The almost entire absence of incidental music in this story makes this feel strangely atmospheric and alien. (Contrast this with the approach next series!!)
The use of original 60's Radiophonic Workshop Skaro soundscapes is laudable. (I like it.)
There's a feature length edit version of this on the internet that emphasizes the downbeat low key atmosphere even more than the broadcast version.
The plot and the performances in this are not up to even the Graham Williams DW standard.
David Gooderson as Davros is noticeably less compelling than Michael Wisher. The idea that Davros has merely been 'asleep' for 1000 years or so (he was exterminated by the Daleks in Genesis p6) is ludicrous, even for DW. But get over it to get the story happening... ok.
The Movellans are played as "moving wallpaper" dummies. They are profoundly uninteresting.
The Dalek slaves are cliched and uninvolving. There's a fun game to play of spot the reused costume. The mashups are bizarre. (eg. Voc Robot mixed with Karn Sister AND Mentiad). In a first for DW I think it's significant that the casting is distinctly non-white in this story. It sets a tone for future DW casts that continues to the present day. Up to this point there are whole series of DW without a single black or asian face. Suddenly there are lots and it stays that way. Also significant is the first time females are shown to be exterminated by Daleks.
Tyssan shows some endeavour but comes off as slightly weird.
The Dalek props are in awful condition. The bashes and damage are far too obvious for close-ups. The ep4 plastic shell Daleks (which are used for the explosions) are obviously being walked by stage hands (you can see feet and gait like oscillation) in various shots in the quarry.
Tom's performance since seems off hand, irritated and he resorts to zany far too often.
Lalla is trying hard as the 'girl' version of the Doctor. (Look how she is dressed.) But the character comes across as a bit wet. (She gets better in later stories.)
The main achievement of this story is the direction. The first use use of the steadi-cam and the 'creeper' (camera low and close to the floor) shot of the Daleks especially is exciing and imaginative. It leads to lots of (intentional) camera movement. Also noticeable is the thoughtful shot constuction especialy Daleks in the central control area. The director is DW one time director Ken Grieve, who says in his DVD interview that he was a former cameraman. The impression this gives is a thoughtful and technically adept shooting of a story he didn't really try to understand.
Also significant is the post modern use of studio lights in the ruined Dalek city corridor shots. Many have criticized the 'visible' studio lights in the Dalek underground areas as production errors but they are mistaken.The sets for the Dalek city are very good and feature the arty blurring of the line between studio and set. That is progress, DW fans!
Destiny is a fairly boring story. The plot has flaws (why are Daleks and Movellans bound by strategic logic, other than they just are...) Significantly this story mistakes Daleks for logic slave *robots*. Daleks are insane. That's what makes them scary.
Some of the ideas and characters aren't original or the best (that's Terry Nation) and the plot is underdeveloped (that's Douglas Adams). But it's Daleks and quarries so it looks like DW. Technically there are a number of very cool innovations that point a way forward for DW in the 80's.
ABM Rating 2.10/4.00
LJM Rating 2.26/5.00
SPJ Rating 5.30/10
No. 86 (out of 104)
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