Doctor Who review: Poison of the Daleks is gloriously old-school
By James Aggas
The Doctor and Jo are trapped on an alien world in Poison of the Daleks, the first story from the latest volume of Doctor Who: The Third Doctor Adventures. But they’re not alone, as the Brigadier and Benton are there to help them!
The first of two stories from Doctor Who: The Third Doctor Adventures: Volume 6, Poison of the Daleks is, in many ways, a gloriously old-school story. There are many elements that feel reminiscent of some of the classic Jon Pertwee Dalek stories such as Day and Planet of the Daleks. The Doctor and Jo are stuck on a distant world, the Daleks have an evil scheme, and they’re using a power-hungry human to achieve it. It feels delightfully retro.
Even the build-up is handled nicely. Despite revealing the Daleks in the title, they don’t actually show up until the end of Part 1 – something common to a lot of Dalek stories (or major monster stories in general). Sometimes, this can be frustrating, but writer Guy Adams makes sure to have a lot of fun before that reveal. We know that they’re somehow involved in the story, we just don’t know how or why.
Adams even gets to combine two distinct types of Doctor Who stories in one. Usually, Third Doctor adventures were divided between alien invasion stories set on (more or less) present-day Earth, or on other worlds set far in the future. Poison of the Daleks begins as one of the former, before transporting the regulars to a different world entirely. As a result, we get to enjoy the strengths of both types of adventure.
(L to R) Jon Culshaw (The Brigadier), John Levene (Sgt Benton), Katy Manning (Jo Grant) and Tim Treloar (The Doctor) return as the dream team in Poison of the Daleks!
Image Courtesy Tony Whitmore, Big Finish Productions
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UNIT vs the Daleks
However, at the same time, Adams makes sure to put one or two fresh spins on the old formula. The biggest one that stands out is how the UNIT team is used. While many Third Doctor stories have featured alien worlds, they’ve usually been focused on just him and his companion. With this one, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and Sergeant Benton find themselves brought along for the ride.
It’s interesting finding out how they both react to this situation. They rely on what they know best, and so help to organize a resistance force on the planet. This role is usually left to the Doctor, but he’s busy trying to find out what the Daleks are up to this time. As a result, everyone is given something to do, and it feels like we get to hear the UNIT team like never before.
Speaking of which, a year after the last Third Doctor box set, it’s great to hear from everyone again in this story. Katy Manning and John Levene do a great job of resuming their old roles, while Tim Treloar and Jon Culshaw continue to impress with their performances as the Third Doctor and the Brigadier. Hearing all four together is especially fantastic, as they really do recreate the magic of that original era so beautifully.
Overall, Poison of the Daleks is an enjoyable listen. It won’t stand out as a radical Doctor Who story, but it is a treat for those looking for a bit of fun and nostalgia, especially if it features both the Third Doctor and Daleks. An enjoyable opening story for this box set.
Next. Interview: Chris McKeon, writer of The Final Game and Time’s Champion. dark
Do you enjoy Dalek stories with the Third Doctor? Do you have a particular favorite? Let us know in the comments below.