S21E11
Cynical
Written by Eric Saward
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Resurrection of the Daleks Part 1

When the Doctor and his companions materialize on 1984 London, they become entangled in a sinister Dalek plot to execute a prisoner, while a space station and Shad Thames warehouses serve as key battlegrounds.

The story begins with a chaotic scene in Shad Thames, London, where a group of futuristically dressed men escape from a warehouse, pursued by police. The police inspector uses a device to erase the bodies, which then materialize on a battle cruiser. The Doctor, Tegan, and Turlough are struggling to control the Tardis, which is experiencing turbulence from the Time Corridor. As they try to stabilize the Tardis, they discover that a prisoner, Galloway, and others have traveled through the Time Corridor. The Doctor and his companions soon find themselves in the midst of a battle between the Daleks and the space station crew. The Daleks are using a Time Corridor to travel through time and are attempting to capture the Doctor. Meanwhile, on the space station, the crew is dealing with poor morale and a deteriorating defense system. When the battle cruiser attacks, the station is severely damaged, and the crew is forced to defend themselves. The story unfolds as the Doctor and his companions navigate through these different locations, trying to prevent the Daleks from achieving their goals.


Events in This Episode

The narrative beats that drive the story

48
Act 1

In 1984 Shad Thames, London, men in futuristic attire escape a warehouse, pursued by police. Police Inspector Lytton, operating from a battle cruiser, orchestrates the collection of these "specimens," using a device to vanish bodies. Concurrently, the TARDIS, carrying the Doctor, Tegan, and Turlough, navigates a turbulent Time Corridor. After a struggle, the TARDIS breaks free, materializing in 1984 London. Stien, one of the escapees, attempts to warn his people, but an armored trooper kills Galloway, another escapee, before disappearing. Stien, traumatized, remains in hiding. Meanwhile, a space station operates under conditions of low morale and decaying defenses, observed by Security Officer Mercer and medical officer Styles. The station detects an approaching battle cruiser, which launches a devastating attack. The cruiser destroys the station's fighters, severely damages its infrastructure, and kills the Captain. Mercer assumes command amidst the chaos. The Doctor, investigating the Time Corridor's origin in Shad Thames, encounters the injured Stien, who warns him of soldiers in the warehouse. Daleks dock at Airlock 3 of the space station; Mercer's crew mounts a desperate defense, destroying two Daleks. Lytton, from his battle cruiser, criticizes the Daleks' initial tactics and proposes a new plan, which the Supreme Dalek reluctantly approves. Lytton's strategy employs a gas attack, deforming the station crew and forcing Mercer to order the destruction of a prisoner. Simultaneously, Colonel Archer and his soldiers confront the Doctor, Tegan, and Stien inside the warehouse. As the space station falls, Osborn attempts to carry out Mercer's order but discovers Mercer himself succumbing to the gas. She shoots him, then Lytton kills her. Lytton enters the prison area and releases the wheelchair-bound Davros. This sequence establishes the primary conflict and introduces key players, culminating in a major reveal.