(573) Earthshock - Part 2

Well the shock came at the end of the previous episode with the return of the Cybermen. Thankfully we get a lot more of them in this episode but the thing is that it takes an awful long time for the action to get going because there is all the busy with the Doctor and his friends trying not to get shot by the androids. Once the androids are dealt with then the thing does feel like it’s actually trying to move on. I like how Adric gets to be a bit heroic for the first time in a long time when he destroys one of the androids. Adric really does shine in this episode for me. Apart from that moment, I like the scene with him and the Doctor where he announces that he doesn’t actually want to leave and did all the calculations just to prove a point. It’s the exact opposite of their opening scene in the previous episode. I suppose it makes what is about to happening even more heart-breaking (although I am a bit more cynical so won’t be wiping away a tear).

The hatch business did show me that the low lighting hides the fact that it’s a studio and the low lighting continues when the plot moves to a freighter which is on its way to earth. We are introduced to a team led by Briggs. Briggs is played by Beryl Reid who I have seen in the BBC version of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy playing the role that Kathy Burke played in the 2012 movie. The problem that I have with her casting is that she doesn’t come across as a captain, she just seems like a old woman who hasn’t got a clue about what she’s agreed to. Another problem is that Ringway is an irritating character and just seems like he’s there to whine and complain a lot. The only one who seems even remotely normal is Ringway (played by June Bland). Apart from that the crew of the freighter seem exactly the same as the cave crew.

This is where in the shows history that it starts the nostalgia nods. It does a nice job of pointing out some of the previous adventures that the Doctor has had with the Cybermen. I suppose its needed really because there will be people who haven’t seen any of the 1960’s Cybermen stories and as this is only the second story since the sixties finished then it’s a helpful addition. I just wish that the Cybermen were more involved in the story and the word that I would describe this episode is frustrating because I think that the Cybermen are somewhat out of the way in this episode and that’s a shame really.

I thought that the cliffhanger was a bit sloppy really because the Doctor and Adric are leaning over two dead bodies before Ringway announces to them that on the freighter, murderers are executed. I cant say that this is a particularly strong cliffhanger but I suppose that after the previous cliffhanger the rest of them were always going to be a bit of a let down but I just felt that it lacked something but I have seen much worse.