Strikingly attractive by human reckoning, with golden skin, dark, elongated eyes, and white plaited hair, the Movellans are not what they seem. Beneath their ribbed and padded close-fitting white tunics and knee-britches, is a humanoid body of plastics and metal: the Movellans are coldly logical robots. Their uniform also consists of white mid-length boots and a silver gun-belt, which also holds a power pack.

Movellans are the deadly enemies of the Daleks, using their powerful battle computers to try to outwit Davros's creations. Yet doing so has resulted only in stalemate: whatever the Movellans' computers plot, the Daleks' computers counter and vice versa. The stalemate is only broken in the far future when the Movellans develop a virus that attacks only Daleks: it virtually destroys the entire species.

The Movellans are utterly ruthless, although they may well appear helpful and considerate when first met, an impression that is heightened by their soft, gentle voices. Their robotic nature, however, is revealed by their lack of emotions and efficient, probing conversations. Movellans are reluctant to be touched or seen in death by aliens: it would immediately reveal that they are not creatures of flesh and blood. They will sacrifice temporary allies and even themselves to attain their goals.

Movellan scout ships have a crew of no more than a dozen, but the onboard computer has the power to replicate any of the crew members that are destroyed. The spaceship itself, partly buries itself on landing as a means of self-defence.