7 Reasons Why The Daleks Are A Force For Good: Strength
Strength is always a good attribute. It comes in many forms: Mental strength, physical prowess, strength of heart, bonded polycarbide armor and Dalekanium equipped with a high output energy weapon that can scramble your insides like a racially inferior egg. For inspiration on the topic of strength, we need look no further than our pepper pot friends bent on universal domination, The Daleks.
Bullet proof Neo from Matrix style, The Daleks are encased in armored travel machines with a vast array of upgrades, technology and otherwise neato gadgets. They fear nothing and are single-minded. I mean, we could go into the whole psychological aspect of them actually being extremely afraid, what with all the constant shouting and killing and anger which stems from fear and whatnot, but that is not the focus of this particular article. Let us focus instead, on their bada**ness for a moment.
The Armored Salt Shaker
Daleks are highly intelligent. Their genetically engineered brains, enhanced with advanced alien technology, has allowed them to develop and adapt their casings over time. Initially, their armor worked off static electricity in the floors of their metal cities and they were defeated (although not totally) by some Ken-doll-looking tall blonde guys known as Thals, who essentially tipped them all over and caused one of them to shoot their own life support system accidentally. However, since then, they have adapted themselves into the most feared beings in all the cosmos. Their armor cannot be pierced by your standard conventional projectile weapons. This has frustrated Unit and other human military organizations to no end over the years. Counting pitched battles between Daleks and Humans based solely on television appearances, the score is essentially every time to never (unless The Doctor shows up to ruin things). One of their only weaknesses is the eye stalk. A direct hit in the eye will render a Dalek blind, and usually cause it to fly into a state of panic, spraying blaster fire everywhere. However, they eventually adapt and overcome this obstacle as well, much to the chagrin of one of The Doctor’s companions, played by the wonderful Benard Cribbins.
Unending Combat
Now, a Dalek story just isn’t a dalek story without at least a few epic battle scenes. Usually having the upper hand from the start, the Daleks blast their way through most any obstacle, literally. They have the ability to move over any terrain unhindered and they also have the ability to hover and fly. So, add Air Power to their roster. Their energy weapons are formidable to say the least, on occasion blowing up entire buildings. They can asphyxiate sentient beings with their sucker arms. So all the countless jokes about toilet plungers are on us, as they are deadly in and of themselves. The Daleks also have somewhat of a hive mind (sometimes) and so communication during the heat of battle is essentially no problem. Their strategies are usually simple enough: move forward at a somewhat slow and steady pace directly at the enemy, scream exterminate in a raging frenzy, and blast everything that moves until things no longer move. Simple? Yes? Effective? Also yes. And, as far as hand to hand combat goes, punching a Dalek seems somewhat ridiculous on face value and you’ll probably never get close enough to try it anyway.
The Moral of The Story
I cannot write an article on Dalek strength without at least giving a shout out to everyone’s favorite, The Special Weapon’s Dalek. Essentially a sentient cannon, The Special Weapon’s Dalek has captured many hearts with only a few brief appearances. He’s basically the Boba Fett of Doctor Who. It’s example is perhaps the best way to tie in the point of this particular essay and why we can gain positive insight into ourselves to see our own strengths. The SWD is a bit of an outcast amongst it’s kind. Referred to by other Daleks as “The Abomination,” it is often considered to be a bit unhinged. It has no real on screen lines, no appendages, and apparently only brought out in the most dire of circumstances. SWD is, essentially, a relied upon outcast. Yet when needed, it does it’s due diligence without question, and always comes out on top.
We can all relate to that in some way. We all feel on the outside at times. We all feel like we are not heard sometimes. However, when the chips are down, we also all have the ability to step up and make things count. All of us have that strength inside us. It is a matter of bringing it to bear when the time calls for it. The Daleks without their armor are vulnerable. Essentially they are somewhat of an allegory of our own insecurities and the walls we put up to hide them. But when we accept our own faults, and adapt our strength around them, we can find power. We can become a force to be reconned with. Unlike The Daleks however, we can choose to be a force for good. We can use our strength to be selfless. Which reminds me. Tune in for the 6th of 7 articles where we will discuss just that: The character building trait of service before self.
