Can Daleks laugh?

A brief overview of examples of Dalek laughter in Doctor Who, and an explanation as to how these particular Daleks are capable of such a thing in spite of their programming.

All footage is the property of the BBC. Music by Yoko Shimomura

[sisconhimejoshi]

You forget 60s Daleks, these bastards were sassy.

“You make your incompetence sound like an achievement”. One of the best Dalek quotes ever.

[Dalekssupreme]

Daleks might not have the concept of humour. But all have a deep understanding of the concept of sass

[shinbakunawa]

Dalek Time Strategist also made a habit of laughing at the Doctor when it's voice changed to be more like the Time Controllers. In Memnos and The Hybrid's Choice, he laughs more naturally when he wins against the Doctor.

Memnos especially, when he knows he's on the verge of winning, he's taunting and laughing to get a rise out of the War Doctor in a similar way to how Davros does. It's really fascinating.

Maybe at that point in the War the Strategist had become more emotive and said to hell with 'acting like a Dalek'.

Time Sensitive Daleks are a can of worms unto themselves.

[Micahtron]

Why am I suddenly picturing a Dalek doing the Homer Simpson Evil laugh complete with the Dalek choking because it's not used to laughing?

[HiveFleetOni]

The DTS laugh in Restoration of the Daleks is so messed up. It finds the situation hilarious, and it wants to laugh, but it’s like its body just can’t quite make it happen. Worst of all, it’s not even like the DTS is insane like Caan was; it’s very, very sane. It’s fascinating and monstrous and terrifying.

[timecontroller]

The only other one I can think off is the dalek in Gallifrey time war soldier obscura where a dalek who looked into the obscura became insane and started to giggle while singing 3 blind mice like a lunatic with Irving braxiatel saying it’s lost it’s mind

[TheRauzKindred]

Another option, the human factor Daleks from the classic era, while we didn't hear them laugh, it was pretty likely they knew how or could figure it out with greater ease than normal Daleks

[FactionParadox]

The idea of them laughing is just so... disturbing. Because you know whatever is making them laugh is likely really messed up.

[idontlikeitproductions]

I always think of Joe Vevers’:
“COMMENCE LAUGHING
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA”
The thing about laughter is that it’s an involuntary physiological response, it’s very hard to imagine even if a Dalek had the capacity for a sense of humour for it to laugh. Given that it’s generally shown that the machines make the voice, I’m kinda reminded of Baymax trying to make an explosion noise and just imagine the vocal system going nuts to create the nearest thing to the noise.

[dylbro]

The choking noises they make when they laugh makes me imagine that it physically hurts them to laugh.

[TheBRDalek]

Mario & Luigi Partners in Time music has given me such a wave of nostalgia.

[paulo]

The Time Strategist needs to make an appearance!

[Squiddy]

What I think on how the recon scout dalek was able to laugh because it was using Lins emotions while controlling her. Also after the police scene it’s says to lin you are a useful soldier you hear its voice like it’s impressed.

[PlanetZoidstar]

Everyone's asking if Daleks can laugh.

But no one's asking if Daleks can sing.

Jubilee has the answer.

[angryredjuicebox]

Shoutout to the Partners in Time music

[Gojirawars]

I still remember Joe Vevers’ Dalek laugh though 😂

[justanaveragegamer]

i knew i recognized the background music, M&L partners in time Vim factory

[paladinboyd]

So if Daleks can laugh when will we see Daleks making memes?

[trashmammal]

I really hope that RTD cannonises the time strategist whenever he brings back the Daleks

[cameronmonaghan]

I always associate Caan's laughter with Dalek insanity.

Even stories that deal with Insane Daleks without the laughter such as The Parting of the Ways and Asylum of the Daleks I can hear Caan's giggles whenever I think of those stories.