Cast : The Doctor : Sylvester McCoy
Ace : Sophie Aldred
De Flores : Anton Diffring
Karl : Metin Yenal
Lady Peinforte : Fiona Walker
Richard : Gerard Murphy
Scholar : Leslie French
Security Guard : Martyn Read
Mrs Remington : Dolores Gray
Skinheads : Chris Chering, Symond Lawes
Cyber Leader : David Banks
Cyber Lieutenant : Mark Hardy
Written By : Kevin Clarke
First UK Broadcast : 23 November – 7 December 1988.
Length : 3 x 25 minute episodes.
Plot : A deadly meteorite called ‘Nemesis’, is heading back to Earth. There are a number of interested parties, involved in Nemesis’ attempted recovery. Among them, the Doctor and Ace, a Nazi Fourth Reich movement, Lady Peinforte – and the Cybermen.
Whats good : Solid – “first to the prize” – retrieval mission.
Whats bad : It’s slow in places – even for three episodes.
Review With Spoilers : Silver Nemesis is the 150th serial in Doctor Who and a showcase story, for the 25th Anniversary.
It can be almost forgiven, for being a carbon-copy of Remembrance Of The Daleks; with the Cybermen supplanted here, instead of the Daleks.
The Cybermen, like the Daleks are attempting retrieval of a Time Lord super-weapon, from Earth (in this case a metal substance called Validium) – for their own domination aims.
Also, after this is a time-travelling Sorceress, from the 16th Century; called Lady Peinforte. Lady Peinforte had ownership of the Validium and fashioned it, into her own likeness – and dubbed it Nemesis. Before the Doctor retrieved it and sent it off-Earth, on an asteroid ship.
The use of Windsor Castle and its surrounding estates – on location, adds an air of authencity – especially to the 1600s feel.
It also gives the Cybermen some serious short-shrift, here. With many of them killed and destroyed, with gold-tipped arrows.
Its fun watching them die (by the bucketload) but you would think that they would have finally gotten around, to protecting that chest respirator; a bit better – after Earthshock.
“Unfortunately, Lady Peinforte discovered it was something rather more unusual. A living metal. Validium!” The Doctor
The theme here, is a game of chess, as the Doctor plays off one group against the other; in an attempt to prevent Nemesis – falling into the wrong hands.
We also have some time out to listening to some jazz, as the Doctor and Ace – listen to a live-act play and then later; use a jazz playing tapedeck, to disrupt the communications to the Cyberfleet.
When McCoy Who pulls some of its tongue out its cheek and puts on a more semi-serious story, the whole thing just works – so much better.
There’s elements of humour here too, though. Although much less heavy handed, such as the Cybermen standing around scratching their heads listening to the Doctor’s favourite jazz, blocking the Cyber-fleet signal.
Bar some slow parts, Silver Nemesis is a fun Who adventure and showcases the McCoy years, much better – than most of his other stories.
There is an intentional attempt, to hint at darker secrets – in the Doctor’s past; in which Lady Pinaforte learns from the Nemesis. It was a definite shift from the carefree and juggling clown, to a much darker past on Gallifrey.
Along withRemembrance Of The Daleks, Silver Nemesis is another highpoint in the mostly excellent 25th anniversary season.
