Fabula
Season 12 · Episode 12
S12E12
Tragic
View Graph

Genesis of the Daleks Part 2

When the Doctor and his companion find themselves on the war-torn planet Skaro, they must decide whether or not to prevent the genesis of the Daleks, monstrous creatures destined to become one of the greatest evils in the universe.

On the desolate planet Skaro, amidst a brutal war between the Kaleds and the Thals, the Doctor, along with Harry and Sarah, become entangled in a series of dangerous events. Transported to this crucial moment in time, they soon discover the horrifying origins of the Daleks, creatures destined to spread terror across the galaxy.

Captured shortly after their arrival, the Doctor and Harry are taken to a Kaled bunker, where they are interrogated. They witness the chilling experiments of Davros, the brilliant but ruthless scientist, who is perfecting the Mark Three travel machine, a primitive Dalek. Davros reveals his vision of creating a superior race, devoid of weakness and driven by an instinct to destroy all non-conformity. Meanwhile, Sarah finds herself enslaved by the Thals, forced to work on a deadly project involving distronic explosives. She discovers that the Thals are planning a devastating attack on the Kaled dome, an act that could wipe out the entire Kaled race.

As Davros's experiments progress, Ronson, a scientist within the Elite, grows increasingly disturbed by the ethical implications of his work. The Doctor sees an opportunity and, with the help of Ronson, they plan an escape, aiming to alert the Kaled government to Davros's sinister plans. In the Thal dome, Sarah rallies her fellow slaves, mostly mutated beings known as Mutos, and leads a daring escape up the scaffolding of a massive rocket.

The Doctor and Harry manage to escape through a ventilation shaft that leads to a cave, while Sarah tragically falls from the scaffolding during the Mutos' escape. She is saved by Sevrin, one of the less aggressive mutos, and they join forces to sabotage the Thal's war effort. Meanwhile, inside the Kaled bunker, the Doctor convinces Ronson to help them escape and provides them with names of Kaled government officials who can stop Davros. Escaping through the ventilation system, the Doctor and Harry leave Ronson to face the consequences of his actions. They battle one of Davros' creations in the escape tunnels which were made when Davros experimented on animals.

The narrative builds to a climax where both the Doctor and his companions confront the moral dilemma of whether to interfere with the Daleks' genesis. The Doctor understands that preventing their creation could alter the course of history, but allowing them to exist would unleash unimaginable destruction upon the universe. They must decide whether meddling with fate is justified to prevent a dark future. The episode ends with the Doctor continuing to wrestle with his conscience, the weight of his decision ever present as the prelude to war draws close.


Events in This Episode

The narrative beats that drive the story

27