The Dalek Occupation of Winter

Early Adventures #5.1

Released: 12 September 2018

Listened: 1/5/22

These next four Early Adventures break with the previous formula, featuring the same characters, and occurring all in a row. I imagine that had to do with the unavailability of William Russell, or possibly with the “Adventure in Space and Time” team taking over most of the stories featuring the original team. This story, by David K Barnes, takes a look at a different kind of Dalek invasion, and different ways that people might react to it. The TARDIS lands in the city of Winter on an unnamed planet, where winter lasts 500 years. It was colonized by speculators hoping to mine rare ores, but that didn’t pan out, and when they called for help, the only response came from Daleks, who were talked into varying from their standard procedures. In exchange for food, the population builds Dalek casings, not as slaves, but as paid workers with decent conditions. They have no idea what the Daleks are actually used for, thinking them exploration and aid robots. Naturally, the Doctor, Vicki, and Steven react with shock and horror, and immediately try to get a rebellion going. The chief administrator isn’t a fan of the Daleks, but will do whatever’s necessary to keep his people safe and himself in power, not necessarily in that order. The security chief simply wants to be on the winning side, and thinks she can manipulate the situation to her own ends. Even the factory worker who befriends Steven is worried; she can be convinced that the Daleks are evil, but kicking them off the planet would cut off their food supply, and the people would starve. For Vicki and Steven, at least, this is a genuine moral dilemma, and their arguments with the natives are interesting. Barnes is usually a comedy writer, but there’s very little of that here. In fact, the ending is grim even by the standards of Dalek stories. But it’s fitting to have a First Doctor story where they can take time to consider the implications of fighting the Daleks.