Post by Riff on Apr 17, 2006 13:46:31 GMT -5
rachael said:
So, about Davros: that's the thing, really. The writing is what reduced the Daleks into automatons. If they really are genetically engineered to kill everything "other", then that's the fault of the writers - they have no free will.
*nods* Very true. It’s a big problem, and tests a writer. The way that writers have tried to get around it is to make the Daleks devious and manipulative as well as merely destructive, brain as well as brawn, as it were. They may have a single motivation, but there are a lot more ways to carry that out than the direct approach.
Another technique has been to have different levels of Dalek autonomy. So there are essentially mindless grunts, scientists who are interested in genetic manipulation, Dalek Supremes who have a more well-rounded mind for leadership decisions, and the Dalek Emperor who has agendas that go beyond simple genocide.
Which is a drawback, really, in a species that's supposed to be really scary. The Borg had a similar failing - but they succeeded in being truly scary because they didn't want to kill you...they wanted to make you like them. The Daleks fail, IMO, for me, exactly because they're killing machines with no other agenda but the extermination of all non-Dalek life-forms.
I mean...scary, yes, if you're confronted with them, but far less scary as a literary tool, especially if you lack the cultural experience with fascism to make them as chilling as they're clearly intended to be.
Intellectually, they're scary, if I let myself think of the logical outcome of the Daleks actually pulling off their "kill everything else" plan. A universe populated with nothing but Daleks? Ugh.
Which is where the Cybermen come in (in fact, it’s exactly where the Cybermen will come in over here, in two eps time ;D).
As for the Daleks, I agree. They are frightening as an idea more than anything else, because they represent probably the worst aspects of humanity. Representing aspects of humanity is quite a common function for alien races in science fiction, as I’m sure you’re aware. The Cybermen and Borg could be said to be the worst elements of communism, for instance.
Where they fail is in execution. The reason that "Genesis" is successful, for me, is because it's the place in the story where the tragedy of the Daleks could be averted. A race is wiped out and replaced by...that. Ick. All the other stories (those I've seen; you must remember that our access on this side of the pond to pre-Jon Pertwee Doctor Who is a bit limited by our local PBS affiliates) involve Daleks as a done deal - and never all that successful in carrying out their universe-domination plans.
Again, I agree. And a lot of it is visual. Until the new series, the Daleks have looked exactly like the cheap props they always were (substantial and radio-controlled, a modern Dalek costs £10,000 to make). Although the design is a classic, the actual Daleks themselves, and the way they were operated, made them look silly. In “Genesis” they are cleverly lit and filmed, for the most part.
But, yes, out of fifteen Dalek stories, probably only five have been really thoughtful.
It’s amusing when we first meet the Kaleds in “Genesis”. So this is the race that will become the Daleks – they’re so obviously Nazis, even down to the salute, that one can’t help but think they would have gone the same way even without Der Fuhrer Davros (who supposedly just accelerates an inevitable mutation, while perverting its mind for "survival"). ;D
Now, this episode was frustrating maybe BECAUSE I know there's a story out there that might change my mind, if I'd seen it. The notion of two entire races being wiped out (one race that I'm rather attached to, as well) because of some sort of Dalek aggression? Now there's a story.
But they won't let me SEE it. It's starting to bug me.
*laughs* The best thing I’ve come across is Nicholas Briggs Dalek Empire audio plays. There’s no Doctor, and no punches pulled as to their utter evil. The scenes in the labour camps and so on are horrible. Did you ever see “The Dalek Invasion of Earth”? You may have seen the Peter Cushing feature film version. Remember the humans under Dalek control, the silly Robomen? They’re not silly in this; they’re horrible.
Some of these plays are excellent. I have the best on MP3 and should post them somewhere for download. Is there an equivalent of Photobucket for downloads? I was working on setting up my own web server, but this years crop of academic vacancies came out and I got caught up in the application process.
Which reminds me, I’ve just spent thousands of words talking seriously about Daleks. I clearly need a job, rapidly. ;D