"How can I rest with that thing up the spout."
TECHNICAL SPECS: The episode is one of two from this story to be missing from the archives. I've listened to the BBC's audio narrated by Frazer Hines, and the audio without narration from the Lost in Time DVD, but here have used a reconstruction. First aired Feb.11 1967.
IN THIS ONE... The TARDIS lands on the moon and the Cybermen make a comeback.
REVIEW: The year is 1967, and the TARDIS crew beat Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the Moon by a couple years. Kit Pedler brings back his Cybermen from The Tenth Planet and though they've changed a lot, the story hasn't. The Tenth Planet too was a base under siege story, a base manned by an multi-national group of people living in an inhospitable environment, and it too was deeply interested with the space program. Actually set in 2070, there's a strange matter-of-factness about living on the Moon. Few people do - just the 19 who work on the Moonbase, mostly manning the weather control system - but when three strangers show up, there are hardly any questions. No security checks, no real surprise, and hey Ben, why don't you go help out in the kitchens. They've got a mysterious illness to contend with and unexplained "drops in pressure", but it's mostly Earth bureaucracy that has their dander up.
Pedler gets some nice fun bits with the TARDIS crew out on the Moon surface in their googly spacesuits, jumping vast distances accompanied by unfortunate cartoon noises - they still had the Kirby wires on loan after The Underwater Menace? - but once we're inside, it might as well be a an office block in Central London. Perhaps the Moonbase has to feel like a regular place where regular folks work to contrast with the strangeness of the Cybermen. Not that they're as strange as they used to be. Gone are the bandages and enormous headlights. They're now sleeker rubbersuited gentlemen, but something creepy remains about their square mouths, which always look oxidized to me. They're prominently accompanied by the wonderful Space Adventure theme, a piece of stock music that's so bizarre and perfect for them. I do wish it was still in use. But we'll have to wait for the next episode to hear them speak.
Of course, today we go in knowing it's a Cyberman story, but their name isn't in the title, so their reveal is gradual and well-paced. There's a great big flying saucer parked outside. Jamie, who's been taken out of action by a bad moon-bounce, feverishly talks about the phantom piper coming to get him, but did Polly also see a shadow move? Ralph gets zapped by something electric - did they just kill the black guy first? - and is dragged away by persons unknown. Dr. Evans, infected and covered in black veins talks about a "silver hand". And then finally, his dead body's gone too and Jamie, alone in sickbay, is confronted by a Cyberman! The way it's teased, you might be able to deduce who the villains are, but you'd still be surprised at their new appearance.
VERSIONS: The newest DVD release presents an animated version of the episode. I really like the style of it, very fluid. What we miss most in these experiments is Troughton's full performance - he's such an expressive actor and the animation is always pretty staid - but seeing as the director famously forced him to dial it way down, there may not be THAT much going on.
REWATCHABILITY: Medium - If I didn't talk about the regular cast much, it's because this is all set-up and questions, getting to know the environment, guest characters and threat. Hums along fine, but not particularly remarkable.
TECHNICAL SPECS: The episode is one of two from this story to be missing from the archives. I've listened to the BBC's audio narrated by Frazer Hines, and the audio without narration from the Lost in Time DVD, but here have used a reconstruction. First aired Feb.11 1967.IN THIS ONE... The TARDIS lands on the moon and the Cybermen make a comeback.
REVIEW: The year is 1967, and the TARDIS crew beat Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the Moon by a couple years. Kit Pedler brings back his Cybermen from The Tenth Planet and though they've changed a lot, the story hasn't. The Tenth Planet too was a base under siege story, a base manned by an multi-national group of people living in an inhospitable environment, and it too was deeply interested with the space program. Actually set in 2070, there's a strange matter-of-factness about living on the Moon. Few people do - just the 19 who work on the Moonbase, mostly manning the weather control system - but when three strangers show up, there are hardly any questions. No security checks, no real surprise, and hey Ben, why don't you go help out in the kitchens. They've got a mysterious illness to contend with and unexplained "drops in pressure", but it's mostly Earth bureaucracy that has their dander up.
Pedler gets some nice fun bits with the TARDIS crew out on the Moon surface in their googly spacesuits, jumping vast distances accompanied by unfortunate cartoon noises - they still had the Kirby wires on loan after The Underwater Menace? - but once we're inside, it might as well be a an office block in Central London. Perhaps the Moonbase has to feel like a regular place where regular folks work to contrast with the strangeness of the Cybermen. Not that they're as strange as they used to be. Gone are the bandages and enormous headlights. They're now sleeker rubbersuited gentlemen, but something creepy remains about their square mouths, which always look oxidized to me. They're prominently accompanied by the wonderful Space Adventure theme, a piece of stock music that's so bizarre and perfect for them. I do wish it was still in use. But we'll have to wait for the next episode to hear them speak.
Of course, today we go in knowing it's a Cyberman story, but their name isn't in the title, so their reveal is gradual and well-paced. There's a great big flying saucer parked outside. Jamie, who's been taken out of action by a bad moon-bounce, feverishly talks about the phantom piper coming to get him, but did Polly also see a shadow move? Ralph gets zapped by something electric - did they just kill the black guy first? - and is dragged away by persons unknown. Dr. Evans, infected and covered in black veins talks about a "silver hand". And then finally, his dead body's gone too and Jamie, alone in sickbay, is confronted by a Cyberman! The way it's teased, you might be able to deduce who the villains are, but you'd still be surprised at their new appearance.
VERSIONS: The newest DVD release presents an animated version of the episode. I really like the style of it, very fluid. What we miss most in these experiments is Troughton's full performance - he's such an expressive actor and the animation is always pretty staid - but seeing as the director famously forced him to dial it way down, there may not be THAT much going on.
REWATCHABILITY: Medium - If I didn't talk about the regular cast much, it's because this is all set-up and questions, getting to know the environment, guest characters and threat. Hums along fine, but not particularly remarkable.
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