Once upon a looking-for-[Dalek]-time, There was a [fifty] year old [villian]

This is actually an email I sent to a friend about a year and a half ago.  He'd asked for some crowd sourced thoughts about memorable Dalek moments for another friend's project.  I think I was supposed to say "oooh they're SO scary! I hid behind my couch!". Instead, I said this:


The Daleks
Hartnell, I think late 1963 to early 64 because of Xmas programming/JFK's death, all of that.
First appearance of the Daleks, and they're scary, sure. Barbara leaves us on a cliffhanger after the first episode's ending, hiding in plain view of everything, trying to sink into a wall, staring at an eye stalk. Being a huge fan of 1960's sci-fi, the habit of women characters make me giggle- "I will hide behind my arm! They will never see me as I scream!" But seriously, the Daleks are great in this story. They are dependent on the static electricity of the metal they've floored their entire city with, so if Doctor 1, Barbara, Chesterton, and Susan can get out of the city, they're good to take a leisurely stroll back to the TARDIS. Also, how awesome is it that the future Enemy Number 1 gets foiled (albeit temporarily) by a coat over an eye stalk!? It's just so good. They're nazi-ish, and I totally understand the instant terror, and it's just a wonderful story, especially as it was the second story in Who ever. Also cool, I think this is the story where they say "exterminate" in the past tense, which I believe is the only time we hear that.

Genesis of the Daleks
Tom Baker, 1975
So Sarah Jane Smith and Harry are with 4 and they meet Davros. How cool? It's Davros. The Daleks get extra Nazi points for being created by Davros. He dies (of course he doesn't, he's in a show about a lead who can be recast at will), and he scares the shit out of everyone, especially SJS. (Skipping to another story, the moment she sees him in the Tennant story is just sooo good. So glad she had a chance to re-attack the role.) It's also a great story because it goes into the war of the Kaleds and Thals, and creation of the most evil race in the history of awesome villainy. Also, 1975 was an unusual year for Who because it was the only time we actually see a continuous story told by the characters- meaning, we never hear "remember last week when we went to that planet but we didn't show the audience? yeah, that was great. ooh look, a new place!". So basically, I'm a sucker for origin stories, and Davros is friggin Davros.

Remembrance of the Daleks
Sylvester McCoy, 1988
Ace and 7 are running about England, they get caught up with warring factions of Daleks, there's Davros, and THE DALEKS USE STAIRS. For real. There was no reason in any text up to that point that they couldn't use stairs. They'd gone up an elevator shaft type thing, but for whatever reason, the press at the time decided Daleks couldn't use stairs. So, as a bit of fan service, or as a bit of "ha! we win!" (even tho the show was such a campy low budget mockery at this point), the Daleks took the stairs. It was awesome. Also, Davros. And a creepy child being controlled. And Davros. AND STAIRS!

Okay, new series moments. Episodes aren't my favorites, but they are note-worthy moments.
Dalek
Eccleston, 2005
Rose, Adam, and random military person run up stairs, saying "it can't follow us nyah nyah nyah!". So of course, the Dalek hovers up the stairs after them. Lovely freak out moment to those who had fallen off the series by 1988 and didn't know they could do that.

Stolen Earth
Tennant, 2008
Daleks in Germany: "exterminieren". Because it's Daleks. Saying Nazi things.
Donna's granddad, Wilf, shoots a Dalek in the eye stalk. Dalek: "My vision is not impaired". Great homage to old series.


So, that's my "best of Daleks" moment. And even if I were to re-write it now, I'd have the same list.  Because now they're enormous and multi-colored. Stupid Moffat.  Okay, Asylum of the Daleks was pretty amazing too.  But that really feels more like I think it's awesome because of Oswin/Clara and her red dress and what deleting knowledge of The Doctor from the universe will do, more than anything that was Dalek related.

Discuss.