Fabula
Season 12 · Episode 16
S12E16
Cynical
Written by Terry Nation
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Genesis of the Daleks Part 6

The Doctor must decide whether to destroy the Daleks, a ruthless and evil alien species, and grapple with the moral implications of wiping out an entire intelligent lifeform.

In this pivotal episode of Doctor Who, the Doctor, Sarah, and Harry navigate the complexities of time travel and morality as they attempt to prevent the Daleks from coming into existence. The Daleks, created by the Kaleds, are on the brink of being activated, and the Doctor must decide whether to destroy them. The Doctor hesitates, questioning whether he has the right to wipe out an entire intelligent lifeform, despite their evil nature. Meanwhile, Davros, the Kaled scientist, presents his case for the survival of the Dalek race, but the Elite are divided on the issue. As the Doctor and his companions work to prevent the Daleks' activation, they face numerous challenges, including Dalek patrols, explosions, and moral dilemmas. Ultimately, the Doctor destroys the Dalek incubation room, but not before the Daleks become operational, setting the stage for their future conflicts with humanity.


Events in This Episode

The narrative beats that drive the story

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Act 1

The Doctor grapples with a profound moral dilemma, hesitating to destroy the nascent Dalek race despite their predetermined evil. He questions his right to commit genocide, even for the greater good, while Sarah urges him to complete his mission for the Time Lords. Their debate is interrupted by Gharman, who announces Davros's apparent capitulation and an impending vote by the Kaled Elite, which Gharman believes will prevent further Dalek development. This news prompts the Doctor to remove the explosives from the incubation room. However, Davros, addressing the Elite, cunningly argues for the Daleks' ruthless dominance and reveals their automated production capabilities, challenging the Elite to destroy their own future. During this tense confrontation, Harry discovers the Time Ring is missing, and Nyder's secretive exchange with Davros hints at a deeper, manipulative strategy. Gharman attempts to counter Davros's extremism, advocating for a Dalek race with balanced traits, but the underlying tension suggests Davros retains control. Sarah then locates the Time Ring, and the Doctor plans to retrieve a crucial tape recording, shifting the immediate focus from moral quandary to tactical action against Davros's hidden agenda. The act establishes the central conflict between prevention and moral responsibility, setting the stage for Davros's inevitable betrayal.

Act 2

Davros's deceptive truce shatters as Daleks advance into the bunker, while outside, Bettan and her Thal fighters prepare to set explosives, intending to entomb the Daleks and their creators. Sevrin, concerned for the Doctor and Sarah, bravely volunteers to enter the bunker and warn them. Inside, Davros orchestrates a brutal purge, revealing his true intentions by unleashing the Daleks on the dissenting Elite, including Gharman, whom they exterminate. The Doctor, Harry, and Sarah witness this massacre on a monitor, confirming Davros's treachery. They then confront Nyder, forcing him to lead them to Davros's office where they retrieve and destroy a critical tape recording, believing they have crippled Davros's power. However, Nyder escapes, locking them in, and the Doctor realizes he lost the Time Ring during the struggle. Sevrin arrives, warning them of the imminent Thal detonation. Faced with overwhelming odds and limited time, the Doctor makes a critical decision: he gives the Time Ring to Sarah, instructing her, Harry, and Sevrin to escape through the main entrance, while he returns alone to the incubation room to destroy the Daleks, accepting the ultimate responsibility for their eradication.

Act 3

The climax unfolds as the Doctor races against time to destroy the Daleks. He reaches the incubation room, but Daleks interrupt his attempt to detonate the explosives. Meanwhile, Sarah, Harry, and Sevrin reach the bunker entrance, pleading with Bettan for more time for the Doctor, who is still inside. A pursuing Dalek inadvertently completes the circuit, triggering an explosion in the incubation room. Simultaneously, the automated Dalek production line activates without Davros's command, and the Daleks assert their independence, killing Nyder for attempting to halt production. The Daleks then turn on Davros, their creator, declaring their superiority and exterminating him as he desperately tries to activate a self-destruct mechanism. The Doctor, narrowly escaping the bunker through the closing doors, rejoins Sarah and Harry just as Bettan detonates the main explosives, sealing the Daleks within the collapsing structure. The Daleks, entombed but alive, declare their intent to emerge and dominate the universe. The Doctor, reflecting on the events, acknowledges that he has only delayed their rise for a significant period, but expresses a philosophical hope that good will eventually emerge from their evil. The companions then use the Time Ring to depart, leaving the Daleks to their inevitable future.