Doctor Who promo images EX-TER-MIN-ATE

BBC One has posted a series of teaser images from the upcoming season of the hit sci-fi show.

Each image seems to be a close-up of a different part of the Dalek costume/puppet. We already knew that the Daleks would be returning to the show sometime in the second half of the season, after the new companion is introduced. This, however makes me think that they will be an even more important part of the story that previously suggested.

They will also apparently take several forms. According to an official post:

“Not much had been confirmed about the Doctor’s forthcoming adventures but we think it’s safe to say we can expect to see the return of perhaps the Doctor’s most legendary foe. Here are some sneaky pictures fresh from the set of Doctor Who where the Daleks are being wheeled before the cameras once again. But which design? The answer is ALL OF THEM!”

The images are as follows:

Maybe it’s time to make the Daleks threatening again. Lately, they’ve been avoiding using the classic Doctor Who villains, likely because they’re difficult to take seriously. Showrunner Stephen Moffatt himself pointed out recently that the Daleks are difficult for the writers to use on the show because they’ve now been defeated so many times, there isn’t much surprise left in them.

As the fan favorite villains, however, they need to return eventually, and now may be a good time, as the show has picked up a lot of new US viewers who have perhaps never even seen a Dalek, as Matt Smith’s Doctor is the first to receive major marketing and appeal in the US.

Here is the season trailer, in case you missed it last week. Note the brief glimpse of a Dalek eye-stalk:

The second half of the Doctor Who season will be produced after the new year for budgetary reasons, with the first half of the new season debuting on BBC One and BBC America this fall.

The new companion, played by Jenna-Louise Coleman will appear in episode 7, though her personality is as yet unknown.