“Genesis of the Daleks” is an adventure of the twelfth season of “Doctor Who” classic series which aired in 1975. It follows “The Sontaran Experiment” and it’s a six parts adventure written by Robert Holmes and directed by Rodney Bennett.

The story

The Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker), Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) and Harry Sullivan (Ian Marter) are intercepted by the Time Lords as they were returning to the ark and sent to Skaro, the Daleks home planet. The Time Lords have decided to solve the problem of the Dalek threat sending the Doctor in the time of their birth to interfere with their evolution.

The planet Skaro is devastated by the very long war between the Kaleds and the Thals and now the few survivors struggle with the latest weaponry at their disposal. In his mission, the Doctor must face together with his companions many dangers including Davros, the creator of the Daleks.

Extras

This DVD is rich in extras. There are typical contents such as production subtitles, Radio Times Billings and a gallery of pictures from this adventure.

There are comments in the adventure alternative audio track by protagonists Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen, actor Peter Miles and director David Maloney.

Genesis of a Classic. A 62-minute documentary on the production of this adventure.

The Dalek Tapes. A 55-minute documentary on the history of the Daleks and their appearances on “Doctor Who”.

Continuity Compilation. A series of announcements regarding the various BBC broadcasts of this adventure.

Blue Peter. A clip of the TV show Blue Peter from March 1975 which displays “Doctor Who” models made by a fan.

The Doctor Who Annual 1976. The magazine “Doctor Who Annual” 1976 in PDF format.

---

The Daleks were the most famous monsters in “Doctor Who” but concerning their origins only a few hints were given in their first adventure, “The Daleks“. Their creator Terry Nation had written the story of their birth in a comic strip adventure and then another different one in a short story. Already in 1973 then producer Barry Letts asked him to write an official version of the Daleks origin for “Doctor Who” and thus Davros was born, the brilliant scientist who however has definitely fascist ideas.

The new producer Philip Hinchcliffe and the new script editor Robert Holmes didn’t particularly love the Daleks but the script of “Genesis of the Daleks” could be adapted to their idea of “Doctor Who” as a show more suitable for an adult audience.

From the beginning, the Daleks had been a metaphor for Nazism, in “Genesis of the Daleks” the presence of their humanoid precursors allowed Terry Nation to make the metaphor even stronger and more transparent. This idea was combined well with those of producer Philip Hinchcliffe and script editor Robert Holmes and the result was an adventure very dark and violent by the standards of “Doctor Who” of the time.

“Genesis of the Daleks” was criticized for the violence of various scenes, deemed inappropriate for the many children who watched “Doctor Who”. Of course, the content is very strong but they’re not gratuitous as they have a precise meaning in that kind of story. In fact, this adventure tells the end of a very long and terrible war on the planet Skaro between the Kaleds and the Thals. It’s therefore of a type of story that’s really difficult to show effectively without resorting to a certain dose of violence.

Not only the clashes between Kaleds and Thals are violent but there are also the many mutants born because of the many toxic substances released in the many years of war. For the Kaleds, racial purity is important so the mutants are abandoned to their fate and those who survive are dangerous for anyone who come out of the domes that protect the last Kaleds and Thals strongholds.

Davros predicted that in the end the mutants will be the ones who survive and decided that he’d be the one who’d guide their evolution creating the Daleks. In this sense, “Genesis of the Daleks” partly contradicts what was said in “The Daleks” about the Daleks being mutants: they are but some of their features were created by Davros altering even heavily the course of their mutations.

Davros is the connection between Kaleds and Daleks both physically and for his philosophy he puts into the Daleks. In particular, Davros heavily tempers with his creatures’ emotions, removing compassion. The term “pity” isn’t part of their vocabulary because nothing must distract them from their aim of total domination.

The Time Lords sent the Doctor to stop or at least alter the genesis of the Daleks in what is the first act of the Time War mentioned many times in the new “Doctor Who” series. In the middle of a brutal war that has devastated the planet Skaro, a mental war is fought between the Doctor and Davros, who fight each other not with weapons, or at least not only with them, but with their ideas.

“Genesis of the Daleks” becomes a great moral story because Davros doesn’t just have outbursts in which demands the extermination of his enemies but also shows he can coldly discuss terrible plans. Davros eliminates anyone he sees as an obstacle to his plans, even if they’re Kaleds, but can also say whatever can persuade his people to bear extreme sacrifices in the illusion they can see the end of the war.

One of the iconic moments not only of “Genesis of the Daleks” but in the whole “Doctor Who” saga is when the Doctor has the chance to wipe out all the Daleks and stops to wonder if he has the right. About 17 years before Captain Picard wonders if he has the right to wipe out the Borg, the Doctor reflects on the fact that it would be a genocide and to accomplish that would put him at the same level as the Daleks.

Eventually, the Doctor gives up exterminating the Daleks though someway he changes their history. The consequences of his decision will be felt only over time but in spite of everything that happens and despite his doubts, the Doctor could never act as the Daleks.

It’s for these contents that “Genesis of the Daleks” is always in the Top 10 of any polls made among fans asking which are the best “Doctor Who” adventures and it was even voted at the top in a couple of these polls conducted by the “Doctor Who Magazine”.

Despite that, “Genesis of the Daleks” isn’t perfect. There are episodes where the story is padding a bit and not all the episodes cliffhangers are great. In my opinion those are minor flaws in an adventure that overall is fantastic thanks to a story with very solid bases but also thanks to the performances of its protagonists. Michael Wisher is amazing in the role of Davros and Peter Miles assists him wonderfully in the role of Nyder, cold, arrogant and totally devoted to Davros.

In 2006, Big Finish produced the audio mini-series “I, Davros” which tells the story of the creator of the Daleks. It’s composed of four parts:

• “Innocence”, available on Amazon UK, Amazon U.S.A. and Amazon Canada
• “Purity”, available on Amazon UK, Amazon U.S.A. and Amazon Canada
• “Corruption”, available on Amazon UK, Amazon U.S.A. and Amazon Canada
• “Guilt”, available on Amazon UK, Amazon U.S.A. and Amazon Canada

“Genesis of the Daleks” is one of the best “Doctor Who” adventures ever produced and the boxset includes a second DVD that contains really interesting extras so there can be no excuses for not having it! It’s available on Amazon USA, UK, and Canada. It’s also included in the Blu-ray box set with the whole Season 12, also available on Amazon USA, UK, and Canada.