Doctor Who special was the “scariest Dalek story ever” say fans

(Warning: mild spoilers ahead for Doctor Who's New Year's Day special!)

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In the special episode, starring Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor, an ancient Dalek is brought back to life by an unwitting pair of archaeologists. Without its iconic metal casing, the squid-like creature is vulnerable, and will utilise whatever — and whoever — it needs to rebuild its armour and, of course, set out to destroy the human race.

https://twitter.com/bbcdoctorwho/status/1080204719212187649

Viewers were on the whole suitably impressed with the "terrifying" Dalek, with one fan dubbing it the "scariest incarnation of the Daleks" in the show's history.

https://twitter.com/RA1013/status/1080273491566518272

https://twitter.com/Syfyfangrrls/status/1080286206150230017

"This is the scariest episode of Doctor Who I've seen in a LONG time," Emma Drury tweeted.

https://twitter.com/emmadrury_/status/1080181301108449281

"That was the scariest Dalek ever!! Superb," another viewer posted.

https://twitter.com/BabsSheKing/status/1080195209856733190

https://twitter.com/SalamiSandwich4/status/1080192768247500800

The reality of the Dalek's squid-like form also served to creep a number of viewers out. "Tis a fact that the scariest thing about a Dalek has always been what it really is on the inside," David Kidd commented.

https://twitter.com/davidpkidd/status/1080181589689225216

"I’ve got to give Chibnall props for making the Daleks the scariest they’ve been in years. The mutant scenes are genuinely some of the most grotesque in all of Doctor Who," Johnny Kilroy posted on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/Johnnykilroy29/status/1080206042322124800

Although, of course, if there was one scene that truly shook the nation to its core, it was when the Dalek successfully shuts down Britain's Wi-Fi on New Year's Day...

https://twitter.com/lilsciencequeen/status/1080206081064882176

https://twitter.com/lorenisathot/status/1080194460703694850

Doctor Who returns to BBC1 in 2020