We’re coming up to the 44th anniversary of when Tom Baker began playing the Doctor in Doctor Who (Jon Pertwee regenerated on June 8, 1974). Baker’s seven seasons in the role (seasons 12-18, from 1974 to 1980) were a turning point in the series and remain the most popular classic series years to this day. Until the likes of David Tennant, Matt Smith, and Peter Capaldi, if you knew what Doctor Who was, it was because of Tom Baker. And the BBC is really making sure people celebrate it this year, with both a Blu-ray set of Baker’s entire first season, and a cinema screening of one of his best loved stories.
“Genesis of the Daleks” was a six-part serial from the Fourth Doctor’s first season, and it remains a pillar in the series. Written by Dalek creator Terry Nation, it details the Doctor and his two companions, Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) and Dr. Harry Sullivan (Ian Marter), being pulled out of time by the Time Lords in order to prevent the creation of the Daleks on their homeworld of Skaro. There the heroes see the horrible, grimy war between the two humanoid species, the Thals and the Kaleds, a war that utilizes chemical warfare which causes horrible mutations. The Kaleds’ chief scientist, the mad paralyzed, mutated Davros, has a plan to create a soldier class using Kaled mutants, and we and the Doctor know that should he succeed, the Daleks will be born and the universe will forever live in fear.
Made using moody ’70s BBC filming techniques and direction by the great David Maloney, “Genesis of the Daleks” became a classic among classics for the character of Davros (played with shrieking and sinister joy by Michael Wisher) and Baker’s performance, which sees the Doctor utter his now famous “Have I the right?” speech, with respect to if ending the Daleks before they begin is right.
On June 11, for one night only, the BBC and Fathom Events will bring us the little-seen director’s cut of “Genesis of the Daleks” along with a brand new interview with Tom Baker about the story and its legacy. Tickets are available now at Fathom’s site. On June 19, you’ll also be able to purchase the entire first Tom Baker season (season 12) on Blu-ray, which has never been available before. Previously, DVDs of individual stories were the only way to buy.
With Jodie Whittaker’s first episode looming for the fall, and Tom Baker’s stories getting much love, it’s a good time to be a Doctor Who fan, but then again, isn’t it always?
Images: BBC/Fathom
Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor and the resident Whovian for Nerdist. Follow him on Twitter!
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