With Daleks in Manhattan, first broadcast on April 21, 2007, Doctor Who takes a bold swing at something rarely attempted in the modern era—a full-blown period piece infused with 1930s American history. The concept is undeniably intriguing: Daleks operating in the shadows of the Great Depression, manipulating desperate workers in a city where hope is in short supply. Written by Helen Raynor and directed by James Strong, this episode presents a unique premise, but does it still hold up in 2025?
From the opening moments, the episode immerses us in the grimy reality of 1930s New York. Hooverville, a real-life shantytown in Central Park where the unemployed and homeless gathered, serves as the focal point of the story. The setting is both ambitious and effective, grounding the sci-fi elements in a very real and tragic historical moment. The Daleks—last seen in Doomsday, escaping through a void ship—have found themselves stranded in this era and have adapted in a typically ruthless manner. Rather than their usual tactics of brute force, they manipulate desperate humans into servitude, offering promises of work and stability while conducting horrifying experiments beneath the city.
Freema Agyeman’s Martha Jones continues to shine, proving herself to be an astute and resourceful companion. It is particularly refreshing to see her skepticism in full force; she questions the Doctor’s evasiveness, she challenges his assumptions, and she integrates herself into the situation rather than waiting for guidance. While the Doctor remains the driving force of the story, Martha’s presence feels vital rather than incidental, something that wasn’t always the case with companions in earlier eras.
One of the most fascinating elements of Daleks in Manhattan is its attempt to explore Dalek ideology in a new way. The Cult of Skaro—introduced in Doomsday as a group of elite, independent-thinking Daleks—have devised a radical new plan: fusing Dalek and human DNA to create a new race of hybrids. While the concept of Daleks evolving beyond their rigid purity is an interesting one, the execution has always been divisive. The reveal of the Dalek-human hybrid, played by Eric Loren, is one of the more controversial moments of the Tennant era. The design—part humanoid, part Dalek, with a fleshy, mutated face—is undeniably unsettling, but it strays into campy territory, making it difficult to take seriously. The visual might have been stronger had it leaned into a more grotesque, body-horror aesthetic rather than the almost comical half-human look.
The supporting cast is a mixed bag. Of course, the episode is memorable for featuring Andrew Garfield as Frank. Perhaps more memorable is Miranda Raison as Tallulah - memorable but exaggerated, with her broad New York accent bordering on caricature. However, her emotional investment in the story, particularly in relation to her transformed boyfriend Laszlo, adds an important human element to the proceedings. Laszlo’s fate—partially transformed into a pig slave yet still retaining his humanity—is one of the more tragic subplots, highlighting the horror of the Daleks’ experiments.
Visually, the episode does an admirable job of recreating 1930s New York despite the obvious limitations of filming in Cardiff. The use of CGI to create the Empire State Building is effective enough, but some of the set design lacks the authenticity needed to fully immerse the viewer. The underground lairs of the Daleks, however, fare better, providing a stark contrast between the desperation of Hooverville and the cold efficiency of Dalek operations.
One of the more interesting thematic elements of the episode is its commentary on survival. The Doctor argues that survival without purpose is meaningless, something that clashes with the Daleks’ absolute commitment to their own continuation. The Cult of Skaro’s desperation to ensure their species’ survival leads them to make choices that defy their own fundamental nature. This tension—between evolution and extinction, between purity and adaptation—adds depth to what might have otherwise been a straightforward Dalek invasion story.
Rewatching Daleks in Manhattan in 2025, it remains an ambitious but flawed episode. The setting is fascinating, the themes are compelling, and the Daleks’ plan is one of the more unique takes on their species. However, the execution falters in places, particularly with the design of the Dalek-human hybrid and some of the supporting performances. Still, as the first half of a two-parter, it sets up intriguing ideas that will be explored further in the next episode. Whether it fully sticks the landing remains to be seen.
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