First broadcast in October 1988, Remembrance of the Daleks marks the 148th adventure in Doctor Who and serves as the dramatic opener to Season 25. Written by Ben Aaronovitch and directed by Andrew Morgan, this four-part serial is a landmark story for multiple reasons. It re-establishes the Daleks as a serious threat, delves into the deeper mythology of the Time Lords, and presents the Seventh Doctor as a far more manipulative and strategic figure than before. With its gripping plot, social commentary, and ambitious action sequences, Remembrance of the Daleks is widely regarded as one of the greatest Doctor Who stories of the classic era.
Set in 1963, just months after the events of An Unearthly Child, the story sees the Doctor and Ace arriving in London, where two warring Dalek factions—the Imperial Daleks and the Renegade Daleks—are battling for control of the Hand of Omega, a powerful Time Lord device left behind by the First Doctor. As the conflict escalates, the Doctor finds himself playing a deadly game of chess, manipulating events from the shadows while challenging the Daleks’ inherent belief in racial purity. Meanwhile, Ace is thrust into a violent struggle that forces her to confront both the horrors of war and the racial tensions that underpin the time period.
Sylvester McCoy delivers his best performance yet as the Doctor, fully embracing the darker, more calculating aspects of his character. Gone is the bumbling eccentricity seen in Time and the Rani—this Doctor is a mastermind, playing a long game that even his enemies cannot comprehend. His ruthless destruction of Skaro’s sun, wiping out the Daleks’ home planet in a single act of strategic warfare, is a defining moment that cements him as one of the most morally complex incarnations of the Doctor. McCoy balances quiet contemplation with bursts of righteous fury, creating a layered and compelling portrayal.
Sophie Aldred’s Ace is given significant development here, and Remembrance of the Daleks firmly establishes her as one of the most proactive and capable companions in Doctor Who history. Her action-packed moments—smashing a Dalek with a baseball bat reinforced by Time Lord technology, for instance—are iconic, but it is her emotional journey that makes her stand out. The story touches on real-world issues of racism and discrimination, with Ace’s reactions to the casual prejudice of 1963 adding depth to her character. She is brave, independent, and fiercely loyal to the Doctor, making her an ideal match for this more enigmatic incarnation.
The supporting cast is strong across the board. Group Captain Gilmore (Simon Williams), Professor Rachel Jensen (Pamela Salem), and Allison Williams (Karen Gledhill) form the prototype of what would later become UNIT, with Gilmore serving as a Brigadier-like figure. Their interactions with the Doctor hint at a wider mythology, and their military presence adds to the heightened tension of the story. The portrayal of racial prejudice through the character of Mike, who is revealed to be a member of a fascist organization, further grounds the story in real-world concerns, making it more than just a sci-fi battle between Daleks.
Visually, Remembrance of the Daleks is one of the most ambitious stories of the classic era. The use of real London locations, dynamic camera work, and improved special effects (including a Dalek hovering up the stairs for the first time) all contribute to a cinematic feel that elevates the production. The Daleks themselves are more menacing than they have been in years, and the distinction between the Imperial and Renegade factions adds a new level of complexity to their lore.
Thematically, the serial is rich with subtext. The Doctor’s manipulation of events, his willingness to use the Hand of Omega as a weapon, and his challenge to the Daleks’ belief in racial superiority all contribute to a morally ambiguous narrative. The Doctor’s line—“Unlimited rice pudding, etcetera, etcetera!”—delivers a sharp critique of the Daleks’ arrogance, while his speech about how “every great decision creates ripples” encapsulates his long-term approach to intervention.
Rewatching Remembrance of the Daleks in 2025, it remains a masterclass in storytelling, blending action, social commentary, and deep lore into a gripping adventure. The Seventh Doctor is finally coming into his own, evolving into a formidable strategist whose actions will have consequences far beyond what his enemies can foresee. The introduction of elements like the Hand of Omega and the deeper Time Lord connections pave the way for the darker, more mythic direction the McCoy era will take.
The resolution of the story, with the Doctor tricking Davros into using the Hand of Omega to destroy Skaro, is a bold move that underscores just how far this incarnation is willing to go. His calm, almost cold dismissal of Davros’ pleas is chilling, reinforcing that this is a Doctor who no longer merely reacts to events—he shapes them.
With Remembrance of the Daleks, Doctor Who had fully embraced its potential for deeper, more mature storytelling. Season 25 was off to a spectacular start, and the series was beginning to reclaim its reputation as intelligent, thought-provoking science fiction.
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