3x04 Daleks in Manhattan (1)

Daleks in Manhattan is a solid episode in many ways. I actually really like the Dalek's here. Doomsday really didn't go into The Cult of Skaro as a concept so it was fun here in an episode focused on them to see the way these Daleks focused exclusively on survival and evolution twist themselves to keep their species living on. The design of the human Dalek especially was great. the face tendrils was visceral and disgusting. While I'm on the prosthetics the pig slaves were also really great, especially pig-Laszo. The art department for Doctor Who in general can do amazing work with alien prosthetics and did so here.

I liked a lot of the one offs here too. Tallulah and Laszlo were were really sweet and the tragedy of the way their relationship unfolded was really sold by their performers. Andrew garfield is also a fun cameo. he doesn't get a lot to do in this ep but the novelty of him being there is a treat in and of itself.

I will say I did find a some of the production design here a big lacking. While the costume design was Depression era enough the sets, especially in Hooverville felt like a soundstage rather than Central Park. It never quite felt period in the way the team normal pulls off Victorian Cardiff or pre-revolution Versailles. I try not to be too nitpicky about stuff like that especially in earlier seasons of the show but it was noticeable here and effected my emersion.

I am also getting increasingly annoyed by how little Martha his given to do as the series progresses. This is the third episode in a row Martha's been kidnapped/damseled and she never even get to use her wits or enginuity to get herself out. Tallulah in this episode plays the role of Companion to the doctor more than Martha does.

But I will say the music for this episode was phenomenal. I normally don't notice stuff like that but the final track as Dalek Sec turned human was so well done. The choral chanting and intese beat were perfect for the mood of the cliffhanger.