The Age of Steel
Encyclopedia
"The Age of Steel" is an episode of the British
science fiction television series Doctor Who
. It was first broadcast on 20 May 2006 and is the second part of a two-part story that was the first to feature the Cybermen
since Silver Nemesis
in 1988. The first part, "Rise of the Cybermen
", was broadcast on 13 May 2006. It stars David Tennant
as the Doctor
, Billie Piper
as Rose Tyler
and Noel Clarke
as Mickey Smith
.
It focuses on events in a parallel universe
London
, where John Lumic plans to convert the whole world's population into Cybermen and the Doctor, Rose and Mickey Smith try to stop him. They are assisted by Mickey's parallel universe counterpart, Ricky, who is the leader of a resistance movement. At the end of the episode Mickey decides to stay in the parallel universe and says goodbye to the Doctor and Rose.
The episode was relatively popular as it was the climax to the first story to feature the Cybermen since the show's revival, although it received noticeably fewer viewers than "Rise of the Cybermen". It has an Audience Appreciation rating of 86 .
uses the Arton power cell to disintegrate the cyborgs into dust, saving his group. Insisting to Pete that everyone inside his home, including his wife, is likely dead, the Doctor directs Pete, Rose
, Mickey
, and the Preachers, including Mickey's alternate universe counterpart Ricky, Jake, and Mrs. Moore, to get back to London to warn the authorities. As they flee, Pete explains that he is "Gemini," the Preacher's source of information on Lumic, working with him to provide information to the authorities on Lumic's actions, although he ended up communicating with the Preachers instead. Meanwhile, Lumic orders the Cybermen to bring the people of London under control of his EarPods to the Battersea Power Station
for conversion.
When they reach the city, the group discovers Lumic's zeppelin
moored near the power station and make towards it; Ricky is killed by the Cybermen while trying to scale a fence to meet Mickey. After inspecting the station, the Doctor determines they must destroy the EarPod transmitter, located on the zeppelin. The group splits up: Mickey and Jake to board the zeppelin, Pete and Rose to pose as affected humans (using fake EarPods) to try to disrupt the conversion process, and the Doctor and Mrs. Moore to find their way to Lumic. Pete and Rose are captured by the Cybermen when one, the converted Jackie, catches sight of them. Though Mrs. Moore is killed by a Cyberman, the Doctor discovers that each unit contains an inhibitor signal to prevent their human side from taking over, and determines that if he can disable the signal, the realisation of what they have become will likely kill the converted Cybermen. However, he is captured by the Cybermen before implementing his plan.
Taken to Lumic's office, the Doctor discovers the Cybermen have captured Pete and Rose, and they have forcefully converted Lumic into their leader, the Cyber Controller. When Mickey and Jake successfully disable the transmitter, the mesmerised humans come around and flee, with the Cybermen unable to stop them. In the zeppelin, the Doctor attempts to reason with Lumic by explaining that the creation of the Cybermen has actually removed the one characteristic that enabled their creation - imagination - and that by removing illness and mortality, the strive to advance will have gone and human evolution will effectively grind to a halt. Unconvinced, Lumic states that if humanity will not come along willingly, then the Cybermen will simply take the human race by force. The Doctor, aware that Lumic's office is under surveillance by Mickey and Jake, subtly attempts to ask for the inhibitor code. Mickey eventually recognizes the Doctor's plan, locates the code in the zeppelin computers, and sends it to Rose's phone. The Doctor plugs the phone into the computer systems, causing the inhibitor signal to drop and sending the army of Cybermen into despair. As the conversion facility begins to go up in flames, the group escapes to the zeppelin, leaving Lumic to die.
When they arrive at the zeppelin, they realise Lumic is following behind them, making his way up the ladder of the zeppelin, Pete uses the sonic screwdriver to cut the ladder rope, Lumic falls to his death into the pits of his exploding factory.
As the city recovers, the Doctor, Rose, and Mickey return with Jake and Pete to the TARDIS, the power cell sufficiently charged to allow the TARDIS to return to the proper dimension. However, Mickey reveals that he plans to stay with Jake and Pete in the alternate universe, as to take care of Ricky's grandmother and continue the Preacher's fight and destroy Lumic's other factories. After the TARDIS' departure, Mickey and Jake make plans to travel to Paris to destroy the Cyber factory located there. When Jake asks how they are going to be able to liberate Paris with just a van, Mickey says that there is nothing wrong with the van—after all, "I once saved the universe with a big yellow truck."
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
science fiction television series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. It was first broadcast on 20 May 2006 and is the second part of a two-part story that was the first to feature the Cybermen
Cyberman
The Cybermen are a fictional race of cyborgs who are amongst the most persistent enemies of the Doctor in the British science fiction television series, Doctor Who. Cybermen were originally a wholly organic species of humanoids originating on Earth's twin planet Mondas that began to implant more...
since Silver Nemesis
Silver Nemesis
Silver Nemesis was the 25th anniversary serial of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast in the UK in three weekly parts from 23 November 1988, to 7 December 1988....
in 1988. The first part, "Rise of the Cybermen
Rise of the Cybermen
"Rise of the Cybermen" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The episode features the return of Cybermen, where they are created on Earth itself. It is the first part of a two-part story, the concluding part being "The Age of Steel"...
", was broadcast on 13 May 2006. It stars David Tennant
David Tennant
David Tennant is a Scottish actor. In addition to his work in theatre, including a widely praised Hamlet, Tennant is best known for his role as the tenth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, along with the title role in the 2005 TV serial Casanova and as Barty Crouch, Jr...
as the Doctor
Tenth Doctor
The Tenth Doctor is the tenth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He is played by David Tennant, who appears in three series, as well as eight specials...
, Billie Piper
Billie Piper
Billie Paul Piper is an English singer and actress.She began her career in the late 1990s as a pop singer and then switched to acting. She started in acting and dancing and was talent spotted at the Sylvia Young stage school by Smash Hits magazine who wanted a "face" for their magazine...
as Rose Tyler
Rose Tyler
Rose Marion Tyler is a fictional character portrayed by Billie Piper in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was created by series producer Russell T Davies...
and Noel Clarke
Noel Clarke
Noel Anthony Clarke is an English actor, director and screenwriter from London. He is best known for playing Wyman Norris in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Mickey Smith in Doctor Who...
as Mickey Smith
Mickey Smith
Mickey Smith is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, played by Noel Clarke.Mickey is introduced as the boyfriend of the Ninth and Tenth Doctor's companion Rose Tyler, and a recurring character on the programme...
.
It focuses on events in a parallel universe
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where John Lumic plans to convert the whole world's population into Cybermen and the Doctor, Rose and Mickey Smith try to stop him. They are assisted by Mickey's parallel universe counterpart, Ricky, who is the leader of a resistance movement. At the end of the episode Mickey decides to stay in the parallel universe and says goodbye to the Doctor and Rose.
The episode was relatively popular as it was the climax to the first story to feature the Cybermen since the show's revival, although it received noticeably fewer viewers than "Rise of the Cybermen". It has an Audience Appreciation rating of 86 .
Plot
Having escaped from the alternate universe's Pete Tyler's home from an army of Cybermen, the DoctorTenth Doctor
The Tenth Doctor is the tenth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He is played by David Tennant, who appears in three series, as well as eight specials...
uses the Arton power cell to disintegrate the cyborgs into dust, saving his group. Insisting to Pete that everyone inside his home, including his wife, is likely dead, the Doctor directs Pete, Rose
Rose Tyler
Rose Marion Tyler is a fictional character portrayed by Billie Piper in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was created by series producer Russell T Davies...
, Mickey
Mickey Smith
Mickey Smith is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, played by Noel Clarke.Mickey is introduced as the boyfriend of the Ninth and Tenth Doctor's companion Rose Tyler, and a recurring character on the programme...
, and the Preachers, including Mickey's alternate universe counterpart Ricky, Jake, and Mrs. Moore, to get back to London to warn the authorities. As they flee, Pete explains that he is "Gemini," the Preacher's source of information on Lumic, working with him to provide information to the authorities on Lumic's actions, although he ended up communicating with the Preachers instead. Meanwhile, Lumic orders the Cybermen to bring the people of London under control of his EarPods to the Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station is a decommissioned coal-fired power station located on the south bank of the River Thames, in Battersea, South London. The station comprises two individual power stations, built in two stages in the form of a single building. Battersea A Power Station was built first in the...
for conversion.
When they reach the city, the group discovers Lumic's zeppelin
Zeppelin
A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
moored near the power station and make towards it; Ricky is killed by the Cybermen while trying to scale a fence to meet Mickey. After inspecting the station, the Doctor determines they must destroy the EarPod transmitter, located on the zeppelin. The group splits up: Mickey and Jake to board the zeppelin, Pete and Rose to pose as affected humans (using fake EarPods) to try to disrupt the conversion process, and the Doctor and Mrs. Moore to find their way to Lumic. Pete and Rose are captured by the Cybermen when one, the converted Jackie, catches sight of them. Though Mrs. Moore is killed by a Cyberman, the Doctor discovers that each unit contains an inhibitor signal to prevent their human side from taking over, and determines that if he can disable the signal, the realisation of what they have become will likely kill the converted Cybermen. However, he is captured by the Cybermen before implementing his plan.
Taken to Lumic's office, the Doctor discovers the Cybermen have captured Pete and Rose, and they have forcefully converted Lumic into their leader, the Cyber Controller. When Mickey and Jake successfully disable the transmitter, the mesmerised humans come around and flee, with the Cybermen unable to stop them. In the zeppelin, the Doctor attempts to reason with Lumic by explaining that the creation of the Cybermen has actually removed the one characteristic that enabled their creation - imagination - and that by removing illness and mortality, the strive to advance will have gone and human evolution will effectively grind to a halt. Unconvinced, Lumic states that if humanity will not come along willingly, then the Cybermen will simply take the human race by force. The Doctor, aware that Lumic's office is under surveillance by Mickey and Jake, subtly attempts to ask for the inhibitor code. Mickey eventually recognizes the Doctor's plan, locates the code in the zeppelin computers, and sends it to Rose's phone. The Doctor plugs the phone into the computer systems, causing the inhibitor signal to drop and sending the army of Cybermen into despair. As the conversion facility begins to go up in flames, the group escapes to the zeppelin, leaving Lumic to die.
When they arrive at the zeppelin, they realise Lumic is following behind them, making his way up the ladder of the zeppelin, Pete uses the sonic screwdriver to cut the ladder rope, Lumic falls to his death into the pits of his exploding factory.
As the city recovers, the Doctor, Rose, and Mickey return with Jake and Pete to the TARDIS, the power cell sufficiently charged to allow the TARDIS to return to the proper dimension. However, Mickey reveals that he plans to stay with Jake and Pete in the alternate universe, as to take care of Ricky's grandmother and continue the Preacher's fight and destroy Lumic's other factories. After the TARDIS' departure, Mickey and Jake make plans to travel to Paris to destroy the Cyber factory located there. When Jake asks how they are going to be able to liberate Paris with just a van, Mickey says that there is nothing wrong with the van—after all, "I once saved the universe with a big yellow truck."
The Parting of the Ways
"The Parting of the Ways" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on 18 June 2005. It was the second episode of the two-part story that featured Christopher Eccleston making his last appearance as the Ninth Doctor...
Cast Notes
- Roger Lloyd PackRoger Lloyd PackRoger Lloyd-Pack is an English actor known for his roles in the TV shows The Vicar of Dibley, Only Fools and Horses and The Old Guys.-Career:...
and David TennantDavid TennantDavid Tennant is a Scottish actor. In addition to his work in theatre, including a widely praised Hamlet, Tennant is best known for his role as the tenth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, along with the title role in the 2005 TV serial Casanova and as Barty Crouch, Jr...
appeared together previously in Harry Potter and the Goblet of FireHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is a 2005 fantasy film directed by Mike Newell and based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. It is the fourth instalment in the Harry Potter film series, written by Steve Kloves and produced by David Heyman...
as Barty Crouch Sr. and Jr., respectively.
Continuity
- Lumic's expression of "Excellent!" is a reference to the off-key rendition of the word that the Cybermen have used in previous stories (beginning with the Fourth DoctorFourth DoctorThe Fourth Doctor is the fourth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC British television science-fiction series Doctor Who....
story Revenge of the CybermenRevenge of the CybermenRevenge of the Cybermen is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 19 April to 10 May 1975.-Synopsis:...
). - The Doctor's comments about Cybermen in his universe confirms that the origin of the Cybermen in this universe is not a rewriting of the origins of the Cybermen on MondasMondas (Doctor Who)Mondas is a fictional planet in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Mondas is the homeworld of the Cybermen, a race of cyborgs....
as established in The Tenth PlanetThe Tenth PlanetThe Tenth Planet is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 8 October to 29 October 1966. It was William Hartnell's last regular appearance as the First Doctor, and the first story to feature the Cybermen...
. Similarly, this leaves the Big Finish ProductionsBig Finish ProductionsBig Finish Productions is a British company that produces books and audio plays based, primarily, on cult British science fiction properties...
audio play Spare Parts intact. - Mickey refers to his "tin dog" status, as in "School ReunionSchool Reunion (Doctor Who)"School Reunion" is the third episode in the second series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It first aired on 29 April 2006. The episode's narrative takes place some time after the events of "The Christmas Invasion"...
", a comparison to the Doctor's former robot companion K-9K-9 (Doctor Who)K-9, or K9, is the name of several fictional robotic canines in the long-running British science fiction television series, Doctor Who, first appearing in 1977...
. - The Doctor refers to attacking Cybus's factory at three points: "Above, between, below." This echoes an ancient Gallifreyan nursery rhyme that refers to the three possible entrances to the Tomb of RassilonRassilonRassilon is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. In the backstory of the programme, he was the founder of Time Lord society on the planet Gallifrey...
(The Five DoctorsThe Five DoctorsThe Five Doctors is a special feature-length episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, produced in celebration of the programme's twentieth anniversary. It had its world premiere in the United States, on the Chicago PBS station WTTW and various other PBS member stations...
). - The storage of the converted Cybermen in the cooling tunnels is similar to the events of The InvasionThe Invasion (Doctor Who)The Invasion is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in eight weekly parts from 2 November to 21 December 1968...
, where the Cyber-army was hidden in the sewers of London. Cybermen were also kept in cryogenic freeze in The Tomb of the CybermenThe Tomb of the CybermenThe Tomb of the Cybermen is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who that originally aired in four weekly parts from September 2 to September 23, 1967 and is the earliest serial starring Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor to exist in its entirety...
. In The Invasion the Doctor also used emotions to defeat the Cybermen. - This episode is also the first time since Attack of the CybermenAttack of the CybermenAttack of the Cybermen is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts from 5 January to 12 January 1985. It opened Season 22 of the series...
that gold has not been used as a weapon against the Cybermen. The Cybus Industries tie-in site makes reference to earlier prototypes having an "allergy" to gold, stating that this was eliminated after further improvements of the Cyberman body. - This episode marks the first time that women are known to be converted into Cybermen in the television series. There is no visual difference between a Cyberman that was a male or female human (however, see also the TorchwoodTorchwoodTorchwood is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. The series is a spin-off from Davies's 2005 revival of the long-running science fiction programme Doctor Who. The show has shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect its growing audience, moving from...
episode "CyberwomanCyberwoman"Cyberwoman" is the fourth episode of the first series of the British science fiction television series Torchwood. Written by Chris Chibnall and directed by James Strong, the episode was first broadcast on the digital channel BBC Three on 5 November 2006, and later repeated on terrestrial channel...
"). - Elements similar to Spare Parts include the converted Jackie being aware of her previous identity as a human (as Sisterman Constant and Thomas Dodd were in the play). Sally Phelan's moment of awareness is also similar to Yvonne Hartley in the play.
- Although a Cyber-Director appeared in The Invasion, and was an immobile unit, the first Cyberman Controller appeared in The Tomb of the Cybermen (and later in Attack of the Cybermen) as a differently designed Cyberman with an enlarged cranium.
- The Doctor says, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," to the dying Cyberman, Sally Phelan. He has used these words before in the 2006 series, when discovering a diseased 'New Human' in "New EarthNew Earth"New Earth" is the first episode of the second series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, first broadcast on 15 April 2006. It is a sequel to the first series episode "The End of the World", and brings back its villain who was thought to be destroyed, Lady Cassandra, as...
". The President said this in the previous episode, "Rise of the CybermenRise of the Cybermen"Rise of the Cybermen" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The episode features the return of Cybermen, where they are created on Earth itself. It is the first part of a two-part story, the concluding part being "The Age of Steel"...
". The phrase recurs in subsequent episodes. - The scene in which the Doctor takes pity on and euthanises the Sally Phelan Cyberman is similar to one in Revelation of the DaleksRevelation of the DaleksRevelation of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts on 23 March and 30 March 1985...
(1985) in which a character destroys the DalekDalekThe Daleks are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Within the series, Daleks are cyborgs from the planet Skaro, created by the scientist Davros during the final years of a thousand-year war against the Thals...
mutant her father has become. - The Doctor's speech to the Lumic Cyber-Controller while walking round in circles is reminiscent of the speech he used against the Sycorax in "The Christmas InvasionThe Christmas Invasion"The Christmas Invasion" is a 60-minute special episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It is Christmas, but there is little cause for celebration as planet Earth is invaded by aliens known as the Sycorax...
" and to the Clockwork Droids in "The Girl in the FireplaceThe Girl in the Fireplace"The Girl in the Fireplace" is the fourth episode of the second series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on 6 May 2006, and is the only episode in the 2006 series written by Steven Moffat...
". It is also similar to a conversation about emotions between the Fifth DoctorFifth DoctorThe Fifth Doctor is the fifth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He is portrayed by Peter Davison....
and the Cyber Leader in EarthshockEarthshockEarthshock is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts from 8 March to 16 March 1982...
(1982). - Mickey leaves in this episode, choosing to assume the role of his deceased doppelgängerDoppelgängerIn fiction and folklore, a doppelgänger is a paranormal double of a living person, typically representing evil or misfortune...
Ricky and continue his fight against the Cybermen, making him the first companion in the new series to leave the TARDIS crew by choice. Adam Mitchell was expelled from the TARDIS in "The Long GameThe Long Game"The Long Game" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who that was first broadcast on May 7, 2005. Along with new companion Adam, the TARDIS deposits the Doctor and Rose on Satellite 5, a space station that broadcasts across the entire human empire...
", and Jack HarknessJack HarknessCaptain Jack Harkness is a fictional character played by John Barrowman in Doctor Who and its spin-off series, Torchwood. He first appeared in the 2005 Doctor Who episode "The Empty Child" and reappeared in the remaining episodes of the 2005 series as a companion of the ninth incarnation of the...
was left behind at the end of "The Parting of the WaysThe Parting of the Ways"The Parting of the Ways" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on 18 June 2005. It was the second episode of the two-part story that featured Christopher Eccleston making his last appearance as the Ninth Doctor...
". - As the Doctor says goodbye to Mickey, he jokingly calls him "Mickey the Idiot". This was a nickname the Ninth DoctorNinth DoctorThe Ninth Doctor is the ninth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He is played by Christopher Eccleston....
used for him more harshly. The Doctor also refers to this nickname when, during his debate with Lumic, he continuously uses the word "idiot" while trying to drop clues to Mickey. - Mickey mentions that he "once saved the universe with a big yellow truck". This is a reference to "The Parting of the Ways", when Mickey opens the time vortex on the TARDIS using a tow truck, thereby allowing Rose to return to the future and defeat the DalekDalekThe Daleks are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Within the series, Daleks are cyborgs from the planet Skaro, created by the scientist Davros during the final years of a thousand-year war against the Thals...
s. - When Rose recognises the Cybermen from the mask in Van Statten's museum (in "DalekDalek (Doctor Who episode)"Dalek" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who that was first broadcast on 30 April 2005. It should not be confused with the first Dalek serial, The Daleks...
") the Doctor says "there are Cybermen in our universe".
Production
- This episode, along with "Rise of the CybermenRise of the Cybermen"Rise of the Cybermen" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The episode features the return of Cybermen, where they are created on Earth itself. It is the first part of a two-part story, the concluding part being "The Age of Steel"...
" was produced in the same production block as the series finale story, "Army of GhostsArmy of Ghosts"Army of Ghosts" is the twelfth and penultimate episode in the second series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who which was first broadcast on 1 July 2006...
"/"DoomsdayDoomsday (Doctor Who)"Doomsday" is the thirteenth and final episode in the second series of the revival of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on 8 July 2006 and is the conclusion of a two-part story; the first part, "Army of Ghosts", was broadcast on 1 July 2006...
". - According to an interview with Andrew Hayden-Smith, and comments given by Russell T Davies in a press conference, Ricky and Jake were initially intended to be gay and lovers. A deleted scene included in the Complete Series Two DVD box set confirms this.
- Footage from "RoseRose (Doctor Who)"Rose" is the first episode of Series One of the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who. Written by show runner Russell T Davies and directed by Keith Boak, the episode was first broadcast on 26 March 2005....
" — specifically, the destruction of the Nestene Consciousness — was reused as part of the destruction of the Battersea Cyber-conversion facility. - Location shooting took place at the Coal Exchange and Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff Bay.
Outside references
- Pete derisively calls the Preachers "Scooby-DooScooby-DooScooby-Doo is an American media franchise based around several animated television series and related works produced from 1969 to the present day. The original series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, was created for Hanna-Barbera Productions by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears in 1969...
and his gang" and compares their van to the Mystery Machine. - The marching of thousands of mind-controlled Londoners to Battersea (referred to by the Doctor as "sheep") echoes the Pink FloydPink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
song "SheepSheep (song)"Sheep" is a song by the English band Pink Floyd. It was released on the album Animals in 1977. In 1974, it was originally titled "Raving and Drooling".-History:...
" from their album Animals, where the sheep are led into the "valley of steel" to be slaughtered. The album also features a shot of Battersea Power Station on its cover, with a pig floating above it just like Lumic's own airship. Pink Floyd is known for incorporating the Doctor Who theme musicDoctor Who theme musicThe Doctor Who theme is a piece of music composed by Ron Grainer and realised by Delia Derbyshire at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Created in 1963, it was one of the first electronic music signature tunes for television and after nearly five decades remains one of the most easily...
into live performances of the song "One of These Days". - As noted by Noel Clarke on the commentary, Mickey phones Rose and says "I'm coming to get you!", which echoes the Ninth Doctor's words to her at the climax of "Bad WolfBad Wolf"Bad Wolf" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on June 11, 2005. The TARDIS crew find themselves trapped in the Gamestation, also known as Satellite 5, where they must battle to survive the cruel games...
". The words also constitute a catchphrase used by Davina McCallDavina McCallDavina McCall is an English television presenter and actress, most notable as the presenter of the UK version of Big Brother up until its move to Channel 5.- Early life :...
on the UK television programme Big BrotherBig Brother (UK)Big Brother UK is the British version of the Dutch Big Brother television format, which takes its name from the character in George Orwell's 1948 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four...
, the latest series of which started two days prior to the episode's broadcast and which also featured in "Bad Wolf". - The climax of the episode echoes that of CasablancaCasablanca (film)Casablanca is a 1942 American romantic drama film directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid, and featuring Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre and Dooley Wilson. Set during World War II, it focuses on a man torn between, in...
, with Mickey in the role of Rick Blaine and Rose as Ilsa Lund. Indeed, Mickey adopts the name "Ricky" and talks about freeing ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Broadcast and DVD release
- The average overnight viewing figure for this episode was 6.85 million (a 36% share), peaking at 7.7 million.
- This episode was released together with "Rise of the CybermenRise of the Cybermen"Rise of the Cybermen" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The episode features the return of Cybermen, where they are created on Earth itself. It is the first part of a two-part story, the concluding part being "The Age of Steel"...
" and "The Idiot's LanternThe Idiot's Lantern"The Idiot's Lantern" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on 27 May 2006.-Plot:...
" as a basic DVDDVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
with no special features.It was also released in the complete series 2 box set and the doctor who cybermen collection.
External links
- TARDISODE 6
- Episode commentary by Noel Clarke, Camille Coduri and Shaun Dingwall (MP3)
- "The Age of Steel" episode homepage
- "One Of These Days"(Live) By Pink Floyd