Rise of the Cybermen

IВ’VE never reviewed the opening episode of a two-parter without seeing the denouement, so it feels like itВ’s only half-time, and I donВ’t know the final score. Which I donВ’t, of course! However, I can opine that this was a highly-promising first half, and another thoroughly-enjoyable episode.

As The Girl In The Fireplace was quite a long way from В“traditionalВ” Doctor Who, I felt Rise Of The Cybermen would be closer in tone to elements of the В“classicВ” series В– and I think thatВ’s exactly the way it panned out.

Tom MacRae did an excellent job with his first Who script В– it was an extremely-well-structured and easy-to-follow episode. Well-paced, too, with the benefit of the two-episode format, and there were plenty of good dramatic moments. OK, most of them had been seen in similar guises both in Doctor Who and elsewhere, but they fused together cohesively, and that's what matters.

Yet again, there was another fine pre-credits sequence, with just a background tease of the Cybermen. I also enjoyed the regularsВ’ opening scene in the TARDIS В– making the ship В“dieВ” as it plunged into a parallel world was a well-thought-out idea, which worked successfully.

As did the В“parallelВ” Mickey. Calling him Ricky (which was necessary for dramatic purposes В– couldnВ’t really have two characters called Mickey) was a neat link to the previous series. The notion that Mickey/Ricky in the alternate world was top of the Most Wanted list was also a nice twist, especially as В“ourВ” Mickey has effectively been growing in strength and confidence with each episode В– maybe he would have become a freedom fighter in his own universe given time.

Good as it was to see the alternate Pete and Jackie Tyler, IВ’m not sure they were hugely significant to the plot В– with the caveat that they may be more so next week! В– but, story-wise, it all made sense for Rose and The Doctor to be at the TylersВ’ party when the Cybermen В“crashedВ” in.

I enjoyed the lengthy wait for the revelation of the seriesВ’ greatest-ever two-footed monsters В– and it was worth the wait. The new-look Cybermen bursting through the mansion windows and their malevolent march in the grounds are likely to go down as iconic moments. And I loved В“you will be deletedВ” as their new mantra.

Although there was a predictability about the regulars being rounded up by a posse of Cybermen as a cliff-hanger, it still worked, and was a good way to round off the episode В– which surely did enough to entice the majority of casual viewers back next week.

The main hook of the episode was the return of the Cybermen В– so how were the 2006 versions? Visually, absolutely superb. I really loved the Earthshock-onwards Cybermen В– and didnВ’t think they could be bettered. However, I also loved the new design В– every bit as menacing as in their prime, and there was a real, powerful metallic look to them, hence The Age Of Steel title to the second episode, I expect. LetВ’s just hope theyВ’re not easily destroyed by melting them . . .

However, one major downside for me on an initial viewing (or listening, to be more accurate) was the Cyber-voices. I understood what was said because I strained my ears В– thereВ’s no way the mainstream audience would do that (nor should they have to) and I think theyВ’d have had a problem picking up all the Cyber dialogue.

Obviously, Nicholas BriggsВ’ voice had to be radically different to his excellent Dalek interpretation, and that was certainly achieved. My problem isnВ’t actually with BriggsВ’ version of the Cyber voice В– more the electronic trickery applied to it. Sure, it was distinctive В– but no point in being distinctive if youВ’re alienating the viewer by making it difficult to hear whatВ’s being said. The Doctor Who production team make very few mistakes В– but I think this was one. However, it may be a case of getting used to the voice, and I may feel differently next week.

Another slight negative for me was the casting of Roger Lloyd Pack as John Lumic. As a huge fan of Only Fools And Horses, Lloyd Pack is always going to be Trigger to me В– and I couldnВ’t really have him at all in this mad genius role. He wasnВ’t terrible, but nor was he hugely convincing. Pity, because on paper, the role was a potentially multidimensional one of a dying man trying to create not only extend his life В– but also shape the world by creating a new super race. Hints of Davros perhaps, but the layers in Lumic didnВ’t really come across anyway.

Shaun Dingwall and Camille Coduri were fine as (slightly) alternative Pete and Jackie, and making Rose a dog in this reality was an amusing touch. IВ’m not sure JackieВ’s heaving bosom wasnВ’t just as dangerous as the Cybermen, though . . .

IВ’m still quite happy with David TennantВ’s progression as The Doctor В– hasnВ’t reached his show-stealing heights of The Christmas Invasion for me, but itВ’s still quite early in his tenure. I thought Billie Piper was back on top form here, and this was much more like the Rose of Series One. I think the writers have struggled to know what to do with her at times (certainly in Episodes Two and Four) but there was a lovely moment when she delivered the В“puppy-dog eyesВ” to entice The Doctor into going to see her parents. There was a bit more evidence of the connection between The Doctor and Rose than has been evident in the whole series В– his initial concern that she shouldnВ’t meet her father (partly through his own jealousy perhaps?) and her usual jealously of any female that he even looks at!

Great stuff, too, from Noel Clarke, both as Mickey and Ricky. Must be a lot of fun for an actor to play a dual role and, although there was a hint of the Auton Mickey about Ricky, Clarke pulled it off. And there was a touching cameo scene with his grandmother which provided a rare В– but welcome - hint of back story to a character who has grown in stature with every passing episode.

Rise Of The Cybermen was shorter on humour than the others in the series, but not to its detriment, and it has set up The Age Of Steel perfectly. Vital to see the second part before one can fully place the story in Doctor Who lore, but the signs are really good that the rise wonВ’t be followed by a fall.