The Daleks Master Plan - Volcano

Well after that brief respite where there was a bit of silliness, we get back to business and immediately we get Mavic Chen and we are reminded that Mavic Chen and the Daleks are about to test the fake teranium core. The core is tested but it is done in a rather horrible way. Trantis is the one that is tested and we get an idea of what the time destructor is meant to do and the fact it doesn't work (that comes later) is a rather god way of continuing the story. However his death is only delayed as the Daleks decide that he has outlived his usefulness and they exterminate him. The Daleks are more fierce than they have ever been.

There is a weird moment where we go to a cricket match. There is even time where the commentators talk about the runs that are required. Is like there was a scene missing from the previous episode and the really liked it so they decided to chuck it in here. The story thankfully returns to what we were expecting and it's not long before the title becomes relevant. Volcano refers to the setting of the next planet and we get the welcome return of the meddling monk. It's good to have him back if I am honest though its a mystery as to what purpose he serves apart from revenge but there isn't much time really for revenge. It is curious to know how he got away from 1066. It was a fairly simple explanation which is a shame. Another simple thing is how the Doctor gets round the lock that the monk has put on the TARDIS lock. No sooner have they left Titus that they go back to Earth during the New Year's Day celebration. Again something left over from the previous episode even though it could be argued that as this episode aired on New Year's Day 1966 that the viewer would appreciate this more than I would in the middle of August.

The cliffhanger is a little bit of a disappointment because it just seems to not really do anything except let the Daleks shout a bit. Not that there is anything wrong with that but i think that they could have come up with something stronger. Volcano is the eighth episode in the serial and this is the longest that a story has run and it doesn't seem like its running out of steam it has the same enthusiasm that it did back in episode one. I thought that despite a couple of iffy moments, the episode was a rather good one with the Daleks and Mavic Chen being back on good form and the regulars (i include Sara as a regular for now) are also on good form even though I can't understand her obsession with Kembel.