Ranking the Cybermen Stories (Part 2)

Guest contributor Will Atkinson concludes his countdown.

• See part one of this article here.

Hello! Last time I got through numbers 15 to 9 on my worst to best ranking of the Cybermen stories of Doctor Who, so let’s continue with number 8…

8. Closing Time

I have to admit that, like with Nightmare in Silver, I have a soft spot for Closing Time. Much of that if for its humour, but also due to what I think is quite an effective utilisation of the Cybermen. Here we see them as we haven’t really seen them before, down and out and skulking in the shadows, but still a great threat to planet Earth. Though their defeat by love may be slightly corny, it is no worse than the telephone that took them down in The Age of Steel or the coins that massacred them in Silver Nemesis. It also acts as a sequel to The Lodger, which is an instant plus, and it features the Eleventh Doctor in his green jacket, which is brilliant and really rather fetching.

7. Army of Ghosts / Doomsday

This traumatised me as a boy. That’s rather dented my macho credentials hasn’t it? I really did get a bit teary at the end, and that final scene really has stood the test of time. But we’re not here for weeping, we’re here for Cybermen! And they are used really rather well here, especially in Army of Ghosts. The idea of them hiding in plain sight as ghosts, while also picking off Torchwood from the shadows, is quite ingenious and there is also that fanboy thrill in Doomsday where they go head-to-head, or head to eyestalks the case maybe, with those pernicious pepper-pots the Daleks. It also helps that Tennant really has a grasp on the role here, so we also get to see a Doctor on the edge against two of his greatest foes. The only problem is the return of all the parallel universe folk, whom I really don’t like. But hey, we get Mickey, so it’s not all bad.

6. The Moonbase

The Moonbase, while it may essentially just be a rehash of The Tenth Planet (on the moon!), portrays the Cybermen in a really interesting way. Their plot to take over the moonbase of the title with infected sugar is ingenious, and with a design overhaul on their previous, if at the time very recent, appearance in The Tenth Planet means that this is the first appearance of the silver giants in a form readily recognisable to that which we know today. With suspense, horror and excitement aplenty in its four episodes, you could do a lot worse than pick up a copy of the newly animated DVD release and give this story a try. It really is very good.

5. Dark Water / Death in Heaven

The Cybermen’s most recent appearance is one of their best, in my opinion. Though they may be overshadowed by Missy at times (who is, by the way, absolutely brilliant) their utilisation is very good. Finally technology has caught up with Doctor Who’s imagination enough that we can see that global invasion that we’ve always imagined in our heads, with Cybermen being shown in huge numbers or taking to the air like evil Iron Men. With the Master filling the role of Tobias Vaughn, this really is an Invasion for the 21^st century, with the added concept of the Cybermen converting the deceased bringing an intriguing, and wonderfully chilling, new aspect to them. I know this story (or the second part) doesn’t have its fans, but I love it, and continuing the theme of manly tears from Doomsday, yes, I did have get a bit blurry-eyed when Osgood kicked the bucket. But now she’s alive again! So that’s, um, nice.

4. The Invasion

The Invasion is one of those Doctor Who stories that occupies a special place in our nation’s heart. Why? Because it’s got that scene. We all know that iconic image of the Cybermen striding down the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral, and that’s for a very good reason – it’s terrifying. That juxtaposition of an unstoppable alien menace against a backdrop of national pride, and indeed religious significance, cuts right to the heart of our most primal fears. The aliens aren’t invading – they’re already here! And that’s the whole point of The Invasion. The clue to the story’s emphasis is very much in its title. This is one of the first times Doctor Who does a big Earth invasion story, so it’s only right therefore that UNIT make their first appearance here, and anything with UNIT in gets a thumbs up in my book. Therefore, I wholeheartedly suggest seeking this story out if you haven’t seen already. I mean, it’s already got Patrick Troughton on top form, so you know you’re onto a winner.

3. Earthshock

“Now I’ll never know if I was right!”

Oh God, this one traumatised me as well. For an emotionless race, the Cybermen do seem to cause a lot of it in me. But I digress, because we should be talking about Earthshock, and with good reason. With Earthshock, it’s all in the title, and though hindsight ruins what were major surprises at the time. This doesn’t distract from the fact that this is great Doctor Who though. The Fifth Doctor, barring The Caves of Androzani, is never better than he is here, whizzing up and down corridors with several hundred companions in tow (a slight exaggeration, perhaps). Davison really gives it his all here, and though the script may be a bit rough around the edges this is Doctor Who in full on action movie mode, with gun battles galore. It wallops along at a great pace, especially the final episode, and the Cybermen make really threatening villains. And please, don’t get me started on the ending. I mean, you can if you want, but you’re paying for the Kleenex.

2. The Tenth Planet

Just missing out on the top spot is the Cybermen’s first ever appearance, and what an appearance it is. Wrought with tension, if hampered ever so slightly by William Hartnell’s frailty (this was his last regular appearance, don’t forget) and the Cybermen may look rubbish by today’s standards, but they are perhaps never as chilling and unusual as they are here. With their home planet in tow, they are very much the invader, holding the world at random by leeching the life out of it. They are also never this creepy again, with looking hollow but at the same time disturbingly human. In addition to this, The Tenth Planet features two of my favourite companions, Ben and Polly, whose dearth of material due to the great purge of 60’s Who means they can occasionally be forgotten, unfortunately. The story also features a good performance from Hartnell, under the circumstances of his illness and sadness to be leaving the program. So, with excellent Cybermen, two great companions and an ending that must have blown the minds of viewers in 1966, I feel The Tenth Planet is well-deserving of second place.

So, it’s the end. But the moment has been prepared for (#LogopolisBants), and my number one Cyber-Story is of course…

1. The Tomb of the Cybermen

I mean, really? Could it have actually been anything else? Tomb of the Cybermen practically drips classic Doctor Whoness, or it would if quality of Who were a liquid. From the thrill of watching them emerge from their tombs, to the tension as the heroes explore their city, this story is shot through with the core menace of the Cybermen. It also contains some of the most wonderful moments of the Doctor, in any incarnation. We learn so much about him here, from a mention of his family to his age. I think perhaps that’s the core of this story’s appeal. It is both iconic to the general public and features one of the best demonstrations of what the show is about for fans. If you haven’t watched it, I cannot recommend it enough. And neither, famously, can Matt Smith.

So, that’s all folks! Before I go, there’s one quick point I’d like to make. Former Conservative MP, and big Doctor Who fan, Tim Collins once said that Cybermen were always more convincing under a Tory government, and while I’ve found some evidence for that, I’m not fully sure. But, with the recent General Election result, at least we now have five years to put that theory to the test. And I, as both a Tory (sorry!) and a big Cyber-fan, relish the prospect.

Anyway, thanks for reading, and I hope you challenge me with your own Cyber-lists in the comments!