The Tertiary Console Room: Review - Dalek Empire: Chapter Three

"Who do they think they are?"

"Your masters. Let them in. What was it you were saying? No holding back. Total obedience?"

‘Death To The Daleks!’ begins by clearing up some of the unanswered questions about the previous instalment regarding precisely what happened at the conclusion of The Human Factor, and then goes on to hint further that the Daleks are ready to put their plan into action. The penultimate part of a story is often the most important in some ways as it has to move the story to within reach of its conclusion, but leave things tantalisingly on edge. ‘Death To The Daleks!’ does this perfectly.

The spectre of Project Infinity (whatever that might be...) looms over this story. Alby is sent by the Earth Alliance to find out what Suz knows about it and if she has betrayed that information to the Daleks. With the Daleks conquering all who stand against them, humanity seems doomed.

While ‘Death To The Daleks!’ might sound like it is a more excitable version of Season 11’s serial of the same name, it's actually very much a slow burner. The Human Factor saw an upturn in the pace of the Dalek Empire series, this story moves a lot slower despite the fact that the scope of the story, time wise anyway, is the broadest of the series so far. The fact that this story takes place over a number of years is conveyed through characters reactions and the speeches of Joyce Gibbs narrator, and while this works to an extent this method of explaining the passage of time doesn’t really come off as well as it could do at times.

But despite this, by altering the pace of the story it really makes this episode of the Dalek Empire so much more effective because it gives a greater sense of magnitude to the proceedings. While the Daleks motives themselves remain unclear, there is a real sense that the story is moving towards a brutal conclusion.

Once more, the quality of the acting is excellent. Sarah Mowat, now very familiar as Suz, continues to surprise with her performance as she starts to buy into the hype around her, yet still maintains the air of vulnerability that has made her character so endearing. As the older Suz narrator indicates, the work of the Angel of Mercy has become her life to the extent where she has become confident enough to order the Daleks around and command them. She accepts orders only from the Emperor now. The relationship between Kalendorf and Susan has become strained - she resents the way that Kalendorf has kept their plans secret. Sarah Mowat and Gareth Thomas are at their best in these scenes. Mowat really conveys brilliantly just how totally Suz has bought into the power that the Daleks have given her.

Gareth Thomas’s performance as Kalendorf is again one of the highlights of the audio, and he shows time and time again what a perfect choice he was for the role. Mark McDonnell’s Alby Brook is again the likeable character from the previous ones, although McDonnell does convey well the sense of how the years of struggle against the Daleks have affected him and made him more cynical.

Featuring in quite a major role in this instalment is Teresa Gallagher as Mirana, an officer with the Interplanetary Police force, and her performance is quietly impressive. While at times she might sound a little like Nicola Bryant’s performances as Peri in the Doctor Who series, she puts in a good performance as a woman driven by a desire to track down her surprising target.

Joining Alistair Lock and Nicholas Briggs for this audio as the voices of the Daleks is Steven Allen, and the addition of a third voice to the Daleks forces does give them more variety, and the sense that there are more Daleks around and present than in the other two.

One of the best things about the Dalek Empire series is just how good the production values have been. Nicholas Briggs predominant involvement over the whole stories has really added a consistency which has given the impression of each individual story being part of a bigger story. The sound design is again very appropriate for the story. It adds so much to the drama, creating a real sense of menace which Briggs’ score adds immensely to. Particularly of note are the effects used for the insectoid race featured in this story which are remarkably effective.

‘Death To The Daleks!’ ends with a dramatic cliffhanger which I suspect very few would have predicted. After going through so much with these characters, it leaves the listener with a sense of disbelief as to what has happened, and most importantly wondering just what happens next in the concluding part.

This instalment continues the trend of the Dalek Empire series for high quality drama. Another good script, which continues to pose more questions than are answered, coupled with superb performances means that this audio drama is never anything less than entertaining. And as the stakes become higher, the sense of drama builds superbly. The four Dalek Empire stories have given Nicholas Briggs the opportunity to tell a wide ranging story, and while this episode might not be individually as good as the second part, it serves as a perfect launchpad for the climax of the series in the final part - Project Infinity...

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