The television show Doctor Who began in England in 1963. In its very first season, the show introduced monsters that would quickly become its most famous villains. These creatures were the Daleks, and their appearance in the 1960s marked the beginning of their long history terrifying audiences.
The Daleks were unlike anything viewers had seen before on television. Their physical appearance was very distinctive. They lived inside clunky, tank-like metal casings. This casing had a rounded base, a middle section with a sort of mesh or grille, and a dome on top that could turn around. Attached to the front were three items: an eye stalk that moved to see, a plunger-like arm used for grabbing or manipulating objects, and a whisk-like arm, often used as a weapon. Their overall shape has often been compared to a tall salt or pepper shaker.
Another instantly recognizable feature of the Daleks was their voice. It was electronic and monotone, coming from inside their casing. This chilling voice delivered simple, harsh sentences. Their most famous line, repeated often and shouted with electronic fury, was “Exterminate!” Hearing this word spoken in that metallic voice became a signal that danger was near for the Doctor and his companions.
In the stories from the 1960s, the Daleks were shown to be cold, emotionless alien beings from a planet called Skaro. They were presented as creatures driven by pure hatred, especially for anything different from themselves. They wanted to survive and conquer, and their method for dealing with anyone who wasn’t a Dalek was simple: destroy them.
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The first time the Daleks appeared in Doctor Who was in the show’s second story, which aired in late 1963 and early 1964. This serial, simply titled The Daleks, explained their background and showed their desire to wipe out another alien race. Their early stories in the 1960s often involved them trying to conquer planets, activate powerful weapons, or plot the destruction of their enemies.
What made the Daleks scary to viewers in the 1960s was a combination of factors. Their strange, unmoving appearance inside the metal shell was unnerving. The mystery of what the actual creature inside looked like added to the fear. Their relentless movement, gliding along seemingly without effort, and their single-minded goal of extermination made them terrifying and unstoppable forces in their stories. Their electronic voice screaming “Exterminate!” became a sound associated with pure evil.
