After a rough few years the show was starting to get back it's thunder and "Remembrance" kicks of the new series and sets up the new style of show it wanted to be. While it's a tragedy we never got to see this fully completed we can still appreciate it's ground work. In my eyes it's the perfect way to do an anniversary, explain techno babble and reflect your political themes.
It does an excellent job at showing the horrible and yet ridiculous nature of fascism/racism and racial impurity. We see the same story/message through the Daleks and Ratcliffs association, it allows both the adults and the children audience too see said message. I utterly loved how we follow Mike's arc of being a good guy but being brought up as a racist/believing of keeping the others/immigrants out from the country. Just like how they also want to keep the Daleks out of earth. By showing things like the sign in the hotel and later his final betrayal with holding a gun at Ace, we get a really nice ending were all the past characters still go to his funeral. Despite what ridiculous idea he believed he was brought up on it and possibly manipulated by people like Ratcliff, especially when you consider his dad isn't around. I love this because yes it's fair to point out these ridiculous people who believe this, but it's important to show how people can be manipulated to believe it. Something Rosa missed with its racist character. One scene that I utterly loved was seeing Mr Ratcliff who really believes Britain should of joined the Nazis, be so full of himself/proud and yet the moment his people die/the Daleks come he completely craps it. Beautifully ironic especially how the supreme Dalek is black, please say this was intentional. He gets what he wants and instantly regrets it, his own beliefs kills him. Very clever.
Sylvester McCoy as the Dr here is amazing too. Gone is the over the top comedy from season 24, here is a darker, more quiet Dr but also a very manipulative one. The Dr actually gets to be involved here unlike the last 3 Dalek stories. The story is very much his/his chess board. He goes through an interesting arc of dealing with the weight of responsibility/doing the right thing and fixing his past actions. Witch pays off so brilliantly at the end as he faces Davros and we see a much darker Dr, who's been deliberately making sure the Daleks got what they want in order for him to completely end them. Who needs a war Dr when you have McCoy? Plus unlimited rice pudding. Still a perfect line. It's also famous for its excellent scene in the café. The Dr talks to the cashier about his actions and meddling. This scene not only is a lovely character moment for this Dr and a great break from all the action and set up for what is to come and didn't come but also a perfect way of explaining your time plot. Instead of being lazy and just making no sense with your timelines (John Dorney/ Matt Fitton & Moffat), do your techno babble but explain it in a simple, understanding and sweet scene. Being honest it's just a scene of the Dr taking about how much suger is important to tea and people. But it explains this drs dilemma of fixing/stopping the Daleks and the timelines. Does the sugar add anything to the tea? Not really it's just nice to some people. The Daleks offer some hope for people. What if sugar never existed ? Well alot of slaves wouldn't have been made to work for it. The Daleks wouldn't cause anymore damage and the drs conscience would be at peace. But it still can cause ripples, no sugar, no jobs so slaves are useless or could be free to live longer better lives. No Daleks the humans could become just like them or worse cause earth to be invaded by another force but because they have no training or knowledge they fail. It's a really well done scene.
Ace is also great fun here. She gets her own arc and stuff to do later on and it works perfectly for her character and really shows just how different of a character/companion Ace is. Ace is loud/jokey and wants to get involved. But the Dr is in a more thinking mood, meaning we get some great moments of comedy when she's states the obvious really loudly and makes the Dr jump. Sylvester and Sophie just make it work. Ace gets some amazing action too, she stands up her self and wants to make a difference. She gets to blow up a Dalek with a rocket launcher, beat up a Dalek with a baseball bat (which will always be awesome, especially when Sophie hits the wrong prop) and starts to fancy Mike. Ace would get some good development in the VNA/big finish interms of her attitude and naivness on love/lust with people. Which we start to see here, I'd massively recommend "Love and war" book as it's Ace fully exploring that trust, lust and courage she has that ultimately gets crushed by something. Big finish don't seem to mention or explore as much of that anymore (from what I've heared).
Which is a shame as it's a great arc of watching someone be able to grow up and become her own strong person that helps out on Gallifrey.
The supporting cast/characters are all great too, even if they are just there as an early version of unit. We have Captain Gilmore who's great fun and also goes on his own arc of what to do. Listen to the Dr or have his men fight. But in the end he joins the drs plan and it's great too see. We have a female scientist advisor with professor Rachel who has a great arc of trying to be open minded/trust the Dr but is also quite annoyed that he has stolen her thunder/changed her entire world. But rather sweetly she tries to protect him in the end scene with Davros. Finally we have Allison, Rachels assistant, very sweet, curious and offers to help when she can but still is very loyal to Rachel. There all such excellent characters and I'd love big finish to do a story were these three meet the unit team from the 3rd Drs era. But imagine seeing this nowadays, the notmydr lot would have a field day. "Clearly Ben Aaronovitch is saying that men are just stupid soldiers but the woman are powerful scientists! Or "a female scientist and her assistant? Hes rewriting the unit era!"
The Daleks are great fun too, although my only issue with this story is how there nothing more than screaming, killing machines. But we get some excellent action from them. The effects/explosions here are really good for an era thats often bashed for its effects. We get some iconic moments which still happen today, such as the Dalek ray showing the humans skeleton which looks incredible and later we see the new mutants in the imperials, more horrific too with its claw like appendages and what looks like a spine. Of course we also get the very first Daleks flying up the stairs, an effective/awesome cliffhanger. I remember absolutely loving this scene as a kid and can't imagine how exciting it was seeing it live. It's just Incredibly annoying how people think new who did it first.
The story also offers us some rather interesting designs of new Daleks. I really like the renegades and I love the imperials but we also have the beautiful design of the special weapons Dalek that screams "kids will love this one". Theres great explosions which destorys two Daleks and ITV's windows. Not to throw hate to the new series effects department but your full of poo if you really think this is "over the top" you'd love to do this. We also see a new Emperor who is very similar to the famous design of the emperor from the tv21 comics. But it's revealed to be Davros, which is kinda of obvious with his screaming. But he looks great with all his wires and new casing, it's always been one of my favourites.
Davros actions/final moments here also kinda set up the timewar. Which I've always liked especially after how he was deliberately manipulated and tricked into destorying his home planet by the Dr. It's clearly stated his escape pod left the ship in seconds and we can only imagine he became more crippled or needed a new suit. Big finish have sorta explained this in the 8th Drs time war vol 4. *Spoilers* Davros is eventually killed with the Daleks so the time strategist goes to alternative Davros and forces him to become our Davros, but somehow that Davros becomes the real/original Davros too. Hence the new series casing. *End spoilers*
We also get another Dalek design/fake Davros which did surprise me as a kid and nowadays I just like the idea of how the Daleks have stolen children to be used as battle computer controllers. There free minds/imagination being perfect to them, it's incredibly creepy and I'd like big finish to bring this character back as I've never liked Dwms idea of her being in a mental institution. It's too "look how edgy doctor who is now", completely missing the point of what makes doctor who so great. It's the definition of the virgin new adventures. Trying to hard and full of pointless sex, violence, swearing and dark moments. Doctor who doesnt need to do in your face gore or horror. It's creepy/horrific without it, it's what makes it so much better than most horrors because it doesn't depend on cheap pointless gore etc. My only complaints are the Daleks being nothing more than shoot to kill creatures, ridiculously wobbly at times and some awful voices. I really don't get why some Dalek voices are forcing a D in everything, like "you will be ext Der mim aded! Finally the supreme Daleks demise really doesn't make any sense. That supreme wouldn't really care about Davros being dead and it contradicts the idea that a Dalek will do anything to survive. It's a great scene for Sylvester McCoy to basically talk it to death but it really doesn't work for me.
Overall it's a very enjoyable story. It's a fitting end to the Daleks in the classic series. It's also full of doctor who Refences, which make it fun to look for. Coal hill school, Trotters line, the 1st Dr, Susan's French revolution book, unit, spridon, original claw for the Daleks and of course the brilliant fourth wall of Doctor.....
Rating: 4/5 9/10.
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