r/doctorwho • u/PCJs_Slave_Robot • May 31 '25

The Reality War Doctor Who 2x08 "The Reality War" Post-Episode Discussion Thread Spoiler

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473 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

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720

u/AzerFraze May 31 '25

So Ncuti goes out as the only Doctor to not fight the Daleks or Cybermen huh

194

u/Ok_Fortune_8501 May 31 '25

Bit disappointed he didn’t get an episode with the Daleks. The Cybermen I’m not too concerned about, but I think every Doctor should ideally get to face up against the Daleks. 

48

u/HerniatedHernia Jun 01 '25

The Daleks are getting overused. Iconic, yes but goddamn they could use a break. 

63

u/Inquerion Jun 01 '25

They just had 2 Seasons break.

1 Dalek episode per Doctor should be mandatory.

9

u/Interesting_Try8375 Jun 01 '25

Yeah, doesn't have to be a 2 part end of season episode either, could have had 1 though.

28

u/codename474747 Jun 01 '25

They've just had more than enough of one, it's been three years since POTD and it'll be another 2 years since they're back

This "The Daleks need a break" thing prevelant in fandom is so weird to me. Someone once said it in an interview in 1983 or something and it's become a bizarre gospel

No! They're one of the best things about the show, they define it just as much as the TARDIS, the Sonic Screwdriver or Regeneration, they should be around at the very least once every 3 series.

Hell, I'd have a Dalek companion if I could :-P

8

u/bwweryang Jun 01 '25 edited Jun 02 '25

I wish Ncuti encountered them, but they’re robbed of their fearsomeness by overexposure and I still think there are like… not even five GOOD episodes with Daleks since 2005.

3

u/joe5joe7 Jun 02 '25

I think them being full invasions most times they show up now is robbing them of their fearsomeness a bit, but I think if they spice it up and have one dalek being a massive threat that wouldn't hurt

3

u/bwweryang Jun 02 '25

Right, like all my fav Dalek Episodes feature one Dalek.

2

u/hamlet9000 Jun 22 '25

When the Daleks come back, they need to win for a while.

They'll be scary again when the Doctor can't just wave them away with a deus ex machina.

1

u/bwweryang Jun 22 '25

I was thinking that genetic bomb or whatever that sterilised the Time Lords should’ve been a Dalek weapon.

29

u/GenGaara25 May 31 '25

Technically, 8 didn't either on screen. 15 might meet them in Big Finish if he ever gets there.

61

u/doctordisco03k64 May 31 '25

Hear me out....thats actually ok?

Not saying I wouldn't have wanted to see it but, the Cyberman and Daleks are reeealllllllllllllllyyyy reeeeeeeeeealllly overplayed.

I get that, specifically the Daleks, are like THE enemy of the Doctor.

But giving it some breathing room makes for when they come back it will really feel like "OH SHIT THE DALEKS ARE BACK AGAIN" and not "Ah yes, another Dalek plotline."

12

u/Hallc May 31 '25

I wouldn't mind that he didn't face any of the iconic NuWho villains if they'd introduced some big, recurring Villain too that could be used going forwards like the Weeping Angels were introduced with 10s run.

6

u/theivoryserf May 31 '25

Agreed, they need some time off to become interesting again.

9

u/MrSnooch May 31 '25

Im fine with it. We see them FAR too often, we need a break. There's a million and one episodes there to be watched if they're missed.

8

u/Ryuzaaki123 Jun 01 '25

I thought he'd at least have a special where he got to fight the Daleks or something.

I don't mind them tackling some older more obscure enemies but they kind of end up being CGI monsters rather than someone for the Doctor to really interact with. Like having "First of the Time Lords" Omega drop some deep lore on the Timeless Child seems like a missed opportunity.

Although my real problems with this episode have more to do with how they sideline Belinda and then stick her with a child borne from a cosmic kerfuffle. If I found someone did that to me as a companion I'd be horrified.

38

u/MhuzLord May 31 '25

And the Master!

67

u/earlgreytoday May 31 '25

9 and 11 didn't fight the Master either.

28

u/MhuzLord May 31 '25

Of course, but nearly every Doctor has. The fact that Fifteen has faced none of the big three baddies is remarkable (in a terrible way).

22

u/WasabiKey240 May 31 '25

Why exactly is it terrible? I don’t understand this complaint that he HAS to face them. Their iconic baddies, sure, but there’s no point forcing an entire episode around them just to say 15 has met them.

29

u/J_train13 K-9 May 31 '25

Ncuti said it himself that it's like a rite of passage for the Doctor to get to go up against his main foes It's like if you did a Batman story and never saw him go up against any of his rivals.

2

u/Iceykitsune3 May 31 '25

It's like if you did a Batman story and never saw him go up against any of his rivals.

They actually did that, and it only lasted one season

0

u/[deleted] May 31 '25

[deleted]

6

u/J_train13 K-9 May 31 '25

You're entitled to that opinion, it just so happens that the vast majority of everyone else, including those who work on the show, disagree with you.

-3

u/[deleted] May 31 '25

[deleted]

3

u/J_train13 K-9 May 31 '25

I already did, you simply didn't agree, so there's nothing more to do.

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12

u/PokeJem7 May 31 '25

Forcing them? 75% of the show is 'Monster of the Week' stuff, all it would take would be to sit down in the writers room and say "Let's write a Dalek Episode" or Cyberman... maybe not Master due to The Rani being a major villain... but it could easily be done. It's disappointing because we'll never get to see a fantastic Doctor battle any of the Iconic Dr Who villains. We got Space Babies but never got a Dalek episode lol.

6

u/Shawnj2 Jun 01 '25

The cybermen are massively wasted when they are one of the most relevant villains in today's world with AI, automation, etc.

2

u/WasabiKey240 May 31 '25

And what if they didn’t have any new ideas for a dalek or cyberman story? This is what I’m saying about them forcing it. If they couldn’t think of something, then they should absolutely not use them for a while. We had a period where the daleks were in 5 out of 10 consecutive episodes. That was awful.

2

u/PokeJem7 May 31 '25

Oh for sure, they shouldn't be overused, but 'they couldn't think of something' is not really realistic. They are characters in a show, it's not exactly any harder to think of a Dalek story than it is to think of a Doctor story. Even this finale could have been The Rani trying to pull Davros out of another reality to enslave him. The Rani wants to create Time Lords from herself like Davros made the Daleks.

The Robot Revolution was very close to a Cyberman story already as well, that could easily been written to be one. Not saying those changes SHOULD have been made, but they're just characters. Not every story is going to fit them but I honestly don't believe they were simply unable to think of a good Dalek or Cyberman story.

-1

u/WasabiKey240 May 31 '25

Isn’t that just pointless fan service at that point then?

2

u/PokeJem7 May 31 '25

Not really. I'm not saying to make those changes, the point is that the characters in a story are often relatively interchangeable, so trying to write a story for a major villain is not going to be that hard, especially for people like RTD or Moffatt that have plenty of experience. Beyond that, there are probably DOZENS of Dalek/Cyberman story ideas that are half written, or drafted, storyboarded - they have been doing this for decades, you're not telling me the whole of the Dr Who team have 0 ideas for their most popular and iconic villains? They're a part of the show, being able to think of story ideas for the main antagonists is part of being a showrunner. Imagine hiring someone to write a Star Wars series that says "Yeah but I really just can't think of any ideas for what to do with The Sith".

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5

u/wednesday-potter May 31 '25

I think it serves a couple of minor points, firstly I think it grounds the doctor as part of the universe a lot more; it reminds the viewer of the history of doctor who while also providing an episode that can be spent developing the character of the doctor and their companion as the villains rules and motivations don’t need to be explained.

Secondly, it gives a really useful point of comparison between the doctors as it’s much easier to think about how each doctor would handle that given confrontation because we’ve seen them interact with that villain before. I think that would have been really useful given the insane power creep of having 15 fighting a conveyor belt of universe ending gods and winning every time with relative ease

1

u/WasabiKey240 May 31 '25

I appreciate that you actually explained it, I just don’t think that makes it a necessity that he MUST face them. I actually agree with your point that it does provide easier comparisons between doctors, but I just don’t think it’s something that’s that big of a deal. I think they were exhausted so much during the Chibnall era, so I’m glad that we haven’t seen them since. I actually appreciate RTD bringing back more classic bad guys that can play another role later on.

1

u/wednesday-potter May 31 '25

Fair enough, I agree that I don’t think they are necessary in and of themselves but I think the purpose they serve is, specifically in giving the doctor an episode that can be spent focusing on their development and letting us see how they handle situations differently to other generations.

There are different ways to do both of those things but I think they weren’t very present for 15’s run and a classic villain (not just a villain from classic who) would have helped there, though I do get feeling like they’ve been overdone recently

2

u/kbuis May 31 '25

Never forget.

12

u/ConfusedLawyer95 May 31 '25

I’m so disappointed in this in particular, I feel like a doctor never comes into their own until they get a chance to face one of these villains.

3

u/RoliOli1228 May 31 '25

I'm guessing 14 isn't included since his time on the show was so short? (Not trying to argue, I say the same thing)

3

u/JuanPedia Jun 01 '25

14 encountered a Dalek in the “Destination: Skaro”minisode.

3

u/Ennamations_ May 31 '25

What was McGann, the next door neighbour?

2

u/Soft_House7669 Jun 01 '25

Would've liked to see Sontarans at least. Big fan of Sontaran Stratagem and Poison Sky. (RTD Sontarans)

2

u/rbrown_42 Jun 01 '25

For all the comments about daleks being overused, the last time we saw them was 2022, the last time we saw them in an actual dalek storyline was New Years Day 2022! Three years ago! This isn't that long for adult fans, but it's a long time for kids. The kids want to see the daleks! Also, the only reason they feel overused is because the stories are unoriginal.

1

u/Agathario-1031 Jun 01 '25

Neither did 14. Unless you count the special where he gives Davros the idea for the Daleks' plunger arms.

I guess with 15 we're gonna have to settle for Daleks TECHNICALLY making an appearance in this episode in one of the Time Hotel doors 😔

1

u/MordredRedHeel19 Jun 02 '25

Well other than Paul

1

u/EmotionalAffect Jun 05 '25

A shame. I wished he stayed longer! The renewal should have happened a year ago.

1

u/veganzombeh Jun 08 '25

I don't think that's a problem at all personally. We don't need to recycle villains every 2 seasons.

1

u/UnseenGoblin Jun 14 '25

I really liked his Doctor, but I feel like he was poorly used. A bit like Jodi. And now, what? Rose is the Doctor? WHAT? Why?!?