Joining forces with Daleks from another dimension, Kaledorf and his alliance struggle to defeat the Dalek Supreme’s mighty army.
Joining forces with Daleks from another dimension, Kaledorf and his alliance struggle to defeat the Dalek Supreme’s mighty army.
DALEK EMPIRE II: DALEK WAR
CHAPTER ONE
It’s difficult to put my finger on it, but the focus seems to have changed between the first Dalek Empire series and this latest installment. Everything seems more polished, for one thing, starting with the clearly improved theme music and continuing into the superior sound design. Writer-director Nicholas Briggs does a fine job of re-introducing his universe and his characters, using a combination of flashbacks, flash-forwards, and intercuts to quickly build up a picture of the state of affairs in this latest series. Of course, there isn’t a great deal that happens in this first chapter, as Briggs uses his script to set up the oncoming conflicts, but the material is gripping nonetheless. Gareth Thomas is as commanding as ever as Kalendorf, and his first dealings with the Mentor (Hannah Smith) suggest future conflicts. Smith is masterful in the role, displaying hints of suppressed rage and a strong desire for control. I expressed disappointment at the prospect of Susan Mendes (Sarah Mowat) returning, but nonetheless her return poses new and interesting questions, and her scenes with Mirana (Teresa Gallagher) are some of the play’s best. Alby Brook (Mark McDonnell) doesn’t do much, but I’m sure his scenes will be recapped in the second part. Overall, this is a very solid introduction to the second Dalek Empire series, and though it doesn’t appear to have the intellectual aspirations of its predecessor, this is gripping space drama all the same.
7/10