Some of Doctor Who’s greatest triumphs lie in taking old monsters and reintroducing them for a new era. The Daleks had already made their triumphant return in Series 1, and now it was time for their metallic rivals to receive the same treatment. Rise of the Cybermen, first broadcast on May 13, 2006, serves as the first half of a two-part story that brings back the Cybermen with a new, chilling design and an alternate-universe origin. Written by Tom MacRae and directed by Graeme Harper—one of Doctor Who’s most seasoned classic-era directors—this episode is an atmospheric, slow-burn horror story that builds up to one of the most terrifying monster reveals of the modern era.
The episode begins with an unsettling prelude, showing John Lumic, played by the ever-menacing Roger Lloyd Pack, overseeing the early stages of the Cybermen’s creation. Lumic is a dying genius, obsessed with extending human life through cybernetic conversion, and his gleeful disregard for the ethics of his work makes him one of the more chilling human antagonists of the series. Unlike the Daleks, whose evil is pure and absolute, the Cybermen’s horror stems from the disturbing plausibility of their creation—human beings voluntarily upgrading themselves to the point where they lose all humanity. Lumic’s vision for a world free from pain, sickness, and death is terrifying precisely because it is so seductive.
When the Doctor, Rose, and Mickey arrive in this alternate universe, they find themselves in a world that is eerily familiar yet distinctly different. Zeppelins fill the sky, Pete Tyler is alive and thriving as a powerful businessman, and Mickey’s counterpart, Ricky, leads a resistance group against the oppressive control of Cybus Industries. The concept of parallel universes is nothing new to science fiction, but Doctor Who uses it effectively to explore themes of fate, identity, and the consequences of unchecked corporate power. For Rose, seeing her father alive is overwhelming, but for Mickey, the realization that he is insignificant both in his own world and in this one is far more devastating.
David Tennant continues to solidify his take on the Doctor, bringing a sharp contrast between his lighthearted curiosity and his deeply moral core. When he realizes that the Cybermen’s creation is imminent, his desperation to stop it is palpable. Unlike the Daleks, who exist purely to exterminate, the Cybermen represent something more insidious—the loss of free will, the erasure of individuality. Tennant’s performance in this episode is particularly notable for how he balances the Doctor’s natural sense of wonder with his underlying dread. The moment he realizes where they have landed—on a parallel Earth where history has taken a different turn—his enthusiasm is quickly undercut by the realization of what is to come.
Billie Piper’s Rose takes an emotional journey of her own, grappling with the knowledge that this Pete Tyler is not her father, no matter how much she wishes him to be. Her scenes with Shaun Dingwall’s Pete are heartbreaking, as she tries to connect with a man who has no idea who she really is. Mickey, meanwhile, gets perhaps his most significant development to date. Noel Clarke plays him with a newfound sense of purpose, stepping out of the Doctor and Rose’s shadow and into his own arc. His reunion with Ricky, his alternate self, forces him to confront his own insecurities, and the growing tension between them serves as an effective lead-in to the following episode’s tragic turn.
Visually, Rise of the Cybermen is one of the most cinematic episodes of the series so far. The eerie blue lighting of Lumic’s laboratories, the cold steel of the Cybermen’s construction, and the ominous shots of Cyber-converted humans marching in unison all contribute to a growing sense of unease. Graeme Harper, who previously directed some of the most visually striking stories of the classic era (The Caves of Androzani, Revelation of the Daleks), brings that same skill to this episode, ensuring that the Cybermen’s reintroduction feels genuinely terrifying.
The climax is a masterclass in suspense. As the Doctor, Rose, and Pete infiltrate Jackie Tyler’s grand party, the Cybermen make their grand entrance. The reveal is handled perfectly—slow, deliberate, and utterly chilling. As the partygoers initially assume the Cybermen are merely a strange new security force, the moment when they refuse to stand down upon the President’s command shifts the entire episode into full-scale horror. Their cold, mechanical response—“You will be deleted.”—is an instant classic, and the subsequent slaughter is one of the most haunting scenes of the revived series. The Doctor’s horrified realization that there is no negotiating with these creatures, that they are beyond reason or compassion, is a stark contrast to his usual ability to talk his way out of danger.
Rewatching Rise of the Cybermen in 2025, it remains a stellar example of how to reinvent a classic villain. The redesigned Cybermen, now towering and metallic with a far more industrial aesthetic, feel more intimidating than ever. The episode builds tension effectively, allowing the horror of their creation to unfold gradually rather than relying on immediate spectacle. It also serves as a powerful character study for Mickey, who is finally given the opportunity to step into his own story rather than being the comic relief.
With the Doctor and his friends surrounded, and the Cybermen closing in, Rise of the Cybermen leaves us on a nerve-wracking cliffhanger, setting the stage for what is to come. The battle has only just begun.
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