Continuing directly from Daleks in Manhattan, Evolution of the Daleks, first broadcast on April 28, 2007, aims to conclude the Cult of Skaro’s ambitious experiment—merging Dalek and human DNA to ensure the survival of their race. With the foundation laid in the previous episode, Evolution of the Daleks should, in theory, deliver a compelling second act. But does it manage to justify its bold premise, or does it struggle under the weight of its own ambition? Rewatching in 2025, the results remain as divisive as ever.
Picking up where we left off, the Dalek-human hybrid, Dalek Sec, has now fully emerged, claiming to be the next step in Dalek evolution. The idea of a Dalek willingly integrating human emotion and intelligence into its species is radical, and while the concept is intriguing, the execution falters. Eric Loren does his best with the material, giving Sec a tragic depth as he struggles with his newfound emotions, but the visual design of the hybrid is difficult to take seriously. There was an opportunity to make this transformation truly unsettling—something grotesque and alien—but instead, it veers too far into theatrical absurdity, lessening the impact of what should be a game-changing moment for the Daleks.
David Tennant’s Doctor remains a highlight, his horror at what the Daleks are attempting perfectly in line with his history with them. The idea that a Dalek could choose to abandon its fundamental nature is something he both fears and, in some ways, respects. His confrontation with Dalek Sec—where he challenges the very concept of what it means to be Dalek—is a strong moment in an otherwise uneven script. Tennant plays it with a balance of disgust and morbid fascination, understanding that Sec’s proposal could signal the end of their age-old war.
Martha, once again proving her resourcefulness, takes a more active role in leading the human resistance. She is quick-thinking, brave, and entirely independent, reinforcing that she is not simply another Rose Tyler stand-in. However, despite Freema Agyeman’s excellent performance, the script sidelines her to an extent, giving her moments of agency but never quite allowing her to take center stage. Her dynamic with Tallulah is an interesting one, but their scenes don’t add much beyond reinforcing the idea that the Daleks have no regard for human life.
The episode’s action set pieces are ambitious, with the climactic showdown in the theater aiming for spectacle. The image of Daleks hovering above the ruined stage as they prepare to unleash their army of human-Dalek hybrids is a striking one, but the resolution feels rushed. The remaining Daleks, unwilling to follow Sec’s vision of integration, revert back to their pure ideology and exterminate him, demonstrating just how ingrained their hatred truly is. This moment had the potential to be truly powerful, but because Sec’s transformation was never entirely convincing, his downfall lacks the emotional weight it should have carried.
Perhaps the biggest letdown of Evolution of the Daleks is how quickly it undoes its own premise. The potential of an evolved, emotionally aware Dalek race is discarded in favor of the familiar status quo. By the end, only Dalek Caan survives, escaping to continue the Dalek legacy in the shadows. It feels like a retreat rather than a bold step forward—an unwillingness to truly shake up what the Daleks represent. Given that future Dalek stories would continue to explore the idea of evolution (Victory of the Daleks, Into the Dalek), it is disappointing that this episode did not fully commit to the concept.
Rewatching Evolution of the Daleks in 2025, it remains a frustrating mixed bag. There are flashes of brilliance in its ambition—the notion of Daleks questioning their own nature is rich with possibilities—but the execution falters. The visuals, pacing, and lack of commitment to its own ideas prevent it from reaching the heights of other Dalek two-parters in the modern era. While it is by no means a disaster, it ultimately feels like an episode afraid to follow through on its own radical premise, leaving the Cult of Skaro’s arc ending not with a bang, but with a whimper.
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