Rise of the Cybermen

В“You Will Be Deleted: Maximum DeletionВ” will be the battle cry thatВ’s shouted on every playground in the UK come Monday. And quite a few offices, I'll bet!

Just when you think its impossible for Doctor Who to get any better, they pull out all the stops even further and prove that they are unbeatable. What an episode! What a cast! What a sexy shot of mickey in just boxers! Oh, and what wonderful writing! Tom Macrae has proved himself to be a wonderful Doctor Who writer. And the welcome return of Graham Harper for Direction was inspired; he hasnВ’t lost it at all. In fact heВ’s better than ever. The design, direction and general camera work was worthy of top class drama or even Hollywood blockbuster, and the acting was bloody top notch too.

This goes to prove that all the awards Doctor Who has won over the past year, and also VERY recently the three BAFTAВ’s, are more than justified. IВ’m even willing to forgive Roger Lloyd Pack, he overacted mercilessly, but it worked and he looked really sinister in his wheelchair, a deranged megalomaniac. The Earth version of Davros. And no mention of Dave. I love how he is referred to affectionately as В“TriggerВ” in the Forums, that makes me smile.

TonightВ’s episode was the closest yet to the classic series that weВ’ve had in the new series. We had a harrowing, alternate earth where life is totally different, as well as being frighteningly similar and a genius cliff-hanger that really did send the shivers down the spine. You cant really single anything out though, the whole episode was a classic, subtle but with a frightening build up which came to a climax in the last five or ten minutes. That's the way to do it.

It was, of course, always going to be a gamble, bringing the wonderful Cyberman back. Arguably second only to the Daleks, their return needed to be done right and done well. Well, it was. It was an absolute triumph. From the very beginnings of the episode it held me, the death of the TARDIS, the new world, alternate London Town, with the sinister ear pieces, the same location set on a totally different world, the President of Great Britain, the Millionaire lifestyle of the Tylers, the technology and also the throwback to a forgotten age with the Zeppelins. It all worked so wonderfully well.

The President of alternate Great Britain was played by the absolutely perfect Don Warrington. He was В“theirВ” BritainВ’s Harriet Jones, I suppose, and he played the part just as wonderfully as Penelope Wilton. I wish we had more of him next episode because he was a real asset.

The underground "resistance" were, like the President, a great addition, and abley headed by a very familiar "Ricky". A nice little touch to call him Ricky, as Christopher Ecclestons Doctor kept referring to Mickey as "Ricky" last season. That's going to get the fans all chatting.

Above all (bar the Cybermen), It was great to have Pete Tyler back, he brings so much and the reaction Rose shows to even the mention of his name is breathtakingly poignant. Although, it has to be said Rose is still just a tad annoying. SheВ’s too bloody cocky. Maybe next episode will stop all that. One of the few touching scenes in the episode was where Mickey saw his "alive and well Gran". On his alternate doorstep. It was really moving and almost tear inducing.

So, again we had something for everyone: Scares, Plot, Dialogue, wonderful graphics courtesy of The Mill, Tear jerks and of course the essential edge of the seat suspense. All crammed into 45 little minutes. It was also a great idea not to show a coming next trailer, to keep the cliff-hanger in tact, and this weekВ’s TARDISODE has also shown next to nothing. I just hope we get more of Jackie and that Hayden Smith geezer, he needs more of an airing. And a lot more Cyber-ness too if you pleaseВ…