The ‘Doctor Who’ debut of the Daleks has been named the greatest sci-fi TV moment of all time.
The terrifying extraterrestrial race first appeared on the small screen in 1963 as a foe for William Hartnell’s Time Lord, and they have gone on to become arguably the most iconic monster in the show’s long history.
TV Years magazine has compiled the 50 greatest moments in sci-fi television for their new issue, with editor Graham Kibble-White heaping praise on the Daleks for their long lasting appeal and influence.
He said: "The Daleks – the self-dubbed ‘supreme power of the universe!’ – are victorious again! "Their thrilling arrival on British screens supercharged ‘Doctor Who’, turning the show into a national obsession, and immediately securing their status as, not just sci-fi’s, but TV’s best-ever baddies."
The publication recalls the scary moment the Doctor and his companions discover an empty city on an irradiated planet, and how "history [was] made".
The entry reads: "As [companion] Barbara stoops through passages, doors slide closed behind her, manoeuvring her into a lift, which takes her down.
"Emerging, she’s faced with… something. We don’t know what. All we see is a plunger-shaped protuberance waggling menacingly at her.
"She screams, the credits roll and history is made. ‘Doctor Who’ has brought us somewhere where a killer cliff-hanger lights up our Saturday night and where the Daleks are about to make their debut."
While the Daleks take the top spot, their introduction is followed closely behind by Captain Kirk facing an agonising choice to let lover Joan Collins die to save his own future in ‘star Trek’, while the likes of ‘Blake’s 7’, ‘Survivors’ Thunderbirds’ and ‘The X-Files’ all feature in the top 10.
TV Years: Greatest Sci-Fi Television is on sale now.
Daleks debut named greatest sci-fi TV moment ever
