Rise of the Cybermen
Encyclopedia
"Rise of the Cybermen" is an episode in the British
science fiction television series Doctor Who
. The episode features the return of Cybermen
, where they are created on Earth itself. It is the first part of a two-part story, the concluding part being "The Age of Steel
". After the TARDIS
makes a crash landing on the Earth of another universe
, Rose discovers her father is alive and rich, Mickey encounters his alternative self, and the Tenth Doctor
learns one of his oldest and deadliest foes is about to be reborn.
The episode was first broadcast on 13 May 2006.
, the Doctor
and Rose Tyler
talk about their past adventures, and Mickey
feels he is being taken for granted. Their conversation is disrupted when the TARDIS is rocked by an explosion and goes dark. The Doctor surmises they have fallen out of the time vortex
, automatically materializing somewhere. Outside, they find themselves in an alternative universe's London, evidenced by zeppelin
s in the air. The Doctor retrieves an Artron power cell from the TARDIS, and energizes it with some of his own lifeforce, initiating its recharge cycle to allow them to use the TARDIS and return to their own universe. As the process will take time, Rose wants to see her father Pete
, who in this universe is a successful business leader. Mickey, still bitter from their earlier conversation, decides to see if he can find his grandmother, knowing the Doctor will likely accompany Rose. The Doctor and Rose discover that most of the population of London wears EarPods that feed news and other information directly into the wearer's brain, which concerns the Doctor. They continue on to Pete's estate.
John Lumic, who owns the company that makes the EarPods, has just recently failed to gain approval for his "ultimate upgrade" for humankind, which sustains the human brain within a bath of chemicals and bonds it to an external exoskeleton. He flies to London to meet with the President of Great Britain (in this universe, there is no Prime Minister, there is a President) in an attempt to get permission to do his cybernetic experimentations, failing to do so. We then learn that Pete is working for Lumic, having long ago sold his health drink company to him. Lumic informs Pete that he is on his way to the city and to prepare for his arrival.
Despite not having permission to run his experiments, Lumic has converted numerous homeless people into cyborgs. A group called the Preachers, aware of the disappearances and the dangers of the EarPods, are seeking to find the purpose of Lumic's technology. Jake Simmonds
, one of the preachers, witnesses a group of homeless people being converted, and goes to collect help from Ricky Smith (Mickey's alternate self). Unaware, Mickey is elated to have found his grandmother alive, but their brief reunion is disrupted when Jake drags Mickey into a van and drives off, assuming he is Ricky. At the Preacher's base, Ricky and Mickey discover themselves, and Mickey is brought up to speed on the Preachers' goals, and that they will be attempting to stop part of Lumic's plan by invading the birthday party for Jackie Tyler
's birthday at Pete's estate.
Rose and the Doctor arrive at the estate and don servant garb to inflitrate the party. The President arrives as a guest, and we see Jackie give a short speech to her guests. The Doctor and Rose learn that Pete and Jackie are childless and recently separated, though they named their dog "Rose". Rose begins a conversation with her parallel mother, ending with Jackie angrily storming away. As Rose stands outside, she sees the shadows of Lumic's cyborgs marching ominously toward her. Inside the party, cyborgs begin smashing through windows and doors, surrounding all the party goers. The President recognizes the cyborgs from his meeting with Lumic earlier, and his phone rings. Lumic tells him that he is moving forward with his plans, that all of humanity will be upgraded. Rose asks The Doctor what they are, and he recognizes them as Cybermen. The Doctor explains Cybermen to Rose as The President begins an exchange with Lumic and one of the Cybermen. Lumic tells them all that his creations were once homeless and useless before he elevated them, a claim the Cybermen agree with, stating they are Human Point Two. It says that every human is eligible for a free Upgrade to Human Point Two, and that Upgrading is compulsory. The President asks what happens if you don't want to Upgrade. The Cyberman says that those who refuse are incompatible. The President asks what happens if you are incompatible. The Cyberman says that those incompatible will be deleted, and then kills the President. The party goers panic, and begin trying to flee, many being Deleted by the Cybermen. The Doctor, Rose, and Pete escape the house and encounter Mickey and the Preachers, who begin firing upon the advancing Cybermen with automatic rifles. Seeing their barrage of gunfire do nothing to stop the endless march of the Cybermen, The Doctor tells everyone to surrender. The Cybers close in, with The Doctor telling them that they volunteer for the Upgrade program. The Cybermen tell them that they are rogue elements, and they will be deleted. As The Doctor tries to negotiate, more Cybermen surround them, telling the group that "Man will be reborn as Cyberman but you will perish under maximum deletion!". As the Doctor and the others stare in horror, the Cybermen move in for the kill...
. A parallel version of Earth, complete with counterparts to familiar characters, was previously seen in the 1970 Third Doctor
serial "Inferno
." In this story, the Doctor says that the TARDIS draws energy from its own universe, and the energy of the parallel Earth is incompatible, comparing them to "diesel in a petrol engine
." In "Inferno," this was not an issue because the Doctor was powering the TARDIS console in both universes using current drawn from a nuclear reactor
.
The Doctor also states that the Time Lords used to control the barriers between parallel universes, making journeys between them easier. This appears to contradict the continuity established in the Big Finish Productions
audio play Neverland
, where Time Lord society founder Rassilon
and the early Time Lords were hostile towards parallel timelines and Rassilon even sought to eliminate them. On the other hand, "Inferno" implied that until then, to the Doctor's knowledge, parallel timelines were only a theoretical possibility. The canonicity of the non-television stories is open to interpretation.
The concept of a white "Void" between dimensions, and its description as given in this story (as "nowhere"), is reminiscent of the Void from episode one of the 1968 serial "The Mind Robber
." It is unclear in the context of the 2006 episodes if this is intended as the same Void from the earlier story.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
science fiction television series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. The episode features the return of Cybermen
Cyberman
The Cybermen are a fictional race of cyborgs who are amongst the most persistent enemies of the Doctor in the British science fiction television series, Doctor Who. Cybermen were originally a wholly organic species of humanoids originating on Earth's twin planet Mondas that began to implant more...
, where they are created on Earth itself. It is the first part of a two-part story, the concluding part being "The Age of Steel
The Age of Steel
"The Age of Steel" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on 20 May 2006 and is the second part of a two-part story that was the first to feature the Cybermen since Silver Nemesis in 1988. The first part, "Rise of the Cybermen", was...
". After the TARDIS
TARDIS
The TARDISGenerally, TARDIS is written in all upper case letters—this convention was popularised by the Target novelisations of the 1970s...
makes a crash landing on the Earth of another universe
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
, Rose discovers her father is alive and rich, Mickey encounters his alternative self, and the Tenth Doctor
Tenth Doctor
The Tenth Doctor is the tenth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He is played by David Tennant, who appears in three series, as well as eight specials...
learns one of his oldest and deadliest foes is about to be reborn.
The episode was first broadcast on 13 May 2006.
Plot
Aboard the TARDISTARDIS
The TARDISGenerally, TARDIS is written in all upper case letters—this convention was popularised by the Target novelisations of the 1970s...
, the Doctor
Tenth Doctor
The Tenth Doctor is the tenth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He is played by David Tennant, who appears in three series, as well as eight specials...
and Rose Tyler
Rose Tyler
Rose Marion Tyler is a fictional character portrayed by Billie Piper in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was created by series producer Russell T Davies...
talk about their past adventures, and Mickey
Mickey Smith
Mickey Smith is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, played by Noel Clarke.Mickey is introduced as the boyfriend of the Ninth and Tenth Doctor's companion Rose Tyler, and a recurring character on the programme...
feels he is being taken for granted. Their conversation is disrupted when the TARDIS is rocked by an explosion and goes dark. The Doctor surmises they have fallen out of the time vortex
Time vortex (Doctor Who)
In the science fiction television series Doctor Who, the time vortex is the medium that the TARDIS and other time machines travel through...
, automatically materializing somewhere. Outside, they find themselves in an alternative universe's London, evidenced by zeppelin
Zeppelin
A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
s in the air. The Doctor retrieves an Artron power cell from the TARDIS, and energizes it with some of his own lifeforce, initiating its recharge cycle to allow them to use the TARDIS and return to their own universe. As the process will take time, Rose wants to see her father Pete
Pete Tyler
Pete Tyler, full name Peter Alan Tyler, is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, played by Shaun Dingwall...
, who in this universe is a successful business leader. Mickey, still bitter from their earlier conversation, decides to see if he can find his grandmother, knowing the Doctor will likely accompany Rose. The Doctor and Rose discover that most of the population of London wears EarPods that feed news and other information directly into the wearer's brain, which concerns the Doctor. They continue on to Pete's estate.
John Lumic, who owns the company that makes the EarPods, has just recently failed to gain approval for his "ultimate upgrade" for humankind, which sustains the human brain within a bath of chemicals and bonds it to an external exoskeleton. He flies to London to meet with the President of Great Britain (in this universe, there is no Prime Minister, there is a President) in an attempt to get permission to do his cybernetic experimentations, failing to do so. We then learn that Pete is working for Lumic, having long ago sold his health drink company to him. Lumic informs Pete that he is on his way to the city and to prepare for his arrival.
Despite not having permission to run his experiments, Lumic has converted numerous homeless people into cyborgs. A group called the Preachers, aware of the disappearances and the dangers of the EarPods, are seeking to find the purpose of Lumic's technology. Jake Simmonds
Jake Simmonds
Jake Simmonds is a fictional character played by Andrew Hayden-Smith in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. He originates from a parallel Earth....
, one of the preachers, witnesses a group of homeless people being converted, and goes to collect help from Ricky Smith (Mickey's alternate self). Unaware, Mickey is elated to have found his grandmother alive, but their brief reunion is disrupted when Jake drags Mickey into a van and drives off, assuming he is Ricky. At the Preacher's base, Ricky and Mickey discover themselves, and Mickey is brought up to speed on the Preachers' goals, and that they will be attempting to stop part of Lumic's plan by invading the birthday party for Jackie Tyler
Jackie Tyler
In "Rise of the Cybermen" and "The Age of Steel" Coduri plays a parallel Earth version of Jackie. In this universe, she is still married to Pete, but they have no children, although she has a Yorkshire terrier named Rose. Despite Pete's success, which has led to Jackie becoming a celebrity, they...
's birthday at Pete's estate.
Rose and the Doctor arrive at the estate and don servant garb to inflitrate the party. The President arrives as a guest, and we see Jackie give a short speech to her guests. The Doctor and Rose learn that Pete and Jackie are childless and recently separated, though they named their dog "Rose". Rose begins a conversation with her parallel mother, ending with Jackie angrily storming away. As Rose stands outside, she sees the shadows of Lumic's cyborgs marching ominously toward her. Inside the party, cyborgs begin smashing through windows and doors, surrounding all the party goers. The President recognizes the cyborgs from his meeting with Lumic earlier, and his phone rings. Lumic tells him that he is moving forward with his plans, that all of humanity will be upgraded. Rose asks The Doctor what they are, and he recognizes them as Cybermen. The Doctor explains Cybermen to Rose as The President begins an exchange with Lumic and one of the Cybermen. Lumic tells them all that his creations were once homeless and useless before he elevated them, a claim the Cybermen agree with, stating they are Human Point Two. It says that every human is eligible for a free Upgrade to Human Point Two, and that Upgrading is compulsory. The President asks what happens if you don't want to Upgrade. The Cyberman says that those who refuse are incompatible. The President asks what happens if you are incompatible. The Cyberman says that those incompatible will be deleted, and then kills the President. The party goers panic, and begin trying to flee, many being Deleted by the Cybermen. The Doctor, Rose, and Pete escape the house and encounter Mickey and the Preachers, who begin firing upon the advancing Cybermen with automatic rifles. Seeing their barrage of gunfire do nothing to stop the endless march of the Cybermen, The Doctor tells everyone to surrender. The Cybers close in, with The Doctor telling them that they volunteer for the Upgrade program. The Cybermen tell them that they are rogue elements, and they will be deleted. As The Doctor tries to negotiate, more Cybermen surround them, telling the group that "Man will be reborn as Cyberman but you will perish under maximum deletion!". As the Doctor and the others stare in horror, the Cybermen move in for the kill...
Continuity
- When the TARDIS crash lands at the beginning of the episode, six gas masks fall from the ceiling. This is the first visual reference of the TARDIS requiring six pilots in a Doctor Who television story. This is also mentioned in the series four episode "The Stolen Earth", before being confirmed by The Doctor himself in "Journey's EndJourney's End (Doctor Who)"Journey's End" is the thirteenth episode of the fourth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who first broadcast on BBC One on 5 July 2008. It is the second episode of a two-part crossover story featuring the characters of spin-off shows Torchwood and The Sarah Jane...
". - There are two TorchwoodTorchwoodTorchwood is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. The series is a spin-off from Davies's 2005 revival of the long-running science fiction programme Doctor Who. The show has shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect its growing audience, moving from...
references in this episode, one in the news report that Rose watches on her mobile phone which mentions the Torchwood InstituteTorchwood InstituteThe Torchwood Institute is a fictional secret organization from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and its spin-off series Torchwood. It was established in 1879 by Queen Victoria after the events of "Tooth and Claw". Its prime directive, is to defend the earth against...
, and during the party, when Pete Tyler identifies a party-goer as "the guy from Torchwood". In "DoomsdayDoomsday (Doctor Who)"Doomsday" is the thirteenth and final episode in the second series of the revival of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on 8 July 2006 and is the conclusion of a two-part story; the first part, "Army of Ghosts", was broadcast on 1 July 2006...
," Pete Tyler tells the Doctor the Torchwood of the parallel Earth was discovered and its investigations became part of public knowledge. - Rose refers to the original Cybermen, having seen the head of one in the museum of Henry Van Statten.
- New catchphrases for the Cybermen include talking about compatibility like the clockwork droids of "The Girl in the FireplaceThe Girl in the Fireplace"The Girl in the Fireplace" is the fourth episode of the second series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on 6 May 2006, and is the only episode in the 2006 series written by Steven Moffat...
" and a repeated use of "Delete!", the last comparable to the DalekDalekThe Daleks are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Within the series, Daleks are cyborgs from the planet Skaro, created by the scientist Davros during the final years of a thousand-year war against the Thals...
s' "Exterminate!" - The face of Big BenClock Tower, Palace of WestminsterBig Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and is generally extended to refer to the clock or the clock tower as well. It is the largest four-faced chiming clock and the third-tallest free-standing clock tower in the world...
on the parallel Earth is seen to have a square face instead of a round one. However, when next seen in "The Age of Steel," it has reverted to a round face. - The conversions are performed at Battersea Power StationBattersea Power StationBattersea Power Station is a decommissioned coal-fired power station located on the south bank of the River Thames, in Battersea, South London. The station comprises two individual power stations, built in two stages in the form of a single building. Battersea A Power Station was built first in the...
, which is shown to be fully operational with four smoking chimneys in this parallel universe. Battersea Power Station was last seen in the series (with its chimneys damaged) in "The Dalek Invasion of EarthThe Dalek Invasion of EarthThe Dalek Invasion of Earth is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in six weekly parts from November 21 to December 26, 1964....
" (1964). The external shots of the chimneys and many of the internal shots were taken at Uskmouth Power StationUskmouth Power StationThe Uskmouth power stations refers to a series of two coal-fired power station at the mouth of the River Usk in the south-east of Newport, Wales. The first of the two station, Uskmouth A power station, was built in the 1950s and demolished in the 1990s...
in NewportNewportNewport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
.
Character details
- The Doctor is seen to be wearing a blue pair of Converse All Stars in this episode and in "The Age of Steel." This is the first and only time he has worn blue trainers with his brown suit and his tuxedo, as he usually wears a white pair or on a couple of occasions, a black pair.
- Rose's "Superphone," originally a Nokia 3200Nokia 3200The Nokia 3200 is a mobile phone, part of the Nokia Expression series. It is based on the Nokia Series 40 platform. Its main feature set is a mix between the Nokia 3100 and Nokia 7250i. Like the Nokia 7250i, the phone has an integrated CIF camera. Other features include an XHTML browser, alarm...
, has been replaced by a Samsung D500. - In the commentary, it is noted that Jackie's "40th" birthday is a reference to the 40th anniversary of the broadcast of "The Tenth PlanetThe Tenth PlanetThe Tenth Planet is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 8 October to 29 October 1966. It was William Hartnell's last regular appearance as the First Doctor, and the first story to feature the Cybermen...
," the first appearance of the Cybermen. - Mickey apparently gets a hair cut in between the events of "The Girl in the FireplaceThe Girl in the Fireplace"The Girl in the Fireplace" is the fourth episode of the second series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on 6 May 2006, and is the only episode in the 2006 series written by Steven Moffat...
" and this episode. The episode also reveals that Mickey sports a large tattoo on his right bicepsBicepsBiceps may refer to:*Biceps brachii muscle, a muscle located on the inside of the upper arm*Biceps femoris muscle, one of the hamstring muscles of the back of each thigh*Biceps , a point in a metrical pattern...
; according to actor Noel Clarke's commentary, the tattoo was make-up applied for the episode. - When last seen in "Father's DayFather's Day (Doctor Who)"Father's Day" is the eighth episode in series one of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The episode was first broadcast on 14 May 2005...
," Pete Tyler asked Rose if, in the future, he had gone grey; when she failed to answer, he looked concerned and asked if he'd gone bald. In this episode, the parallel Pete Tyler has indeed begun to go bald, confirming Pete's concern. - Annoyed at the Doctor's choice to sneak into Jackie's birthday party as servants, one of Rose's suggestions of people they could have been are "Sir Doctor" and "Dame Rose," a reference to the honours they received from Queen VictoriaVictoria of the United KingdomVictoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
in the episode "Tooth and ClawTooth and Claw (Doctor Who)"Tooth and Claw" is the second episode in the second series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and was first broadcast on 22 April 2006. In 1879 Scotland, the Doctor and Rose meet Queen Victoria...
." - The President of the United Kingdom, played by Don WarringtonDon WarringtonDon Warrington, MBE is a Trinidadian British actor.-Personal life:Warrington was born in Trinidad and Tobago on 23 May 1951 and brought up in Newcastle upon Tyne, England from age five. His father was the Trinidadian politician, Basil Kydd, who died in 1958. He has two sons.His acting career...
, tells the Cybermen, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," a catchphrase of the Tenth DoctorTenth DoctorThe Tenth Doctor is the tenth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He is played by David Tennant, who appears in three series, as well as eight specials...
.
Parallel universes in Doctor Who
The story takes place on a parallel EarthParallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
. A parallel version of Earth, complete with counterparts to familiar characters, was previously seen in the 1970 Third Doctor
Third Doctor
The Third Doctor is the third incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by actor Jon Pertwee....
serial "Inferno
Inferno (Doctor Who)
Don Houghton came to Terrence Dicks with an idea for the story based on the real life Project Mohole. A smaller budget for the serial drove the idea of a parallel world, where the studio could use the same actors in multiple roles...
." In this story, the Doctor says that the TARDIS draws energy from its own universe, and the energy of the parallel Earth is incompatible, comparing them to "diesel in a petrol engine
Petrol engine
A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol and similar volatile fuels....
." In "Inferno," this was not an issue because the Doctor was powering the TARDIS console in both universes using current drawn from a nuclear reactor
Nuclear reactor
A nuclear reactor is a device to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Most commonly they are used for generating electricity and for the propulsion of ships. Usually heat from nuclear fission is passed to a working fluid , which runs through turbines that power either ship's...
.
The Doctor also states that the Time Lords used to control the barriers between parallel universes, making journeys between them easier. This appears to contradict the continuity established in the Big Finish Productions
Big Finish Productions
Big Finish Productions is a British company that produces books and audio plays based, primarily, on cult British science fiction properties...
audio play Neverland
Neverland (Doctor Who audio)
Neverland is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.-Plot:...
, where Time Lord society founder Rassilon
Rassilon
Rassilon is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. In the backstory of the programme, he was the founder of Time Lord society on the planet Gallifrey...
and the early Time Lords were hostile towards parallel timelines and Rassilon even sought to eliminate them. On the other hand, "Inferno" implied that until then, to the Doctor's knowledge, parallel timelines were only a theoretical possibility. The canonicity of the non-television stories is open to interpretation.
The concept of a white "Void" between dimensions, and its description as given in this story (as "nowhere"), is reminiscent of the Void from episode one of the 1968 serial "The Mind Robber
The Mind Robber
The Mind Robber is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in five weekly parts from September 14 to October 12, 1968...
." It is unclear in the context of the 2006 episodes if this is intended as the same Void from the earlier story.
Outside references
- Jake refers to the Child CatcherChild CatcherThe Child Catcher is the supporting antagonist of the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and in the later stage musical adaptation. The character was created by the film's screenwriter, Roald Dahl, and did not appear in the original Ian Fleming book...
when talking about Cybus taking people away, a reference to Chitty Chitty Bang BangChitty Chitty Bang Bang (film)Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a 1968 musical film with a script by Roald Dahl and Ken Hughes, and songs by the Sherman Brothers, loosely based on Ian Fleming's novel Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car. It starred Dick Van Dyke as Caractacus Potts and Sally Ann Howes as Truly Scrumptious. The...
. - Jackie's birthday in both the "real" and parallel universes is 1 February. The parallel Jackie wrote in her official biography that she was born on the same day as Cuba Gooding, Jr.Cuba Gooding, Jr.Cuba M. Gooding, Jr. is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his Academy Award-winning portrayal of Rod Tidwell in Cameron Crowe's 1996 film Jerry Maguire, and his critically acclaimed performance as Tré Styles in John Singleton's 1991 film Boyz n the Hood.-Early life:Gooding was born...
, whose birthday in the real world is 2 January 1968.
Production
- Early drafts of this story featured "Body Shops", where wealthy people would purchase new cybernetic limbs. Davies vetoed this element because he found it unbelievable. He also instructed Tom MacRae to tone down the differences between the parallel universe versions of characters and their "real" universe counterparts. "I think it was one of those great lessons about the freedom of SF, as well as its greatest dangers, because when you're creating a parallel world, you suddenly get excited by saying everyone can wear eye patches," said Davies, referring to the alternative Brigadier Lethbridge-StewartBrigadier Lethbridge-StewartBrigadier Sir Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, generally referred to simply as the Brigadier, is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, played by Nicholas Courtney...
in Inferno. - Location shooting took place at the Coal Exchange and Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff Bay.
- According to Graeme Harper on the episode commentary, the pre-credits sequence was written by Russell T Davies as he was not satisfied with the original opening.
- Official BBC websites include http://www.cybusindustries.net, http://www.cybusfitness.co.uk/ and http://www.internationalelectromatics.co.uk/. Other similarly named websites are run by fans.
- The BBC also registered the following domain names: cybusindustries.com, cybusindustries.co.uk, cybusfinance.com, cybusfinance.co.uk, cybusproperty.com and cybusproperty.co.uk.
- Another website created by BBC is http://www.henriksonline.co.uk/index.htm for the department store Rose had worked at in the episode RoseRoseA rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
. Its book store includes the images of both John Lumic's book "Man of Steel" and Jackie Tyler's biography "The Strong Survive". - The Art DecoArt DecoArt deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
look of the 2006 Cybermen design follows that from the web cast Real Time. According to the episode commentary, director Graeme Harper wanted an Art Deco feel to the parallel universe Earth. Art Deco costumes had previously been used for the K1 Robot in RobotRobot (Doctor Who)Robot is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 28 December 1974 to 18 January 1975...
(1974) and for much of the cast (including robots) in The Robots of DeathThe Robots of DeathThe Robots of Death is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 29 January to 19 February 1977.-Synopsis:...
(1977). The Art Deco design, as well as the robotic movements of the Cybermen, are reminiscent of Fritz LangFritz LangFriedrich Christian Anton "Fritz" Lang was an Austrian-American filmmaker, screenwriter, and occasional film producer and actor. One of the best known émigrés from Germany's school of Expressionism, he was dubbed the "Master of Darkness" by the British Film Institute...
's MetropolisMetropolis (film)Metropolis is a 1927 German expressionist film in the science-fiction genre directed by Fritz Lang. Produced in Germany during a stable period of the Weimar Republic, Metropolis is set in a futuristic urban dystopia and makes use of this context to explore the social crisis between workers and...
. - Unlike the two-part stories from the 2005 series, this episode featured no "Next time" trailer for the next episode — only a title card reading "To be continued...", the first time the phrase has ever been used to end an episode in the programme's history. The production team had stated previously that one episode in this series was so long that there was no time for a preview. Many viewers, and writer Steven MoffatSteven MoffatSteven Moffat is a Scottish television writer and producer.Moffat's first television work was the teen drama series Press Gang. His first sitcom, Joking Apart, was inspired by the breakdown of his first marriage; conversely, his later sitcom Coupling was based upon the development of his...
, had criticised the use of a preview for "World War ThreeWorld War Three (Doctor Who)"World War Three" is the fifth episode of the first series in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who that was first broadcast on 23 April 2005. It is the second of a two-part story. The first part, "Aliens of London", was broadcast on 16 April...
" at the end of the 2005 episode "Aliens of LondonAliens of London"Aliens of London" is the fourth episode of the first series of the British science fiction television show Doctor Who that was first broadcast on 16 April 2005. The Doctor takes Rose back to 21st century London, just in time to witness a spaceship crashing into the River Thames, triggering a...
" as it spoiled the dramatic cliffhanger ending. Beginning with "The Impossible PlanetThe Impossible Planet"The Impossible Planet" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It is the first part of a two-part story, followed by "The Satan Pit". The TARDIS lands in a base on a planet orbiting a black hole, an allegedly impossible situation that stumps even the Doctor...
", trailers for the second part of stories were run during the middle eight, after the main credits, to allow viewers time to switch off.
Cast notes
- Roger Lloyd Pack and David Tennant previously worked together in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of FireHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is a 2005 fantasy film directed by Mike Newell and based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. It is the fourth instalment in the Harry Potter film series, written by Steve Kloves and produced by David Heyman...
as father and son — Barty Crouch Sr. and Barty Crouch Jr. respectively. Incidentally, Tennant played the villainous role in the film, while Pack is the villain in this episode. - Colin Spaull played the role of Lilt in Revelation of the DaleksRevelation of the DaleksRevelation of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts on 23 March and 30 March 1985...
, which was also directed by Graeme HarperGraeme HarperGraeme Harper is a British television director. He is best known for his work on the science-fiction series Doctor Who, for which he is the only person to have directed episodes of both the original run and revived run of the programme...
. Spaull is the sixth actor to appear in both the original series and the revival. He also appeared in the audio play Grand Theft CosmosGrand Theft CosmosGrand Theft Cosmos is an audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. This audio drama was produced by Big Finish Productions.-Cast:*The Doctor — Paul McGann*Lucie Miller — Sheridan Smith...
as Henrik. - Don Warrington, who plays the President, previously provided the voice for Time Lord founder RassilonRassilonRassilon is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. In the backstory of the programme, he was the founder of Time Lord society on the planet Gallifrey...
in the Doctor Who audio plays Seasons of FearSeasons of FearSeasons of Fear is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.-Plot:...
, NeverlandNeverland (Doctor Who audio)Neverland is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.-Plot:...
, and ZagreusZagreus (Doctor Who audio)Zagreus is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. This audio drama was presented on three compact discs, and was made by Big Finish as their primary release to celebrate forty years of Doctor Who.-Plot:Following directly...
produced by Big Finish ProductionsBig Finish ProductionsBig Finish Productions is a British company that produces books and audio plays based, primarily, on cult British science fiction properties...
. - Helen Griffin later appeared in the audio play Cobwebs.
- Paul Antony-Barber later played Ludovic Comfort in the audio play The Magic MousetrapThe Magic MousetrapThe Magic Mousetrap is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
. - As seen in Doctor Who ConfidentialDoctor Who ConfidentialDoctor Who Confidential is a documentary series created by the British Broadcasting Corporation to complement the revival of the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Each episode was broadcast on BBC Three on Saturdays, immediately after the broadcast of the weekly...
episode "Cybermen", the actors playing the Cybermen went through extensive choreographing to perfect their movements. - Graeme Harper is the first director to have directed stories in the original and new series of Doctor Who, having previously directed The Caves of AndrozaniThe Caves of AndrozaniThe Caves of Androzani is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts from 8–16 March 1984. It was Peter Davison's last regular appearance as the Doctor, and marks the first appearance of Colin Baker in the role...
and Revelation of the Daleks. - According to The SunThe Sun (newspaper)The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
, Lloyd Pack broke his leg just days before filming began on the episode, requiring the scripts being rewritten to place his character, John Lumic, in a wheelchair. Writer Tom MacRae told Doctor Who MagazineDoctor Who MagazineDoctor Who Magazine is a magazine devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
in issue #369 that no rewrites were necessary: the script had always had Lumic in a wheelchair as this became part of his motivation for creating the Cybermen given that he was in a wheelchair and dying and wanted to prolong his life. - Lloyd Pack told The Daily MirrorThe Daily MirrorThe Daily Mirror is a British national daily tabloid newspaper which was founded in 1903. Twice in its history, from 1985 to 1987, and from 1997 to 2002, the title on its masthead was changed to read simply The Mirror, which is how the paper is often referred to in popular parlance. It had an...
that he based the character of Lumic on Donald RumsfeldDonald RumsfeldDonald Henry Rumsfeld is an American politician and businessman. Rumsfeld served as the 13th Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and as the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He is both the youngest and the oldest person to...
: "I thought, 'Who is a power-hungry mad person who believes he is completely right and has a lot of control?' Donald Rumsfeld came to mind. He's as bad a man as I see around now."
Broadcast and DVD release
- Although scheduled to be broadcast in the UK from 7:00 to 7:45 p.m., the episode was broadcast from 7:23 p.m. due to the overrunning of the FA Cup FinalFA Cup Final 2006The 2006 FA Cup Final was the final and deciding match of the 2005-06 FA Cup. It took place on 13 May 2006 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, the last FA Cup Final to be held there, as the new Wembley Stadium finished completion. The match saw the 2001 cup winners Liverpool beat London club West...
. The corresponding episode of Doctor Who ConfidentialDoctor Who ConfidentialDoctor Who Confidential is a documentary series created by the British Broadcasting Corporation to complement the revival of the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Each episode was broadcast on BBC Three on Saturdays, immediately after the broadcast of the weekly...
was subsequently delayed until "Rise of the Cybermen" had aired. - For the first time, the closing titles featured a mix between the opening titles music and the 2006 arrangement (performed by the BBC National Orchestra of WalesBBC National Orchestra of WalesThe BBC National Orchestra of Wales is a Welsh symphony orchestra and one of the BBC's five professional orchestras. The BBC NOW is the only professional symphony orchestra organisation in Wales, occupying a dual role as both a broadcasting orchestra and national orchestra.The BBC NOW has its...
). - Overnight viewing figures for this episode averaged 8.6 million (39.7% share), peaking at 9.65 million. The audience Appreciation IndexAppreciation IndexThe Audience Appreciation Index is a score out of 100 which is used as an indicator of the public's appreciation for a television or radio programme, or broadcast service, in the United Kingdom. Until 2002, the AI of a programme was calculated by BARB, the organisation that compiles television...
was 86. Its final viewing figure was 9.22 million, making it the sixth most watched programme of the week. - This episode was released together with "The Age of SteelThe Age of Steel"The Age of Steel" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on 20 May 2006 and is the second part of a two-part story that was the first to feature the Cybermen since Silver Nemesis in 1988. The first part, "Rise of the Cybermen", was...
" and "The Idiot's LanternThe Idiot's Lantern"The Idiot's Lantern" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on 27 May 2006.-Plot:...
" as a "vanilla" DVDDVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
with no special features, and later as part of the complete Series 2 boxed set.