Summary
- The Daleks, Doctor Who’s iconic enemy, have never successfully killed any version of the Time Lord, making their fearsome reputation questionable.
- Despite their ruthless schemes and conquests, the Daleks have consistently fallen short in eliminating the Doctor, unlike other major adversaries.
- The Daleks did technically cause regenerations for two Doctors, but the incidents were not decisive victories, leaving their record with the Time Lord lacking.
Doctor Who‘s Daleks are generally considered to be the Doctor’s greatest enemy, yet the fearsome aliens hold a somewhat embarrassing record that puts their credentials in doubt. Making their debut in 1963, the Daleks have come in many forms, constantly clashing with the Doctor and his companions throughout the show’s many iterations. However, despite battling Doctor Who‘s titular Time Lord for over six decades, one Dalek streak suggests that they may not be as terrifying as their reputation suggests.
Although Doctor Who features numerous recurring characters and villains, it is the Daleks that frequently elicit the greatest fear. During the series, the creatures have conquered planets, exterminated entire populations, and conspired to destroy all life in the universe with a terrifying “Reality Bomb” – to name just a few of their infamous schemes. And yet, this horrific track record conceals the disappointing truth about the Daleks that Doctor Who is yet to correct ahead of Ncuti Gatwa’s debut season in the famous role.
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Doctor Who has been played by a crop of fantastic actors going back several decades, and each version has been both unique and memorable.
The Daleks Have Never Killed A Doctor In Doctor Who
Even though the Daleks are continually described as the Doctor’s greatest enemy, the disappointing truth is that the aliens have never actually managed to successfully kill any version of the Time Lord, forcing his regeneration. Certainly, this hasn’t been for lack of trying. The creatures constantly show up in Earth-threatening scenarios, chasing the Doctor and his companions and killing countless other lifeforms on screen. Yet, despite their obvious antipathy towards the Doctor, not one of their race has managed to successfully land a killing blow.
This record is even more disappointing considering the record of the Doctor’s other great adversaries. The Master, the Rani, and the Cybermen have all managed to claim various Doctors over the years, cementing themselves as indisputable nemeses in the process. In so doing, however, these enemies have only underlined how disappointing it is that the Daleks – ostensibly the greatest enemy of them all – have consistently fallen short. As it stands, the situation makes a mockery of the idea that the Daleks really are the Doctor’s greatest ever enemy.
Why The Daleks Have Killed A Doctor – Technically
Although the Daleks have never managed to kill a Doctor in the traditional sense, there are a couple of technical exceptions. In “The Stolen Earth”, the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) is forced to regenerate after being struck by Dalek gunfire. Likewise, the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) appears to be killed prior to rebooting the Earth in “The Big Bang”. However, while both of these “deaths” would appear to end the Dalek streak, there are important reasons why they don’t really count.
In the case of “The Stolen Earth” incident, David Tennant’s Doctor was only dealt a glancing blow, allowing him to regenerate without having to change his appearance. Likewise, in “The Big Bang” the Dalek who shot the Doctor wasn’t actually at full power, having only just been awoken by the light from the Pandorica, meaning that its weaponry was not fully powered. This, in turn, allowed Eleven to wake up and complete his plan to restart the universe. Although both of these incidents can technically be described as “deaths”, they are clearly far less conclusive than some of the incidents involving the Doctor’s other enemies.
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Why The Daleks Should Cause Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor Who Regeneration
Before he’s even fully taken on the mantle, it may feel a little premature to contemplate Ncuti Gatwa’s death as the Doctor. However, given the ridiculous length of the Dalek’s surprising record, Gatwa’s eventual end presents a great opportunity for the species to finally live up to their terrifying reputation. After so many years of failure, finally allowing the Daleks to kill a version of the Doctor would be a great way for the aliens to seem like a genuine threat once again. The litany of missed opportunities and bad shooting has turned the Daleks from a terrifying force to a parody of themselves. Killing Fifteen can be a much-needed reset.
For Gatwa, as well, death at the hands of the Daleks represents an exciting way to stand out from the crowd. Given how long the Doctor has escaped, being killed by the Daleks at this point in the franchise’s history would be a real badge of honor and would certainly rank as one of the most memorable regenerations ever. Fifteen’s death may be a long way in Doctor Who‘s future, but having the Daleks play a role can serve several important purposes.
Doctor Who
Originally premiered in 1963, Doctor Who is a sci-fi series that follows a powerful being known as a Time Lord, referred to as the Doctor. Using an interdimensional time-traveling ship known as the TARDIS, the Doctor travels time and space with various companions as they solve multiple problems and help avert catastrophe as much as they almost cause it. Though the Doctor is always the same character, they experience regenerations, allowing them to be recast every few seasons as a unique immortal being with new personality traits.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
