Tomb of the Cybermen

Well that was fun. The start of series 5 finds the Doctor rather in strong form with a renewed sense of wit. Patrick Troughton really does have some good stuff to work with here. Jamie’s, our 18th Century Scotsman pretty much takes anything he sees with the doctor in stride yet while Victoria is still struggling to find her place as a companion, she does have spunk so far (and a face made of porcelain).

Some good touches include the Tomb itself, its design and psychedelic touches and the cyber-controller. The Cybermats have the effect of being kitschy and creepy and the same time.

Less is the storyline itself, the doomed expedition which even then feels like it was wearing thin. The villains of the expedition are fairly one dimensional but Toberman, their bodyguard/strongman, does rise a bit (not by much) above the material. The astronaut-pilot’s faux American accent is brought to you by Elvis. And of course the Cybermen, while defeated, are not totally dead. At least the Doctor wisely refrained from predicting that they wouldn’t come back.