The Daleks started out as a fearsome new Doctor Who foe, but over time it became apparent that they could only carry the story so far. In an effort to spice up the legacy of these classic villains, Terry Nation introduced the character of Davros in the 1975 serial "Genesis of the Daleks."
As the creator of the Daleks, Davros was able to add in a human element to their history, and give an approximation as to why they were created, what their true intentions were, and how he would eventually warp those intentions for his own ends. Davros has been played by a number of talented actors over the years, but they weren't all wins. Here's the 5 best Davros moments, and 5 of his worst.
BEST: HIS INTRODUCTION
"Genesis of the Daleks" is considered the ultimate Dalek story. The Doctor undertakes a secret mission to eliminate the Daleks at their point of origin, thereby sparing the galaxy their reign of terror. Things go bad when the Doctor is introduced to Davros for the first time.
The crippled Kaled scientist heads up the Dalek project under the guise of giving his people a transport vehicle when they inevitably mutate due to years of exposure to chemicals and radioactive fallout. The audience soon discovers why the Daleks are so evil after Davros hatches a mad scheme to make them the most powerful life form in the galaxy. Davros was played by the excellent Michael Wisher, who channeled psychosis, rage and megalomania to create what is arguably the Doctor's most terrifying nemesis.
WORST: HIS RE-INTRODUCTION
Although Davros was betrayed and murdered by his own creations at the end of "Genesis," that didn't stop the writers from bringing him back. In 1979, "Destiny of the Daleks" brought the Doctor back to Skaro, thousands of years after Davros was killed. The Daleks seek him in order to end a logical stalemate against a robotic race known as the Movellans.
David Gooderson took on the role of Davros for this story, and it was a hot mess from the start. Not only was Gooderson incapable of channeling the psychosis portrayed by Michael Wisher, but Wisher's original face mask was a terrible fit. In the end, Gooderson looked like a knock-off, as opposed to the real thing, which hurt the story.
BEST: TERRY MOLLOY'S FIRST PORTRAYAL
"Destiny of the Daleks" would end with Davros put on ice to await trial for crimes against all of sentient life. The story would pick up five years later with 1984's "Resurrection of the Daleks," featuring a story involving the Daleks springing Davros from a galactic prison ship.
Terry Molloy took over the role of Davros, and it was a breath of fresh air following Gooderson's go at the character. Molloy was able to put his own signature spin on Davros' rage and madness, creating a truly frightening and manipulative villain. His physical appearance had also changed, which divided some fans down the middle as to which they preferred.
WORST: DAVROS AS THE DALEK EMPEROR
By the time 1988's "Remembrance of the Daleks" had touched down, the Daleks were engaged in a civil war between the pure originals (Renegades) and Davros' own Imperials. Audiences got to see some spectacular Dalek vs. Dalek action, making it one of their more memorable stories.
Davros however, was only featured briefly in the final act of the serial where he revealed himself as the new Dalek Emperor. Logically speaking, it was a tad silly, as Davros did little more than seethe and hiss before begging the Doctor for mercy. It would not be the last of him.
BEST: DAVROS AS THE GREAT HEALER
1985's "Revelation of the Daleks" picked up quickly after the events of "Resurrection," focusing on Davros' escape from his prison ship after killing his own Dalek creations. Here, Davros took on the title of "The Great Healer," a guise from which to create a new race of Daleks built from the bodies of dead or dying humans.
This creepy story was one of the darkest in Who lore, but fascinating to watch. The threat of Davros was put on full display this time, allowing him to outsmart a legendary assassin, and show off some frightening new upgrades! Definitely one of his best appearances.
WORST: HIS "NEW" LAUGH
Davros wasn't much of a chuckler, but later stories would evolve his personality and give him a wider range of emotions. Unfortunately, things went a little too far in the 2008 episode "Journey's End," where Davros was seemingly struck with a severe case of the belly laughs.
While touting his latest creation-ending super-weapon the "Reality Bomb," Davros lost it completely, falling into a fit of laughter that was wholly inappropriate for the character, not to mention embarrassing to watch! Not a total loss, thanks largely to an otherwise excellent performance by Julian Bleach.
BEST: HIS RE-APPEARANCE IN NEW WHO
"Stolen Earth" and "Journey's End" would both serve as the perfect vehicle to bring Davros back to audiences who were desperately wondering what had become of the character up to that point. 2005's "Dalek" briefly referenced Davros (though not by name), which stirred fan excitement.
When the reveal happened, it was triumphant. Davros was back, played by the excellent Julian Bleach, who somehow managed to take the performances of Michael Wisher and Terry Molloy, and fuse them into a singular character; the best of both worlds. He even retained his mechanical hand, a nod to "Revelation of the Daleks," when Orcini's squire Bostock obliterated it with a pistol shot.
WORST: DAVROS CRIES
It had long been accepted that Davros was the victim of an unfortunate accident which left him crippled and confined to his life chair. His facial disfigurements seemed to back up the idea, with cybernetic implants replacing his lost eyes and allowing him to see. 2015's "The Witch's Familiar" put an unsatisfying end to that notion, showing the first time Davros opened his eyes.
Not only were they intact, but Davros seemed to be capable of crying, as well. This scene was outrageously bad, for many reasons. First, Davros is a being incapable of crying by his very nature. Second, he'd lack the ability to put on a decent enough act to fool anyone. Not only did this make Davros look pathetic, but it made his ultimate goal seem counter-productive as a result.
BEST: DAVROS' GOD SPEECH
"Genesis of the Daleks" is ed for its spectacular writing and dialogue, and most of it was given to Davros. During the interrogation scene when Davros tries to extract the details of past Dalek defeats from the Doctor, the two take a break to discuss a little intergalactic philosophy.
When the Doctor poses the question to Davros as to whether he'd allow a viral contagion to escape and destroy all life in the universe, he launches into one of the most chilling tirades of any megalomaniac mass murderer. This single scene gives the audience a clear understanding of where the Daleks inherited their genocidal agenda.
WORST: CHILD DAVROS
"The Magician's Apprentice" brought Davros back for the first time since 2008's "Journey's End," but not in his recognizable form. The story kicked off with the Doctor encountering Davros as a young boy caught in a trap on Skaro.
While the idea of the Doctor struggling with whether to save the universe's most insane future man was a novel one, it was done so in the worst manner possible. The Hand-Mines were an especially silly trap which made a joke out of the entire scene. This encounter could have happened anywhere else, and been much stronger for it.