MovieChat Forums > Doctor Who (1963) Discussion > Attack Of The Cybermen a misnomer?

Attack Of The Cybermen a misnomer?

posted 8 years ago by Dr Wily
9 replies | jump to latest

Is Attack Of The Cybermen somewhat misnamed? There's not really an actual attack by the Cybermen in the story. They are in the sewers, and I guess you can say they attacked Lytton and his men there. But most of the Cybermen action in the story is about redirecting Halley's Comet into the Earth, which never happens, and the gathering of forces on Telos. You might say they attacked the indigenous people of Telos.

It's more like Impending Attack Of The Cybermen or Proposed Attack Of The Cybermen.

[–] ant-mac 8 years ago

Their mission to redirect Haley's Comet into the Earth would have been their attack if it had been successful. The fact that this was prevented from happening is what formed a large part of the story.

However, they were still engaged on this mission, therefore their attack was still underway. It was just never successfully completed.

ant-mac

[–] strawberry_switchblade 8 years ago

I believe the original title was going to be "Cold War". Wish they'd stuck with that.

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[–] ant-mac 8 years ago

It is better when they don't give away the surprise ending of part one in advance. And under the circumstances, that title is rather appropriate.

ant-mac

[–] Dr Wily 8 years ago

It's sort of like Earthshock. That title absolutely gives nothing away about the surprise return of the Cybermen at the end of part 1. Attack Of The Cybermen, though, kind of gives it away. Like in so many Of The Daleks stories. It gives away what villain is going to be appearing. Back in the black and white days when the episodes had individual titles, you could get away with surprise villain reveals like the Daleks at the end of the first episode of The Dalek Invasion Of Earth. The overall title given to it later gives it away, but the first episode title doesn't. However, it was probably all blown by the Radio Times advertising the return of the Daleks to make sure people would be watching.

[–] paulbeardsley 8 years ago

The Chase gives nothing away. And not everybody read The Radio Times. We couldn't afford it!

This whirlpool's got such seductive furniture
It's so pleasant being drowned

[–] pferreira86 8 years ago

The Chase gives nothing away. And not everybody read The Radio Times. We couldn't afford it!

It's worse today in New Who and it's spin-offs where there's a 'Next Time' trail at the end of every episode.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] paulbeardsley 8 years ago

I am glad, at least, that we did not have years of individual episode titles as the early Hartnell's were.

I loved them! I was glad the new series brought that back.

Can you imagine, part 4 of EARTHSHOCK being called "DEATH OF AN ALZARIAN" instead?

No, it would have been called, "Escape to Danger - and we really mean it this time!"

This whirlpool's got such seductive furniture
It's so pleasant being drowned

[–] ant-mac 8 years ago

"I loved them! I was glad the new series brought that back."

It's one of the things I dislike about New Who. At least Classic Who learned from its mistake.

"No, it would have been called, "Escape to Danger - and we really mean it this time!""

And episode four of THE CAVES OF ANDROZANI could have been called, THE DEATH OF DOCTOR WHO. 

ant-mac