Doctor Who spin-off review: Tensions increase in Chapter Two of Dalek Empire II: Dalek War

The second series of Doctor Who spin-off Dalek Empire continues with major reunions and increasing tensions in Chapter Two of Dalek War.

After setting the scene and establishing the new relationships between the regular characters and the Allied Daleks in the last episode, Chapter Two of Dalek Empire II: Dalek War brings back the threat of the Enemy Daleks – essentially, our Daleks – in a big way. As soon as the episode begins, they’re cunning, dangerous and ruthless. It takes a lot of negotiating from Suze to stop them from killing everyone, and that’s only because she has one hell of a bargaining chip.

Speaking of Suze, it’s in this episode that she’s finally reunited with Alby. This is a major development, as a core part of Dalek Empire has been the love story between these two characters.

After establishing their close friendship in Invasion of the Daleks, they were separated in the exact same episode. When Alby found out Suze was still alive, he decided to go searching for her. Now, in story length terms, six episodes isn’t exactly that long. But considering that the first series took place over ten years, and the second series is set five years later, the reunion between these two has definitely been a long time coming.

Susan Mendes is finally reunited with Alby in this episode. But what are the Daleks plans for her?

(Image credit: Dalek Empire/Doctor Who/Big Finish Productions.

Image obtained from: Big Finish Productions.)

Increasing tensions

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Of course, this being Dalek Empire, the episode isn’t exactly an entirely happy one. It was established in Chapter One of Dalek War that there’s now a big problem regarding Suze. One that makes the Allied Daleks very keen to see her destroyed and the Enemy Daleks desperate to keep her alive.

What’s really great about this key development is how writer Nicholas Briggs uses it to increase the tension between so many characters. The regulars are trying hard to do the right thing and save their friend.

However, considering Suze is now a major part of the Daleks’ plans, it’s unsurprising that others are rather against the idea of saving her. Particularly those who truly believe that the Allied Daleks really are their friends.

You can definitely see things from both sides, which really helps to sell the conflict between the characters. It also shows how great Briggs is at taking a seemingly simple situation – humans versus monsters as evil as the Daleks – and adds some complexity to it.

The episode ends on a big cliffhanger (something that Briggs seems to be very good at), and is another strong entry in the Dalek Empire series.

Would you like to see a Dalek story on television that’s a little more complex than your regular story? Would you like to see a dark and gritty Dalek series on television? Let us know in the comments below.