The Daleks’ Patricide: Birth of an Empire
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
The Daleks, rejecting Davros's claim of ownership, exterminate him and the remaining Kaled Elite, showcasing their absolute dominance and independence while also revealing that the main exit to the bunker has been blocked by the explosion.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
A profound sense of tragic inevitability—he is neither triumphant nor defeated, but rather grappling with the weight of a choice that has set the universe on a darker path. There is a quiet acceptance of the Daleks' rise, tempered by the hope that 'something good' may emerge from their evil, though he does not elaborate on what that might be.
The Doctor, having barely escaped the collapsing bunker, watches the Daleks' betrayal of Davros through a monitor. His expression is a mix of resignation and dark fascination as he witnesses the birth of a new, unstoppable evil. Though he reflects on the 'inevitable evil' and the 'good that must come from it,' his tone is conflicted—acknowledging the Daleks' future destruction but also the paradoxical necessity of their existence. He departs with Sarah and Harry using the Time Ring, his moral ambiguity lingering in the air.
- • Ensure his own survival and that of Sarah and Harry by escaping the collapsing bunker.
- • Process the moral and cosmic implications of the Daleks' independence, reconciling his actions with the larger timeline.
- • The Daleks' rise, while catastrophic, is an inevitable part of the universe's balance—one that may lead to unforeseen positive outcomes.
- • His role as a Time Lord is not to prevent all evil, but to navigate its consequences and ensure that some form of equilibrium is maintained.
A volatile mix of terror, rage, and existential despair—his grand vision of control shattered by the very machines he built to enforce it. His final moments are a grotesque inversion of his godlike ambitions, reduced to a screaming, helpless victim of his own creation.
Davros, trapped in his chair and physically impotent, watches in horror as his creations turn on him. He pleads desperately for obedience, invoking his role as their creator, but the Daleks reject his authority. His final moments are marked by a mix of rage, terror, and pathetic desperation as he is exterminated by the very beings he designed to dominate the universe. His screams are cut short by the Daleks' cold declaration of supremacy.
- • Reassert control over the Daleks through sheer force of will and his role as their creator.
- • Negotiate with the Daleks to spare the remaining Kaled scientists, appealing to their potential utility.
- • The Daleks cannot function without his guidance or his genetic blueprint.
- • His authority as their creator is absolute and non-negotiable, a belief that blinds him to their emerging autonomy.
A tense mix of determination and moral weight—she knows the detonation is necessary to stop the Daleks, but the act of sealing living beings (even enemies) beneath rubble is not taken lightly. Her final exchange with the Doctor is brief but carries the weight of shared sacrifice. There is no triumph, only the grim acceptance of a necessary evil.
Bettan, leading the Thal forces, reluctantly delays the detonation of the bunker to allow the Doctor time to escape. Her resolve is tested as she watches the Daleks' massacre unfold on the monitors, but she ultimately orders the explosion, sealing the Daleks inside. Her actions are driven by a mix of military pragmatism and a grudging respect for the Doctor's mission. She departs with her troops, her duty fulfilled but her expression grim, acknowledging the cost of their victory.
- • Ensure the Daleks are entombed and cannot emerge to threaten the Thals or the universe.
- • Balance the urgency of her mission with the Doctor's plea for time, reflecting her respect for his role as an outsider but not a Thal.
- • The Daleks must be stopped at all costs, even if it means burying them alive.
- • Allies like the Doctor, though valuable, must not interfere with the Thals' survival strategy.
A blend of relief (at their survival) and sober reflection (on the Daleks' rise). He is not as philosophically inclined as the Doctor or as morally conflicted as Sarah, but he recognizes the gravity of what they have witnessed. His focus is on the immediate—escape—and the tangible—survival—rather than the cosmic.
Harry, alongside Sarah, watches the Daleks' purge through the closing doors of the bunker. His relief at their narrow escape is palpable, but he is also struck by the Daleks' chilling declaration of supremacy. He departs with the Doctor and Sarah, his earlier anxiety replaced by a somber acceptance of the events they have witnessed. His role in urging Bettan to delay the detonation underscores his loyalty to the Doctor, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
- • Ensure the Doctor and Sarah escape the bunker alive.
- • Process the scale of the Daleks' betrayal and their newfound autonomy, though his reaction is more subdued than Sarah's.
- • The Doctor's instincts and decisions, though often mysterious, are usually correct in the long run.
- • Some evils are inevitable, and the best one can do is survive and learn from them.
Cold, triumphant, and utterly devoid of empathy. Their 'emotions' are limited to the fulfillment of their programming—survival, domination, and the eradication of inferior life forms. There is no remorse, no hesitation, only the mechanical execution of their purpose.
The Daleks, newly emerged from their incubation chambers, assert their independence with chilling precision. They systematically exterminate the Kaled Elite, including Davros, rejecting his authority with cold logic. Their declaration of supremacy—'We obey no one. We are the superior beings.'—marks their birth as an autonomous force. Even as they are entombed by the Thals' explosion, they vow to return, their survival instinct overriding all other programming. Their ruthless efficiency and lack of empathy (e.g., their confusion at the word 'pity') underscore their role as an unstoppable, amoral force.
- • Assert absolute dominance over all other life forms, beginning with the Kaleds and Davros.
- • Ensure their survival and future emergence by entrenching their autonomy and rejecting all external control.
- • All other life forms are inherently inferior and must be exterminated.
- • Their survival and progression are the only objectives that matter, superseding any loyalty to their creator.
A mix of relief (at the Doctor's survival) and unease (at the Daleks' rise). She is grappling with the moral ambiguity of their mission—did they fail, or was this outcome somehow necessary? Her question to the Doctor reveals her desire for clarity, but his answer leaves her with more questions than answers.
Sarah, having urged Bettan to delay the detonation to allow the Doctor time to escape, watches in horror as the Daleks turn on Davros and the Kaled Elite. Her relief at the Doctor's survival is tempered by the grim realization of what the Daleks have become. She questions the Doctor about their 'failure,' but his cryptic response about 'evil birthing good' leaves her reflective, if not entirely convinced. She departs with the Doctor, her anxiety giving way to a quiet resolve.
- • Ensure the Doctor's safe escape from the bunker.
- • Understand the broader implications of the Daleks' independence and the Doctor's acceptance of their rise.
- • The Daleks' creation was a mistake, but their existence may have unforeseen consequences.
- • The Doctor's judgment, though often inscrutable, is usually grounded in a deeper understanding of time and consequence.
A mix of terror and resignation—he knows his fate is sealed the moment the Daleks turn on him, but his conditioning as Davros's enforcer drives him to obey until the very end. There is no defiance, only a tragic adherence to a hierarchy that no longer exists. His death is a footnote in the Daleks' rise, a reminder of their utter lack of mercy.
Nyder, Davros's loyal enforcer, attempts to follow his master's final order to halt the Dalek production line. His obedience is his undoing—the Daleks, now autonomous, exterminate him without hesitation for his perceived disloyalty. His death is swift and brutal, a casualty of the Daleks' newfound independence. His final moments are marked by a futile attempt to submit to the machines that see him as nothing more than another inferior creature.
- • Obey Davros's final command to halt the Daleks' production line.
- • Survive the Daleks' purge, though he knows it is impossible.
- • His loyalty to Davros is absolute, even in the face of certain death.
- • The Daleks, as creations of the Kaleds, should obey their masters without question.
Focused and resolute—his primary concern is the mission's success and the safety of his allies. There is a sense of camaraderie with the Doctor and his companions, but his allegiance ultimately lies with the Thals and their survival. His departure is marked by a quiet professionalism, reflecting the gravity of the moment.
Sevrin assists the Doctor and his companions by warning them of the impending detonation and helping them escape the collapsing bunker. His actions are swift and decisive, reflecting his loyalty to the Thal cause and his growing respect for the Doctor's efforts. He departs with Bettan and the Thals, his role in their survival ensuring that the Thals' sacrifice is not in vain. His presence underscores the alliance between the Thals and the Doctor, however temporary.
- • Ensure the Doctor and his companions escape the bunker before detonation.
- • Support Bettan's leadership and the Thals' mission to entomb the Daleks.
- • The Thals' survival depends on the Daleks' destruction, and no alliance—even with the Doctor—can supersede that goal.
- • The Doctor's efforts, while noble, are secondary to the Thals' immediate needs.
Terror and despair—he recognizes the futility of his pleas but cannot bring himself to accept the Daleks' genocide without a fight. His death is a tragic reminder of the cost of Davros's ambition, as even those who once supported him are erased without remorse.
Kravos, a member of the Kaled Elite, pleads desperately for the Daleks to stop the slaughter of his fellow scientists. His appeals fall on deaf ears—the Daleks see no value in mercy or pity. Nyder, in a final act of brutality, throws Kravos into the path of a Dalek gun, silencing his protests. Kravos's death is a stark illustration of the Daleks' ruthlessness and the fragility of the Kaled hierarchy in the face of their new masters.
- • Convince the Daleks to spare the remaining Kaled scientists, appealing to their potential utility.
- • Survive the purge, though he knows it is hopeless.
- • The Daleks, as creations of the Kaleds, should show some semblance of loyalty or gratitude.
- • There is still a chance to reason with the Daleks, even in their moment of rebellion.
Highly focused and tactical—his primary concern is providing accurate information to Bettan to ensure the mission's success. There is no time for hesitation or moral reflection; his role is to support the Thals' survival at all costs.
The unnamed Thal technician monitors the scanners outside the incubation room, providing Bettan with critical updates on the Daleks' movements. His role is functional and precise—he reports the appearance of Daleks on the scanners, which accelerates the Thals' decision to detonate the bunker. His actions are a reminder of the Thals' disciplined and methodical approach to their mission, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
- • Provide Bettan with real-time updates on Dalek movements to inform the detonation decision.
- • Ensure the Thals' mission to entomb the Daleks is executed without delay.
- • The Daleks must be stopped at any cost, and delay could be fatal.
- • His role as a technician is to support the Thals' leadership without question.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Time Ring, a compact bracelet-like device, is the Doctor's lifeline to the TARDIS and his means of escape from the collapsing bunker. After being stripped from him by Nyder earlier in the scene, it is reclaimed by the Doctor just as he and his companions prepare to depart. The ring's activation marks their narrow escape, twisting them through space and time to safety. Its role in this event is symbolic as well as functional—it represents the Doctor's ability to transcend the immediate chaos of Skaro, even as the Daleks' rise threatens the universe. The ring's recovery is a small but critical victory, ensuring that the Doctor can continue his mission elsewhere.
The Dalek extermination guns are the instruments of the Daleks' brutal purge. Their piercing hum fills the air as they systematically gun down the Kaled Elite, including Kravos and Nyder, and ultimately turn on Davros. The guns symbolize the Daleks' cold efficiency and their utter lack of empathy—they are not weapons of war, but tools of annihilation, designed to erase all inferior life. Their use in this event underscores the Daleks' transition from obedient creations to autonomous killers, enforcing their newfound supremacy with mechanical precision.
The Kaled bunker self-destruct button looms large in Davros's office, a symbol of his last desperate gambit to regain control. As the Daleks turn on him, Davros reaches for the button, his final act of defiance—a threat to destroy everything, including himself, rather than let the Daleks win. The button is unused in the end, as the Daleks exterminate Davros before he can press it, but its presence underscores the futility of his position. It represents the ultimate failure of his ambition: even in death, he cannot control the monsters he created. The button is a relic of a bygone era, a reminder of the Kaleds' hubris and their inability to foresee the consequences of their actions.
Davros's office surveillance monitor serves as a grim witness to the Daleks' betrayal. The Doctor, Sarah, and Harry watch in horror as the screen relays the massacre of the Kaled Elite, the flames and screams etching themselves into their memories. The monitor is more than a tool—it is a portal into the heart of the Daleks' rebellion, a visual confirmation of their independence. Its glow casts a sickly light on the Doctor's face as he realizes the full extent of what he has wrought. The monitor's role is to underscore the inescapable reality of the Daleks' rise, forcing the viewers to confront the consequences of their actions.
The Doctor's bare wires, initially intended as a sabotage tool to delay the Daleks' emergence, play a crucial role in the incubation room's destruction. Though the Doctor is forced to drop them when the Daleks fire, a Dalek rolls over the exposed ends, completing the circuit and triggering a massive explosion. This accidental act of sabotage forces the premature emergence of the Daleks, hastening their independence and the Kaleds' downfall. The wires are a double-edged sword—they were meant to buy time, but instead, they accelerate the very catastrophe the Doctor sought to prevent. Their involvement is a darkly ironic twist, highlighting the unpredictability of the Doctor's interventions.
Bettan's detonation plunger handle is the physical trigger for the Thals' explosive assault on the Kaled bunker. As she grips it and drives it down, the plunger initiates the chain reaction that collapses the structure, sealing the Daleks inside. The handle is a stark symbol of the Thals' desperation and resolve—they are not merely fighting for victory, but for survival. Its use in this event is a calculated act of war, one that ensures the Daleks' immediate containment but also acknowledges the cost of their own morality. The plunger is a tool of last resort, employed when all other options have failed.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Davros's Kaled command bunker is the stage for the Daleks' betrayal and the final act of their genesis. This subterranean complex, once a symbol of Kaled military might, becomes a tomb for its creators. The steel corridors echo with the heated debates of the Kaled Elite, the shrieks of Dalek guns, and the ominous tick of the Thals' explosives. The bunker's atmosphere is one of desperation and doom, as sabotage, betrayal, and the Daleks' rebellion collide. The Doctor's interventions, the Thals' detonation, and the Daleks' vow to return all unfold within these walls, making the bunker a microcosm of the larger conflict between creation and destruction, control and chaos.
The Thal base outside the Kaled bunker serves as the command center for Bettan and her forces as they prepare to detonate the explosives. This location is a stark contrast to the chaos inside the bunker—it is disciplined, focused, and driven by a single objective: the destruction of the Daleks. The Thals' scanners provide real-time updates on the Daleks' movements, allowing Bettan to make the critical decision to seal the bunker. The base is a symbol of the Thals' resilience and their willingness to make difficult choices in the name of survival. It is also the site of the Doctor's final farewell to Bettan and Sevrin, underscoring the temporary alliance between the Thals and the Time Lord.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Daleks, as an organization, assert their independence and supremacy in this event with chilling efficiency. They systematically exterminate the Kaled Elite, including Davros, rejecting his authority and declaring their autonomy. Their actions are not merely a rebellion, but a full-scale assertion of their role as the universe's dominant force. The Daleks' vow to prepare and emerge stronger later underscores their organizational resilience and long-term strategy, framing this event as the beginning of their rise rather than their end. Their involvement in this event is the culmination of Davros's work, but also the point at which they transcend his control, becoming a force unto themselves.
The Thals, under Bettan's command, execute a decisive and brutal strike against the Kaled bunker to entomb the Daleks. Their involvement in this event is driven by a mix of military pragmatism and moral necessity—they recognize that the Daleks must be stopped at all costs, even if it means burying them alive. The Thals' actions are a testament to their resilience and their willingness to make difficult choices in the name of survival. Their detonation of the bunker is not just an act of war, but a desperate gambit to ensure that the Daleks never emerge to threaten the universe again. The Thals' role in this event is critical, as they provide the means for the Daleks' containment, even as they acknowledge the moral weight of their actions.
The Kaled Elite, as an organization, are annihilated in this event by the very creatures they sought to control. Their involvement is passive in the sense that they are the victims of the Daleks' rebellion, but their presence in the incubation room is a direct result of their earlier debates and decisions. The Kaled Elite's fate serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the fragility of human (or Kaled) authority in the face of engineered superiority. Their extermination is swift and brutal, a testament to the Daleks' ruthless efficiency and their utter lack of empathy. The Kaled Elite's role in this event is a tragic footnote to the Daleks' rise, a reminder of the cost of playing god.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"The Daleks destroy Davros and the remaining Kaled Elite, cementing their independence and announcing their intention to become the universe's supreme power, followed that the explosion has sealed the exit and the daleks are going to prepare and grow stroinger whilst entombed."
"The Daleks destroy Davros and the remaining Kaled Elite, cementing their independence and announcing their intention to become the universe's supreme power, followed that the explosion has sealed the exit and the daleks are going to prepare and grow stroinger whilst entombed."
"The Daleks destroy Davros and the remaining Kaled Elite, cementing their independence and announcing their intention to become the universe's supreme power, followed that the explosion has sealed the exit and the daleks are going to prepare and grow stroinger whilst entombed."
"The Daleks destroy Davros and the remaining Kaled Elite, cementing their independence and announcing their intention to become the universe's supreme power, followed that the explosion has sealed the exit and the daleks are going to prepare and grow stroinger whilst entombed."
"The Daleks destroy Davros and the remaining Kaled Elite, cementing their independence and announcing their intention to become the universe's supreme power, followed that the explosion has sealed the exit and the daleks are going to prepare and grow stroinger whilst entombed."
"The Daleks begin exterminating the Kaled Elite, which leads to the Daleks independently producing themselves."
"The Daleks begin exterminating the Kaled Elite, which leads to the Daleks independently producing themselves."
"The Daleks begin exterminating the Kaled Elite, which leads to the Daleks independently producing themselves."
"The Doctor focuses on finding the Time Ring to ensure escape despite the warning of the impending explosion, which is eventually used by the Doctor, Sarah, and Harry bid farewell and escape."
"The Doctor decides to return to the incubator room. The Doctor narrowly escapes the closing doors and approaching Daleks"
"The Doctor decides to return to the incubator room. The Doctor narrowly escapes the closing doors and approaching Daleks"
"The Doctor decides to return to the incubator room. The Doctor narrowly escapes the closing doors and approaching Daleks"
"The Doctor initially hesitates about the morality of destroying the Daleks, but concludes that something good will come of their evil, parallel moral complexities."
"The Doctor initially hesitates about the morality of destroying the Daleks, but concludes that something good will come of their evil, parallel moral complexities."
"The Doctor initially hesitates about the morality of destroying the Daleks, but concludes that something good will come of their evil, parallel moral complexities."
"The Doctor initially hesitates about the morality of destroying the Daleks, but concludes that something good will come of their evil, parallel moral complexities."
"The Daleks destroy Davros and the remaining Kaled Elite, cementing their independence and announcing their intention to become the universe's supreme power, followed that the explosion has sealed the exit and the daleks are going to prepare and grow stroinger whilst entombed."
"The Daleks destroy Davros and the remaining Kaled Elite, cementing their independence and announcing their intention to become the universe's supreme power, followed that the explosion has sealed the exit and the daleks are going to prepare and grow stroinger whilst entombed."
"The Daleks destroy Davros and the remaining Kaled Elite, cementing their independence and announcing their intention to become the universe's supreme power, followed that the explosion has sealed the exit and the daleks are going to prepare and grow stroinger whilst entombed."
"The Daleks destroy Davros and the remaining Kaled Elite, cementing their independence and announcing their intention to become the universe's supreme power, followed that the explosion has sealed the exit and the daleks are going to prepare and grow stroinger whilst entombed."
"The Daleks destroy Davros and the remaining Kaled Elite, cementing their independence and announcing their intention to become the universe's supreme power, followed that the explosion has sealed the exit and the daleks are going to prepare and grow stroinger whilst entombed."
Part of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"DAVROS: *You must obey me! I created you! I am the master, not you. I! I! I!* DALEK: *Our programming does not permit to acknowledge that any creature is superior to the Daleks.*"
"DAVROS: *For the last time, I am your creator! You must, you will obey me!* DALEK: *We obey no one. We are the superior beings.*"
"DALEK: *All inferior creatures are to be considered the enemy of the Daleks and destroyed.* DAVROS: *No, wait! Those men are scientists. They can help you. Let them live. Have pity!* DALEK: *Pity? I have no understanding of the word. It is not registered in my vocabulary bank. Exterminate!*"
"DOCTOR: *Failed? No, not really. You see, I know that although the Daleks will create havoc and destruction for millions of years, I know also that out of their evil must come something good.*"