Army of Ghosts

The dramatic return of the Cybermen in the “Army of Ghosts” shows that deception is, indeed, the art of destruction. Believing that emotions weaken a person, the Cybermen appeared in the form of ghosts and took advantage of mankind’s grief over the loss of their loved ones. Their grief overcame the initial fear of this absurdity and their imagination over-powered their rationality.

Rose: What makes you think it’s granddad?
Jackie: Just feels like him. There’s that smell, those old cigarettes. Can’t you smell it?
Rose: I wish I could mum, but I can’t.
Jackie: You’ve got to make an effort. You’ve got to WANT it, sweetheart.
…
The Doctor: Like a psychic link. Course you want your old dad to be alive, abut you’re wishing him
Into existence. The ghosts are using that to pull themselves in.

I like the episode’s utilization of Psychology because it makes the unthinkable believable. Don’t get me wrong. I like watching scenes where the Doctor presents a ridiculous situation to remedy a problem (ex. anti-plastic to kill the mannequins, vinegar to kill a Slitheen or 3D glasses to see the void particles) but it’s a refreshing chance to see an absurdity with a valid explanation. On a side note, I feel bad for every person who believed that the advanced technology of the 21st century found a way to bridge our world with theirs only to realize that their dad, mom and siblings really meant to “upgrade” them. Families didn’t come back from the grave because it was an army of Cybermen who came to claim their victory.

Along with the theme of deception was the introduction of the truth behind Torchwood. As a viewer, the repetitive patterns left for the awaited revelation of Torchwood earned a “Torchwood? Oh! Torchwood. Ah!” from me. In the context of the show, references about Britian’s secret institution came full circle in the episode as the Doctor finally meets the institution that was designed as his enemy. Ironically, Yvonne Hartman and the rest of her staff acted more as fans of the Doctor rather than his enemies. They applauded him on his intrusion and treated him as a guest. Rather than resemble the “Bad Wolf” episode where the Daleks taunted the Doctor, Torchwood merely resembled “Love and Monsters” where the Doctor meets the members of L.I.N.D.A.

In my opinion, I think Torchwood had two functions in this episode. First, it added a sense of realism to the show where the Doctor does live in the “Whoniverse”. People have seen, interacted and studied him. In a similar manner, the dynamism between the characters affects our dynamism with the show so he “exists” in our world as well—a situation made possible with the TV’s distinctive role as our portal to a parallel world. Second, it was the opportunity for “Doctor Who” to show its take on a reality where information and technology were its masters. The Doctor was a prisoner of the Institute yet he was seen as a guru rather than a prisoner. They listened to his ramblings about the sphere and his doubts on the ghost shifts. This proves that whoever holds the information holds the power.

Series 2 began with a new Rose Tyler, one who was willing to stand by the Doctor’s side to take a stand. This episode marks the culmination of her transformation when Jackie said “And you’ll keep on changing. And in forty years, fifty, there’ll be this woman – this strange woman…walking through the marketplace on some planet a billion miles from Earth. She’s not Rose Tyler. Not anymore. She’s not even human…” In this regard, “Army of Ghosts” formally introduced Rose Tyler as the “Defender of the Earth”, a label that the Doctor gave her in “Doomsday”.

Because “Doctor Who” has self-contained narratives, it needed to point out degree of Rose’s transformation, a change that shocked (and maybe terrified) even her own mother. When the Doctor prepared for the next ghost shift, she knew how to work the sonic screwdriver and read the TARDIS’ scanner. When the Doctor left her in the TARDIS, she instinctively used the psychic paper and stole a white lab coat so that she could freely walk around the building.

Her relationship with the Doctor led to this episode’s culmination on her transformation. In the same manner, Rose’s dynamism with the Doctor affected my dynamism with the show especially with Rose as my point of view character. I no longer look at “Doctor Who” objectively but subjectively. Like most fans, I frequently find certain parts better than the others. For example, I absolutely love the “Ghost Buster” reference in the episode when the Doctor comes up and says in a funny accent “Who you gonna call?” to which Rose responses with “Ghost Busters!” Afterwards, the Doctor finishes his charade by saying “I ain’t afraid of no ghosts” while dancing across the TARDIS. I love how absolutely ridiculous the Doctor was in this scene that the scene with the 3D glasses paled in comparison. It was also funny to see the Doctor’s sudden attachment to the “allons-Y, Allonzo” statement that he even asked Yvonne for a staff member named Alonzo. It was an “aw” moment when the Doctor introduced Jackie Tyler as Rose; leaving the real Rose safe in the TARDIS. I particularly like that they continued to banter even if they were being held as hostages. I think that his comment that “Rose” aged because she looked at the Time Vortex was funnier than his sarcastic request to Yvonne to leave out the detail that he travelled with Rose’s mother.

But I think the highlight for most of the “Doctor Who” fans was the return of the Cybermen and the unexpected return of the Daleks. The Cybermen’s return didn’t surprise me due to several narrative “furnitures” that simply screamed “Cybermen” such as the earpods, sparks flying, saws whirring and people screaming in fear and pain. Likewise, the Daleks didn’t quite surprise me because the Daleks and the Doctor are like peanut butter and jelly. They can’t be separated because it’s not how things go.

S2E5 The Rise of the Cybermen

The Rise of the Cybermen demonstrates man’s innovative ways to move towards the age of cyberspace. In reality, creating a replica of man in the form of steel is possible, as what has Honda been innovating using their man model, Asimo. However, one aspect of this innovation is replacing flesh and blood with steel but retaining the functions of the brain is clearly unethical. The method of getting people to undergo “upgrade” is done by hypnotizing them. In other words, human beings are being upgraded against their will and without their knowledge of it. At the same time, the method of placing the human brain in a metal skin is done by bringing in a living human person into a “disassembly” chamber to remove the brain. It’s as if the “upgrades” are being done through mass production. Clearly, man would not approve of this unethical method.

 

However, if the “upgrades” were completed and that every human being were transformed into these metallic skinned robots, the idea of taking only the brain and using it in the metal body is somewhat wrong and impossible. It was mentioned that the body ages and eventually dies. The brain undergoes the same aging as well. And following a more scientific approach, the brain is the one organ in the body which requires the most amount of energy compared to other organs. The metal body would not be able to provide such amount of energy in the brain as the metal body would not have the necessary equipment to be able to produce the amount of glucose the brain requires.

 

But of course, how am I to comment on the possibilities of science for man. The possibilities of science are endless. I may not be aware that there are possible ways of feeding the brain without a use of a human body. But because the human brain is the most complex organ in the body, the complete understanding of how the brain functions is still not determined, knowing how to feed it. However, because of sciences, there have already been innovative ways in changing the world.  The process of Cloning is one example. Though it still needs perfecting, a number of animals have already been cloned to test whether it is possible. But of course, similar to the method of placing in brain in a robotic body, it is unethical. This is why these processes are not being done or are not being publicly televised so as to not cause conflict with any party, particularly the government and church. In any case, the episode clearly illustrates the resistance of such a change in the side of the government and the radicals.

 

A Solid Climax – 02×06

A shocking revelation upon reading the course notes was the fact that Ricky and Jake were lovers. It’s both an interesting contrast with Mickey’s character and a surprising look at the norms and culture of the UK. First of all, despite the unrivalled machismo of Ricky, we find out that Mickey is actually the man, in the sexual sense, as he biologically still prefers the opposite sex. This fact rings true about some people I know personally; strong, buff and rebellious “men” who in the end, turn out to be homosexual. Although this was hinted by Jake’s reaction upon hearing the news of Ricky’s death, I just thought it was a normal response. As a best friend to a dying person, I’d mourn the same way too. Also, I find it quite amusing that the UK can just showcase a gay couple in a sort of family show. Yes, the scene was deleted but maybe it was removed to make it more subtle and not obvious to the kids. Regardless of the that, it got me thinking about Captain Jack’s character as well and the show’s plight in the 1960’s had these story elements been broadcasted at that time.

Back to the episode, I found the “The Age of Steel” a fitting climactic action-packed conclusion to the “Rise of the Cybermen”. It was a very bond-esque entry featuring a lot of espionage moments, a fully transformed supervillain, high-tech gadgets, The Doctor in a tux and most importantly, EXPLOSIONS! There were several thrilling action scenes in this movie and it’s good they made this into a two-part episode so they can focus on character and story development in the first and then full-blown action in the second. There was an effectively suspenseful scene that stood out; the one where the inactive Cybermen were getting powered up one by one as they reach out to grab The Doctor and Angela Price. It had a claustrophobic feel to it and really provided some danger to the characters.

I must admit though, the show can be quite dark at times. Although the mood, or tone doesn’t change and still remains light-hearted fun, the implications of some characters death would show that there is real morbidity to the show. I like to imagine a lot and one thing that disturbed me about this episode was putting myself in the cyber suit. I probably would react the same way as them upon losing my physical and emotional identity for a metallic appearance. I would understand Lumic though and why he was so willing to be transformed but his choice to do it to other people against their will was unforgivable. Also, the writers killed the parallel Jackie which for me fun to watch as I hated her in this world but I still can’t believe they killed her off.

This is by far the most action packed episode of the series and I wish the concluding episodes of continuous plots would end like this. It was never boring and the only complaint I would have is how slow the Cybermen’s movements are in one scene and the next one would show them travelling a much greater distance than what their speed would allow them to do so. But it’s a minor flaw to the episode and I think the two-part story introduced the Cybermen as formidable villains quite well.

 

Parallel Fun – 02×05

So this now brings us to 5 episodes, including “The Christmas Invasion”, with 4 good episodes and one dud. My concern here is that maybe there are more duds in the succeeding episodes but “Rise of the Cybermen” establishes to us that we won’t be seeing a lacklustre episode soon. Written by Tom MacRae and directed by Graeme Harper, this TV show exploration of the parallel universe idea is exciting as it is charming and unpredictable.

Most of the charm lies in Noel Clarke’s performance as both Ricky and Mickey which is as natural as it gets. His acting doesn’t seem exaggerated or underwhelming as he brings so much humanity to supposed typecast characters. Ricky might be the tough bad-ass kind of guy but he also shows a level of weakness and amusement. Mickey, on the other hand, shows a developing soon-to-be tough guy, almost following Ricky’s footsteps as he brings an AK-47 to the rescue and gives the damsel in distress, Rose, a gentleman’s smooch on the lips.

One of the funniest moments in this episode was when Rose meets her parallel family. In this universe, she’s a dog! Her dad is still very much alive and now quite successful but now Jackie was much bitchier than her motherly counterpart. Even in this universe, Jackie and Pete are still not fond of each other and it just shows that maybe they were never meant to be; even in another space and time continuum.

It was a touching scene when Mickey meets his grandmother who was dead in the other world because of a careless mistake. Being a grandma’s boy, I completely understand why he would want to stay in that universe. It was a second chance for him and even if she wasn’t the original grandmother of Mickey, he loved her all the same. I also understand The Doctor for warning and forbidding them from engaging with the other worldly counterparts. It’s a nice blend of conflicting emotions and further emphasizes the emotional complexity rarely seen in the science fiction genre.

I just have one complaint with the episode and it’s a flaw that burdens the logic and realism of the plot and story. The president was in Pete Tyler’s house during the attack of the Cybermen but I didn’t see any guards on patrol the whole time. I don’t know if the parallel Earth was a much more peaceful place than ours but it’s just unbelievable that there were practically no agents or bodyguards present in the party. Although they wouldn’t have helped at all since the Cybermen were impenetrable by bullets, their absence is a careless mistake that kind of disrupted my enjoyment of the episode.

All in all, “Rise of the Cybermen” was a fun episode featuring a dastardly villain, a cool new enemy, and comedic bits mixed with emotional drama. There’s a lot to look forward to in the continuing episode, as this being part 1, because of the careful set-up of the plot to build an exciting climax.

 

02×13 – “Doomsday”

My immediate reaction upon finishing “Doomsday” is a childish one: “Seriously, Rose didn’t die?”

I used to be a big supporter of Doctor/Rose back in Series 1. I definitely picked up on the relationship that was developing between them, and found the pairing rather cute. Then Series 2 came, and while I noted the further evolution of their relationship, I didn’t find myself smiling affectionately during the little moments they shared onscreen. If you’ve been following my blog entries or reading my fangirl tweets, the reason is obvious: I have a ridiculous crush on David Tennant/Ten, and Billie Piper/Rose is my stiff competition.

After having some time to really think about the episode, I find myself feeling for both of them. I had initially thought Rose picking the Doctor over her own mother was selfish (Like most of her actions are, I remember thinking to myself, scoffing – talk about the pot calling the kettle black!), but the Doctor is the man she truly loves – who wouldn’t do the same if put in the same position? Furthermore, it is a decision she had to make quickly, under extreme duress, and it made an already difficult choice even harder. The scene where she and the Doctor were on their respective sides of the wall is so beautiful and poignant, I actually found myself tearing up. A few tears escaped when they said goodbye at Bad Wolf Bay. Inasmuch as David Tennant replacing Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor made my support for Doctor/Rose wane, I still found it romantic that the Doctor is burning up a sun to say goodbye. He clearly was trying to say “I love you” back, but wasted his time by saying her whole name first. (Seriously?! I screamed in my head when his image faded.)

I’m glad, though, that Rose is not alone. While I’m skeptical of how quickly AU Pete and Jackie got together (surely their respective spouses, and what attracted them to other, are different!), I feel like she’s getting the family she’s always wanted.

The Doctor, on the other hand, I wanted to give him a hug as he stood there alone in his TARDIS, looking visibly upset. He never has to deal with Rose growing older and dying, but she is gone abruptly after such a short time together.

Plus, he has to worry about the inevitable return of the Daleks. The baddies in this episode are excellent. The Cybermen and the Daleks may not play well together (their exchange was hilarious, though), but combined, they are pretty terrifying. I find this of Dalek (the experimental Cult of Skaro) interesting, with the individual identities and newfound wit (“[Cybermen] are superior in only one respect. …You are better at dying!” Oh, snap!). I can’t wait to see how they figure in in future storylines.

Overall, I like how the second season concluded. I feel like with Rose gone, the writers are more free to explore other stories – like who the Doctor’s next companion is, if he finally becomes okay again with wanting one. Also, given that Rose isn’t technically dead, the door is open for the character to return, and that possible reunion and the feelings it brings up will undoubtedly be interesting as well.

02×12 – “Army of Ghosts”

It has long been hinted at throughout the course of the season that something big would happen to Rose, and the opening voiceover, with its final line of, “This is the story of how [Rose] died”, only piques viewers’ curiosity further.

Whatever Rose means by this (could it really be as straightforward as her actually dying, never to be seen on the show again except in flashbacks and time travel into the past?), I’m glad it is happening in her time and in her London, and that she has a chance to see her mother before she passes on. While I’m sure it could’ve been a greater (and more tragic) story if it were set in a far-off planet or time, this way that the writers have chosen makes viewers – and Rose – feel like things are coming full circle.

Ghosts are never quite ghosts in Doctor Who – in “The Unquiet Dead”, they were simply the Gelth, and here, in “Army of Ghosts”, they are revealed to be Cybermen crossing the void. (That none of the ghosts had faces was a dead giveaway that something was up.) I really feel for Jackie Tyler in this episode. As when viewers last saw her in “Love & Monsters”, her loneliness at being left behind by Rose and Mickey (and still, Pete Tyler) is obvious, so it is easy for her to project her feelings into making the ghost out to be like Granddad Prentice.

The warm reception of the Doctor and “Rose” at Torchwood left me with a funny feeling (as though they had to stay on his good side so that they could milk him for all he was worth), and so did the Institute’s motto, “If it’s alien, it’s ours.” Instances wherein humans deal with things and technology beyond their capabilities never end well, and I’m glad Yvonne Hartman listened to the Doctor to quit the ghost shifts – except it was already too late.

EarPod technology made its way back along with the Cybermen, but cleverly disguised in this universe as the ubiquitous Bluetooth earpieces worn by businessmen. I mentioned in my “Rise of the Cybermen” blog entry that the EarPods represented what could possibly happen if people’s desire to always be connected and to remain in the know went overboard, but it’s especially eyeopening to have the issue brought down to our present to better understand its implications.

All in all, I think it’s shaping up to be quite the season finale. I figured the Cybermen would reappear because it was sort of “their” season, the same way Series 1 was the Daleks’ season, given that it was when they were introduced. I didn’t see the Daleks’ return coming, but color me pleasantly surprised. It’s almost – no, it really is an apocalypse. It’ll be interesting to see if the Daleks and the Cybermen will work together in conquering the human race, or if they’ll duke it out, with everyone being innocent bystanders or simply enjoying the show. Personally, I hope it’ll be the former – ending with the Doctor saving the day, of course.

02×06 – “The Age of Steel”

“The Age of Steel” picks off from where “Rise of the Cybermen” left off. The unlikely team of the Doctor, Rose, Mickey, Ricky, Jake, Mrs. Moore, and Pete manage to escape the first wave of Cybermen, and pile into a van – thus beginning the Scooby Doo references. It isn’t the first time the Hanna Barbera cartoon has been alluded to in Doctor Who. Some of the early episodes from Series 1 feature Scooby Doo-like chase sequences, and they still pop up occasionally in Series 2 episodes.

Still, the sequence in the van reveals a lot. Firstly, Pete isn’t in cahoots with Lumic – he’s actually part of the resistance. It isn’t a surprise at all, but after all the crazy of this alternate universe, it’s nice to know AU Pete is still principled as Real Pete had been when he was still alive. Viewers also find out exactly what Ricky is London’s most wanted for, and despite the character’s bravado, the charge is actually pathetic – it’s for parking tickets. This, of course, completely amuses the the Doctor, and it’s comforting for viewers to learn that AU Ricky isn’t too different from Real Mickey.

It is Ricky’s death that completes the change in Mickey. For me, this is the episode in which the character is the most likable, because he finally steps up. I’ve praised the showrunners for having well-developed characters even if they’re only in one episode, but I did feel Mickey (and even Jackie) has been neglected in this aspect. In this two-parter, Mickey ceases to be a flat, two-dimensional character. I didn’t expect that he’d stay behind, but I’m glad he did. Instead of following Rose like he usually does, he finally chooses his own path.

His actions, on top of the AU Pete’s reaction upon realizing who Rose is and AU Jackie reacting coldly to Rose at the party and later dying, makes the episode an especially emotional one for Rose. I’m glad she got to see Real Jackie at the end of the episode, but ultimately I think she had to go through all of that in order to learn how to let go of people (i.e., Mickey and Pete) she’s held on to too tightly for so long.

I really like the scenes between the Doctor and Mrs. Moore. As I mentioned earlier, Doctor Who has a knack for creating strong characters that stick in viewers’ minds for a long time even if they appear in only one episode, such as Gwyneth from “The Unquiet Dead” and Nancy from “The Empty Child”/”The Doctor Dances”, and Mrs. Moore is another one of those characters. I loved hearing her backstory, and it made her death at the hands of a Cyberman even more poignant.

Finding out more about the Cybermen was both intriguing and creepy at the same time. With their cold, intimidating metal shells, it’s easy to forget that the Cybermen are actually human. When the Doctor discovers the inhibitor that keeps their human side from taking over, and realizes that while disabling the signal will snap all of them out of their haze, it will likely make them go insane, just how crazy the whole concept of the Cybermen is just sunk in. The question of ethics is raised once more, and that there are likely people like Lumic out there who don’t get the repercussions of removing the humanity from human beings is a chilling thought indeed.

02×05 – “Rise of the Cybermen”

For a new Who fan like myself, it’s hard to understand the fuss surrounding the return of the Cybermen. On the one hand, they don’t seem all that different from the Daleks. Both have a penchant for getting rid of people, but managed to crack open a thesaurus to make sure their catchphrases are different. (“Exterminate” wins over “Delete!” for sure, because it sounds more menacing.) Still, the episode “Rise of the Cybermen” offers an intriguing context to their return, more than “Dalek” (or even “Bad Wolf”/”The Parting of the Ways”) did for the Daleks.

The Doctor, Rose, and Mickey have ended up in an alternate universe where Pete Tyler is alive and wealthy, his marriage to Jackie is on the rocks, Rose is a dog, Mickey’s grandmother is still alive, and a man named John Lumic is hell-bent on upgrading the human species as his own health begins to fail him. It’s a lot to take in, and so it’s only fitting that this is Season 2’s first two-parter.

I’ve never been shy about my dislike for Mickey, but I’m glad for the backstory this episode provides. I really like the scene where he sees his grandmother again, and how the story of her death is revealed by him noticing the torn carpet of the stairs. Meeting the AU Mickey (named Ricky, of course) is interesting as well. I appreciate the bravado he shows, but a part of me still couldn’t take him seriously – it was almost like watching Mickey play a part rather unconvincingly.

I really like episodes like this and “Father’s Day” where the writers shed some light on Rose’s family life because of the way they make Rose think of all of the what could’ve been’s. I find it comforting that Rose and her father always manage to have honest conversations with each other in these sort of episodes, even though at the time, Pete doesn’t know she’s his daughter.

What stands out the most in this episode though is the social commentary. I like how the writers weave various issues into the show’s plots. “Rise of the Cybermen” has quite a few, including the addiction to information and technology, and bioethics. While the EarPods struck me as extreme, I can’t deny that I understand the intention behind them. In today’s world, and in the career I’ve chosen for myself, being out of the loop can be detrimental. Knowledge is power, but it’s still unnerving to see the lengths people in this AU go to to stay informed. As for Peter Lumic, however, I find his plight to be shallow. Sure, he’s dying, but he’s accomplished so much in his lifetime already. I think I’d understand more if he were young, with his whole life ahead of him, but when I look at him, all I see is a person whose power and brilliance have gone to his head. It’s hard to feel bad for someone like that, especially since he created the Cybermen – and in doing so, robbed innocent people of living like normal human beings. Inasmuch as our mortality keeps us from doing certain things, I believe it also helps us to live our lives to the fullest, and that’s something Lumic needs to remember.