Friday 31 December 2021

Doctor Who — The Evil of the Daleks: Episode 4 — A Review

31st December, 2021.



Right … 

You can possibly tell I’m a single, unemployed, chap: with little in the way of money.

So … ?   I’m at home for New Year’s Eve.

Not that I’m too worried.

It is, after all, a Friday.

Which means that — once I’ve had dinner? — I’ll be watching Episode Four of Evil of the Daleks: and telling you about it, later tonight!

~≈§≈~

Right … that’s dinner officially done: fish and chips, so you know.

And … ?   Frankly,  I still don’t know why we’re supposed to have fish And chips on A Friday … but there you go!

At any rate … ?

Let me tell you about tonight’s episode of Evil of the Daleks … 

~≈§≈~


Episode 4 follows last week’s episode: showing us Jamie (Frazer Hines) facing the formidable Kemel (Sonny Caldinez), who’s blocking a very strategic doorway.

The pair fight: until — in a desperate move — Jamie tricks Kemel into walking off of Maxtible Mansion’s roof.

Jamie can’t bear being responsible for Kemel’s death: so let’s a rope down, and helps his opponent back in to the mansion.

Unbeknownst to the pair?

The room that Kemel is guarding — one that had been used to house Victoria, the young woman Jamie had been trying to rescue — is empty: containing only her handkerchief.

AND an axe: set to swing out of a wall when the door is opened.

Jamie is saved from being a victim of that axe: as Kemel pushes him out of the way.

It’s only then the pair develop a friendship … while the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) monitors Jamie remotely: explaining every thing to the Dalek that — in turn — is monitoring him.

The Dalek wants to know the reason for every thing.

Meanwhile … ?

Maxtible and Waterfield (Marius Goring and John Bailey) have found the body on near the basement: and have to get rid of it.

Which prompts differing reactions in the two men.

Waterfield — concerned for his daughter, Victoria — is having qualms of conscience.

Maxtible, by contrast?

Maxtible is happily prepared to kill his human partner … and has plans to deal with the Daleks, as well … 

With all the plotting and scheming being done?

It’s left to Jamie and Kemel to free Victoria from the room she’s being held in … little knowing what’s waiting for them … 

~≈§≈~

Now … 

What did I make of episode four … ?

First things first … ?

As with earlier episodes, the detailing is great.

Up close, the Daleks in this episode are incredible pieces of work: far improved on the ones in the earlier The Power of The Daleks.


The grill-work on the neck of the Dalek is, to me, quite riveting.

As riveting as the eye: the movement of the screws, synced perfectly to the expanding/contracting iris.

As riveting as their overall movement.

Talking of which … ?   There’s one point in the episode — at the sixteen minute, thirty-two seconds mark — where the Dalek pushes Maxtible over.


That’s new to me: at least, not something I can remember seeing in any other Dalek story!

The story, itself … ?

Is another good one: and that’s focused more on moving the plot forward with action rather than words.

As far as I’m concerned … ?   That’s a refreshing change … 

And a change that’s got me looking forward to episode five.

I’ll be watching that, next Friday: 7th January, 2022.

I’ll have my video and written reviews up, not long after: I’d love it if you joined me!

Before then … ?   I’ll be watching Eve of The Daleks, tomorrow night.

I wonder what I’ll be doing after that … ?

I’ll let you know, midnight, tomorrow.




Episode 4.
★★★★




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