Episode #72 : Death to the Daleks

"Inside each of those shells is living, bubbling lump of hate."

Episode 72:      Death to the Daleks.
Companions:   3rd Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith.
Air Date:          Four episodes. 23rd February to 16th March 1974.

An energy drain makes uneasy allies of the Third Doctor, Sarah, a Marine Space Corps expedition and a squadron of Daleks. All are trapped on the planet Exxilon with its hostile natives. The key to escape lies at the heart of a powerful and mysterious lost city, but only after a series of deadly traps.

Death to the Daleks is a fairly naff story unfortunately that might have served better had the Daleks not been added. It deals with a mysterious "living city" which drains power from the TARDIS, an MSC expedition, and a Dalek ship, leaving them marooned on a world with the primitive Exxilons. The city must be destroyed if anyone is to escape, so the survivors and the Daleks join forces to do so.

The biggest issue with this story is the length. It is only four parts but it feels so much longer as nothing really happens through out it. It plays out almost like a flowchart with A going to B...etc, with little input from the characters.

The Daleks in this story are really flimsy. One of them explodes when beaten by natives with wooden sticks! Poor writing there. These Daleks also are not much of a threat. The same energy drain that has trapped them on Exxilon have prevented their weapons from working. They end up adapting and using primitive firearms instead. Just doesn't feel like the Daleks at all. Disappointing.

I think this is one of those stories that can be quietly left to gather dust.