Rise of the Cybermen

When Rusell T. Davies became head writer of the revived Doctor Who, he dictated that the stories be kept as simple as possible in order to avoid alienating new audiences. In particular, no space travel unless it involved humans settled on another planet. Rise of the Cybermen, which comes shortly after that continuity-embracing yarn that was School Reunion, dares to break that rule by taking our characters to a place never before explored, even in the original series.

Still "stuck" with Mickey, the Doctor and Rose witness the impossible - a TARDIS malfunction that causes them to end up in a parallel world. They're on Earth, all right, but it's a bit different: Rose was never born, her father Pete (Shaun Dingwall) is still alive, and Mickey's counterpart is called Ricky (a nice reference to Eccleston's name-calling in the first season). Most notably, though, there's been a significant evolution in the field of cybernetics, with one John Lumic (Roger Lloyd-Pack, last seen playing David Tennant's father in the fourth Harry Potter film) determined to use the new technology to create a new robotic body that will contain his brain once a terminal disease has disposed of him. Inevitably, the gang is drawn to Cybus Industries: Rose is eager to meet her long lost "father", while the Doctor suspects something evil is lurking in the shadows...

While the title pretty much gives away the plot (especially if you're an old school fan), this remains an entertaining and thrilling story that effortlessly blends old mythology and new story lines, using the classic "alt-world" gimmick (see Star Trek and Buffy) for great dramatic and comic effect. On the minus side, Mickey is more annoying than usual, and Lloyd-Pack is the show's most wooden villain so far. But hey, the cliffhanger is a surefire guarantee the conclusion will be worth watching.

The first two parter of season two is a long anticipated return for the second highest profile characters in the Doctor's rogues gallery, the Cybermen. It's also a return for Director Graeme Harper, who became the first person to oversee an episode of Classic "Doctor Who" and "Nu-Who".

The TARDIS accidentally crashes through to a parallel Earth and to a London that is recognisable, but with some differences, like a fleet of Zeppelins that populate the sky. Despite The Doctor's (David Tennent) warnings Rose (Billie Piper) and Mickey (Noel Clarke) head off to see how their alternate lives are shaping up. Mickey's gran is still alive in this universe, but as he having an emotional reunion, freedom fighters sweep him up. For Rose, her father (Shaun Dingwall) is still alive and a rich and successful businessman but he and Jackie (Camille Coduri) never had any children. These stories intersect when tech mogul John Lumic (Roger Lloyd Pack) introduces his latest creation to the world.

The first thing that struck me about this episode is how much we've caught up with the "futuretech" of this one. Bluetooth headsets did exist in 2006, but nothing like in the volume that they are used now, since the growth of the airpods. So the city scenes, of vacant Londoners lost to their own worlds don't look as odd as they did then. Also the receiving of TV quality video on a mobile, was fiction then, but very much the norm today.

As it is, this is a decent start to the two-part episode but nothing too amazing. It's nice to see alt-Jackie, alt-Pete and "Rickey" but really, only Noel Clarke is doing anything to distinguish much between the characters. He also acts with himself in scenes that are visually OK, but a little lacking in the interaction you'd see in a similar set of scenes today. The human villains, played by Lloyd Pack and Colin Spaull feel like a bit cliché - though maybe the Dr. Frankenstein and Igor parallels are deliberate. The crippling and the resolution of the issues with the Tardis are a bit flimsy, logic wise.

It's an OK episode, don't get me wrong - but the second half will have a lot to do to drag this into comparison with the first season's two parters.

Finally, the return of the Cybermen, last year we had the return of the Daleks, this time around we get the long awaited appearance of the other cult villain, the Cybermen. We've had a trio of wonderful episodes ending with the Girl in the Fireplace, the next trio would be slightly less good.

The Doctor, Rose and Mickey are marooned on a parallel London after the TARDIS explodes and dies. Parallel London is different in many ways (echoes of Inferno,) Pete Tyler is still alive, the sky is full of zeppelins. Pete and Rose are a success, Rose is a Yorkshire Terrier. John Lumic appears to be behind the creation of the new Cybermen, he tries with the help of the Cybermen to build on his Cybus industries. Not getting it Lumic proceeds anyway attacking at Jackie's 40th Birthday celebration, all are cornered.

I think Noel Clarke is really good in this one, I enjoyed the part where he meets up with his Gran, and finally the Ricky question is answered, and he's really good in the Ricky role. It pains me to say it but I really disliked Roger Lloyd Pack's characterisation of John Lumic, I've loved him over the years, but he is rather terrible, as is Don Warrington, who almost seems uncomfortable, he is very wooden.

The imagery of people being turned into Cybermen is very well done, it's very macabre and nasty, and the sound they make when they march fits in really well. The cliffhanger is a brilliant one, very satisfying, seemingly no way out.

I liked the link back to The Invasion, Cybus Industries, International Electromatics etc.

7/10 it's good, but it should have been fantastic.

The episode is truly gripping. You see it build throughout as the Doctor, Rose and Mickey don't quite know who the villains are yet, until later on in the episode. I thought this approach better suited this episode, and worked really well with it's premise. And right from the get go we see the Cyberman in the scariest form, already murdering someone inside 2 minutes. I like the idea behind this episode to as it perfectly sets up the Finale, we have a parallel universe to Earth, where everything is slightly different. We see Mickey going and exploring, and finding his own way around, as well as Rose and the Doctor. Mickey finds his grandmother who he so dearly misses. Then gets taken. The Doctor and Rose then go and see Pete and Jacky. Roses mother and father. They then encounter the villains, as the tension and suspension builds. Which leads to the Iconic line, "I've seen them before, Cyberman" which was a great line. And this leads perfectly into the next episode where the Doctor and the gang are surrounded by the Cyberman.

The TARDIS all but discharges, in a parallel world like our own, so the Doctor, Rose and Mickey find some time to have a roam (while the TARDIS repowers, phew!). Micky goes his separate way and bumps into his double, while the other two are hired help at a party where there's trouble (although Micky is in a spot of bother too). The Cybermen surround the place and things are looking bad, not just for our three travellers, they're at Rose's mam and dad's (in a parallel world sense at least).