EDA101-102 - Blood of the Daleks, Parts 1 and 2

Paul McGann, having proven the 8th Doctor's popularity in the monthly releases, headlines an independent series, The Eighth Doctor Adventures, which finally offer a glimpse of what could have been, had the US spinoff occurred. But it's a good thing it didn't because the stories offered through the four seasons of EDA often go beyond the capabilities of 90s US television.

The premier episodes introduce a new companion, Lucie Miller, an obstinant 19-year-old from Northern England who appears mysteriously in the TARDIS much like Donna Noble had in the TV series a few months before. When the Doctor tries to return her to 2006 England, the TARDIS bounces off a temporal shield and they find themselves on a wasteland planet called Red Rocket Rising. The Doctor and Lucie come to a reluctant alliance as they deal with corrupt scientists a newly-created race of Daleks. But when the real Daleks arrive, they want to wipe the "impure" Daleks out of existence and the remaining inhabitants of Red Rocket Rising with them.

As Doctor Who tales go, this one is well written and carries a good pace, and the Daleks are always a plus, but compared to the rest of the EDA, Blood of the Daleks is simply a solid, but mid-range tale. The best episodes are yet to come...