Doctor Who Club of Australia

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4567

Karin Bishop in the SMH Guide gave the episode a thumbs up. It started off with her saying "I like the new Dr Who". However what follows is not so flattering to the Doctor Who of old. It was really more of a preview rather than a review as she only describes what is going on.

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4567

Prior to Art Safari last night saw the Saturday line up trailer which includes Rise of the Cybermen. The shot of a Cyberman breaking in I thought was a bit too much for viewers to see prior to its broadcast. As someone who already seen it that particular shot took me aback as I was watching it.

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4567

Last night saw an ad of the episode just prior to At The Movies in which the Doctor and Rose are standing with other people and Rose making searches on her phone. Definitely had mysterious aura to it. After At The Movies the Saturday line-up ad again.

phase5 · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 246

"Rise of the Cybermen" gets off to a bad start with the Doctor and Rose treating Mickey like something they forgot to wipe off their shoes before re-entering the Tardis. Sadly there are one to many moments throughout series two where the Doctor & Rose behave in a very questionable fashion which left me very disappointed with the two "heroes" of the show.

Once we get going however its largely a rehash of story ideas from last season for the most part before the Cybermen** turn up. In part two there's a lot of running around, a scene straight out of a Star Trek "Borg" episode and not much else.

After all the hype surrounding the return of the Cybermen I found this little outing disappointing and a little flat. Yes, it's a fun romp which looks good, but there was an opporunity here to do so much more; that was missed completely in favour of lots of explosions.

** Aren't he Cybermen supposed to come from Mondas? At least the writers could have covered this story point by referring to alternate Earth as "Mondas" or somesuch.

Darth Sidious · Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 105

This is quite possibly (along with Age of Steel) the best use of the Cybermen ever. It actually succeeds in making Tomb look second rate and dated. I'm sure in 10 years time people will remember ROTC/Age of Steel as the definitive Cybermen story.
Dunno why people liked Tomb so much though. Most overrated classic series story IMHO with dodgy sets and an close to racist cliche with Toberman.

Speckled Jim · Joined: 14 Jul 2006 Posts: 142 Location: Auckland, Un Zud

So this is where Season 2 finally kicks into gear. I was getting worried for a mo...
People seem a bit concerned about the continuity in regard to other Cyberman stories, and the Mondas connection. But the new Who is all about reinvention, and I think this was a sterling job at tracing the birth of Cybermen from a different perspective (the "parallel universe" thing can degenerate into a cop-out if executed poorly in sci-fi, but it's never overplayed here). The parody of modern life was great - the swipe at bluetooth, the obsession with trivia (downloading the "joke of the day"??) and that great line about "You lot are always obsessed with upgrades, aren't you?"
What was hugely noticeable, though, was just how much better this show can be when it's not hastily crammed into a 45-minute format - and did it make me pine for the days of the cliffhanger episode or what!
And finally:
- Mickey doesn't suck so much anymore... hmmm, could've been wrong about this guy;
- Rose the dog: brilliant;
- "Delete! Delete!" - may this show never stop its hilarious self-referencing; and
- Tennant rocks, he's up there with Baker 1 and McCoy.

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4567

Prior to ABC News last night saw the "They Feel No Pain..." ad. My niece was in the room at the time and she was very scared by it.

charlie · Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:27 pm Post subject:

SharazJek · Joined: 12 Aug 2005 Posts: 932 Location: Hobart, Tasmania

After seeing the whole season a couple of times now, I have to say that Rise of the Cybermen is without doubt the best episode of 2006 in terms of pacing and direction. I couldn't have wished for a better comeback for my favourite villains.

For me it truly is the stuff of nightmares.

Dazzler · Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 9:30 pm Post subject:

I really, really enjoyed this episode. We kept getting sneak peeks of the Cybermen, but it was all blurry so it wasn't until the end we got the full picture! Great way to keep us on our toes, anticipating the final look of the Cybermen. Rose's acting is quite good in this episode, and I'm enjoying Mickey's role more and more.

I also like the concept of a parallel universe, and world, so that certain things are different and seeing Rose the little doggie was a great laugh! Especially the Doctor's reaction to seeing it. I'm quite impressed with this new writer, it's got a great pace and excitement to it with some brilliant jokes! Like Mickey holding down the button for too long! Hehe!

charlie · Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 9:40 pm Post subject:

Even better the second time! Seeing it again I relise how similar it really is to Genesis. Turn left, turn right and so forth. The director likes the smashing of huge party windows. How many times does it happen in the series I wonder. Spotted Torchwood about four times this week. The Doctor has alot of difficulty in removing cabling doesn't he?
Damn that blinking guy!

"BUT WE SURRENDER!" Patrick Troughton

Commander · Joined: 27 Dec 2005 Posts: 57

Obviously being in a parallell universe, the Cybermen were created by Lumic instead, and thus wouldnt recognise the Doctor as their enemy.

Im actually kinda annoyed at Rose (again) this week. It irritates me that she seemingly thinks she can walk in to a situation and offer people advice, forgetting her 'position' (that of staff) doing so.

Noel Clarke - great work again.

Tennant is good, and I actually really enjoyed the scenes he shared between he and Clarke - especially inside the TARDIS.

Lumic is great, obviously the new Vaughn.

Cybermen-wise, its clear that as previously stated, ''Delete'' is the new ''exterminate'':

"You will be deleted"..."You will be Ex-term-in-ated"
"Delete Delete Delete" "Exterminate, Exterminate, Exterminate"

Better than I expected, but Fireplace is still my favourite so far.

Dazzler · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 10:58 am Post subject:

By the way, did anyone feel that the scene where Rose and the Doctor are watching all those people come to a standstill was a rip-off of an old Stargate SG-1 episode where the people in a village do the exact same thing because information is being downloaded into them via a technological connection? Or is this a popular concept in sci-fi?

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4567

phase5 · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 246

montypython · Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 6:47 pm Post subject:

I thought it was good, but not great. I like a bit of humour, which it didn't have. I was really pissed that it didn't have a preview for next week. Oh well, the ABC does a million anyway.

If Ricky was meant to be really flat and boring, then Noel Clarke nailed it.

Anyone else notice how Rose has a different phone? I liked the other one.

I'm guessing next week's will have a bit of Father's Day deja vu.

SharazJek · Joined: 12 Aug 2005 Posts: 932 Location: Hobart, Tasmania

Odnet · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 61 Location: Mudgee

Blue Box · Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 9 Location: Melbourne