Barbara chooses the mission over Susan
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Barbara offers to go with Tyler, but he insists on traveling alone; he departs to search for survivors, and Jenny convinces Barbara to depart with her to the Civic Transport Museum, where they hope to find other survivors and supplies, against Barbara's protestations about leaving without Susan.
Dortmun reveals they should go to the museum, where he hopes to find instruments and supplies to continue working on his bombs, agreeing to Barbara's assistance despite Jenny's reluctance, setting their course for a dangerous journey.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Conflict between protective instinct and defiant resolve. Her emotional state is a mix of grief (for the Doctor and Ian), concern (for Susan and Tyler), and determination (to continue the fight). She masks her internal turmoil with pragmatic arguments, but her hesitation reveals the cost of her choices.
Barbara serves as the emotional and moral center of the scene, torn between her protective instinct toward Susan and her duty to the resistance. She attempts to persuade Tyler to stay or let her accompany him, citing his bleeding shoulder as a reason for concern. Ultimately, she agrees to join Dortmun and Jenny on the high-risk journey to the Civic Transport Museum, marking a pivotal moment in her arc—prioritizing the broader fight over personal safety. Her dialogue reveals her conflicted loyalty, her compassion, and her growing defiance in the face of the Daleks’ oppression.
- • To ensure Susan’s safety, even as she commits to a dangerous mission with Dortmun.
- • To continue the resistance’s fight by securing supplies for Dortmun’s bomb research, despite its uncertain efficacy.
- • The resistance must adapt or be destroyed, even if it means personal sacrifice.
- • Susan’s survival is intertwined with the resistance’s success, but the greater good may require hard choices.
Not applicable (as an organization), but their influence creates an atmosphere of dread, urgency, and hopelessness among the resistance members. The Daleks’ actions are the catalyst for the group’s emotional and tactical unraveling.
The Daleks are referenced indirectly as the looming, antagonistic force driving the resistance’s desperation. Their actions—the failed raid, the presumed deaths of the Doctor and Ian, and the impending citywide search—cast a shadow over the entire scene. The Daleks’ dominance is felt through Tyler’s bloodied return, Dortmun’s obsession with countering them, and the group’s fractured plans. Their presence is a constant, unspoken threat, shaping every decision made in the Underground HQ.
- • To hunt down and exterminate the remaining resistance cells in London.
- • To consolidate their control over Earth by eliminating all pockets of defiance.
- • Human resistance is futile and must be crushed without mercy.
- • Technological and military superiority ensures their inevitable victory.
Desperate hope bordering on obsession. His emotional state is a mix of frustration (at Tyler’s rejection of his work) and determination (to prove his bomb is the answer). He channels his physical limitations into intellectual defiance, using his research as a lifeline in the face of the resistance’s collapse.
Dortmun, wheelchair-bound but intellectually formidable, insists on continuing his bomb research, arguing it is the only viable solution against the Daleks. He proposes traveling to the Civic Transport Museum to secure supplies and instruments, despite the high risks. His dialogue is obstinate and hopeful, reflecting his scientific obsession and refusal to accept defeat. He packs his belongings with determination, symbolizing his commitment to the resistance’s technological defiance, even as the group fractures around him.
- • To secure supplies and instruments from the Civic Transport Museum to advance his bomb research.
- • To convince the remaining resistance members that his scientific approach is the key to defeating the Daleks.
- • Technology and innovation are the only ways to counter the Daleks’ superior firepower.
- • The resistance’s survival depends on his ability to perfect the bomb, regardless of the personal cost.
Resolute and emotionally detached, masking deep frustration and grief beneath a veneer of cold pragmatism. His physical pain (bleeding shoulder) contrasts with his mental fortitude, revealing a man who prioritizes survival over sentiment.
Tyler enters the Underground HQ bloodied and defeated, his shoulder wound still bleeding, delivering the grim news of the failed raid. He argues vehemently against Dortmun’s bomb research, insisting the group must abandon London to search for survivors and head north. His physical and emotional detachment—rejecting Barbara’s offer to accompany him—signals his resolve to operate alone, symbolizing the resistance’s fragmentation. His dialogue is sharp and pragmatic, reflecting his battle-hardened pragmatism and the weight of leadership under defeat.
- • To abandon London and search for survivors, prioritizing the group’s immediate safety over continued resistance.
- • To reject Dortmun’s bomb research as a futile distraction, pushing for a realistic evacuation strategy.
- • The resistance’s tactics are ineffective against the Daleks, and further engagement will lead to annihilation.
- • Individual survival and regrouping are more critical than symbolic defiance in the face of overwhelming odds.
Not directly observable (as he is off-screen), but his presumed death creates a ripple of grief and urgency among the remaining group members. His absence is felt as a loss of moral and tactical leadership, deepening the resistance’s sense of vulnerability.
Ian is mentioned in passing by Barbara as presumed dead in the failed Dalek saucer raid. His absence looms large over the scene, symbolizing the resistance’s losses and the emotional weight of their choices. Ian’s presumed death serves as a catalyst for Barbara’s conflicted loyalty and Susan’s distress, reinforcing the stakes of the resistance’s continued defiance.
- • N/A (presumed dead, but his memory drives the group’s emotional and strategic responses).
- • N/A
- • N/A (presumed dead, but his presence in the group’s past influences their current beliefs about the cost of resistance).
- • N/A
Distraught and overwhelmed by grief, her rushed departure reflects her inability to process the loss of the Doctor and Ian. Her absence creates a void that Barbara feels compelled to fill, adding emotional weight to the group’s decisions.
Susan is only briefly present at the start of the event, rushing away in distress after learning of the Doctor and Ian’s presumed death. Her absence looms large over the scene, as Barbara’s concern for her safety drives her internal conflict. Susan’s emotional state—distraught and vulnerable—serves as a catalyst for Barbara’s hesitation to fully commit to Dortmun’s plan, symbolizing the personal stakes of the resistance’s choices.
- • To seek solace and safety, given her presumed orphaned state.
- • To avoid further exposure to the resistance’s dangers, prioritizing personal survival.
- • The resistance’s fight is futile and only leads to more loss.
- • Barbara’s protection is essential to her survival in this hostile world.
Not directly observable (as he is off-screen), but his presumed death creates a sense of orphaned leadership and moral ambiguity. The group’s reactions—Tyler’s pragmatism, Barbara’s conflict, Susan’s distress—reveal how deeply his absence is felt, even in his silence.
The Doctor is referenced by Barbara as presumed dead in the failed Dalek saucer raid. His absence is a pivotal emotional and narrative driver in the scene, symbolizing the loss of the group’s intellectual and moral leader. The Doctor’s presumed death forces Barbara and Susan to confront their roles without his guidance, while Tyler’s pragmatic surrender reflects the resistance’s loss of its most visionary strategist. The Doctor’s legacy looms over the group’s fractured decisions, highlighting the stakes of their choices.
- • N/A (presumed dead, but his memory influences the group’s beliefs about the resistance’s purpose).
- • N/A
- • N/A (presumed dead, but his presence in the group’s past shapes their current beliefs about the possibility of defiance).
- • N/A
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Dortmun’s supplies and instruments for his bomb are the focal point of the group’s debate, as he insists on traveling to the Civic Transport Museum to acquire them. These objects symbolize the resistance’s last hope—a technological solution to an overwhelming military threat. Their mention in the dialogue drives the group’s fractured plans, as Barbara and Jenny reluctantly agree to accompany Dortmun. The supplies represent both the resistance’s desperation and their refusal to surrender, even as their efficacy remains unproven. Their acquisition becomes a symbolic mission, embodying the group’s defiance in the face of annihilation.
Dortmun’s belongings—tools, notes, and equipment essential for his bomb research—are packed with determination as he prepares to leave for the Civic Transport Museum. These objects symbolize his intellectual defiance and the resistance’s last technological hope. Their mention in the dialogue underscores Dortmun’s commitment to his work, even as the group fractures around him. The belongings represent the resistance’s refusal to accept defeat, as Dortmun clings to the belief that his bomb is the answer. Their packing serves as a metaphor for the group’s desperate grasp at survival, as they prepare to embark on a perilous journey.
The Resistance Relocation Code System is mentioned by Jenny as a means of communicating the group’s new location after forced relocations. Barbara’s concern that Susan does not know the code highlights the group’s fragmentation and the personal stakes of their choices. The code system symbolizes the resistance’s attempts to maintain cohesion in the face of Dalek pursuit, but its mention in this context reveals the group’s growing isolation. It serves as a reminder of the emotional and logistical challenges of survival, as Barbara’s worry for Susan underscores the human cost of their fractured strategies.
Tyler’s bleeding shoulder is a visceral symbol of the resistance’s physical and emotional toll. The wound, still open and staining his clothes, serves as a tangible reminder of the raid’s failure and the group’s vulnerability. Barbara uses it as leverage to argue that Tyler cannot travel alone, while Tyler dismisses her concern, prioritizing his solitary mission. The shoulder’s condition reflects the resistance’s broader state—injured, desperate, and pushing forward despite the odds. Its presence in the scene underscores the cost of defiance and the fragility of human resilience.
Tyler’s resistance bombs are referenced indirectly as a failed weapon, their ineffectiveness in the saucer raid underscoring the group’s tactical impotence. The bombs symbolize the resistance’s desperation and the Daleks’ overwhelming superiority. Their mention in the dialogue—Tyler’s accusation that ‘Your bombs were useless, Dortmun’—serves as a catalyst for the group’s fracture, as Dortmun clings to his scientific obsession while Tyler rejects further engagement. The bombs’ failure highlights the resistance’s need for a new strategy, driving Dortmun’s insistence on the Civic Transport Museum trip.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Civic Transport Museum is proposed as the resistance’s new hub, a potential safe haven and resource depot for Dortmun’s bomb research. The location is framed as a gathering place for survivors and a source of supplies, symbolizing the group’s desperate hope for renewal. Its mention in the dialogue drives the group’s fractured plans, as Barbara and Jenny reluctantly agree to accompany Dortmun on the high-risk journey across London. The museum represents both a tangible goal and a symbolic mission, embodying the resistance’s refusal to surrender. Its role in the event is that of a beacon of possibility, even as the journey to reach it is perilous.
The Underground HQ serves as the resistance’s last bastion of defiance, a dimly lit subterranean bunker where the group’s fragile unity collapses. The location’s flickering maps, scattered gear, and concrete walls create an atmosphere of desperation and urgency, as Tyler delivers his grim report and the group debates their next move. The HQ symbolizes the resistance’s dwindling resources and the emotional weight of their choices, as Barbara’s concern for Susan and Dortmun’s obsession with his bomb play out against the backdrop of their failing stronghold. The location’s role is both a meeting point and a tomb of failed ambitions, as the group’s plans fracture and they prepare to abandon it.
London is framed as a high-risk zone, patrolled by Daleks and Robomen, where every street and bridge is a potential death trap. The location’s mention in the dialogue underscores the group’s desperation and the urgency of their evacuation. London symbolizes the resistance’s failed stronghold, a city now under Dalek control, where survival is nearly impossible. The group’s debate over whether to stay or flee reflects the emotional and tactical weight of their choices, as they grapple with the cost of defiance in a world dominated by the Daleks. The location’s role is that of an inescapable gauntlet, driving the group’s fragmentation and urgency.
The Northern Region Outside London is proposed by Tyler as a potential escape route and refuge, symbolizing the resistance’s last hope for survival. The location’s mention in the dialogue drives the group’s fracture, as Tyler insists on abandoning London to search for survivors and head north. The Northern Region represents both a tangible goal and a symbolic mission, embodying the resistance’s refusal to surrender. Its role in the event is that of a beacon of possibility, even as the journey to reach it is fraught with uncertainty. The location’s atmosphere of open fields and quiet roads contrasts sharply with the Daleks’ oppressive control over London, offering a tentative haven for regrouping.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Daleks are represented in this event as the ruthless, omnipresent force driving the resistance’s desperation. Their involvement is manifested through the group’s reactions to the failed saucer raid, Tyler’s bloodied return, and the impending citywide search. The Daleks’ power dynamics are characterized by overwhelming dominance, as their actions—executing resistance fighters, patrolling London, and retaliating against raids—cast a shadow over every decision made in the Underground HQ. Their goals in this event are to hunt down and exterminate the remaining resistance cells, consolidating their control over Earth. Their influence mechanisms include relentless pursuit, superior firepower, and the psychological weight of their oppression, which fractures the resistance’s unity and drives their evacuation.
The Resistance is represented in this event as a fractured and desperate network of guerrilla fighters, battling the Daleks’ occupation of Earth. The organization’s involvement is manifested through the group’s debate over whether to stay and fight or evacuate to the north, as well as their fractured plans to travel to the Civic Transport Museum. The Resistance’s power dynamics are characterized by internal conflict, as Tyler’s pragmatism clashes with Dortmun’s idealism, and Barbara’s loyalty is torn between personal protection and collective defiance. The organization’s goals in this event are to survive the Daleks’ retaliation and secure supplies for Dortmun’s bomb research, even as their unity collapses. Their influence mechanisms include tactical debates, emotional appeals, and the desperate grasp at technological solutions.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
Within this episode
"Tyler's intention to find survivors and head north (beat_f320644077e1c53d) dictates his actions in beat_31edc2a8fff2d6f2, where he refuses company and departs, consistent with his solitary approach."
Tyler abandons the resistance after raid failureAcross episodes
"Barbara's line in Episode 6 ('he wouldn't have had any without us') directly references Dortmun's earlier assessment of her utility in Episode 4 ('Can you cook?'), symbolizing her transition from a temporary helper to an indispensable leader."
Underground Integration and Crisis Escalation"Dortmun’s militant resolve and bomb research (World's End) are directly referenced in Day of Reckoning, where his failed bomb becomes a point of contention among the resistance."
Dortmun reveals the saucer threat"Craddock's warning about the Daleks' control in E5 ('Once they've got you inside a saucer, you're finished') is echoed by additional resistance members in E6, who ultimately choose to abandon the cause, mirroring his resignation."
Craddock recounts Earth’s Dalek invasion"Jenny’s pragmatic assignment of roles (e.g., Barbara gathering food) in Episode 5 is directly echoed in Episode 6, where Tyler’s collapse leads Barbara to abandon her loyalty to Susan in favor of mission objectives. Both reflect the growing disintegration of resistance unity."
Susan’s Injury and Resistance Roles Assigned"David’s insistence on delaying Barbara’s knowledge of the Doctor and Ian’s capture in Episode 5 leads to Barbara’s sudden, late realization in Episode 6 that Tyler has abandoned hope and declared most of their group dead or captured. This delayed communication escalates the emotional collapse of the resistance."
David delays Susan’s warning; Jenny reveals Roboman horrors"The Doctor's defiance in Episode 5 (e.g., challenging the Daleks' claim over Earth) drives Barbara's decision to reject Tyler's abandonment of the mission in Episode 6, as she refuses to leave the Doctor behind."
Doctor challenges Dalek supremacy"Barbara's integration into the resistance (Episode 4) parallels her later insistence on staying to rescue Susan (Episode 6). Both moments show Barbara prioritizing the group's cohesion and survival over immediate safety, reinforcing her transformation from a tentative newcomer to a committed leader."
Underground Integration and Crisis Escalation"Barbara’s defiance in Episode 5 (insisting on helping Tyler despite danger) foreshadows her choosing the mission over personal ties in Episode 6 (prioritizing the resistance’s survival over Susan’s safety)."
Barbara learns the truth about Robomen"Barbara’s intervention in E5—suggesting the bomb could enable the resistance to 'get right into the middle of the Daleks'—mirrors her moral dilemma in E6, where she prioritizes Barbara’s mission over personal loyalty to Susan. Both scenes show Barbara’s pragmatic shift toward Dortmun’s vision."
Barbara Proposes Robomen Infiltration"Barbara’s pragmatic delegation of tasks in Episode 5 (supporting Susan’s injury assessment) mirrors her later struggle in Episode 6, where she must choose between loyalty to Susan and her commitment to rescuing the Doctor."
Susan’s Injury and Resistance Roles Assigned"Craddock's fatalistic warnings about Dalek control in the prison cell (Ep 5) foreshadow Barbara's emotional turmoil and eventual decision to prioritize mission over personal ties (Ep 6)."
Craddock reveals Earth’s fall to the Doctor"Barbara's growing confidence and leadership in formulating the Robomen infiltration plan in Episode 5 persists into Episode 6, where she prioritizes the mission over Susan's emotional needs."
Dortmun Unveils the Bomb and Plans Attack"Dortmun’s defiance in E5—'Obey motorised dustbins? We’ll see'—resonates with his stubborn refusal to evacuate in E6, despite Tyler’s urging. His emotional stance remains unbroken: resistance at any cost."
Dortmun’s defiance sparks resistance coordination"The resistance’s reliance on Dortmun’s bomb in Episode 5 (symbolizing hope) escalates into the collapse of their plan in Episode 6, where Tyler abandons the resistance and Dortmun’s death shatters morale."
Dortmun Unveils the Bomb and Plans Attack"The Daleks' escalation from containment to forced robotisation of the Doctor in Episode 5 directly escalates to the resistance's collapse in Episode 6 — moral and strategic defeats compound under Dalek oppression."
Doctor sentenced to robotisation"Jenny's revelation about the horrors of Robomen and the Daleks' conversion of humans into biomechanical slaves (Episode 5) directly sets up Barbara's defiant choice to fulfill a mission despite loss and danger (Episode 6)."
Barbara learns the truth about Robomen"Both episodes explore the tension between individual loyalty and collective survival. In 'World's End', David assigns newcomers like Barbara to low-risk roles, while in 'Day of Reckoning', Barbara subverts this by choosing to stay for Susan despite warnings."
Underground Integration and Crisis Escalation"The Doctor's near-robotic fate in E5 parallels Dortmun's dehumanization in E6: both are stripped of agency and reduced to tools in the Daleks' plans, one through literal robotisation and the other through obsession (his bomb)."
Doctor sentenced to robotisation"Roboman creation in Episode 5 (the Daleks’ dehumanization) parallels Barbara’s 'breaking' of ties with Susan in Episode 6—both are acts of choosing survival over loyalty to another person or ideal."
Barbara learns the truth about Robomen"Barbara's refusal to abandon others in Episode 6 ('We'd have much more chance on our own') is echoed in Episode 12 when she is excluded from Ian's sale ('Don’t forget, you can bid for the woman in Rome if you like')—highlighting how her loyalty often excludes her from safety."
Ian’s forced separation from Barbara"Barbara's loyalty to the mission over personal ties in Episode 6 (cand_evt_scene_492fe4988579c90c_02) mirrors Ian's loyalty to Larry and Wells in Episode 7, where he prioritizes their survival over immediate escape, reflecting a shared ethos of protecting weaker allies despite danger."
Wells reveals London’s destruction"Barbara's insistence on staying and helping in 'Day of Reckoning' directly leads to her later vulnerability in 'The Slave Traders', where she is targeted by slave traders due to her courage and visibility."
Ian and Barbara Ambushed at Villa"Barbara’s choice to prioritize the mission over Susan (Episode 6) is recalled by Susan’s desperate call for 'Tyler!' in the sewers (Episode 7), invoking the same tension between personal allegiance and group survival."
Susan’s ladder collapse and rescue"Barbara's choice to prioritize the mission over Susan in Episode 6 (confirmed Tyler's report of Ian's presumed death) directly drives the emotional and narrative stakes for Ian in Episode 7, where he is presumed dead but is actually alive and operating under extreme duress."
Larry risks exposure searching for brother"The fragmentation of the resistance in Episode 6 (Barbara's choice to mission over Susan) creates the perilous sewer conditions Susan and David face early in Episode 7."
Susan and David face dwindling resources and hidden threats"Barbara's moral leadership in Episode 6 ('We can't leave now. What if Susan comes back looking for us?') directly influences her positioning as a target in Episode 12 (slave traders identify her as high-value due to her assertiveness and compassion)."
Slave traders identify and target companions"Barbara's moral conflict from Episode 6—choosing duty over safety for friends like Susan—mirrors her panic-driven killing in Episode 11, where she prioritizes perceived safety over justice for the Didonian creature."
Barbara kills Vicki’s pet in panic"Barbara's strong moral compass and protective instincts (refusing to abandon London even when Tyler suggests fleeing) evolve by Episode 11 into her deep concern for Vicki’s emotional well-being and shared decision-making with Ian."
Vicki accepts the TARDIS crew invitation"Barbara's choice to stay and fight in Episode 6 (rejecting Tyler's isolationist path) is reflected in David's pragmatic retrieval of the Doctor's stick in Episode 7, showing a continuity of characters prioritizing collective survival over individual escape."
David proposes retrieving the Doctor’s stick"Barbara's mission-focused choices in Episode 6 (choosing to help Tyler) establish Ian's continued mission-oriented behavior in Episode 7 (searching for Larry's brother despite danger)."
Larry risks exposure searching for brother"Tyler's abandonment of the resistance in Episode 6 escalates into him becoming a key figure in the survival of the group in Episode 7."
Tyler saves Susan from alligator"Tyler's abandonment of the resistance and the group's fragile unity in Episode 6 escalates into Barbara and Jenny's desperate high-stakes escape tactics in Episode 7, including ramming through a Dalek barricade."
Barbara Rams Dalek Barricade"Barbara's guilt over Dortmun's death in Episode 6 foreshadows her deeper guilt in Episode 11 after killing the Didonian pet, where her emotional response to trauma escalates into a more violent, irreparable mistake."
Vicki accepts the TARDIS crew invitation"In Episode 6, Barbara's separation from the group (choosing to stay behind despite Tyler's departure) foreshadows her physical separation from Ian in Episode 12, where they are brutally torn apart by slavers. The emotional weight of their forced separation intensifies the conflict."
Ian’s forced separation from Barbara"Barbara’s rejection of Tyler’s abandonment plan (Episode 6) leads to mutual care and decision-making with Ian about Vicki (Episode 11), marking her transition from resistance fighter to protective caretaker."
Vicki accepts the TARDIS crew invitation"Barbara's decision to reject Tyler's abandonment of the mission in 'Day of Reckoning' foreshadows her later resistance to being separated from Ian in 'The Slave Traders'. Both moments highlight Barbara's refusal to abandon her allies despite overwhelming danger."
Slave traders identify and target companions"The collapse of resistance unity around Bennett in Episode 11 mirrors the fractures in the resistance following the failed saucer raid in Episode 6. Both episodes explore betrayal as a central theme, with Bennett's deception paralleling the Daleks' relentless antagonism."
Doctor manipulates Vicki into betraying Bennett"The resistance's collapse due to distrust (Episode 6) parallels Vicki's trauma and the Doctor's manipulation of her trust (Episode 11), both exploring how distrust and deception erode relationships."
Vicki accepts the TARDIS crew invitation"The collapse of resistance unity in Episode 6 (tyle's abandonment) mirrors the fragile trust and strategic fractures between Barbara and Jenny in Episode 7."
Barbara and Jenny prepare a desperate escapeThemes This Exemplifies
Thematic resonance and meaning
Part of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"TYLER: Your bombs were useless, Dortmun."
"DORTMUN: It's the only answer."
"BARBARA: But we can't leave now. What if Susan comes back looking for us?"
"JENNY: We'd have much more chance on our own."
"BARBARA: Well, he wouldn't have had any without us. You needn't stay if you don't want to."