Since the first glimpse of a menacing plunger at the end of Doctor Who’s fifth episode on 21 December 1963, Skaro’s hate-filled mutants have been a permanent fixture in the show’s 51-year history.
To celebrate, CultBox decided to count down every Dalek story on screen (cameo appearances notwithstanding) and reveal our all-time favourite…
5. ‘Asylum of the Daleks’ (2012)
Introducing a couple of ghastly new tricks to their arsenal – animating corpses and producing eye-sticks from the forehead – Series 7’s opener found the Daleks recruiting their best enemy for a mission to the planet where they put the creatures so mad even they can’t handle them.
Of course, what this episode really did was pull an enormous con-trick covering the jaw-dropping early introduction of Clara with spades of hoopla surrounding the return of older models versions of Dalek.
4. ‘Bad Wolf’ / ‘The Parting of the Ways’ (2005)
Some spot on reality TV satire spans into a triumphant series finale of epic proportions as we finally understood the nature of the Bad Wolf.
Haunted by his actions which ended the Time War, the Doctor faces the mad Dalek Emperor in a climax that threatens to cost him his life.
3. ‘Dalek’ (2005)
After years of stair jokes, Robert Shearman’s story redeemed the Daleks, turning them back into something to be feared.
In its attempt to escape incarceration after Rose inadvertently revives it, the lone creature showed itself to be a murderous genius and a foe worthy of the last Time Lord who stands in its way.
2. ‘Remembrance of the Daleks’ (1988)
‘Remembrance…’ brought the Doctor and Ace back to London in 1963 to deal with his oldest foes and kicked off the programme’s 25th year in grand style.
With rival Dalek factions chasing after a Time Lord artefact and some memorable human characters in harm’s way, it is the Doctor is who draws the Daleks into a deadly trap.
1. ‘Genesis of the Daleks’ (1975)
On a mission for the Time Lords, the Doctor first meets the twisted genius who created the Daleks and ultimately takes a moral stand on their existence.
Giant Clams not-withstanding, the Nazi parallels are writ large and the tremendous performance of Michael Wisher as Davros assures the story’s place at the top of our list.
What’s your favourite Dalek story? Let us know below…