DW 02-06: The Age of Steel (Part 2 of 2)

A Guide to Classic Who references (and other references) in New Who episodes.

Doctor Who series 2, episode 6 (Story 16 part 2).  Mickey, Rose & the Doctor's time with the Cybermen continues.

Warning: May contain Spoilers for

"The Age of Steel"

Viewing Order

• 01-01  "Rose" (Suggested viewing - introduction of characters.)
• Children in Need - "Born Again" or Christmas Special 2005 - "The Christmas Invasion" (Suggested viewing - reintroduction of character.)
• 02-03 - "School Reunion" (Suggested viewing - addition to cast.)
• 02-05 - "Rise of the Cybermen" (Required viewing - first part of two parter.)

References

[1ST] -  The first appearance of things in Doctor Who series.
[NEW] - Things that first appeared previously in the new series.

[OLD] - Things that first appeared in the classic series (or the film.)  Episode List.

Previously...

The following things appeared in both episodes and so are listed again here, skip past to get to new information.

[OLD]  Cybermen - Recurring villains for the Doctor, first appearing in the First Doctor's last story.  See Foes - Cybermen for more information from the classic series.  A Cyberman's helmet was part of Harry Van Statten's collection in "Dalek," something Rose recalls in this episode.

[NEW]  Cybus Cybermen - This is a new breed of Cybermen, first seen in the "Rise of the Cybermen" Tardisode are unrelated to the ones seen previously.  The design is obviously updated for the new series, but they also have that "C" logo of Cybus Industries.

[NEW]  Ricky Smith - First appearance of this character was in "Rise of the Cybermen," unless you count the Tardisode in which he first appeared.  The Ninth Doctor used to "mistakenly" call Mickey "Ricky."

[NEW]  The Preachers - First appearance of this organisation, mentioned in the "Rise of the Cybermen," Tardisode.

[NEW] Peter Tyler - Rose's dead (in the "real" universe) father.  Appeared previously in "Father's Day" where Rose tried to stop his death.

[NEW]  John Lumic - First appearance of this business man  was in "Rise of the Cybermen", although he was previously mentioned in the Tardisode for this episode.

[NEW]  Gemini - The "Rise of the Cybermen" Tardisode was a broadcast from Gemini and the Preachers were called to the Tyler's party by Gemini.

[NEW]  Cybus Industries - Lumic's company, although it was mentioned in the Tardisode for this "Rise of the Cybermen

" it didn't appear until that episode.

This episode...

• [1ST]  Brainstorm - In this usage not a sudden idea, rather something bad that happens.  In the Third Doctor story "The Claws of Axos" the Doctor says: "The whole thing's electro-convulsing. The power's creating an electrical storm in its brain and we're going right through the centre of the trauma!"  In the novelisation the a chapter is called "Brainstorm."

• [1ST]  Emotional Inhibitor - The first appearance of a device that inhibits emotions, in the main universe. the removal of emotions was said to be part of the conversion process rather than them being inhibited.

• [OLD]  "Do I have the right?" - The Fourth Doctor, given the chance to destroy the Daleks when they were first created faced the same question.

• [OLD]  Cyber Controller - Highest level of the Cybermen hierarchy seen in the classic series.  The first one appeared in the Second Doctor story "Tomb of the Cybermen" and one later appears in the Sixth Doctor story "Attack of the Cybermen."  They both had bigger heads than the standard model, but they didn't have a huge comfy chair.

• [OLD]  Destroyed by Emotion - In the Second Doctor Cyberman story "Invasion" featured the Cybermen trying to destroy a new invention called a "Cerebration Mentor" which creates emotions.  When used on the Cybermen it send them mad.

The 10 Rules to Doctor Who.

(Read the rules here.)

10.  The TARDIS is for arriving at the location of the story at the beginning of the episode and leaving at the end.  This is because Time Travel is the excuse for the story, not that the story is about.  Unless the episode is written by Steve Moffat, then it's definitely about Time Travel.

Obviously the TARDIS spends most of the episode not working and is used for dimensional travel.  And part of it is used as a weapon.  [1]

9.  No one can cross their own Time Stream, except when they do.

No time stream crossing, but Mickey meets the parallel universe version of himself.  The Doctor seems much happier with that than Rose meeting her parallel parents [.5]

8.  There's no situation that can't be briefly defused by a non sequitur.

Not sequiturs are like hot dogs during raid on a Cybus facility.  [1]

7.  The Doctor is both the most serious and most frivolous person in the room - any room - at the same time.  And he does that without becoming insane.  Mostly.

As always.  [1]

6.  The last episode of every series must contain the Master or at least one Dalek.  Every time.  However briefly.

Not a series final.  [NA]

5.  The main companion will be a young contemporary British female.  Although, to be

fair, almost everyone in the Universe is British and most things happen in contemporary London.

Rose.  Mickey is a young male contemporary companion.  (Parallel contemporary London setting.)  [1] 

4.  The more emotionless a species, cyborg or robot the more likely they are to be destroyed by emotions.  This is true of the Daleks.  It is particularly true of the Cybermen.

The Cybermen are emotionaless and the removal of the enmotion inhibitor destroys them.  [1] 

3.  Even if the episode title contains the words "Dalek(s)" or "Cyberman/men" the presence of the Daleks and or Cybermen will at the beginning be treated as a mystery and their revelation a surprise.

The words don't appear in the title and there presence is already known.  [0]

2.  The nature of the threat will be revealed to the audience before the Doctor.  The truth behind the threat will be unknowable by the audience until it is explained by the Doctor.

The stuff with the inhibitor was the Doctor dropping info on us.  [.5]

1.  The most dangerous creature in any situation is the last of its kind.  This sometimes also applies to aliens other than The Doctor.

No lasts of their kind besides the Doctor.  Lumic is dying, but he's not the last of his kind unless genius is a kind, and he's only one if the Doctor isn't in the room.  [.5]

Score:  6.5/9.