The Age of Steel

"They suffer in their skin."

Writer: Tom Macrae

Format: TV

Broadcast: 20 May 2006

Series: 2.06

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Rose, Mickey

Synopsis

The Cybermen take control of London and start converting the populace. While Jackie falls under the control of John Lumic, the Doctor, Rose and Mickey are reduced to fugitives in a world of terror. A last, desperate attack on the Cyber factory is their only chance of survival.

Verdict

The Age of Steel was an excellent conclusion to the story already started in Rise of the Cybermen! This really is another superb episode to wrap up a magnificent two-part story that brings back the Cybermen in an alternative and impressive way, whilst also setting us up for quite the series finale. My only slight qualm about the episode is the way the cliffhanger is resolved by the Doctor using the TARDIS component to destroy the Cybermen who threatened their deletion despite surrender, but even that isn't enough to take away any marks from my final rating. I mean, if it's recharging I think it would need more than four hours before essentially resurrecting the TARDIS, but apart from that what we have is tremendous. The pace of the action is off the charts and it's a little crazy to realise that the Cybermen don't actually do a great deal. Their primary gain is to just upgrade the humanity of London into their own kind and whilst they succeed with 6,500 units, all sights are set on preventing conversation from the Battersea factory which was a really good end goal destination. The death of Ricky is a really powerful moment and the reaction of Jake has a lot to do with that. Given that he is the parallel version of Mickey, it also tells us just how deadly the Cybermen are and that look shared between the Cyber killer and Mickey either side of the fence that Ricky didn't quite get over was incredible. The absolute emotionless stare told us everything required about the Cybermen. There was zero remorse and that made them fantastic enemies. Rose harking back to Dalek was a nice touch where she remembered seeing a Cyberman head on display and the Doctor recalling there being Cybermen in their own universe was great. The story of Jackie in this one is incredibly emotional and Pete having to be told that everyone at that party would now be dead was very powerful. Rose also having to be reminded that this Jackie wasn't her mother made great use of the parallel universe setting. The Cyberman wh was formerly Jackie Tyler recognising Pete when he and Rose were pretending to have the earpods directing them was a chilling moment. I really enjoyed watching this one with Gemma and I found myself in hysterics at how easily she was scared! The apparent jump scares of the Cybermen in the tunnels and then Mrs Moore's death physically made her react much to my amusement. I thought they were great scenes but I wouldn't call them jump scares! Of course, she was very much in disagreement. Mr Crane's turn on John Lumic after he was almost subjected to the earpod signal was terrific and that sparking the upgrade and new Cyber Controller was fantastic. I thought this appearance looked sublime and the voice definitely had a distinct of being in command which was impressive. The Doctor getting captured and seeing that Rose and Pete were in the same boat was a lot of fun and Tennant was in fine form at that moment. The sequence where he aids Mickey into finding the emotional inhibitor cancellation code is tremendous and I loved the reveal that Pete was Gemini, the inside source of the Preachers. Both weren't exactly in the working relationship they expected which was just great! The action-packed sequence of the final climb to the Zeppelin and the Controller climbing after them was magnificent and full of tension and excitement, and that's exactly what you want! I thought Mickey's departure from the TARDIS was terrific and I love how he wants to stay to continue the fight against the remaining Cybermen and their factories, as well as for his gran. Overall, a superb episode!

Rating: 10/10