Yet another foray from the realm of abandoned posts.
It could be argued that for two stories which are, to be charitable, not held in terribly high regard by fans, the Tour has an unhealthy fascination with The Twin Dilemma and Attack of the Cybermen. The former … because it seemed to be an unnecessary misstep in terms of having this story introduce a new Doctor with such a wildly divergent character at the end of one season versus the beginning of another as historically had been the case.
But that was just the first story for a new Doctor, and as we have explained before in this space, initial stories are often quite atypical for the era they lead off. In fact it happened often enough where it was almost expected, but that’s where Attack of the Cybermen really lets the side down.
The lessons that should have been learned about the brashness/abrasiveness of the 6th Doctor and, as importantly, the relationship he had with his companion, were not heeded or taken to heart as least. They would be a season, with the additional padding an ’18-month hiatus’ conferred, later. Instead Attack of the Cybermen more or less doubles down on the acrimony between Peri and the Doctor. There’s a lot of arguing in the ol’ console room. It isn’t the worst it would get to be in Season 22, that ‘honour goes to Timelash, but it made Attack a harder watch than it needed to be.
Although the new HD Re-classic-ated caps for Attack of the Cybermen were done some time ago, it could be argued that they’ll be new to you.
