'Doctor Who: Earthshock' (1982)

I'll be honest, I'm starting to get really anxious about going back to work, tomorrow, and it is really impacting on my ability to get anything read. And it's not even as if anything could have gone catastrophically in the three days that I took off last week... I know that but at the same time, there's a little voice in my head saying 'what if...?' Oh well, I'm not going to turn on the work laptop today so lets see what happens tomorrow.

But yeah, I haven't really been able to read much (what with this and doing holiday stuff with the kids etc) and while I'm hoping that picks up over the next few days, I've been watching a lot of TV instead as that's been a whole lot easier to take in. Which leads me to this latest 'Doctor Who' post and a story that I can't help but like (and not because you know who dies at the end, I'm not a total monster...) This episode of Doctor Who is coming up to forty years old so there will be spoilers if you haven't seen it already...

The mysterious disappearance of an archaeological team is merely a prelude to a deadlier threat to the Doctor and his companions – the Cybermen want to destroy Earth and will use any means at their disposal. The Doctor's ingenuity is stretched to its very limits as he battles to defeat the Cyber Army at any cost. But even he does not realise just how high that cost will be...

Any Doctor Who story that starts with a military team being attacked by unknown assailants and turned into organic sludge (in a series of dark tunnels) is an automatic win in my book. Okay, that's a very specific 'rule' but you know what I mean ;o) 'Earthshock' comes out the gate at great speed, establishing a lot of tension right from the off and drawing it out to the point where the Doctor et al arrive and of course they're going to be blamed for pretty much everything, aren't they? The soldiers are at breaking point and something has to happen... And it does with the real assailants finally making an appearance. It's brilliant, it really is.

There's tension on the TARDIS as well with Adric finally deciding that's he had enough and wants to go home; the only problem is that 'home' is in E-Space and this leaves the Doctor in an awkward position. We all know how that turns out, more on that later, but the point is that everything is bubbling up right now and the story has barely begun. The question is, can 'Earthshock' keep this up?

I think that it does, easily in fact. Maybe things move a little too quickly (it can feel that way) but I've seen 'Earthshock' a few times now and I'm still too invested in what's happening to worry about the pace. The Cybermen are revealed and when their bomb fails to detonate, they actually have a backup plan which will do the job just as well, the stakes are still high and that's what keeps things ticking over. That and some more tense moments aboard a practically empty spaceship that isn't as empty as it appears, there are more creepy moments to be enjoyed here.

Cybermen are supposed to be emotionless creatures of pure logic but the Cyberleader here seems to be enjoying himself just a little too much to be a real Cyberman? Of course he's a Cyberman but his gloating does lend some spark to his confrontation with the Doctor so I'm letting it pass ;o) I'm also letting the Doctor using a laser gun pass as well because, well... Wouldn't you if you were being faced down by a Cyberman? Non-violence is admirable but there are times when it will only get you so far.

All of which leads us to what turns out to be the whole point of the story, the question of Adric... I've always been in two minds about Adric, as a character, as he never really felt like part of the crew and was liable to do something pretty stupid. At the same time though, I liked his attitude and willingness to just get out there and explore a whole new universe. I'm still on the fence but what I can get behind is that his exit fitted his character and was a great way to bow out. It also shows us a Doctor who doesn't have all the answers, not anymore, and can't necessarily prevent bad things from happening all the time. I like that, it automatically makes him a much more interesting character. So yeah, I'm half and half about Adric but if he had to check out, this was absolutely the best way to do it.

It's pretty clear that I love 'Earthshock', there is loads about it to love ;o) Definitely check it out if you get the chance.