Day 139: The Power of the Daleks Episode 5

Lesterson is the designated scientist on the colony, and it is he who was initially involved with the Dalek project, giving them the power that they needed. But then he slowly discovers the truth behind the Daleks and it becomes one of the most enthralling character developments in the history of the programme. He begins as an idealist scientist, stating that the Daleks are exactly what is needed, and so naturally the audience sides against him due to his blindness in the face of pure evil. But then, after one of his assistants is accidentally killed by a Dalek, that information is used to morally blackmail him by his other assistant, Janley, a character who is similarly enthralling for reasons that we won't go into here (but if you're interested, go out and experience this story for yourself, it's the best story I've seen so far in the series and it's pretty much perfect). But the blackmail route enables us to sympathise with the character, also as his idealist blindness becomes more of an endearing trait. He genuinely believes in the good that the Daleks have to bring and he tries desperately to use their powers to help humanity. But then he discovers the truth behind the Daleks and realises what they are doing, creating more and more Daleks to conquer and destroy. And he's helped them do it. What we see of the character after this is amazing, as he completely loses all hold on sanity and unleashes his inner madman, trying desperately to get people to believe him that the Daleks are not a good idea. But they won't listen to him. Because he's already convinced them that the Daleks are fantastic. It's a masterful characterisation from David Whitaker and an excellent portrayal from Robert James as we build up to this stories' inevitable conclusion.