"Remembrance of the Daleks" EDWE 4

Starring: Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred
Watched: DVD

This episode is a key 7th Doctor episode. A series falling apart and being put up against the likes of Coronation Street isn't going to survive. Remembrance, however, shows little signs of a series that's running out of time, a series that's struggling. This is one of the best Doctor Who episodes of all time.

Returnign to Totters Lane, meeting the Daleks, learning more about the 7th Doctor/Ace friendship and having a UNIT type army team, takes us back to the old days of Doctor Who. The 7th Doctor's era very much lead us into the modern series without knowing it. The 7th Doctor era shows issues of love, issues of being gay, issues of fights, issues of going home and visiting your friends. (By gay, I mean The Happiness Patrol.)

Remembrance is a classic Doctor Who episode that should be up there with the greats. I find it amazing. It has all the aspects that a Hartnell episode would have, and has more amazing speeches by McCoy, and more classic series refrences then ever before. This is a truly stand out incredible episode. We also learn more about the Doctor's past, something else which makes this episode go from strength to strength.

And of course. We get to see a Dalek go up the stairs.

The whole idea of two Dalek factions fighting, and traitors amongst the army that are fighting both factions of the Daleks, really adds to the episode. We get some great Daleks (white/gold, Special Weapons Dalek) and we also get fantastic Dalek fights. Ben Aaronovitch was a DW fan and you can tell when you watch this episode. It would fit perfectly into an episode of the 60s or 70s and adds to the descriptions of both the Daleks, the Doctor and the people the Doctor meets.

Ace meets a lot of people throughout her travels, and one of the more interesting is love interest (oh come on, he was) army man.... oh what was his name? Oh whatever his name was, he fancied Ace and he became a traitor. But it was very well handled and helped develop both Ace and the people the Doctor meets.

The highlight of this story is everything. Going back to Coal Hill in the 60s. Past DW episode references. Brilliant Dalek fights. Brilliant plot twists (and there are quite a few). And a brilliantly played Doctor.

10/10
A superrb episode.

NEXT TIME
Another Classic Episode Review

James