The Daleks Hold An Embarrassing Doctor Who Streak That Ncuti Gatwa’s Era Needs To End
The Daleks are often cited as the Doctor’s greatest enemy, yet the deadly alien race holds an unwanted record that threatens their status.
Doctor Who‘s Daleks are generally considered to be the Doctor’s greatest enemy, yet the fearsome aliens hold a somewhat embarrassing record that puts their credentials in doubt. Making their debut in 1963, the Daleks have come in many forms, constantly clashing with the Doctor and his companions throughout the show’s many iterations. However, despite battling Doctor Who‘s titular Time Lord for over six decades, one Dalek streak suggests that they may not be as terrifying as their reputation suggests.
The Daleks Have Never Killed A Doctor In Doctor Who
Even though the Daleks are continually described as the Doctor’s greatest enemy, the disappointing truth is that the aliens have never actually managed to successfully kill any version of the Time Lord, forcing his regeneration. Certainly, this hasn’t been for lack of trying. The creatures constantly show up in Earth-threatening scenarios, chasing the Doctor and his companions and killing countless other lifeforms on screen. Yet, despite their obvious antipathy towards the Doctor, not one of their race has managed to successfully land a killing blow.
This record is even more disappointing considering the record of the Doctor’s other great adversaries. The Master, the Rani, and the Cybermen have all managed to claim various Doctors over the years, cementing themselves as indisputable nemeses in the process. In so doing, however, these enemies have only underlined how disappointing it is that the Daleks – ostensibly the greatest enemy of them all – have consistently fallen short. As it stands, the situation makes a mockery of the idea that the Daleks really are the Doctor’s greatest ever enemy.
Why The Daleks Have Killed A Doctor – Technically
Although the Daleks have never managed to kill a Doctor in the traditional sense, there are a couple of technical exceptions. In “The Stolen Earth”, the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) is forced to regenerate after being struck by Dalek gunfire. Likewise, the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) appears to be killed prior to rebooting the Earth in “The Big Bang”. However, while both of these “deaths” would appear to end the Dalek streak, there are important reasons why they don’t really count.
In the case of “The Stolen Earth” incident, David Tennant’s Doctor was only dealt a glancing blow, allowing him to regenerate without having to change his appearance. Likewise, in “The Big Bang” the Dalek who shot the Doctor wasn’t actually at full power, having only just been awoken by the light from the Pandorica, meaning that its weaponry was not fully powered. This, in turn, allowed Eleven to wake up and complete his plan to restart the universe. Although both of these incidents can technically be described as “deaths”, they are clearly far less conclusive than some of the incidents involving the Doctor’s other enemies.
Why The Daleks Should Cause Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor Who Regeneration
Before he’s even fully taken on the mantle, it may feel a little premature to contemplate Ncuti Gatwa’s death as the Doctor. However, given the ridiculous length of the Dalek’s surprising record, Gatwa’s eventual end presents a great opportunity for the species to finally live up to their terrifying reputation. After so many years of failure, finally allowing the Daleks to kill a version of the Doctor would be a great way for the aliens to seem like a genuine threat once again. The litany of missed opportunities and bad shooting has turned the Daleks from a terrifying force to a parody of themselves. Killing Fifteen can be a much-needed reset.
For Gatwa, as well, death at the hands of the Daleks represents an exciting way to stand out from the crowd. Given how long the Doctor has escaped, being killed by the Daleks at this point in the franchise’s history would be a real badge of honor and would certainly rank as one of the most memorable regenerations ever. Fifteen’s death may be a long way in Doctor Who‘s future, but having the Daleks play a role can serve several important purposes.
