The Tomb of the Cybermen: Episode 4
- Episode aired Sep 23, 1967
- TV-PG
- 24m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
748
YOUR RATING
Klieg attempts to do a deal with the Cybercontroller while the Doctor tries to find a way to refreeze the Cybermen permanently.Klieg attempts to do a deal with the Cybercontroller while the Doctor tries to find a way to refreeze the Cybermen permanently.Klieg attempts to do a deal with the Cybercontroller while the Doctor tries to find a way to refreeze the Cybermen permanently.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode takes place on Telos in the 26th Century.
- GoofsWhen Toberman throws the cyber controller it's obviously a dummy as the head comes off and is back in position in the next shot when it's apparently dead.
- Quotes
[last lines]
Jamie: Now, that really is the end of the Cybermen, isn't it?
The Doctor: Yes, Jamie. On the other hand... I never like to make predictions.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Would I Lie to You?: Episode #1.1 (2007)
Featured review
S5: Tomb of the Cybermen: Serious, urgent and nicely dramatic throughout
After the disappointment of so many lost episodes in season 4, it was nice to start the 5th season with a full serial – the first of those with the new Doctor. The plot here sees the Doctor and his two companions (yet another new face in the parade of them) arrive on the planet of Telos to find an expedition trying to open the tomb which seals up the long dead race of the Cybermen. They assist with entering the tomb but very quickly hidden motivations are exposed and the very real danger of the Cybermen becomes a reality.
Although there are things about this serial that don't work particularly well, generally this is another sign to me that I will enjoy the Troughton episodes because as before, things seem more urgent and to be more free-flowing. There isn't much stiffness in this serial (apart from the robotic Cybermen themselves) and generally it has a good pace and flow. The threat of the Cybermen is as much a part of the story as the danger from the humans and I liked this aspect to the story and that all things came with real danger and death of characters. The Doctor in particular is well used because he seems to understand the risk and danger posed to himself and the wider universe – and he acts accordingly, not glibly. This approach is supported by the guest actors who are all very good. As others have said, it is a shame that the villains of the piece are generally portrayed as "non-specific ethnic" and that we have a large black "servant" as a character but even with this they still work. In terms of the new monsters, I was not too taken by the Cyberman controller but it did give the mass enemy a narrative focus – but the Cybermats just seemed a bit daft.
The atmosphere of the serial is well done and generally I liked the set even if the limits of the budget were apparent and the images of the tomb were a bit too obviously till foil; plus the impact of the Cybermen breaking out of their tomb was reduced a little by watching them awkwardly climb out of clingfilm, but it still worked. A very enjoyable story then, thanks to the serious, urgent tone and nice supporting turns. Troughton in particular really drives the episodes and I am enjoying his turns very much (or at least, in the amount of episodes that survive for me to see them.
Although there are things about this serial that don't work particularly well, generally this is another sign to me that I will enjoy the Troughton episodes because as before, things seem more urgent and to be more free-flowing. There isn't much stiffness in this serial (apart from the robotic Cybermen themselves) and generally it has a good pace and flow. The threat of the Cybermen is as much a part of the story as the danger from the humans and I liked this aspect to the story and that all things came with real danger and death of characters. The Doctor in particular is well used because he seems to understand the risk and danger posed to himself and the wider universe – and he acts accordingly, not glibly. This approach is supported by the guest actors who are all very good. As others have said, it is a shame that the villains of the piece are generally portrayed as "non-specific ethnic" and that we have a large black "servant" as a character but even with this they still work. In terms of the new monsters, I was not too taken by the Cyberman controller but it did give the mass enemy a narrative focus – but the Cybermats just seemed a bit daft.
The atmosphere of the serial is well done and generally I liked the set even if the limits of the budget were apparent and the images of the tomb were a bit too obviously till foil; plus the impact of the Cybermen breaking out of their tomb was reduced a little by watching them awkwardly climb out of clingfilm, but it still worked. A very enjoyable story then, thanks to the serious, urgent tone and nice supporting turns. Troughton in particular really drives the episodes and I am enjoying his turns very much (or at least, in the amount of episodes that survive for me to see them.
helpful•51
- bob the moo
- Dec 21, 2013
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime24 minutes
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- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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