Guilt

This feels a bit lackluster as a final episode, but that's really just because the entire series is so strong. Taken on its own, this is another fine story. It just feels a bit disappointing because, by this point, it feels like it's just sort of ticking off the last few boxes to bring us back to "Genesis of the Daleks". By this point, Davros's ruthless and lethal ambition has already been sufficiently established. There's really not much left for him to do.

For example, one of the highlights of the story is the appearance of Nyder. This is great because Nyder is a great character, and Peter Miles is always outstanding. But on the other hand, it feels inevitable. I mean, of course Nyder is in this episode. He'd have to be. And do we learn anything about him to deepen his character? Well, no. Not really. His main characteristic was always his fierce loyalty to Davros. It would be fair to say that Nyder's loyalty shifts from the Kaled people to Davros in particular over the course of this story, but that's not really much of an arc, as Nyder is never really put in a position to choose between them.

I also can't help but point out that the framing device never even gets resolved. The story ends with the first Dalek speaking its first words (and that's a good ending), but by not even bothering to go back to the whole Dalek/Davros trial business established in "Innocence", it kind of confirms that the framing device was entirely pointless and superfluous from the get go. If the framing device wasn't important enough to resolve, then it shouldn't have been included in the first place.

Despite this sloppiness, "I, Davros" is still a terrific mini-series, all things considered. As a said before, giving a backstory to a character who simply doesn't require a backstory can be a risky business. There's simply no need for this series to exist, so it has to justify its existence by being really good. It succeeds.

By the time we get to 'Guilt' we have seen everybody that Davros may have cared about die and often horribly. He has been bombed, horrifically scared and crippled. Possibly driven mad with it and with each tragedy he has become more the Davros we know. We even get to hear him introduced to Nyder, once again, played by Peter Miles. This spin-off series has had rich characterisation, nuanced storytelling, superb acting and consistently good writing. People don't live long enough to have a change of heart - provided they have one of course. It's a dark, creepy, sinister and an unforgivably good story.

(Cross-posted from my blog at finishbig.tumblr.com)

After listening to all four parts of I, Davros, I?m kind of kicking myself for not having done so years ago. I?ve always been a great fan of Big Finish, and this is one of their best works that I?ve heard. Terry Molloy?s performance as Davros is absolutely inspired, and the scripts ain?t half bad either.

Guilt finally ties the strands of the story together, showing how Davros gained control of the Kaled Domes and finally completed the Daleks. We even learn where the name ?Dalek? comes from, and how the Daleks got the voices they have. Plus, we learn how Davros met Nyder, his sinister second in commond form Genesis of the Daleks.

Throughout the series, it?s impressive how they managed to play it straight as a reasonably realistic wartime drama. These characters wouldn?t seem out of place on present-day Earth, and that?s kind of chilling. But then, that?s always been a part of the Daleks? menace, from their first appearance in 1963.

The only thing about the final installment that strikes me as kind of ?off? is that we never return in the end to the framing narrative that had appeared throughout the plays, with the present day Davros on ?trial? by the Daleks. But I guess the trial scenes seem to be set between Revelation of the Daleks and Remembrance of the Daleks, so we kind of know how things turn out.

Overall, I, Davros is a pretty superb series of plays, and one that I know will stand up to repeated listens.

A real fun piece, this one. It really sets the scene for Genesis. The triumph is the return of Nyder. One of the best supporting characters gets to pretty much double his screentime with the portrayal of his first meeting Davros. I love the portrayal of Nyder's odd bland of loyalty, enthusiasm and yet moral abhorrence. The Cult of Personality-like effect Davros has on him and a few others is intriguing to behold.

Meanwhile, the story shows remarkable restraint in dealing with the dalek experiments. This is the story of Davros' early life. Genesis of the Daleks is the story of the, well, genesis of the daleks. Guilt seeds the early stages of the experiments just enough to excite and build to a tingling end without letting it become the A plot.

It's got a couple of minor weaknesses - the most intrusive is that Davros' coup is conducted in a somewhat OTT fashion, but I can buy it because the performances are rich enough to carry it. As well as that it's a bit more of a romp and a bit less thematic than the others (but the whole series is still marinaded in a thick syrup of theme), and the Thal capture story is entertaining enough, but not super thrilling or intriguing.

A good 8/10