One of my favourite episodes is Into the Dalek where the Doctor tries to find out if he is a good man or not, and explores this through a malfunctioning Dalek, Rusty, who wishes only to battle other Daleks. Ultimately the Doctor declares defeat, as Rusty is motivated by the Doctor’s own hatred and rage against the Daleks, the very same resources that the Daleks are bred to use to fuel their domination over the universe.

The episode ties into the 9th Doctor’s episode “Dalek”, where another Dalek (as a compliment) says that the Doctor “would make a good Dalek”, clearly meaning that the Doctor would make a strong soldier, full of hatred and evil. I always interpreted Rusty’s comment “you are a good Dalek” to be the continuation of this, that not only would the Doctor make a good Dalek, he is one.

However, I just rewatched the clip where the Doctor and Rusty part ways and I wonder if perhaps the scene should be interpreted in another way. The Doctor admits his ultimate defeat and declares that “You looked into me and saw hatred. That’s not victory. Victory would’ve been a good Dalek”, clearly meaning a Dalek that is “good”, not one who is good at being a Dalek. To which Rusty replies, “I am not a good Dalek. You are a good Dalek”.

Did Rusty mean that the Doctor, even with his anger, flaws and hatred, making him the same as a Dalek, is able to be good and indeed is, or did Rusty (as I’ve long believed) mean that the Doctor is good at being a Dalek?