Davros' Laboratory Door Release Switch

Critical control switch **inside Davros' office**, distinct from the office entrance door. When activated, it triggers the opening of sealed doors to release Daleks into the adjacent incubation chamber, catalyzing the first purge of the Kaled Elite.

3 appearances

Purpose

Opens doors to allow Daleks access to the Kaled Elite in the incubation chamber

Significance

Davros activates it to purge dissenters, marking the Daleks' first mass extermination and forcing the Doctor to confront his mission's urgency amid Skaro's shift to totalitarian violence.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

3 moments

S12E16 · Genesis of the Daleks Part 6

"Davros' Purge: The Birth of the Dalek Genocide

The door control switch in Davros' office is the mechanical trigger for the massacre. With a flick of his wrist, Davros activates the switch, opening the sealed doors and unleashing the Daleks into the laboratory. The switch is a symbol of Davros' absolute control over the fate of the Kaleds—his ability to decide who lives and who dies with a single, casual gesture. The sound of the doors sliding open is the prelude to the slaughter, a mechanical herald of the genocide to come. The switch is not just a tool; it is an extension of Davros' will, a physical manifestation of his power and cruelty.

Before: Inactive, the doors to the laboratory sealed shut, keeping the Kaled Elite contained and the Daleks at bay. The switch is within easy reach of Davros, a silent promise of the violence to come.

After: Activated, the doors now wide open, allowing the Daleks to enter the laboratory. The switch remains in its new position, a tangible reminder of Davros' betrayal and the irreversible nature of his actions.

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S12E16 · Genesis of the Daleks Part 6

The Purge Begins: Davros Unleashes the Daleks on the Kaled Elite

Davros' office door control switch is initially the focus of the Doctor's attention as he attempts to force it open with his sonic screwdriver. However, the switch's true significance lies in its role as a metaphorical threshold between the Doctor's helplessness and the horror unfolding beyond. While the Doctor fails to open the door, the switch is later flicked by Davros himself to unleash the Daleks into the laboratory. Though not directly manipulated by the Doctor or his companions during this event, the switch's presence underscores the fragility of the barrier between safety and chaos, and the irreversible nature of Davros' actions.

Before: Locked, preventing the Doctor and his companions from leaving Davros' office.

After: Unchanged in its physical state, but symbolically representing the point of no return as the Daleks are unleashed.

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S12E16 · Genesis of the Daleks Part 6

The First Purge: Kravos’ Sacrifice and the Birth of Dalek Tyranny

The door control switch in Davros’ office is the mechanism that unleashes the Daleks upon the Kaled Elite. With a flick of his hand, Davros opens the doors to the laboratory, allowing the Daleks to enter and begin their extermination. The switch is a symbol of Davros’ absolute control over the situation, his ability to manipulate events with a single action. For the Doctor, Sarah, and Harry, watching from the office, the switch represents the irreversible nature of Davros’ decision and the horror that follows. Its activation marks the point of no return, the moment when the Daleks’ true nature is revealed.

Before: In the 'closed' position, sealing the laboratory doors and keeping the Daleks at bay.

After: Flicked to the 'open' position by Davros, releasing the Daleks into the laboratory and triggering the massacre.

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