The second story in a row to feature problems with the TARDIS scanner in the first episode, The Dalek Invasion of Earth gets off to an interesting start in World's End. The Doctor is certain that the TARDIS has landed on Earth, and in London, but the TARDIS crew's explorations soon show that might not be 1963 - the city is deserted, and buildings and other structures are affected by decay. Susan's explorations lead to an injured ankle and a trapped TARDIS - part of a bridge collapses.

While the Doctor and Ian go looking for some equipment to try and free the TARDIS, Barbara stays to look after Susan. While exploring a derelict warehouse, the Doctor and Ian discover that they are in the future; meanwhile, Barbara and Susan are taken by a couple of strange men to their base - it is unsafe to be outside, and it seems that Barbara and Susan have been taken by a resistance movement, resisting whatever force has taken over the Earth. The location sequences are well shot by director Richard Martin, who has created some excellent looking sequences of a deserted London. The Doctor and Ian are soon surrounded by the mysterious Robomen, and their escape into the Thames is cut off by a Dalek...

The Daleks opens with Ian and the Doctor's capture by the Robomen, and their Dalek leaders. Spencer Chapman's revamp of the Dalek design has made the base skirt larger in order to accommodate more robust wheels, and a disk on their backs, making these Daleks seem to be more advanced than they were in their first appearance. In the resistance cell, Barbara and Susan soon begin to fit in, as Dortmun and Tyler argue over tactics for attacking the Daleks. Dortmun comes across as a very determined man, and very active in the resistance despite being wheelchair bound.

The resistance explain to Susan and Barbara that the Daleks have converted captured humans into Robomen, to help them maintain control of Earth; when the conditioning breaks down, it drives the person insane and they kill themselves. It soon becomes clear that Ian and the Doctor might be facing the Robotising process in the saucer. While prisoners in a cell, the Doctor and Ian learn from a fellow prisoner how the Daleks invaded, with this scene of exposition intercut with scenes of the Resistance informing Susan and Barbara of the same thing, and some useful scenes showing the brutality of the Daleks on Earth - this sequence has been well edited and flows well.

The Daleks broadcast a radio message calling on those resisting to surrender; which only spurns on Dortmun's plans to attack, with Barbara coming up with the idea of using broken Robomen helmets as a disguise to get close enough to the saucer to attack. The Doctor uses his knowledge of Dalek technology to escape the cell, only to be caught; it was a trap and he is to be immediately Robotised, even as the Resistance make their attack...

The attack on the saucer is soon defeated by the Daleks at the beginning of Day of Reckoning, in a series of sequences well backed up by Francis Chagrin's eerie incidental music; though Tyler frees the Doctor from the Robotisation machine, before they got separated in the confusion. The remainder of the Resistance plan to move a new base, a move that will see them out in the open for a time. The Daleks move their saucer to the mine works at Bedford, planning to destroy London with fire bombs.

Ian meets up with a fellow prisoner who is roaming free on the saucer, while in London Susan and rebel David Campbell meet up, and have a heart to heart, before another rebel comes along with the Doctor. Barbara, Jenny and Dortmun flee across London in another excellent location sequence, with Richard Martin showing hoards of Dalek roaming the bridges and many other parts of London; all set to a memorable thundering drum beat.

Barbara, Jenny and Dortmun discover that the other Resistance members have already moved on, and decide to head for the mine at Bedford, with Dortmun giving Barbara his notes before making a suicidal last stand. The Doctor decides to head towards Bedford; at first Susan argues that they should listen to David, but David defers to the Doctor for advice and leadership. As they prepare to leave, Robomen place a firebomb close to them, with counter ticking down...

David defuses the firebomb, and convinces Susan that they must flee London using the sewers; but the Doctor is too ill to travel, but can be left safely in the area. The End of Tomorrow continues on this strangley optimistic note as Barbara and Jenny prepare to travel to Bedford in an old lorry. At Bedford, Ian and Larry see the extent of the Dalek mining operation in a sequence that seamlessly blends together studio footage, location footage and stock footage. Barbara drives the lorry, smashing through a Dalek blockade, only for it to be destroyed by a Dalek saucer.

In the sewers, Susan and David are reunited with Tyler, and they plan to travel together as a group; with a recovered Doctor. At this point it's interesting to note that the TARDIS crew have been paired up with other characters that complement them well - Barbara with the determined Jenny, Ian with the useful Larry and Susan with David, who she is slowly falling in love with. At Bedford, Ian and Larry encounter Wells' 'friend' Ashton, and the Slyther - a creature made by the Daleks to act as a guard. The Slyther sounds menacing, and when only partially shown works well, but when the costume is fully revealed in full it looks rather sad and pathetic; despite this it manages to kill Ashton and chase Larry and Ian to the edge of a pit...

Larry and Ian manage to kill the Slyther, and ride the pit's waste bucket down into the workings, as the Doctor's party encounter Robomen within the sewers. Barbara and Jenny find shelter, but are sold out by those who live their for extra food; this demonstrates the lengths people will go to in order to survive. At the bottom of the mine shaft Larry has injured his leg, and they soon encounter a Roboman - Larry's brother, with both brothers killing each other; a tragic end which triggers a revolt amongst the work party.

The Doctor's party stop for a break, and a lunch of fresh fish; as well as a romantic encounter for David and Susan. A new work party enters the mine, Barbara and Jenny amongst them, and Ian attempts to contact them via Wells; but Barbara has hit upon her own idea of getting out of the mine by offering to pass on information about the resistance group's next attack. Ian discovers the reason for the Daleks invasion of Earth - to replace the core with a power system to move throughout the universe as giant invasion force; but Ian gets sealed in with the explosive device that will destroy the Earth's core... Having watched The Waking Ally twice, the only explanation I can come up with for the title is that it refers to the Doctor's more active role in the story; but that is a bit of a stretch - perhaps Terry Nation was stuck for an episode title and came up with it at the last minute.

The fast paced final episode Flashpoint opens with Ian disabling the explosive capsule temporarily; but not halting the Daleks - it gives them more time to herd the human workers and Robomen into the lower mine galleries which will be destroyed when the explosive is triggered. Barbara sees how the Daleks control the Robomen, and spins an awesome tale of a huge rebellion plan, getting the Daleks into a panic; however they stop her from giving the Robomen order, forcing her and Jenny into restraints which they themselves must hold in place.

The Doctor's party reach Bedford and he launches their plan of attack, with him and Tyler heading for Dalek control. Ian manages to block up the mine shaft, stopping the explosive from reaching its intended placement. The Doctor and Tyler get into Dalek control, and learns of the Dalek's plans from Barbara, and they order the Robomen to attack the Daleks. Both workers and Robomen revolt, and escape the mine before the explosion takes place. The Dalek Saucer gets caught in the explosion and is destroyed.

Back in London and at the now uncovered TARDIS, the Doctor prepares to leave as Big Ben sounds the hour. The Doctor and Susan have a heart to heart - William Hartnell is wonderful in this scene, as the Doctor realises that Susan has grown up and is ready to leave him for her own life. Carole Ann Ford also puts in an excellent performance, giving Susan an edge of maturity. David begs Susan to stay, to marry him; the Doctor has already indicated that he is happy for Susan to stay with David, to provide her with a stable and secure life that he cannot provide. The Doctor locks Susan out of the TARDIS, telling her to stay with David; with William Hartnell putting his soul into the Doctor's farewell speech to his granddaughter. Susan and David's relationship has developed quite well over the entirety of the story, and doesn't feel too forced. The TARDIS departs the Earth as Susan drops her TARDIS key; she doesn't need it any more...