First broadcast in March 1985, Revelation of the Daleks is the 142nd adventure in Doctor Who and one of the most strikingly different Dalek stories ever produced. Written by Eric Saward and directed by Graeme Harper, the serial leans heavily into grotesque horror, black comedy, and dystopian satire. With a tone reminiscent of The Deadly Assassin and Vengeance on Varos, this is a story that dares to push Doctor Who into darker, more mature territory. However, it is also notable for another reason—it was the final serial before Doctor Who was placed on an 18-month production hiatus, a move that cast doubt over the show’s future.
The story takes the Doctor and Peri to the planet Necros, home to Tranquil Repose, a funeral facility where the wealthy and influential are cryogenically frozen in the hope of future revival. But all is not as it seems. Tranquil Repose is under the sinister control of Davros, who has been masquerading as the Great Healer. His real objective? To convert the dead and dying into a new army of Daleks, while using the rest as a food source to fund his operations. As the Doctor investigates, he finds himself caught between Davros' machinations, power-hungry corporate figures, and the arrival of the original Daleks, who seek to overthrow their rogue creator.
Colin Baker’s Sixth Doctor is slightly more restrained here than in previous outings, giving a performance that allows for moments of quieter reflection amidst the chaos. However, his role in the story is oddly passive for much of the first episode, with large portions of the narrative unfolding without his direct involvement. Nicola Bryant’s Peri is also given little to do beyond serving as an audience surrogate, reacting in horror to the nightmarish events around her. Their chemistry is improving, but Revelation of the Daleks is far more concerned with its villains than its heroes.
Terry Molloy returns as Davros and delivers one of his most chilling performances. Here, Davros is less of a ranting megalomaniac and more of a calculated manipulator, reveling in his ability to twist people to his will. His scheme to create a new breed of Daleks, grown from human remains, is as horrifying as it is audacious, marking one of the darkest turns in the show’s history. His eventual downfall—captured by the original Daleks and sentenced to trial—sets up an intriguing future for the character.
The supporting cast is among the strongest of the era. Eleanor Bron and Clive Swift as Kara and Vogel provide a layer of corporate satire, showcasing the greed and cynicism that permeates Necros. Alexei Sayle’s DJ, while a divisive character, offers a meta-commentary on the nature of entertainment and distraction in a bleak world. William Gaunt’s Orcini, an honorable assassin, adds a tragic nobility to the proceedings, and his final act of self-sacrifice gives the story an emotional weight rarely seen in Dalek serials.
Visually, Revelation of the Daleks is one of the most polished stories of the Colin Baker era. Graeme Harper’s direction is dynamic, making excellent use of shadows, unsettling close-ups, and unusual camera angles to heighten the sense of unease. The sets of Tranquil Repose are suitably cold and clinical, reinforcing the theme of death being commodified. The Daleks themselves, while not as central to the action as in other stories, remain a formidable presence, particularly in the shocking reveal of their human-derived origins.
Thematically, Revelation of the Daleks is an indictment of unchecked capitalism, corporate greed, and the dehumanization of death. The idea of turning corpses into both Daleks and food supply is one of the show’s most macabre concepts, pushing the boundaries of what Doctor Who could explore. The serial is also notable for its gallows humor, with moments of dark comedy woven into the horror, making for an unsettling but compelling tone.
Rewatching Revelation of the Daleks in 2025, it remains an arresting but uneasy watch—not just because of its subject matter, but because of what came next. Following this serial, Doctor Who was placed on an 18-month hiatus, the longest pause the show had experienced at the time. The BBC cited concerns over declining quality and audience engagement, but behind the scenes, tensions between producer John Nathan-Turner and BBC executives had been mounting. Colin Baker’s abrasive portrayal of the Doctor had not been warmly received by all viewers, and the increased levels of violence in Season 22 had drawn criticism. Additionally, Doctor Who was struggling in the ratings, with stiff competition from The A-Team and other contemporary programming.
The hiatus sent shockwaves through the fandom. While the show was eventually brought back in 1986 with The Trial of a Time Lord, the damage had been done. Public confidence in Doctor Who had waned, and many within the BBC saw it as an outdated relic rather than a flagship series. The decision to take the show off the air for a year and a half, while intended to allow for a creative reset, instead exacerbated its declining reputation. It was the first real sign that Doctor Who was in danger, a warning that would go unheeded until its eventual cancellation in 1989.
Despite its troubled place in Doctor Who’s history, Revelation of the Daleks remains one of the stronger entries of the era. It is bold, disturbing, and filled with memorable performances. While it may not be an easy watch, it stands as a testament to what the show could achieve when it took risks—risks that, ironically, may have contributed to its temporary downfall.
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