Sunday, September 22, 2024

The Armageddon Factor (VI)

June 21 1978

“How do you know the secret of our planet?”

A Dalek appears in a TV studio in the twentieth century. It claims to have abandoned earth; to have no more interest in it. It is menaced by a golden retriever with the highly original name “Goldie". (One wonders how a Cybermen would have fared.) It encounters an Earth Dalek, constructed over a three year period out of cardboard and, many of us suspect, sticky-back plastic. The Earth Dalek seems, if anything, shinier and more convincing than the actual Dalek. The Dalek regards the location of its home-world, Skaro, to be a great secret and is surprised that the Earth Dalek knows its name. It warns us that it will be returning to TV, fighting its old enemy the Doctors, and drops a broad hint about the plot. “Davros, our creator, programmed us to conquer the universe.”

It is 21 June, 1979. Season 17 of Doctor Who will begin on 1st September. The Doctor doesn't know that he's going back to Skaro. He certainly doesn't know that he's going to have a rematch with Davros. But we viewers have been told. By an actual Dalek. Two months in advance.

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