Reaction to THE ONE WITH THE CYBERMEN!!

[owl]

First of all, I loved the whole noir-ish steampunk atmosphere that this episode had. And Zeppelins! It's sort of what I was aiming for in A Brief Experiment in the Life of Jack Harkness. The little band of rebels/resistance fighters reminded me of it too, although I found the fact that the blond one was from Byker Grove somewhat distracting.

AU!Pete is still a bit of wide boy, I see. AU!Jackie is not improved by having money. I really wanted to see AU!Rose, and felt rather let down when she turned out to be a yappy little dog. However, the Doctor found it amusing, which I rather liked. Rose is still a daddy's girl by some psychic knowledge, evidently, but she gets on as well with AU!Jackie as she did with 1987 Jackie.

The Doctor telling Rose off about messing with AUs had definite shades of Nine—I really could see this episode happening in the last series. And he capitulates in the end, natch. More emo stuff with Rose thinking about the 'real' Jackie, back in London. And the Doctor can't see that she doesn't have Rose, not when she's chasing all over time and space with him.

That's the second time this series that Rose has been undercover in the catering industry. I see future career options looming... On the other hand, the Doctor looks very niiiiice in a dinner-jacket. Sort of James Bond, except he's still wearing his gutties.

Poor Mickey! The Doctor and Rose have all these in-jokes they won't tell him about, he knows that it's all about Teh Rose as far as the Doctor's concerned (except when it's all about Sarah Jane or Madame de Pompadour), and his granny died. I was sure all these hints meant that he was going to stay in the Cyberverse with his granny (unless she trips on the stair carpet in this one too), but I'm not so sure about that now that Ricky's turned up. And, Ricky!! Nine was right after all! Also, Ricky is much cooler than Mickey—clock the scene with the guns. Mickey's going to get an inferiority complex with regard to his own alternative self! Possibly Ricky will die and Mickey will take over his role as freedom-fighter leader #1. It's a bit V-for-vendetta-ish, that story thread.

Oh, Mickey, don't stay in the AU!!!!

I liked the Doctor's WOE!ANGST!WOE! when the TARDIS died, because Doctor/TARDIS is really the ultimate OTP. I liked that Mickey was the one to think of actually opening the door instead of sitting around in a heap angsting—I love my boy Mickey. It's the whole underdog thing. Nice bit with him and the Doctor sitting around glooming over a broken vehicle. Mickey can understand that all right, it's a totally male thing. And the Doctor's glee at reviving the TARDIS is so endearing. *pokes at Rose for not even giving him a smile*

I wonder what the Doctor did with the Magic Crystal of Life when he changed into his monkey-suit? I hope he didn't drop it in all the excitement. And now he's going to lose ten years off his life—not sure I like that, but it's like a life-transfusion to the TARDIS, isn't it? Doctor/TARDIS OTP 4EVA11!!

I liked the President of Great Britain, especially the moment when he apologies to the new Cybermen for what had been done to them. Shades of the Doctor in New Earth.

Argggh, what an evil evil cliffhanger! It seemed all wrong for the Doctor to be going 'We surrender! We surrender!' but I expect he had Teh Cunning Plan in mind. We had some classic Who scene there: Doctor and companion(s) run from alien menace, meet similar alien menace coming the other way. The 'bullets can't stop them!' line was reused from T&C, ah, but what if it's a gold bullet, or has that been thrown out?

The Cybermen aren't quite as terrifying as Daleks, but they're pretty scary; it's the combination of sheer brute force and the possibility that one might become the monsters. And they have boots like Star Wars stormtroopers, way to work out cultural indoctrination. One thing I didn't understand: one minute they're offering upgrades, the next it's deletion all round? Was this a plot hole, or some plan of Teh Evol Overlord's? Oh, and nice issues with him, too. Ties into the whole god/immortality theme of this series.

One more thing: evil scientists dig the Lion King. It's official.

Comments

[llieno.livejournal.com]

I think they interpreted the President's refusal as a refusal from everyone assembled. As for Ten, Mickey & co., none of them were upper-class/rich enough to deserve an upgrade.

[owl]

Yeah, that's very possible.

[merkuria-lyn.livejournal.com]

I was wondering if it had something to do with the Doctor not being human. Maybe that makes him incompatible!?

I LOVED this episode. Even though the last episode was beautiful to look at I was in two minds about it because a) romance-of-the-week doesn't seem to do much for me and b) I couldn't get past the whole the-doctor-abandoned-Rose issue. No such misgivings with this episode though!!

[owl]

I couldn't get past the whole the-doctor-abandoned-Rose issue.

Sure the TARDIS has been to the Powell Estate so many times, she can do it solo by now!

[parma-violets.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I really hope they don't reuse the gold allergy! Actually, what I really hope is that Byker Grove Rebel will try and rub his wristwatch into their faces or something and they'll just go "Eh. Whatever" and kill him.

All this in the week that Byker Grove was officially cancelled. It's not been a good week for Geordies.

[owl]

Byker Grove was cancelled? No more impenetrable Geordie accents on CBBC?

[parma-violets.livejournal.com]

Yup. Everything has its time and everything dies, up to and including Byker Grove.