Remembrance of the Daleks: Part One

Review of the Complete Story:

REMEMBRANCE OF THE DALEKS is one of the better serials from the Sylvester McCoy era of DR WHO. That's because it's an action-packed story that hearkens back to the days of DALEKS: INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D. with the Doctor's greatest villains engaging in mass battles with plenty of explosions and pyrotechnic effects. There's even a special effects shot of a spaceship landing outside a school which looks actually decent for a change.

McCoy's era is unfortunately noted for its child-friendly atmosphere, apparently at the behest of BBC producers who complained that the Colin Baker era was too dark. This meant that many of the stories were silly and cheesy, but REMEMBRANCE OF THE DALEKS avoids those pitfalls for the most part. It's also the final Dalek story for 'classic' Who, so it has a special place in my heart.

McCoy gets more to do here than usual, his Doctor coming across as an action man who takes centre stage for once. Ace is less annoying than she would be in some other serials, and the inevitable return of Davros is a real highlight. There are central roles for plenty of familiar faces, including George Sewell, GRANGE HILL's Michael Sheard (playing an evil headmaster!), even the guy who played the butler in THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR turns up! Watch out for Dalek-vs-Dalek battles and the memorable scene where a Dalek climbs the stairs.

Wow where did that come from?

From sheer mediocrity of Season 24 to pulling out all the stops for Season 25. The influence of Andrew Cartmel's vision is only fully realised here. He was brought in last minute as script editor for the previous season so many of the scripts were commissioned before his arrival.

From the pre title sequence with speeches from JFK to MLK and Hitler. The anticipation is amped up.

The Doctor and Ace return to Totters Lane in November 1963 as he left something behind. There are sinister goings on at Cole Hill School with something bad occuring in the basement.

The Doctor along with some soldiers led by Group Captain Gilmore (Simon Williams) and scientific advisor Professor Rachel Jenson (Pamela Salem) manage to catch a lone dalek. The Doctor just knows more are on their way.

Remembrance of the Daleks very much saved the McCoy era. John Nathan Turner knew that he was in the last chance saloon with the future of the show. There was some care and attention here.

It has outside location shooting, the sets are more atmospheric and detailed. At times a little reminiscent of EastEnders such as the cafe scene. This might have been the house style for shows shot on video in that era.

More importantly it was exciting and you wanted to see more. The best was at the end, Ace kneeing the headmaster (Michael Sheard) and that dalek climbing the stairs.

The Doctor an Ace arrive at Cole Hill School, back to where it all started. All is not as it should be, the Doctor is being followed by an old enemy. The Doctor asserts he and Ace into the confidence of the local Military who are called to Totter's lane, where they're under attack, from a Dalek. The Doctor tells Ace all about the origins of the Daleks, and the reason for their presence, to obtain The Hand of Omega. Investigations lead Ace and the Doctor back to the School, but something is waiting in the cellar for them.

I have to start by saying I love this episode, talk about upping their game, moving from Dragonfire into Remembrance, must have felt like a Caribbean Cruise after a weekend with the Borgias. For my money this series overall rated as the best Dalek story since Genesis.

The Daleks are a little wobbly it's fair to say, but I think they look great, very new and fresh. The White Imperial Daleks especially look brilliant.

It was really well cast, Simon Williams was incredibly proper for the part. Pam Salem who several years ago had been tipped as a companion also showing how good she was.

Great use of music, it worked so well, perfectly in keeping with the story, and so much better then what had gone before for quite a while.

There were a few blips, some of the shots that got through featuring cars, buildings, windows etc that shouldn't have been there should have been identified and re-shot, somehow though they seem not to matter.

I appreciated Ace reading the French Revolution in the School, a nice little heads up to an Unearthly Child when Susan did the same.

It's such a rich episode, I'll say again when compared to what had gone before it is on another level. It also solved the Dalek/Stairs issue, it's just brilliant. 10/0

What happened to the E in Foreman? In the first ever episode on the gate ist says I. M. Foreman but in Rememberance of The Daleks t says I.M. Forman so what happened to the E? lol