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Doctor Who Season 5 Episode 3

Victory of the Daleks

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AIRED: Apr 17, 2010

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7.6

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Episode Summary

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Location: Cabinet War Rooms, London, UK, Earth Date: The Blitz, World War 2 (1941) Enemies: Daleks The Doctor has been summoned by an old friend, but in the Cabinet War Rooms far below the streets of blitz-torn London, it's his oldest enemy he finds waiting for him, as the time-travelling adventures continue. The Daleks are back – but can Winston Churchill be in league with them?moreless

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (22)

disappointed..

4.0

By colorbok, Nov 24, 2012

im a huge Dr who fan, but this was just the worst episode i've ever seen....amy is useless and so is Matt smiths performance.... dr who use used to have alot of heart and soul. but now its has some how become about visual effects..why? i jst dont know.. hope it gets better , i really do...
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Victory of the Daleks

10

By TrueTvWatcher, Nov 23, 2012

Victory of the Daleks was a perfectly awesome and very entertaining episode of Doctor Who. I really enjoyed watching because the story was intriguing and it was interesting to see Winston Churchill along with some Daleks who escaped The Time War. I liked how The Doctor knew all to well something else was going on and it was fun watching him try to prove it. The New Daleks were awesome and powerful. I liked that they each had a different color armor. The ending was great and the mysterious crack continues to appear adding some suspense and mystery. I liked how every thing played out and look forward to watching what happens next!!!!!!!!!moreless
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I didn't see even one eyebrow raised at Amy's micro-skirt!

5.0

By Shreela, Aug 17, 2011

Recent seasons have addressed and somehow fixed the assistants outfits to fit the time they're in, but in this episode, I didn't see even one eyebrow raised at Amy's micro-skirt!

As far as the rest of the show, I took many breaks while watching it, which I don't if I find a show very interesting. The scene with the Dr and Amy going back and forth repeatedly about how long he'd take to return so he could deactivate the Dalek robot that thought he was human, well it got old after the second or third back-and-forth, yet they still went on.

The previews for the show that follows has statues, so that's promising, since the other "statues" show was my favorite. I really want to continue to love this show!moreless
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the daleks win.

9.0

By alexjones555, Jun 01, 2011

another great episode from doctor who, not without it's flaws but still a fine episode. I guess the main flaw with this episode was that it was a bit rushed, the daleks plan was revealed too early in the episode, i'd have preffered it if they used a bit more time to build up the suspence, it would have probably done better as a 2 parter or at least an extended episode. however this was still a great dalek episode and I like the fact that they won since it will make them easier to bring back later. also some unanswered questions, like why amy didn't rememeber the daleks invading before, probably something to do with the cracks appearing in time.moreless
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Winston Churchill has called the Doctor to Earth during the blitz, where he and Amy find the British to have an unexpected 'ally'... the Daleks! Could easily have been a classic, but still one of the much better modern 'Who' stories...moreless

9.0

By Jay-Spacedust, Jun 01, 2011

I was really looking forward to this episode. The Daleks in a World War II setting sounding very appealing and had a lot of potential. Sadly, due to an unfocused mid-section, 'Victory of the Daleks' does not wind up as the 100% classic that it might have been, but I still found it to be a very good episode, and one of my favourite episodes of modern 'Doctor Who'.

It is written by one of the show's best writers, Mark Gatiss, who often comes up trumps with his stories, and certainly does a good job with this one. Over the years, the Daleks have sometimes been compared to Nazis, so this is an interesting spin – appearing in WWII, yet on the British side!

I loved the first 15 minutes or so – just what are the Daleks doing in WWII London? Surely they can't be as peaceful as they appear? It was wonderful. Sadly, the midsection of the story becomes too cluttered. The reverse of one of my (few) gripes about the previous two episodes, 'The Eleventh Hour' and 'The Beast Within', which were very stretched in the middle, 'Victory...' actually suffers for having a little TOO much going on.

The World War II setting is wonderful, but in mid-section, with the Doctor on the Dalek's ship, the WWII element at times seems almost coincidental, and not used to its full potential.

Amy has some good moments in this episode, but this is defiantly the Doctor's story, and once again Matt Smith does very well. As much as I liked Tennant, I am enjoying (and warming to) Matt Smith's incarnation eminently more.

Then there is the new Dalek design. I had heard, from reading about this new series on-line, that the Daleks were having a redesign, but had avoided it until it appeared on-screen. And as much as I am willing to give new things a try (hey, we all did with Matt Smith and Karen Gillan just a couple of weeks ago!), I'm afraid I don't really like the new Dalek design. I like the various colours they are in (a nod back to various vintage appearances), but they just look so clunky (and with obvious room for operators inside!), a step back in that department I'm afraid, IMO.

This story raced by. I really enjoyed it, but as I mention above, my main gripe is that there is too much thrown in, at the expense of the WWII setting. Personally I can't help but feel that this one would have worked better as a two-parter, to allow more breathing space, but alas, it wasn't to be.

All-in-all, this IS an excellent episode, but sadly it falls short of being the classic it might well have been. Still one of my favourite modern 'Who' stories though, and I give it a decent 9 out of 10.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Matt Smith (VI)	The Eleventh Doctor
Karen Gillan	Amy Pond

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Ian McNeice	Churchill	Guest Star
Bill Paterson	Bracewell	Guest Star
Nina De Cosimo	Blanche	Guest Star

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Episode Photos

Ian McNeice on Doctor Who from the episo...

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A Dalek on Doctor Who from the episode '...

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Ian McNeice on Doctor Who from the episo...

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (6)
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- The new pure Daleks were created to have their eye-stalks at the same eye level as companion Amy Pond (actor Karen Gillan). The Daleks previously used in the new series were made so their eye-stalks were at the same eye level as companion Rose Tyler (actor Billie Piper).
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- When the TARDIS disappears at the end of this episode, the camera zooms in on a crack in the wall behind it. This is similar to the cracks shown in both previous episodes. We can only assume that this is a set-up for later episodes as the lingering shot of the cracks are obvious to viewers.
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- The TARDIS self-destruct device that the Doctor uses to hold off the Daleks is actually a Jammie Dodger - a popular biscuit in the UK made from shortbread and raspberry-flavoured jam.
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- The khaki Dalek's line "I am your soldier!" is a paraphrase of the Dalek line "I am your servant!", from the Second Doctor serial The Power of the Daleks. The Doctor later threatens the new Daleks with "The final end", a line he used in the Second Doctor serial The Evil of the Daleks.
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- The new Daleks use a Time corridor to depart from the WWII era. The last time the Daleks used a Time corridor on-screen was in the fifth Doctor serial Resurrection of the Daleks.
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- For some reason, Amy has no knowledge of the Daleks, or of the events of The Stolen Earth/Journey's End.
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QUOTES (16)
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- Supreme Dalek: You will never defeat us, Doctor! We will return!
  New paradigm Daleks: (All in unison) We will return!
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- Supreme Dalek: The Doctor has failed! His compassion is his greatest weakness; Daleks have no such weakness!
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- The Doctor: Ah no, this is my best chance to get rid of the Daleks. I can rid the whole universe of you once... and for all.
  Supreme Dalek: Then, do it! But we will shatter the planet below. The Earth will die screaming!
  The Doctor: Yeah, and if I let you go... you'll be stronger than ever... A new race of Daleks.
  Supreme Dalek: Then choose, Doctor: Destroy the Daleks or save the Earth!
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- Supreme Dalek: We are the paradigm of a new Dalek race: Scientist; Strategist; Drone; Eternal; and the Supreme!!
  The Doctor: Which would be you I'm guessing. Well you know: nice paint-job, I'd be feeling pretty swishy if I looked like you. Pretty Su...pre...me.
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- Impure Dalek: All hail the new Daleks! All hail the new Daleks!
  Supreme Dalek: Yes. You are inferior.
  Impure Dalek: Yes.
  Supreme Dalek: Then prepare!
  All Impure Daleks:We are ready!
  Supreme Dalek: Cleanse the unclean! Total obliteration! Disentegrate!
  (Strategist destroys 2 old Daleks. Drone destroys the remaining one)
  The Doctor: Blimey. What do you do to the ones who mess up?
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- Churchill: It's been a pleasure, Doctor, as always.
  The Doctor: Too right!
  (they hug)
  Churchill: Goodbye, Doctor.
  The Doctor: Oh, shall we say "adieu"?
  Churchill: Indeed.
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- Supreme Dalek: Doctor, call off your attack.
  The Doctor: Ah-hah, what? And let you scuttle off back to the future, no fear? This is the end for you, the final end.
  Supreme Dalek: Call off the attack, or we will destroy the Earth.
  The Doctor: I'm not stupid, mate. You've just played your last card.
  Supreme Dalek: Bracewell is a bomb.
  The Doctor: You're bluffing. Deception is second nature to you. There isn't a sincere bone in your body. There isn't a bone in your body.
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- The Doctor: Either you turn off your clever machine, or I'll blow you and your new paradigm into eternity.
  Supreme Dalek: And yourself.
  The Doctor: Occupational hazard.
  Blue Dalek: Scan reveals nothing! TARDIS self-destruct device non-existent!
  The Doctor: All right, it's a Jammie Dodger. But I was promised tea!
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- Churchill: We are waging total war, Doctor. Day after day, the Luftwaffe pound this great city like an iron fist!
  The Doctor: Wait 'til the Daleks get started.
  Churchill: Men, women and children slaughtered. Families torn apart. Wren's churches in flame.
  The Doctor: Yeah? Try the Earth in flames!
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- Amy: You're still worried about the Daleks?
  The Doctor: I'm always worried about the Daleks.
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- Amy: So, you have enemies, then?
  The Doctor: Everyone's got enemies.
  Amy: Yeah, but mine's the woman outside Budgens with the mental jack russell. You've got like, you know, arch enemies.
  The Doctor: Suppose so.
  Amy: And here's me thinking we'd just be running through time, being daft and fixing stuff. But no, it's dangerous.
  The Doctor: Yup, very. Is that a problem?
  Amy: I'm still here, aren't I?
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- Churchill: If Hitler invaded Hell, I would give a favourable reference to the Devil.
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- The Doctor: What does hate look like, Amy?
  Amy: Hate?
  The Doctor: It looks like a Dalek. And I'm going to prove it.
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- Churchill: So you've changed your face again?
  The Doctor: Yeah, I've had a bit of work done.
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- The Doctor: Blimey, what do you do to the ones who mess up?
  Supreme Dalek: You are the Doctor. You must be exterminated.
  The Doctor: Don't mess with me, sweetheart.
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- The Doctor: You are everything I despise. The worst thing in all creation. I've defeated you time and time again, I've defeated you. I've sent you back into the void. I've saved the whole of reality from you. I am the Doctor and you are the Daleks.
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NOTES (3)
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- Episode writer Mark Gatiss is the uncredited voice of "Danny Boy," the squadron leader of the Spitfires that attack the Dalek ship.
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- This episode was followed by a trailer for one of the Doctor Who: The Adventure Games levels, which, appropriately enough, featured the Daleks.
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- A new Dalek design debuts in this episode: The new Daleks are taller, a redesigned eyestalk, an enlarged midsection, and a bigger "fender". They do not have the "dogtags" or "cowl" around the eyestalk, and their midsection no longer has slats.
  
  They now come in five different-colored variants: white, red, blue, orange and yellow. The White Dalek identified itself as "Supreme", whilst the red, blue, orange and yellow Daleks were later confirmed to be drone, scientist, strategist and "eternal". In the Doctor Who Confidential feature for this episode, Steven Moffat mentioned that the purpose of the "eternal" Dalek has not been decided yet, but the name "sounded cool".
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ALLUSIONS (3)
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- Churchill: If Hitler invaded Hell, I would give a favourable reference to the Devil.
  
  The above quote is a paraphrase of an actual statement attributed to Churchill. While the quote here is a response to the Doctor's warnings to the Daleks, the original was made in reference to Hitler's June 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union, a country that Churchill had previously been hostile towards due to his strong anti-communist views. When some of his fellow members of Parliament mentioned brought up his previous hostility towards the Soviets, Churchill is said to have stated, "If Hitler invaded Hell I would make at least a favorable reference to the Devil in the House of Commons."
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- Group Captain: Broadsword calling Danny Boy...
  
  This is the same line used in the 1968 film Where Eagles Dare, which was also set during World War II.
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- The positions the British soldiers when they raise the Union Jack at the end is the same as those of the US Marines in the famous picture of the Iwo Jima flag raising.
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