Doctor Who: Attack of the Cybermen (Episode 138)
Starring: Colin Baker, Nicola BryantStudio: BBC Warner
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Format: Color, NTSC
Running Time: 88 minutes
DVD Release: July 7th 2009
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DVD Review
A distress call lures the Sixth Doctor and Peri into London's sewer system, dragging them into an interplanetary plot involving diamond thieves and the Cybermen.
User Reviews
A good story, but not the best Cybermen one. - Rating: 3/5
This one isn't that bad. Better than the Sylvester McCoy Cyberman story "Silver Nemesis", but I think the Tom Baker story "Revenge of the Cybermen" and the William Hartnell story "The Tenth Planet" should have been released first for they are better stories with better Doctors.
First of all, Colin Baker was my least favorite Doctor. But fortunately, he is a lot better in this one than in many of his other stories and he is certainly better in this one than in his premiere story. In fact, he's brilliant! Too bad about his other stories. The plot is decent with the Cybermen trying to alter history and prevent the destruction of their home planet Mondas which was destroyed in their very first story "The Tenth Planet". You've got some nice action pieces in this one. The Cybermen are once again turning people into Cybermen - something that hasn't been done since the Patrick Trougton story "The Invasion". You get to see the Doctor return to both the junkyard from "An Unearthly Child" and the planet Telos from "The Tomb of the Cybermen". Part One's cliffhanger is excellent. You've got a few scary parts in this one as well as a little bit of comedy.
Unfortunately, the tombs on Telos look like crap and nothing like the ones in "The Tomb of the Cybermen". The Cyber Controller is a little bit too fat to be a Cyberman. The Cryons look ridiculous (blame that on the costume designers). And the Cybermen are too easy to kill in this one. I would still recommend this one, but I would have rather seen a better Cyberman story released on DVD first like "Revenge of the Cybermen" or "The Tenth Planet".
Get your popcorn ready for this ABSOLUTE CLASSIC!!! - Rating: 5/5
This season opener from 1985 (season 22) has it all! Cybermen in the London underground, a new doctor, mercinaries, diamond robers, new aliens (the cryons), a working cameleon cirtut in the TARDIS, Haley's Comet, a return to the frozen Cyber tombs on Telos and even a return visit to the junk yard where Doctor Who all began in 1963... Whew!
The story grabs you from the first minute and never lets you go; Right up to the bloody, corpse filled final seconds. New doctor Colin Baker realy shines here. Everything we were hoping Colin Baker's doctor would be is evident here. He is brash and bold and taking on all comers including the Cyber Controller himself. The sixth doctor has no problem picking up a gun (or Cyber laser)and defending himself and the earth from who or what ever threatens. This is Colin Baker's best performance; I still find it regretable he was never really given a chance to grow into the role ( He was one of the scape goats for the 1986 hiatus).
You get excellent performances from the supporting cast as well which just adds to a gripping ending since none of them live to see the end of the episode. There are multiple reference to the show's past and a timely subplot envolving the Cyberman's plan to crash Haley's Comet into the Earth (Haley's Comet was in our "area" for real in 1985). I could go on and on about this episode but lets not spoil it for those who have not seen this episode yet. If you are one of them I say go for it and buy this one; Trust me! you will not be disapointed!
Ofcourse, every Doctor Who episode has it's nae sayers and this one is no exception. Some say the plot is too convoluted, the Cyber Controler is too "rotund", and the Cybermen in the frozen tombs on Telos do not look like the ones in the old Troughton episode "Tomb of the Cybermen". To these points I say keep in mind the BBC did not spend a ton of money on Doctor Who back in the day (1963 to1989). They would never spend money on two diferent styles of Cybermen. Infact they would never spent much money on the show at all...Isn't that what we loved about the show in the first place. For the short commings in this episode I say I would put this episode up against any in the show's history. Come July 7th I will be in front of my TV, popcorn in hand, and ejoying one of the most riviting yarns in Doctor Who history....Now where is my cat lapel pin????
