they didn't kill Ian when they shot him?  He wasn't required, surely the Daleks realised that they would only need one or two of them for whatever they needed them for.  But yes, this is nitpicking.

I felt there was also that underlying Dalek-rationalisation in their actions, as well.  

Doctor: That's sheer murder!
Daleks: NO.  IT IS EX-TER-MIN-A-TION."

Showing that the Daleks *know* what they're doing, and they know that, in their belief, it is NOT wrong.  It is NOT murder, is it purification, extermination.  Murder, but murder that they have justified and rationalised.  The Dalek logic, at it's best.

Brilliance.

I'll give it 9/10.

 

Wow, I feel like my reviewing skills are getting much better!