Doctor Who - Attack of the Cybermen Review

Continuing Our Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Cybermen

Doctor Who:
Attack of the Cybermen
By Paula Moore

“Then perhaps you should tell them, because if you don't, they intend to prevent Mondas from being destroyed.”

The Doctor discovers that the Cybermen want to save Mondas but in doing that Earth must be destroyed.  The have the perfect weapon in doing it as Haley’s Comet is making its approach back to Earth.  The Doctor and Peri stumble upon their plan by searching out a distress signal which leads them to the sewers of London and a secret Cybermen base.   The Cybermen capture The Doctor and force him to pilot his TARDIS to Telos so that they can use his TARDIS in their plans to save Mondas.  On Telos is an old adversary of The Doctor as he finds out that The Cyber Controller is still alive.  There is also a wildcard in the mix as Lytton is involved in this also and The Doctor does not know if he is working for the Cybermen or the Cryons.  One thing The Doctor does know about and that is stopping the Cybermen and preserving the web of time by preventing Mondas from being saved.

Doctor Who - Attack of the Cybermen

With the Cybermen returning this week The Gallifrayan Gazette decided to take a look back at some of the classic stories featuring the Cybermen. Today Attack of the Cybermen

Doctor Who:
Attack of the Cybermen
By Paula Moore

“Then perhaps you should tell them, because if you don't, they intend to prevent Mondas from being destroyed.”

The Doctor discovers that the Cybermen want to save Mondas but in doing that Earth must be destroyed.  The have the perfect weapon in doing it as Haley’s Comet is making its approach back to Earth.  The Doctor and Peri stumble upon their plan by searching out a distress signal which leads them to the sewers of London and a secret Cybermen base.   The Cybermen capture The Doctor and force him to pilot his TARDIS to Telos so that they can use his TARDIS in their plans to save Mondas.  On Telos is an old adversary of The Doctor as he finds out that The Cyber Controller is still alive.  There is also a wildcard in the mix as Lytton is involved in this also and The Doctor does not know if he is working for the Cybermen or the Cryons.  One thing The Doctor does know about and that is stopping the Cybermen and preserving the web of time by preventing Mondas from being saved.

Doctor Who 50th Anniversary: The Top Five Colin Baker Stories

Unfortunately Colin Baker’s tenure as The Doctor wasn’t that long to warrant a top 10 list.  Being unceremoniously fired after The Trial of a Time Lord Colin’s Doctor wasn’t able to build a big back catalog of stories to pick from and he only had 11 stories so in fairness I picked the top 5 from his era which is often overlooked and has some really good stories in it.

Doctor Who 50th Anniversary: Attack of the Cybermen

Doctor Who:
Attack of the Cybermen
By Paula Moore
Reviewed By Will Barber

Russell: You're bonkers. 

The Doctor: That's debatable.

Whilst trying to fix the TARDIS's chameleon circuit, the Sixth Doctor returns to Foreman's Yard on Totter's Lane in 1985, where he meets his old enemies the Cybermen. They have come from the future to change history by sending Halley's Comet crashing into Earth. Lytton, last seen working for the Daleks, is involved in the Cybermen's plot. Is Lytton working for the Cybermen, himself or someone else?

Attack of the Cybermen is seen as a fan favourite, one which in 2003 for a special Gold Doctor Who season was voted by the fans as Colin Baker’s best story. However, it isn’t. The first part of Attack lumbers along like a clumsily choreographed dancer with two right feet. The story clomps along rather like the Cybermen of this story, stompy, stupid and about as frightening as mouldy cheese. Even before the TARDIS lands, The Doctor is going back and forward like a galactic yoyo not quite sure what to do with himself for most of the story. He arrives in one location then leaves instantly because nothing is happening there at that time and so he goes somewhere else in search of some tangible plot point. The story is only two 45 minute parts but it feels more like a six parter. Several scenes will go by with literally nothing happening.