2.5: Rise of the Cybermen

[Queen E]

Yikes!

[Lola m]

Yikes indeed! Marching metal monster-men are back!

OK - one topic at a time. First: Mickey.

I like how we see all sorts of sides to Mickey.

"Not too bright" Mickey who ends up holding his finger on a button way after he didn't need to. (Was I the only one who said "maybe you should have had him keep holding on" when the TARDIS went boom? )

Really rather smart Mickey, who figures out it is an alternative reality and gets to explain this to Rose. (And how much did he love that, eh? ;D)

Sort of bitter, sort of sad, sort of resigned Mickey, who knows that he's just the hanger-on. "It's all about Rose." "Can only chase after one of us and it's never gonna be me."

Sweet family Mickey, who we (and the Doctor) haven't seen yet. Tracking down his grandmother, to see if maybe in this reality she can be saved from falling down the stairs.

Damn hot half-nekkid Mickey (whooo! **fans self**), sitting in his boxers being questioned and scanned by . . .

AU Rickey!Mickey - London's Most Wanted. Angry resistance fighter and leader.

So, since we're seeing all sorts of Micky focus, does that mean this will be a farewell two parter arc? Seems like in the past, when a companion gets to really step forward and be in the spotlight it's because they're gonna leave. Maybe a Leela kind of thing, where he gets to be a hero and then wants to stay behind when the Doctor leaves?

[Lola m]

How much was I loving the mad scientist business guy?

I mean, the voice! The wheelchair! The lines! "From beyond the grave."

I'm really hoping that in the second part, he'll actually say: bwa-ha-ha-ha.

[Lola m]

Rose and Jackie and Daddy.

I dunno. I'm kinda . . . . Rose, get over it. I understand you're all "I never knew my dad" and that this is a very sad thing and you'd love if things would have been different, etc.

But, first you go back in time and mess things up big time 'cuz you've just got to try and save him. And now you're all mopey over the AU not-your-mom-and-dad.

I'm probably being insensitive, but I think she really really needed to listen when the Doctor was trying to oh so seriously get it through her head that these were NOT her parents and they should lay low.

Of course the minute he said it, I knew it would never happen, but still.


I've got more thoughts on the Doctor and so on, but I'm gonna go watch BSG and come back to this tomorrow.

[Queen E]

lolam said:

Yikes indeed! Marching metal monster-men are back!

OK - one topic at a time. First: Mickey.

I like how we see all sorts of sides to Mickey.

"Not too bright" Mickey who ends up holding his finger on a button way after he didn't need to. (Was I the only one who said "maybe you should have had him keep holding on" when the TARDIS went boom? )

Really rather smart Mickey, who figures out it is an alternative reality and gets to explain this to Rose. (And how much did he love that, eh? ;D)

Sort of bitter, sort of sad, sort of resigned Mickey, who knows that he's just the hanger-on. "It's all about Rose." "Can only chase after one of us and it's never gonna be me."

Sweet family Mickey, who we (and the Doctor) haven't seen yet. Tracking down his grandmother, to see if maybe in this reality she can be saved from falling down the stairs.

Damn hot half-nekkid Mickey (whooo! **fans self**), sitting in his boxers being questioned and scanned by . . .

AU Rickey!Mickey - London's Most Wanted. Angry resistance fighter and leader.

So, since we're seeing all sorts of Micky focus, does that mean this will be a farewell two parter arc? Seems like in the past, when a companion gets to really step forward and be in the spotlight it's because they're gonna leave. Maybe a Leela kind of thing, where he gets to be a hero and then wants to stay behind when the Doctor leaves?

Yes, these two episodes are where Mickey really gets to shine. Although the backstory is sort of hurried, you get the sense that nobody devalues Mickey more than Mickey himself does. He, at his best, exudes a sort of quiet heroism and insightfulness that many times goes unnoticed, like when he asks Rose to give him a tour of the ship at the end of "The Girl in the Fireplace" so that the Doctor can be alone to grieve.

[Queen E]

lolam said:

Rose and Jackie and Daddy.

I dunno. I'm kinda . . . . Rose, get over it. I understand you're all "I never knew my dad" and that this is a very sad thing and you'd love if things would have been different, etc.

But, first you go back in time and mess things up big time 'cuz you've just got to try and save him. And now you're all mopey over the AU not-your-mom-and-dad.

I'm probably being insensitive, but I think she really really needed to listen when the Doctor was trying to oh so seriously get it through her head that these were NOT her parents and they should lay low.

Of course the minute he said it, I knew it would never happen, but still.


I've got more thoughts on the Doctor and so on, but I'm gonna go watch BSG and come back to this tomorrow.

Well, I definitely think that she wouldn't again repeat the "Father's Day" fiasco, but, then again, I can see why it might hit her fairly hard. I mean, in this world, he's not only dead, he's a success, and Rose is a dog. I actually wondered, while watching it, whether she thought that maybe the universe was giving her a gift.

And I shouldn't say anything else, because I can't remember which parts were in "Rise of the Cyberman" and which were in "Age of Steel."

[Onjel bedward]

mt said:

lolam said:

Yikes indeed! Marching metal monster-men are back!

OK - one topic at a time. First: Mickey.

I like how we see all sorts of sides to Mickey.

"Not too bright" Mickey who ends up holding his finger on a button way after he didn't need to. (Was I the only one who said "maybe you should have had him keep holding on" when the TARDIS went boom? )

Really rather smart Mickey, who figures out it is an alternative reality and gets to explain this to Rose. (And how much did he love that, eh? ;D)

Sort of bitter, sort of sad, sort of resigned Mickey, who knows that he's just the hanger-on. "It's all about Rose." "Can only chase after one of us and it's never gonna be me."

Sweet family Mickey, who we (and the Doctor) haven't seen yet. Tracking down his grandmother, to see if maybe in this reality she can be saved from falling down the stairs.

Damn hot half-nekkid Mickey (whooo! **fans self**), sitting in his boxers being questioned and scanned by . . .

AU Rickey!Mickey - London's Most Wanted. Angry resistance fighter and leader.

So, since we're seeing all sorts of Micky focus, does that mean this will be a farewell two parter arc? Seems like in the past, when a companion gets to really step forward and be in the spotlight it's because they're gonna leave. Maybe a Leela kind of thing, where he gets to be a hero and then wants to stay behind when the Doctor leaves?

Yes, these two episodes are where Mickey really gets to shine. Although the backstory is sort of hurried, you get the sense that nobody devalues Mickey more than Mickey himself does. He, at his best, exudes a sort of quiet heroism and insightfulness that many times goes unnoticed, like when he asks Rose to give him a tour of the ship at the end of "The Girl in the Fireplace" so that the Doctor can be alone to grieve.

Going to bed, but I couldn't resist noting that Mickey's quiet heroism and insightfulness are a lot like Xander of later BtVS. Mickey is at times the Xander of this show.

[Rachael]

Oh, the TARDIS is so NOT dead. She's as much a character as the Doctor and Rose.

Plus, no TARDIS, no travel.

This is nice and confusing, for a start, though. Hmm.

Oh, and...Ten asked if Mickey was okay, which Nine would never have done. Of course, Nine wouldn't have Mickey aboard, really....

[Rachael]

lolam said:

Yikes indeed! Marching metal monster-men are back!

OK - one topic at a time. First: Mickey.

I like how we see all sorts of sides to Mickey.

"Not too bright" Mickey who ends up holding his finger on a button way after he didn't need to. (Was I the only one who said "maybe you should have had him keep holding on" when the TARDIS went boom? )

Really rather smart Mickey, who figures out it is an alternative reality and gets to explain this to Rose. (And how much did he love that, eh? ;D)

Sort of bitter, sort of sad, sort of resigned Mickey, who knows that he's just the hanger-on. "It's all about Rose." "Can only chase after one of us and it's never gonna be me."

Yeah; I think he was really saying that to Rose, though, even if he was talking to The Doctor at the time.

So, since we're seeing all sorts of Micky focus, does that mean this will be a farewell two parter arc? Seems like in the past, when a companion gets to really step forward and be in the spotlight it's because they're gonna leave. Maybe a Leela kind of thing, where he gets to be a hero and then wants to stay behind when the Doctor leaves?

I have a bad feeling about this. It's probably residual Adric issues. He died in a Cyberman ep. Not that I really regretted his going, but...dying's a bit harsh.

Mickey deserves better. I hope, if he does go, he goes the Leela way.

[Rachael]

lolam said:

How much was I loving the mad scientist business guy?

I mean, the voice! The wheelchair! The lines! "From beyond the grave."

I'm really hoping that in the second part, he'll actually say: bwa-ha-ha-ha.

How very stupid was his assistant, though?

I mean...don't argue with the clearly nuts man. Just go, "Okay, sure. We won't tell anyone," and then run away and tell them yourself when you're safe.

At the very least, he should have known what was coming without having to ask after the "beyond the grave" remark. Poor man got stupid lines.

[Rachael]

lolam said:

Rose and Jackie and Daddy.

I dunno. I'm kinda . . . . Rose, get over it. I understand you're all "I never knew my dad" and that this is a very sad thing and you'd love if things would have been different, etc.

But, first you go back in time and mess things up big time 'cuz you've just got to try and save him. And now you're all mopey over the AU not-your-mom-and-dad.

I'm probably being insensitive, but I think she really really needed to listen when the Doctor was trying to oh so seriously get it through her head that these were NOT her parents and they should lay low.

Of course the minute he said it, I knew it would never happen, but still.


I've got more thoughts on the Doctor and so on, but I'm gonna go watch BSG and come back to this tomorrow.

I agree on pretty much every point here. Rose, get OVER it. And...why try to fix the marriage of two people you don't actually KNOW?

Gah.

OTOH - OMG with the tuxedo! ;D

[Rachael]

So...mad scientist guy remind you of anyone?

Davros, maybe? Interesting he's the Cyberman guy instead of the Dalek guy.

Completely different motivations, obviously, too. But...the whole chair thing and mad scientist deal is very Davros.

Anyone got any gold dust on him? Of course, the respirator grille does seem to be missing from these Cybermen. That's disappointing.

I never knew the Cybermen originated on Earth. I figured them for a malevolent and advanced alien race. But at least that explains their dorky name.

[Rachael]

And one more: parallels between Rose and Mickey. I can sort of finally see how they connect.

They both lost parents or parentlike figures, and both tend to latch on to members of the opposite sex in what looks like an attempt to replace the missing parent. Mickey losing his grandmother might help to explain his deep attachment to Rose, which seems almost unhealthy (for him, since he can't let go) at times.

And Rose never really had a father - and attached herself to Nine with him serving both as a father figure AND a romantic interest.

Someone like Erin might be able to wax more profoundly on this; I was just noticing a pattern and some parallels.

[Spaced Out Looney]

Mad scientist in a wheelchair.

Poor Mickey.

The TARDIS is dead?

Gas masks? Hee.

The lost dimension. Otherwise known as London. hee.

Parallel universes!

And Roses' dad is still alive. This must be the episode that Riff was talking about.

Jackie's spoiled.

Rose is a dog! Hee.




Used to be easy to jump between alternative realities.

Hey, cute guy!

Poor AU Mickey.

Poor Doctor. Can't make them understand. Gingerbread house.

Mickey's past.

Creepy in a time stops but not really. Or like The Game on ST:TNG.

Glasses,

People disappearing?

Rickie. Not Mickey. Heh.

Rickie's got mixed up in something as well.




Sustaining the brain indefinitely? Oh dear.

Darth Vader breathing.

Rose's dad is just a puppet for Mad Scientist Guy?

New Germany

Aiee!

Rose is the help, again. But so is the Doctor this time.

If you want to know what's going on, work in the kitchen. True dat.

President instead of Prime Minister. No more royal family?

Rose is the dog. In school reunion, Mickey was the dog.

Ref: Father's Day.

Rose, Rose, Rose. Stop while you're still behind.

Jackie sure is bitter.

These guys. Sigh.

So... they're kind of like Daleks? Double sigh.

[Rachael]

ehills said:

These guys. Sigh.

So... they're kind of like Daleks? Double sigh.

Well, honestly, Liz, the title should have given it away.

And they're not much like Daleks, except in surface ways, IIRC. I always found the Cybermen much more interesting than the Daleks.