Here is the episode most of us have been waiting for. Did it disappoint or did it meet expectations? Let's find out.

The story opens with a nice scene in a museum featuring a few references to past stories including one that will have fans jumping for joy! This was one of the best opening teasers so far in its writing and build up to the opening credits sequence.

The rest of the story follows at the very fast pace which is now firmly established for the current series which does not allow for some of the characters like Goddard and even Adam to develop enough for us to care if they are in danger or not. Which is a shame given the apparent importance of Adam's character especially. Yet it does yield the best character moments between The Doctor and a Dalek ever. Van Statten is another nicely developed character and well played by actor Corey Johnson who brings a subtle performance to a role that most actors would have had overacted in tremendously.

Billie Piper again brings an impressive performance and is easily establishing herself as one of the best actresses to ever play a companion and Christopher Eccleston is proving to be a very versatile actor with all the different emotions he has to convey. He may become known as the conflicted Doctor as his morales and range of emotions are being tested like no other Doctor.

The Dalek itself is just brilliant with its new modifications and new budget for special effects. I can't imagine the devastation these new improved Daleks could accomplish with their upgrades. One Dalek by itself has never been this threatening before. The special effects people as did a wonderful job with the Dalek creature as it is able to convey a surprising amount of emotion with just a fine voice performance by Nicholas Briggs and only an eye to convey feeling. A tremendous act to accomplish without a mouth or facial expressions.

The story also does a nice job at providing just enough of a piece of the puzzle to the overall season storyarc to make it move forward and yet keep us wanting to know more.

One downside to the story is that if you've heard the audio story "Jubilee" by Robert Shearman himself, a lot of this story will seem like a retread of past material. I'm glad to hear that Shearman was commissioned to adapt his audio story into a TV story, because I was left wondering at his lack of originality at first. There are a lot of new things to offer however and the story is just so good anyway that its hard to hold that against it too much.

At six episodes in, I have to say that from a story standpoint, Doctor Who works best in a 90 minute format whether that be as episodes or movies. As good as some of these stories are, if they were given an extra 45 minutes to develop, I believe they would be even better. There is just too much to establish with introducing new characters, setting and threats in every episode for a show running less than 45 minutes. Having stated that criticism, I think that Russell T. Davies and crew are doing a fabulous job with the time limitations they have. With only 45 minutes or less to work with, I seriously doubt anyone could do better. It is also appropriate to note that in a world where there is so much entertainment to distract you, it does make sense to shorten the episodes to attract an audience that either doesn't have the time to devote 90 minutes to one programme, or the attention span to see it unfold.

So despite some criticicisms about the format of the show itself and the retreading of old material, I have to say that "Dalek" is still one of the best Doctor Who stories ever and the best one of this series so far. The story has great tension, action, special effects, acting and writing. Truly a triumph!

Sorry RTD, but it seems (so far) your contracted writers have the edge on you. Until now, Mark Gatiss' script was the best of the bunch but Rob Shearman has just topped that. So Mr Davies, you are trailing sir.

Contrary to most reviews, I am going to list the negatives I found in this episode. 2 . Well saying that, 1 because the other is a plot query rather than a negative. The first (only) thing I can have a niggle at (not even a proper complaint) is the big selling point of the episode next to the reveal of the Dalek itself. The stairs. I found Bruno Langley's taunt a little weak asnd the cgi effect a little cgi effect-ish. I much preferred the (4 guys witha pole behind the stage) effect in Remembrance of the Daleks.

And the plot point - It just seemed too easy to me that Van Statten realeased the Doctor so quickly before the Dalek threat had really became evident.

Otherwise the episode was exactly what I hoped. I have critised myself before for watching these episodes with the eyes of Joe Public but this Saturday I just didn't care. I was giggling when the cyberman exhibit appeared, again at the Dalek's first reveal, the sucker both in its use for death and puzzle solving. I was still giggling at the Dalek's rampage and the slo mo bullet fire and spinning mid-section. I'm sorry but I'm just not going to fault it.

I had some trepidation before about the Dalek's emotional revelations in the media butI found them believable and spot on. In fact my partner had a little tear during the final conversation with Rose (awww).

The guest cast were also excellent with Van Styatten being the first out and out villian of the new series and (other than his ease at releasing the Doctor) he was far more menacing than the Autons, Cassandra, Geth (I wont even mention the Slitheen) and even the Dalek itself. Even the pun early on was in character.

Anna-Louise Plowman as Goddard too was a fine accomplice and she had her moment at the end with a retort on Van Statten's earlier disposal of his first assistant.

Bruno Langley moved easily from his gay persona in Corrie to totty for both sexes in Who flirting awkwardly with BilliePiper. But is it a trend that the male support are such cowards. Billie Piper just shines again. Her performance brings real feelling to the episode.

It seems to be common to knock Chris Eccleston's performance as the Doctor in the series but in this episode he was, to coin a phrae, FANTASTIC. His interplay at the episode's start was well played, his eventual fear and anger were beilevable and his frustration, sadness and remorseful moments moved on easily from his early feelings in the episode. His occassional jolt into a comic line was inspirational - "Broken, Broken Hairdryer, Lock 'n' Load". FANTASTIC (again)

I can't say I or anyone I know found the Dalek scary but it certainly was menacing and violent and finally accomplished sympathy which was the writer's intent I guess. And to get a 'performance' from a special effect, that's gotta be class and all kudos to Joe Ahearn and the speceial effects team. Of course not forgetting Nick Briggs vocal performance.

And finally, Murray Gold's soundtrack fitted this episode perfectly and I loved the choral accompanyment to the first appearance of the Dalek.

Some of the people I have spoken to didn't like this episode but I cannot fault it. Another snippet to the Who history (two hearrts) and more hints to the overall Season arc. Oh go on, I'll say it one more time......FANTASTIC!

Almost half way into the new series of Doctor Who and the writers have thrown us, to my mind, two stories that will stand out as classics. "Dalek" joins "The Unquiet Dead" as being an episode that not only feels like Doctor Who but which has real suspense and fear, and which brings something new to the programme. Really, this was not only high quality television (so rare these days) but Doctor Who at it's best.

The first thing I noticed, vague similarities to "The Space Museum" excepted, was the reference to "Bad Wolf" again as the helicopter landed. Surely another piece of the jigsaw that is the story arc. I now assume that we'll have to wait until the very last episode of the series to put that jigsaw together.

Of course we'd all seen the bronze Dalek in the newspapers and trailers, and it looks faithful enough to the originals to be acceptable to "old" fans like myself. But what of the promise that we would "cry for the poor Dalek"? Surely this would require some revision of accepted history?

Well no, because the Dalek takes on some of Rose's DNA by tricking her into touching it so we ended up with a genetically modified Dalek that had a range of emotions not seen before and quite appropriate to its situation. Indeed we got something of a role reversal with the Doctor ranting and shouting at the creature, who replied chillingly "You'd make a good Dalek". That was a masterful piece of dialogue and quite true. It makes the viewer and the Doctor think about the situation.

Also important with regard to the story arc, we now know that the mysterious "time war" involved the Time Lords and the Daleks, both ending up destroyed. Clearly the Doctor blames the Daleks for the destruction of his race and world and actually seems to go mad, red mist descending as he looks for the nastiest weapon with which to obliterate his foe.

But what of the poor Dalek? It begins by going on a killing spree, as it hasn't metamorphosised yet or gained feelings. The idea of even a lone Dalek on an isolated base running (hovering!) around picking off the inhabitants ought to frighten today's kids. Then it begins to get feelings, is persuaded by Rose in particular and the Doctor that there may be more to life than taking orders and destroying things. Opening up its casing, it desires only to feel the sunshine before it dies.

Here is my only problem, though the Dalek creature looks much like the innards of the 'old' daleks of days gone by, I don't recall seeing an eye. It's there for us to empathise with the Dalek but I didn't like it. However that is one small quibble in a story otherwise consisting of excellent visuals, dialogue and perfect suspenseful timing.

It was just a little thrilling to see a Cyberman's helmet, reminding us that this really is following on from the previous television Doctors. I was also pleased to notce several references to the past, but these would not in any way have detracted from a new viewer enjoying.

I do wonder how many children are watching this series. I work in a school and the kids don't ever talk about Doctor Who...the staff do! However, when a Dalek made a guest appearance in my local shopping centre late last year it scared the crap out of little children so clearly the nasty pepperpots still do the business. I wonder what those children made of seeing the metal killing machine on their television screens yesterday evening?

This must have been the strongest story in the series so far and certainly the most anticipated (with the possible exception of “Rose”). Whilst Russell T Davies undisputed genius has revived this series he does sometimes tread a thin and slightly dangerous line with the humour occasionally (alien farting and laughter laid on a bit too thick maybe), which has never the less always been an integral and necessary part of the show, but if overdone can lapse into the self parody seen towards the end of the original series. Done well the humour doesn’t detract from but rather enhances the show (“I like a happy medium” and his put downs of “Ricky”).

However, Rob Shearman in this episode gave us much darker and more adult Dr Who. Christopher Eccleston is up there with the best of the Doctors of all time in my view, again walking a thin line between the humour and the horror, its only right the program should show a wide range of emotions afterall, but this time his acting went up several levels and the mugging, the Baker-esque grinning and the “Fantastic” of previous episodes were replaced by some very adult emotions of fear, hate, anger and sorrow.

His fear of the Dalek and what it represented; the death of his people and the destruction of his planet was real and palpable as was his panic at being locked in the same room as the Dalek.

His complete hatred of the creature was almost xenophobic. Whilst the Dalek absorbs Roses DNA and mutates, becomes almost human with human emotions that are completely new to it, the Doctor becomes the thing he hates. He becomes the executioner; the judge, jury and exterminator. Only Rose stops him from blasting the Dalek.

It is here we see probably Ecclestons best acting in the series so far. His deep hatred and anger for the Dalek; ranting, with spittle flying from his mouth, to the part where he puts the gun down, shocked at what he has become; the exterminator of the last of the Daleks.

When the Dalek says that as they are both the last of their race and that they are the same, angrily he denies this, but then he agrees with the Dalek. Maybe they are the same. Maybe the Doctor IS capable of genocide, of racial cleansing of the Daleks, which apparently he caused in the Time War. Eccleston warned that his Doctor would have a dark side and he has not disappointed. “You would make a good Dalek” is the Daleks ultimate comendation.

The moral of this episode is simply that we become the things we hate; we are reduced to their level; we lose our “humanity”, whilst the Dalek ironically gains humanity. The Daleks new found emotions were as touching as was the Doctors hatred appalling.

The Dalek itself was a revelation. Shearman was correct that the 1960’s pepper pots would today be laughable; especially to an audience brought up on Alien and Predator and there were elements of both with the stalked becoming the stalker. Taking all of the original Dalek weak points and making them terrifying, such as the sink plunger being dexterous enough to punch keys at high speed on a keypad on a wall; sucker a persons face off, and absorb the contents of the internet makes for a rather hi-tech sink plunger! I was a bit disappointed the Dalek didn’t have 360 degree vision but how you would show that on a TV screen without distracting and detracting from the action? All in all a very impressive hi tech flying and killing machine that can hack into any computer security system. The “Omen” style music was ideal for the demonic nature of this beast!

Nit picking? The exterior of the Tardifs looks like it was knocked up at B&Q yesterday, the paint looks too new, not the battered old police box we remember of old. When are we going to see some of the other parts of the Tardis? And Ecclestons departure, badly mistimed, is seen as selfish by many; but remember what this top class actor has given to the show before you slate him! I like his “dark side” and gravitas.

This series seems to get better and better. I like my Who a bit serious, deep and with gravitas. If this is what they can do with one Dalek just think what they can do with a whole army. Somehow I don’t think we have seen the last of the Daleks! 9/10

Bear in mind this is the first time I've ever watched an episode of Doctor Who on its transmission date (it was technically after midnight in Britain when I did, but it was Saturday here), not counting the TV movie. This was also the first completed episode of the new series I've seen.

I've never seen a Dalek more sympathetic or more frightening than the one in this episode, nor have I seen the Doctor so frightening at times. The Dalek was right when it told him "You would make a good Dalek." It's amazing how intimidating a five-foot-tall pepperpot can be when properly shown/lit...... The Doctor's reaction to the Dalek when he first saw it was abject terror, which I don't think I've ever seen in the Doctor before. The fact that the Time War wiped out both Time Lords and Daleks may have had something to do with it, but it made sense for the setting. The Doctor then moved to hysterical, childish cruelty in his taunting of the Dalek when he discovered it couldn't hurt him. It was difficult to tell which was the villain at that point.

The Dalek's new abilities were impressive, though perhaps a bit too powerful; its ablity to absorb DNA(?) from anyone who touches its casing was odd to say the least; its absorbing power and regenerating its casing made more sense to this longtime fan. The ability to rotate the shoulder section makes perfect sense for Daleks (the speed at which it turned was terrifyingly fast); the internal force shield, not so much. As for its hover technology--it was worth the loss of one of the few sympathetic redshirts for the "E-LE-VATE" line. NEVER taunt a Dalek ^_- Seeing the Dalek use tatics to exterminate the ambush squad was amusing--with three shots it eliminated over a dozen guards (and a few out-of-their-element scientists with guns).

The Dalek and Rose made an interesting couple for the last part of the episode; her absorbed emotions confused the Dalek so it could not kill her, and she did her best to understand and reason with it (even going so far as to convince it not to exterminate Van Staaten, who deserved it). The scen with Rose and the exposed Dalek creature basking in the sunlight was beautiful (the creature itself being hideous, but that's beside the point). The juxtaposition of a calm Dalek and a homicidal Doctor made this work, and let the Doctor know exactly how badly he'd failed this time. Poor Rose was torn between her traveling companion and a lonely creature who just needed to be understood......

The human supporting cast were not nearly as impressive. Van Statten was a one-note caricature, a low-rent Bond villain. Goddard was memorable only for her similarity to her boss in personality. Adam (I think that was his name) was entirely forgettable, like Adric without the annoyance factor to make him memorable. When the most sympathetic human character other than tthe Doctor's companion is a nameless guard, there's a problem.

That said, I enjoyed the episode immensely. It was well-plotted and very atmospheric, looking better than some American science-fiction productions. They took care to at least attempt to maintain continuity; the Cyberman helmet they used was supposed to be an "Invasion"-era one (unfortunately it was one which had been modified for "Revenge of the Cybermen" so had vacuum-cleaner hose handles and a four-barrel gun in its forehead), which would have been the most blatant Cyber-attack on Earth by that time ("Tenth Planet" mainly involving Antarctica, few-to-no Cybercorpses left from "Attack of the Cybermen", and a presumed coverup by the Seventh Doctor in "Silver Nemesis"). Yes, it was a bunch of concrete-and-brick halls, but that was acceptable given the bunker's established origins. As a great man once wrote, "little expense had been spared to make it look as though no expense had been spared".

In terms of acting, Nicholas Briggs and Billie Piper provided the most moving performances. The Dalek was by turns vulnerable, manipulative, autocratic, and reasonable, with Rose linking the Doctor and the Dalek with her concern for both. At the end, with the Doctor pointing the rifle at the defenseless Dalek creature, Rose didn't know who to sympathize with; through her obvious confusion neither did the audience. Not since the first season of Doctor Who has the companion (or companions) been the focus of the series; the new series, however, focuses firmly on Rose and her view of this strange visitor from another time. Rose is in many ways the main character of the series; her reactions to events reshape the Doctor's feelinigs--through her, he's learning to feel again. Whatever happened in the Time War has done a great deal of damage to his psyche; right now he needs Rose to help hiim learn all the things he's lost.

If "Dalek" is what Doctor Who for the 21st century is, it's got a long future ahead of it.

“Oh my God. Oh. My. God.” (as someone in ‘Friends’ would surely say, had they the wit to understand Doctor Who at its very best!)

‘Dalek’ is almost unbelievable in the way in which it raises the level that the new series is operating on. As someone who was distinctly unimpressed by all the hype and gushing praise that surrounded ‘Jubilee’, I was all ready to be disappointed by this too – it just goes to show how catastrophically wrong one can sometimes be. This is by far the best episode of the new series so far, almost certainly one of the best episodes in all of Doctor Who, and in terms of Dalek stories is right up there with Evil and Remembrance.

And that is odd, considering that ‘Dalek’ is extremely highly influenced by ‘Jubilee’, and is by the same writer. Robert Shearman’s audios have never done it for me, so for this episode to be a success in my household (or rather my grandmother’s – that’s where I watch it. I’m 18) Shearman would have to make some pretty drastic changes. And here he’s nailed it – boy, has he nailed it! The script takes all the best elements of Jubilee – that is, the Dalek itself – and creates (or recreates?) something awesome.

This Dalek can do everything! It is, in a very real sense, SuperDalek. Sure, it can fly (yawn yawn, been there, done that), but watch out for what else it can do! Project a force field! Suffocate people with its sucker arm! Manipulate keypads designed for human fingers! Emote convincingly! Regenerate! Drain the entire US East Coast power grid! Survive firestorms of bullets (that’ll show those Resurrection Daleks)! Erm…open up its casing! Speaking of which, the thingy inside was another inspired Dalek design – I loved the hesitant way in which its tentacles nuzzled the sunlight, feeling the warmth of a star for the first time in uncounted years.

Oh, and of course it slaughters hundreds.

This Dalek, just like the one in Jubilee, is a real character, and nowhere is this more evident than in the scene where it confronts Van Statten. It moves realistically and reacts to the humans surrounding it. Its eyestalk actually looks at people, its lights flash in synchronicity with Nick Briggs’ superb voice work, and it conveys emotion through body language. Really, it does! Just watch and you’ll see what I mean. This is a masterpiece of direction by Joe Aherne, and a triumph of design, that the metal monstrosity could have come back with all appendages present and correct, no obvious alterations (except making it shinier and better), but still be so very much more than the slightly mobile lump of scenery of yesteryear. It even gets character development, beginning to question its meaningless existence and begging for release at the end. We haven’t seen the like since Evil of the Daleks, and Scott Gray’s seminal comic strip in DWM, ‘Children of the Revolution’.

Eccleston is again the weak link in a fairly good cast. The lines at the end, for example – along the lines of “I couldn’t… I wasn’t…” – would have been shattering delivered by somebody unimpeded by having to try so hard to play the role. But even Eccleston manages to make something out of the excellent material Shearman’s script and Billie Piper’s Rose give him; I am thinking particularly of the scene where Rose, cornered with no hope of escape, tells the Doctor she wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Coming so soon after Jackie’s anxiety that her daughter will not be safe (and what a world of difference between the writing here and the writing just one or two weeks ago), this is more epic stuff.

This story had me completely hooked from the very beginning. Even before we discuss the high-octane set-pieces and thrilling mix of action and character moments, which seemed to go on forever (in a good way, just to be clear – whenever I wanted more, there was more. It was a truly great script), the teaser was one of my favourite things in the entire series, and the best single moment of the story. Most of you will doubtless spit at this, but I really am such a fanboy that that Cyberman head, and the subsequent lines (“The stuff of nightmares, turned into an exhibit. I’m getting old.”), managed to be the most thrilling example of Doctor Who I’ve seen in a very long time. I was literally bouncing up and down in my seat with childish glee when the Cyber-head hove into view – and a proper head, as well, ritually engraved teardrops and all! Forget the Dalek’s self-destruction, that’s when I almost cried, with sheer joy that Robert Shearman – and yes, even Russell T Davis, I suppose – care that much about Doctor Who fans and Doctor Who continuity. Mentions of Davros later on made me grin warmly as well – and, on current form, I would suggest that a story showpiecing a lone Davros, possibly directed by Aherne again, would be just the ticket for Season Two. Lance Parkin has shown what can be achieved.

So, yes, the more I think about it the more I am gobsmacked by just how good this was all told, and just how much Mr Shearman has improved the series. I can only hope that Paul Cornell and Steven Moffat excel themselves in the same way that he has. Here’s to the future, although probably not ‘The Long Game’.