Revolution of the Daleks (TV story)

Revolution of the Daleks was the 2021 New Year Special of Doctor Who. It featured the return of Jack Harkness, and marked the Thirteenth Doctor's reunion with her companions following the events of The Timeless Children. The episode also saw the departure of Bradley Walsh as Graham O'Brien and Tosin Cole as Ryan Sinclair.

Continuing the Recon Dalek storyline begun in Resolution, a new line of Daleks were introduced, cloned from a remnant of the original recon scout. Their new design is a variant on the Recon Dalek's own casing. It also saw the return of bronze Daleks, last seen in 2017's Twice Upon a Time, leading to a battle between both factions.

Synopsis
As the Thirteenth Doctor marks her days in prison, back on Earth the Daleks are presented on national television. They are the new Defence Drones, designed to protect the British public.

Left behind on Earth, Yaz, Graham and Ryan need their friend more than ever. Now with Daleks on the assembly line, and a familiar face behind their production... What would the Doctor do?

Plot
367 minutes after the Doctor melted the casing of the Reconnaissance scout, a lorry driver takes the empty casing from GCHQ to Depositary 23, stopping off at a kiosk for a cup of tea. Walking back to his vehicle, he starts to breathe heavily, drops his cup, and collapses. The woman who served him drags him inside the lorry with the casing and drives it away.

Jo Patterson - the technology secretary - drives to a breakfast meeting with Leo Rugazzi and Jack Robertson to see Leo’s new defence drones. They oversee a fake riot organised by Jack, where a defence drone effectively disperses the rioters with its water cannon and loud noise. Afterwards, Leo shows the pair how the drones are controlled by AI and are solar powered. Robertson and Jo talk in private, and Jo warns him not to tell anyone that she tipped him off about advanced technology being transported from GCHQ. Jack tells her that the drones will take around a year to develop, in time to help her win the upcoming general election.

In a prison located inside an asteroid, the Doctor wakes up. She scratches a mark on her cell wall, matching numerous other marks covering the two walls. It is clear she has been here for years. A monitor flashes on her wall instructing her to exercise. She does so. Later on, she is escorted to an exercise facility, saying hello to the cameras and her fellow inmates as she passes. Back in her cell, a monitor flashes again, instructing her to sleep. She proceeds tries to tell herself a bedtime story, but is interrupted by knocking from the other side of a wall. Recognising the four knocks, she wonders if she knows the individual.

Ryan Sinclair and Graham O'Brien walk towards the TARDIS disguised as a house. They go to knock on the door, but it opens for them. Inside the TARDIS control room they find Yasmin Khan surrounded by coloured paper and post it notes covered in writing stuck to almost every surface. She has been sleeping inside the TARDIS, and is desperately trying to find the Doctor. Ryan and Graham tell her that she needs to move on because the Doctor has been away for ten months, but she refuses to listen. Graham shows her footage of a prototype Defence Drone leaked from the fake riot Robertson organised. They recognise it as a Dalek, and see Robertson overseeing the riot. They believe that he is in league with the Dalek, and she agrees to help them investigate because it was what the Doctor would do.

Jo Patterson — running for the position of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom — summons Jack Robertson to a rainy forest. She tells him that she wants an immediate national roll-out of his drones, and him to pay rather than have her government tax the British people. He nervously laughs, telling her that they had only just started regional beta testing and that it was starting to sound like a "shakedown". She blackmails him by threatening to alert the treasury about how much tax his companies pay in the UK. He agrees to her proposal.

That night, as Robertson gets out of his car, telling Leo that he's arrived, Yaz, Ryan, and Graham approach him. He recognises them from the encounter he had with giant spiders. They confront him about the defence drone, believing it to be a Dalek, but he has no idea what they are talking about. Suddenly, people with guns surround them and Robertson tells them that he increased his security because of them, before walking away. After getting free from Jack's bodyguards, they discuss how hard it is to "see what's going on" without the Doctor, psychic paper, or a TARDIS.

Meanwhile, at the prison, the Doctor wakes up, scratches another mark on her cell wall, says hello to the cameras and proceeds to the exercise facility again. However, this time she finds Jack Harkness, also imprisoned there, in the fenced square next to her. Jack reveals he has been waiting nineteen years for the cell rotation to finally place him next to the Doctor. He then then shows her a temporal-freezing gateway disinhibitor bubble which he activates, joins the Doctor, and tells her to run. Now able to traverse through walls and the electric fence, they arrive at Jack's cell where he opens a little trap containing a vortex manipulator he smuggled. They then activate it to break out the prison just as the alarms sound.

Back on Earth, Leo talks to Robertson about the drones; he is worried about the speed of the production but Robertson reassures him, telling him to "live in the worry". Leo then talks to Robertson about the model casing, he explains that by examining it, he found out organic remnants in the machine and cloned them, growing a Dalek mutant, finding it beautiful and intelligent. Robertson, horrified by this discovery, demands that Leo incinerate the creature, and tortures Leo to keep it under wraps before leaving, angrily saying that this kind of science is why nobody likes experts. Leo brings the box containing the Dalek mutant to the incinerator, but when he opens it, the creature inside it grabs him and possesses him. He makes a final phone call goodbye to his family, before the Dalek completely takes control.

The Doctor and Captain Jack teleport into her TARDIS, where all the lights have been dimmed. Jack asks if she had listened to his message, and she says that she did give Ashad what it wanted, but fixed it, "sort of". She also tells him that she was imprisoned for evading the Judoon twice and '7000 other offences'. The Doctor then uses the TARDIS to find the others, on Earth. Yaz, Ryan and Graham talk about the Dalek they saw on the news, Graham tells the two that it's impossible that this one is the one they fought at GCHQ, as it was thrown in a supernova, Ryan suggest that the Daleks may have came to Earth and forced Robertson to work with them. Yaz then tells them to shut up, wanting to listen. The TARDIS then materialises in the living room, and the Doctor and Jack come out. After a brief discussion between Team TARDIS, Jack asks "What's new on planet Earth". The trio answers "Dalek", which horrifies the Doctor and Jack.

Meanwhile at Osaka, Japan, Leo, controlled by the Dalek he created, enters a building where the Dalek reveals what he was doing when he was in the box, connected to the network: building a Dalek clone farm.

In the TARDIS, the Doctor scans for Dalek DNA traces, and Jack explains to Team TARDIS that he is immortal. The screen on the wall beeps, revealing a DNA trace has been found in Osaka, but not an exact match. Jack and Yaz volunteer to investigate, whilst Graham, Ryan and the Doctor travel to talk to Robertson. The Doctor materialises the TARDIS in Robertson's office, and she asks him about the Daleks, having blocked his phone lines so he can't call security. Exasperated, Robertson decides to show them the "production line", where he is 3D printing "security drones", which are all modelled on the Recon Dalek from GCHQ. They fill the whole room, and he shows them how there is nothing inside the drones, and that the machines are run by Artificial intelligence. Graham asks about his facility in Osaka, and Robertson replies that he doesn't have one because he would know about it.

In Osaka, Yaz tells Jack how it was hard for her in the ten months that the Doctor had been away, almost wishing that she had never met her if it had to stop so abruptly. Jack told her that the Doctor had abandoned him, but that they should 'remember the journey while [they were] on it', because 'the joy is worth the pain.' They explore the building with torches, and realise that they are inside a Dalek clone farm.

Jo Patterson, making an address outside 10 Downing Street, begins a speech promising that she will make Britian 'more secure', so that they can enter the 'age of security', and introduces the new 'Defence Drones', whilst four of them surround her. They will be placed at on streets, and at borders and national landmarks.

In the Dalek clone farm, Yaz asks Jack to help her take a sample of a liquid inside the tubes feeding the new Daleks, in the hope that they may find a way to stop them. Jack sets bombs on the walkways and railings, but the creatures surrounding them are starting to climb out of their buckets. One of them falls onto his face, and another latches on to Yaz as she tries to help him. Jack shoots them with his blaster, vapourising them.

The TARDIS flies through the time vortex, four minutes away from Osaka. Ryan is sitting on the stairs, putting on his beanie. The Doctor approaches him, remembering the yellow one he was wearing when they met.

More to be added here...

Cast

 * The Doctor - Jodie Whittaker
 * Graham O'Brien - Bradley Walsh
 * Yasmin Khan - Mandip Gill
 * Ryan Sinclair - Tosin Cole
 * Captain Jack Harkness - John Barrowman
 * Jack Robertson - Chris Noth
 * Jo Patterson - Harriet Walter
 * Leo Rugazzi - Nathan Stewart-Jarrett
 * Armen - Nathan Armarkwei-Laryea
 * Rachel - Helen Anderson
 * Voice of the Daleks - Nicholas Briggs
 * Dalek Operator 1 - Barnaby Edwards
 * Dalek Operator 2 - Nicholas Pegg
 * Grace - Sharon D Clarke
 * Stunt Performers - Leon Gabbison, Samuel Stefan, Andrew Burford, Xavier Lake, Sarah Lochlan, Paul Bailey, Lloyd Bass, Mathew Paine, Danielle da Costa, Lukaz Leng, Maria Hippolyte, Karen Teoh, Heather Philips, Tracy Caudle

Species

 * The Doctor's fellow prisoners include: a Weeping Angel, who the Doctor nicknamed "Angela": an Ood, who the Doctor nicknamed "Bonnie"; a Sycorax, who the Doctor nicknamed "Clyde": a Pting, who the Doctor nicknamed “Tiny”; a Silent; a Skithra; a Gathering Coil; a Cyberman; and a Thijarian.

Popular culture

 * The Doctor recites the opening line of a "classic" story to herself, mentioning "Mr and Mrs Dursley of 4 Privet Drive".
 * Robertson gives an interview to Emily Maitlis on Newsnight.

Individuals

 * Jack Harkness mentions catching up with Gwen Cooper
 * Jack Harkness mentions Rose Tyler.
 * Ryan and Graham both have a vision of Grace O'Brien.

Technology

 * Jack Harkness has a vortex manipulator.
 * Jack Harkness uses a temporal-freezing gateway disinhibitor bubble to break the Doctor and himself out of prison.
 * The Doctor gives Ryan and Graham each a piece of psychic paper as a parting gift.
 * Gwen Cooper is said to have used a Moped and her son's boxing gloves to destroy a Dalek.

Locations

 * The prison where the Doctor is being held is 79 billion light-years away from Earth.
 * Ryan reads a story online about a village in Finland that is supposedly dealing with a troll invasion.
 * Graham mentions having heard a story about a quarry in Korea that has been shut down due to reports of "gravel creatures coming to life."

Story notes

 * This was the first episode of Doctor Who to be simultaneously broadcast in 4K UHD with HDR colour grading, and the second episode ever made available in this format, Since the BBC doesn't broadcast in 4K UHD on its television channels, it was instead made available on BBC iPlayer, with a red button prompt appearing during its BBC One broadcast. Twice Upon a Time remains the first episode to be released in 4K UHD, as it was remastered in the format after broadcast for its re-release on UHD Blu-ray.
 * This was the first televised story of the parent Doctor Who series to be originally released to a streaming service, making its debut on BBC iPlayer around 10 minutes before its BBC One broadcast, rather than shortly afterwards or live and concurrently, as is the norm. However, Series 1 of Class had previously debuted on the same service. (Perhaps coincidentally, the episodes of Class had also debuted on the iPlayer service earlier than the time that they were advertised to be released.)
 * The opening title card ("A LONG TIME AGO... FAR, FAR AWAY...") is a reference to the famous Star Wars opening title, "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...".
 * The "Defence Drones" have voices similar to those used by the Imperial Daleks in Remembrance of the Daleks, the last televised instance of a Dalek Civil War.
 * Chris Noth (Jack Robertson) is credited as "Robertson" on BBC iPlayer, and erroneously as "Alan Robertson" in Radio Times. Nathan Armarkwei-Laryea (Armen), Helen Anderson (Rachel), Nicholas Briggs (Voice of the Daleks), Barnaby Edwards (Dalek Operator 1), Nicholas Pegg (Dalek Operator 2) and Sharon D Clarke (Grace) are credited on-screen but not in Radio Times or on BBC iPlayer.

Ratings

 * 4.69 million (UK overnight)

Filming locations
to be added

Myths

 * Davros would return. This was proven false.
 * The prison the Doctor was in would be revealed to be Shada. This is unknown as this was neither confirmed nor denied.
 * Graham or Ryan would die at the end of the episode. This theory was incorrect as they would both leave the TARDIS alive at the end of the episode and given an open ending.
 * David Tennant would make a cameo as the Tenth Doctor. This was proven false.
 * The Special Weapons Dalek was to return. This was proven false.
 * This story would be a two-parter. This was proven false.
 * This story would continue the war between the Renegade Daleks and the Imperial Daleks. Although not entirely true, it does contain a similar plot element.

Production errors
to be added

Continuity

 * The toxic waste scandal that ruined Jack Robertson's political ambitions is mentioned and he remembers Team TARDIS from the incident. (TV: Arachnids in the UK)
 * The Doctor recites the beginning of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone while in prison as a bedtime story, calling it a "classic". The Tenth Doctor had previously expressed an admiration for the Harry Potter series and its author, J. K. Rowling. (TV: The Shakespeare Code) The Eleventh Doctor had previously recalled that when he was eight years old, he loved "classic" bedtime stories. (TV: Night Terrors)
 * Jack Harkness gets the Doctor's attention by knocking four times. (TV: Planet of the Dead, The Waters of Mars, The End of Time)
 * Jack Harkness travels by vortex manipulator (TV: Utopia, The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords, The Stolen Earth/Journey's End) and uses a sonic blaster. (TV: The Doctor Dances)
 * Jack Harkness recalls meeting the Doctor's companions and warning them about the Lone Cyberman. (TV: Fugitive of the Judoon) He is unhappy to find out that the Doctor did give him the Cyberium, (TV: The Haunting of Villa Diodati) but the Doctor claims that she resolved this, "sort of". (TV: The Timeless Children)
 * Jack tells Team TARDIS how he became immortal, (TV: The Parting of the Ways) and that the person partially responsible for it is now stranded in a parallel universe. (TV: Doomsday, Journey's End)
 * Jack Harkness tells Yaz that he is from the 51st century, (TV: The Doctor Dances) lived on the Boeshane Peninsula, (TV: Last of the Time Lords, Adam) and how the Doctor abandoned him numerous times. (TV: The Parting of the Ways, Journey's End) He noted the Doctor was a man then. (TV: The Sound of Drums)
 * Jack Harkness calls Graham "Silver Fox". (TV: Fugitive of the Judoon)
 * Ryan and Graham both see a vision of Grace O'Brien. (TV: The Woman Who Fell to Earth)
 * Ryan puts on a grey beanie, with the Doctor remembering the yellow one he was wearing when they met. (TV: The Woman Who Fell to Earth)
 * A Weeping Angel, (TV: Blink) an Ood, (TV: The Impossible Planet) a Sycorax, (TV: The Christmas Invasion) a Pting, (TV: The Tsuranga Conundrum) and a Silent (TV: The Impossible Astronaut) appear as the Doctor’s fellow prisoners and inmates.
 * Graham reminds Ryan of their destruction of the Cybercarrier while blowing up the Dalek saucer in a similar manner. In addition, the Doctor realises that, just like with the Cybercarrier, destroying the alien ship won't take care of all of the enemies and she requires a separate plan to finish the job. (TV: The Timeless Children)
 * Yaz has been studying the TARDIS the Doctor sent Team TARDIS back to Earth in. (TV: The Timeless Children)
 * Jack Harkness turns down the Doctor's offer to travel, choosing instead to reconnect with Gwen Cooper, after spending some time apart. (AUDIO: Herald of the Dawn) He has previously refused the Doctor's offer to travel with them so he can see Gwen again. (TV: Last of the Time Lords)
 * Ryan once again tries to learn how to ride a bicycle with Graham's help and wears his yellow beanie. (TV: The Woman Who Fell to Earth)
 * Ryan has been reconnecting with his estranged father. (TV: Resolution)
 * Ryan reflects on taking on giant spiders, (TV: Arachnids in the UK) a sentient universe, (TV: It Takes You Away) Cybermen, (TV: The Haunting of Villa Diodati, Ascension of the Cybermen, The Timeless Children) Skithra, (TV: Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror) Morax, (TV: The Witchfinders) and the "mighty Pting". (TV: The Tsuranga Conundrum)
 * The Doctor questions how Jack Harkness was able to smuggle his vortex manipulator into the prison. Jack responds; "You really want me to answer that?" (TV: Bad Wolf)
 * The Doctor once again comments on how Jack has "had work done", to which Jack replies, "You can talk." (TV: Utopia)
 * The Doctor gifts Ryan and Graham psychic paper as they leave the TARDIS. (TV: The End of the World, Army of Ghosts, Evolution of the Daleks)
 * The Doctor tells Ryan that Gallifrey is devoid of life after Ko Sharmus used the death particle. (TV: The Timeless Children)
 * The Doctor is still locked in prison for evading the Judoon twice at once and 7,000 other offenses. (TV: Fugitive of the Judoon, The Timeless Children)
 * The Doctor misses her intended temporal destination when returning to pick up her companions. The Eleventh Doctor had a history of doing the same, (TV: The Eleventh Hour, Let's Kill Hitler) and the Ninth Doctor once returned Rose Tyler one year late, causing others to think she had disappeared. (TV: Aliens of London) Graham blames it on the TARDIS herself, noting her tendency to take the Doctor where they need to go. (TV: The Doctor's Wife)
 * The Bronze Daleks kill the Recon Dalek's Defence Drone army because it views them as "impure". The Eighth Doctor and Lucie Miller previously encountered a set of Daleks who wanted to wipe out the genetically impure Mutant Daleks created by Martez on Red Rocket Rising. (AUDIO: Blood of the Daleks) The Eleventh Doctor encountered the Supreme Dalek, who did likewise to the Ironside Daleks for similar reasons. (TV: Victory of the Daleks) The Ninth Doctor saw how the Metaltron Dalek committed suicide because it mutated and saw itself as "impure". (TV: Dalek)
 * Before their demise, the Drone Daleks insist they had to adapt their DNA to survive. This was Dalek Sec's argument in favour of combining Dalek DNA with human DNA. (TV: Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks)
 * The Daleks use "maximum extermination". (TV: The Stolen Earth/Journey's End, Victory of the Daleks)
 * The Daleks are transported to the Void to die. The Tenth Doctor twice before sent the Daleks and other enemies to the Void to destroy them. (TV: Doomsday, The Next Doctor)
 * Humans previously utilised Daleks without being aware of the dangers. (TV: The Power of the Daleks, Victory of the Daleks)

DVD releases
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Blu-ray releases
to be added

Digital releases
to be added