Cast : The Doctor : Tom Baker
Sarah-Jane : Liz Sladen
Harry : Ian Marter
Commander Stevenson : Ronald Leigh-Hunt
Kellman : Jeremy Wilkin
Lester : William Marlowe
Warner : Alec Wallis
Magrik : Michael Wisher
Tyrum : Kevin Stoney
Vorus : David Collings
Sheprah : Brian Grellis
Cyber Leader : Christopher Robbie
Written By : Gerry Davis & Robert Holmes
Produced By : Philip Hinchcliffe
First UK Broadcast : 19 April – 10 May 1975.
Length : 4 x 25 minute episodes.
Plot : The Doctor, Sarah-Jane and Harry, return to spacestation Nerva; to a different time period from when they left. Finding, the Cybermen have invaded. Who are attempting to destroy a nearby asteroid, made of gold.
Whats good : Return of the Cybermen.
Whats bad : Plot is muddled. Story is a bit too long.
Review With Spoilers : Revenge Of The Cybermen, is the finale of season 12 – and the first appearance of the Cybermen in the Tom Baker era. Infact, the first reappearance since Patrick Troughton’s – Invasion; 6 years earlier.
The most notable thing, about Revenge Of The Cybermen; is the radical [more] modern Cybermen redesign. Which, barring small alterations, will carry the distinctive Cybermen look through – until 1989.
The plot itself – is muddled. Containing alot of story threads but principally, revolves around the Cybermen wanting to blow-up the nearby asteroid world of Voga. Voga – is made of pure gold and the Cybermen want it destroyed; as gold is deadly to them.
Meanwhile, space-station Nerva is under quarantine. The remaining humans based there; are monitoring – amongst other things – the orbit of Vega. The quaratine, is due to a number of unexplained deaths of the human personnel. Thought to be disease-borne but infact, are being caused by poison injecting Cybermats; which are skulking around the station and attacking humans.
“What great rewards have you promised Kellman?… …Cybermen possess nothing that a human might want…..
You’ve no home planet, no influence, nothing! You’re just a pathetic bunch of tin soldiers skulking about the galaxy in an ancient spaceship!” The Doctor
Voga itself, is populated by a race of alien-beings – called “Vogans”. If the Vogans look a little familar, it is because their mask moulds were cast from the face of actor; Arthur Ridley. Ridkey played Private Godfrey – in 70’s war sitcom Dads Army. The Vogans are conducting a guerilla war, against the superior armed Cyberforces; with some success.
Writer Gerry Davis was reportedly unhappy, that a substanial portion of his original script, was rewritten by Robert Holmes; who introduced the Vogans into the story and it shows; in the finished product.
The plot is jam packed (and muddled in places). Taking into account the space-station Nerva, Cybermen,planet Voga strands. It is a lot, to try and weave together but still underpinned by the re-introduction of the Cybermen, who were strangely missing from the Pertwee era. If Genesis Of The Daleks redefined the Daleks – in terms of origin, then Revenge Of The Cybermen redefines the Cybermen – in terms of – their look and future appeal.
In that respect, it is the most important Cybermen story, as it sets down the template; for all future modern Cyber-tales.
🔵🔵🔵🔵⚪ (4/5)
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