Fabula
S12E15 · Genesis of the Daleks Part 5

The Resistance’s Uncertain Momentum: Gharman’s Desperate Gamble

In the claustrophobic tension of a Kaled detention room, Harry and Sarah—recently captured—are thrust into a pivotal exchange with Gharman, the disgraced former head of the Military Elite Scientific Corps. Gharman’s urgency is palpable: he reveals his failed coup against Davros, his betrayal by the very system he sought to dismantle, and his bewilderment at Davros’s inaction. The scene crackles with existential stakes—Gharman’s hope that Davros’s hesitation is a tactical blunder, not a calculated delay, hinges on the resistance’s ability to mobilize before the Daleks’ production becomes irreversible. His conviction that the Kaled people are ‘in the majority’ contrasts sharply with the silent, paralyzed masses outside, exposing the resistance’s fragile hope: a movement that could either ignite revolution or collapse into futility. The dialogue’s subtext—Gharman’s desperation to believe in his own narrative, Harry’s cynical realism, and Sarah’s cautious optimism—reveals the moral and strategic fault lines of the resistance, while foreshadowing the violent escalation to come (e.g., Kavell’s later breach). This moment is a turning point: Gharman’s defiance becomes the catalyst for the Doctor’s moral dilemma, forcing him to confront whether the resistance’s bloodless revolution is a viable alternative to his own genocidal plan.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

3

Harry and Sarah are pushed into a cell and meet Gharman, the former head of the Military Elite Scientific Corps, who was organizing a movement against Davros but was captured.

confusion to cautiousness ['cell']

Gharman, surprised that Davros hasn't made mass arrests after he betrayed his co-conspirators, speculates that with ever moment Davros delays, the resistance movement grows stronger.

anxiety to hope

Gharman reveals his conviction that most Kaleds want the Dalek project to end and that if they act quickly, they could break Davros's power, expressing frustration that he can't get word to them.

hope to frustration

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2

A volatile mix of frustration, hope, and existential dread—clinging to the belief that the resistance’s strength is growing, even as the evidence of their imprisonment suggests otherwise.

Gharman, disheveled and desperate, introduces himself as the former head of the Military Elite Scientific Corps, his voice laced with urgency and bewilderment. He reveals his failed coup and Davros’s betrayal, listening intently at the door for signs of movement outside. His dialogue oscillates between confusion ("I don’t understand") and defiant hope ("I know I am. Many of us believe that production of the Daleks must end"), revealing his internal struggle to reconcile his past authority with his current powerlessness. Physically, he is tense, his movements abrupt as he presses his ear to the door, symbolizing his desperation to reconnect with the resistance.

Goals in this moment
  • To convince Harry and Sarah (and by extension, the audience) that the resistance is gaining momentum and can overthrow Davros.
  • To understand why Davros has not acted against the rebellion, seeking to exploit any perceived weakness in his strategy.
Active beliefs
  • The Kaled people are in the majority and will support the resistance if given the opportunity.
  • Davros’s delay is a tactical miscalculation that the resistance can exploit before the Daleks’ production becomes irreversible.
Character traits
Desperate Defiant Bewildered Urgent Idealistic
Follow Gharman's journey

Cynically realistic, masking underlying frustration at the resistance’s perceived naivety and their own powerlessness in the moment.

Harry is pushed into the detention room alongside Sarah, immediately adopting a skeptical and pragmatic stance. He questions Gharman’s identity and authority, then challenges the feasibility of the resistance’s plans, grounding his skepticism in the immediate reality of their imprisonment. His dialogue reveals a cautious, no-nonsense demeanor, contrasting with Gharman’s idealism. Physically, he remains alert but constrained by the confined space, his posture likely tense and defensive.

Goals in this moment
  • To assess Gharman’s credibility and the viability of the resistance’s plans.
  • To temper Sarah’s and Gharman’s optimism with a dose of reality, given their current imprisonment.
Active beliefs
  • The resistance’s movement is unlikely to succeed without significant external support or a clear strategic advantage.
  • Davros’s inaction is not a sign of weakness but likely a calculated delay to crush the rebellion more effectively.
Character traits
Skeptical Pragmatic Cautious Defensive No-nonsense
Follow Harry Sullivan's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

1
Kaled Detention Room Door

The Kaled Detention Room Door serves as a critical point of surveillance and tension in this event. Gharman presses his ear against it, listening for guards or activity in the corridor outside, amplifying the claustrophobic atmosphere of the room. The door symbolizes the barrier between the resistance’s fragile hope and the oppressive reality of Davros’s regime. Its solid metal construction underscores the physical and psychological confinement of the characters, while Gharman’s act of listening at the door highlights his desperation to reconnect with the outside world and his movement.

Before: Closed and locked, with no immediate signs of …
After: Remains closed and locked, but Gharman’s act of …
Before: Closed and locked, with no immediate signs of activity outside. The door is a barrier to both physical escape and communication with the resistance.
After: Remains closed and locked, but Gharman’s act of listening at the door introduces a sense of impending action or discovery, leaving the door as a symbol of both obstruction and potential opportunity.

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Kaled Bunker Detention Cell

The Kaled Detention Room is a cramped, oppressive space that mirrors the resistance’s precarious position. Its cold metal walls and confined dimensions create a sense of claustrophobia, reinforcing the characters’ physical and psychological constraints. The room serves as a microcosm of the broader conflict: a place where ideals (Gharman’s hope for revolution) clash with harsh realities (Harry’s skepticism and their shared imprisonment). The atmosphere is tense, with whispered conversations and urgent dialogue, as the characters grapple with the stakes of their situation. The room’s role as a meeting place for Gharman, Harry, and Sarah underscores its function as a catalyst for the resistance’s next moves.

Atmosphere Tense and claustrophobic, with whispered conversations and a palpable sense of urgency. The air is …
Function A confined meeting place where the resistance’s fragile hope is tested, and where Gharman’s defiance …
Symbolism Represents the moral and strategic fault lines within the resistance, as well as the broader …
Access Restricted to prisoners and guards; entry is controlled by Davros’s regime, and the door is …
Cold metal walls that amplify the sense of confinement. A single solid metal door, serving as both a barrier and a point of surveillance. Dim, oppressive lighting that casts long shadows, reinforcing the room’s claustrophobic mood.

Organizations Involved

Institutional presence and influence

2
Kaled Rebellion (Rebel Faction)

The Kaled Rebellion is the driving force behind Gharman’s defiance and the central theme of this event. Though physically absent, the rebellion is invoked through Gharman’s dialogue, which paints it as a growing movement with the potential to overthrow Davros. His insistence that the resistance is in the majority and that Davros’s delay is a tactical error reflects the rebellion’s ideological core: a belief in the power of collective action and moral right. The organization’s influence is felt through Gharman’s urgency and hope, as well as Harry’s skepticism, which highlights the internal tensions within the movement.

Representation Through Gharman’s spoken convictions and his role as a former leader of the Military Elite …
Power Dynamics The rebellion is currently weak and fragmented, operating from a position of powerlessness (as evidenced …
Impact The rebellion’s actions and beliefs directly challenge the institutional power of Davros’s regime, threatening to …
Internal Dynamics The rebellion is fractured between idealists (like Gharman, who believe in a bloodless revolution) and …
To mobilize the Kaled people and exploit Davros’s perceived inaction to gain control of the Dalek project. To dismantle Davros’s regime and replace it with a democratic leadership that prioritizes moral safeguards over unchecked scientific advancement. Through Gharman’s leadership and his ability to inspire others (e.g., Sarah’s cautious optimism). By leveraging the perceived majority support among the Kaled population, as claimed by Gharman.
Davros's Regime

Davros’s Regime looms over this event as an unseen but omnipresent force. Its influence is felt through Gharman’s revelations about his failed coup, Davros’s betrayal, and the regime’s apparent inaction. The regime’s power dynamics are characterized by control, surveillance, and the threat of violent repression, as evidenced by Gharman’s fear of mass arrests and executions. The regime’s inaction, however, creates a paradox: it suggests either a calculated delay or internal instability, both of which the rebellion seeks to exploit. The organization’s presence is symbolic, representing the oppressive system against which the resistance is fighting.

Representation Through Gharman’s dialogue about Davros’s betrayal, the regime’s surveillance (e.g., the locked door), and the …
Power Dynamics The regime holds absolute power over the Kaled people, as demonstrated by Gharman’s imprisonment and …
Impact The regime’s actions (or inactions) directly shape the trajectory of the rebellion and the fate …
Internal Dynamics The regime’s internal dynamics are hinted at through Gharman’s confusion about Davros’s inaction. This suggests …
To maintain control over the Kaled population and suppress any dissent, particularly the rebellion led by Gharman. To ensure the unchecked production of the Daleks, regardless of moral or ethical concerns. Through institutional control (e.g., imprisonment, surveillance, and the threat of violence). By manipulating internal divisions (e.g., tricking Gharman into revealing the names of rebels).

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What this causes 1
Causal

"Harry and Sarah's capture and meeting with Gharman (beat_15b5159f7f142ea5) directly leads to their eventual escape (beat_f42b6314a9ebc0b7) and the rebels' preparation for action."

The Doctor’s Warning Ignored: Hubris Before the Storm
S12E15 · Genesis of the Daleks Part …

Part of Larger Arcs

Key Dialogue

"GHARMAN: *I was trying to organise a movement against Davros. He found out. Now, what's happening out there? Has there been any attempt to take away control from Davros?* SARAH: *Not that we know of.* GHARMAN: *Nothing?* HARRY: *He's still very much in charge.* GHARMAN: *I don’t understand. Davros tricked me into giving him the names of the group who were plotting against him. Have there not been mass arrests by now? Executions?*"
"GHARMAN: *Well, if that's true, he's being too clever for his own good. Every moment he delays, our movement grows in strength.* SARAH: *I hope you're right.* GHARMAN: *I know I am. Many of us believe that production of the Daleks must end. I believe now that we are in the majority. If we act soon, we can break his power.* HARRY: *We're not in much of a position to act at the moment, are we.*"
"GHARMAN: *If only I could get word to them now.*"