If the Daleks catch sight
of you, they will either enslave you or exterminate you. But with the Cybermen,
if they catch you, they will make you like them. That for me makes them one of
the most fearsome and abominable monsters in the history of the show. I have
grown so sorely discontent with the way the modern era TV show portrays the
Cybermen as clod hopping stomping robots. They seem to have totally forgotten
the notion that Kit Pedlar and Gerry Davis original made for the Mondasians.
That they were once human but their cybernetic scientists noticed their race
was weakening and so they upgraded to survive, losing all emotion and sense of
mercy and pain along with it. The Cybermen as a concept are extremely
frightening. And the most frightening thing of all is that they could one day
become a reality. How far is too far for our human race???
What Big Finish do always
that makes all their Cybermen efforts far better than any new series stories is
that they do remember the Kit and Gerry brief. Every single Big Finish Cyberman
story has added new nuances and depth to the creatures without ever losing the
fear factor of what makes them one of the most enduring aliens to have been in
the show.
Kingdom of Silver is no
more than a superb story by James Swallow. His story is rich in
characterisation and the alien society of Tasak comes alive very well from the
outset. A planet recovering from a long war and licking its wounds.
Terry Molloy is
extraordinary in his role of Magus Riga. He is a world away from the selfish
and cruel Davros and its so brilliant to hear him tackle a different role for
once. Magus Riga is a firm leader, but not just an overblown stuffed shirt. In
fact, he is even still prepared to die for a friend who betrays him. That to me
makes him a thoroughly potent character and one that you immediately care
about. His selflessness is wonderful and Terry does a fantastic job and totally
sells the role without any problem at all.
James George has the
perfect voice for a villain. And his Merel is a right nasty scheming devious
whatsit indeed. He is everything that Riga isn't. A slimy power-hungry creep
who ends up being trapped by his own bloodlust when he succumbs to becoming a
hollowed-out metal shell. This is always the tragedy of anyone who thinks they
can outwit the Mondasians.
The chemistry between Neil
Roberts's Temeter and Kate Terence's Sara is also very strong. Temeter and Sara
are a believable pair of battle-weary Orion Androids, and some of the scenes of
their reunion are touchingly done. And they spar well with Sylvester McCoy in
this story. It’s always interesting hearing a companion lite story, to see how
the Doctor copes on his own when facing diabolical threat. Sometimes this could
mean there is no one left to reign him in. But in Kingdom of Silver the
Doctor's only plan is to halt the re-emergence of yet another Cyberman tomb
world. But in no way does this story really resemble Tomb of the Cybermen. But
it does share the same emotional impact of the loss of lives as that classic
story did. You care for the people presented on Tasak.
Nick Briggs is his usual
awesome self as the voice of the Cybermen. Every kind of Cyberman this talented
guy can do without the slightest hint of trouble.
I am a huge fan of stories
where the Doctor avidly and succinctly warns people about a threat. then they
take no notice of him or lock him up and then find out to their cast and dire
horror that he was right. The Doctor is not an idiot guys, you should always
take note of his warnings. It’s also great to see a story where the darker,
more manipulative aspect of Seven are for once rested and we see the intensely
moral side of this Doctor too. He does truly strive to rid the worlds he visits
of evil, but sometimes his deviousness comes at a price. But Kingdom of Silver
has Sylvester's Doctor just be the moral centre of the story, and I for one
love this approach to his character in this tale.
Okay, I will admit that
maybe this story isn't really boasting anything new or revelatory about the
Cybermen. But what it is a very, very strong story indeed with a big emotional
core and a superb display of the cold machine logic of the Cyber Race. But
there are still a few moments of good humour around to lighten the darker
aspects of the story, but they are never once over the top. Ah, and one cannot
overlook the disturbing image of nano Cyber bots quickly converting the
inhabitants of Tasak too, it’s a very graphic image but it works well within
this audio drama. Scenes of Ardeth being converted are particularly harrowing
and shocking.
James Swallow is a superb
writer, and one can tell he knows his Mondasians. I'm a little sad that I've
not seen his name on an audio story now for quite a while. But of the ones of
his I've heard this is the supreme crowning moment.
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