Moral Ambiguity and Complicity
No character escapes involvement in the Daleks’ rise to power unscathed. Even those who resist, like Lesterson and Polly, are complicit in the system they critique—Lesterson by enabling the Daleks’ creation, Polly by participating in the rebels’ plans that ultimately serve the Daleks’ agenda. Janley and Valmar embody the extremes of opportunism and reluctant compliance, respectively, while Bragen represents willful ignorance. This theme interrogates the cost of inaction and the personal culpability that accrues even when intentions are benign. It is most piercing in Lesterson’s unraveling and Janley’s smug dismissal of moral concerns.
Events Exemplifying This Theme
Lesterson, unraveling under the weight of his discovery, attempts to sabotage the Daleks by cutting their power and sealing their capsule. His frantic defiance—shouting threats to melt them down and …
In Lesterson’s laboratory, a Dalek interrogates Janley about the colony’s power cable, confirming its plan to siphon the colony’s electricity to fuel its own static-based power supply. The exchange exposes …
In the Governor’s office, Lesterson—already dismissed as unstable—is brought before Bragen under guard after attempting to expose the Daleks’ deception. The Dalek present lies about laying an emergency power supply, …
In a sudden, brutal skirmish within Lesterson’s lab, Quinn ambushes Kebble—who is armed with an improvised wrench—by seizing Lesterson’s laser and firing at his hand, forcing him to drop the …