"Somewhere on this planet there are ten thousand Daleks!"
Wounded after his battle with the Master on the Ogron planet, the soon recovered Doctor with Jo follows the Daleks' spaceship to their base on the mysterious and deadly jungle world of Spiridon, where, with the help of a small band of brave Thals, they must stop a Dalek invasion army from being thawed out...
It may, to much criticism, rework much from their debut story from 1963/64, but Planet of the Daleks is the metal meanies ultimate story for the Jon Pertwee era, and the first written by their erstwhile creator, Terry Nation, for seven years. It's also the perfect action/adventure story for the show's then tenth anniversary- there's daring escapes, surprises, confrontations, betrayals, a little bit of potential lurve for Jo from a handsome blonde Thal (as well as further affection towards her from an invisible Spiridon, no less), a planet with a deadly jungle, and TONS of Daleks - the latter factor making up for the clearly noticeable (and cringeworthy to witness) three in number seen with the prior finale to Day of the Daleks. All of the aforementioned great elements make for a perfect celebration cake from Nation that's well executed onscreen, despite its mostly all studio bound videotaping, by a clearly enthusiastic David Maloney- one of the show's finest directors. Pertwee may have hated the Daleks offscreen as scene stealers, but he proves a great onscreen antagonist towards them, of which our star resultantly gets to share several moments of charm and morality with his Thal comrades (especially Bernard Horsfall and Tim Preece) in the process, an aspect that would surely have delighted the charismatic actor.
The Doctor and the Thals unmask an invisible Dalek on the jungle world of Spiridon.
The Doctor and Taron make plans to escape the Dalek base's lower levels.
Jo and Rebec in a posed publicity image.
The Doctor hurls a Dalek into a unique ice pool - a surely satisfying moment for Jon Pertwee on location.
Whilst evading Daleks in the jungle, Jo and the Thal named Latep (Alan Tucker) make a connection.
Discovered whilst re-infiltrating the Dalek base.
Preparing to entomb the Daleks in an ice trap.
The Dalek army starts to activate, in a fine effects shot from freelancer Clifford Culley.
The Daleks at BBC TV Centre, ready for filming, housed on the TARDIS set. Colourisation by Clayton Hickman.
Amongst my many personal highlights from this never dull six-parter: the first Dalek out from invisibility reveal, the Doctor and the Thals hot air balloon escape ascension from the depths of the Dalek base, the filmed sequences at the outdoor iceano pool, and the slow activation of the Dalek army before they are ultimately refrozen for a thousand years. Once again, the Daleks are delayed in conquering the universe but never fully defeated...
Original Radio Times listings.
Unused Target book cover art by Roy Knape.
Gorgeous art for the An Adventure in Space and Time fan magazine, issue 21.
Original Australian VHS release cover.
US DVD release cover art by Clayton Hickman.
Gorgeous interior introduction art for the Marks & Spencer UK limited edition Doctor Who Omnibus book.
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