TV REVIEWS: FTN Reviews Doctor Who Season 12 Episode 9: Ascension Of The Cybermen

Doctor Who took a very interesting turn last week when we met “The Lone Cyberman” and his plans for the universe. Tonight began the two-part finale for the season via, “Ascension Of The Cybermen.” And while it did do many things right, it also raised more questions than answers.

I still maintain that the Lone Cyberman has made the Cybermen race much more menacing. Now they’re not just taller Daleks, they have a leader with fury, with rage, and purpose beyond just “upgrading”. But sadly, unlike last episode, we didn’t get much more in the driving force of him.

The Doctor and crew suddenly appearing on a version of Earth where most of humanity has been wiped out was harrowing, but why did they go there? Why that point in time? Why not before the Cyber Wars? Also, why did Lone Cyberman go there? We heard it was because of the Cyberium, but is it really that simple?

Secondly, all the new characters we met really didn’t help matters all that much. They ran the gambit of tropey, and while Graham, Yaz and Ryan did their best to keep things rolling…they honestly couldn’t that much.

Before I knew it, the episode was already 40 minutes gone and I felt that not much had been accomplished. Then just like that we’re at “The Boundry” where we met Sir Barrister from Game of Thrones (which I dug by the way) and all of a sudden we’re looking at a portal to Gallifrey and The Master is back…AGAIN!!!

Why? I have no idea.

And then, to top it all off, we got the story of “Branden” a child raised in Ireland and then…he gets Cybermanned? I honestly have no idea, but I hope there is a serious payoff here otherwise it’s way too off base to be here.

In the end, “Ascension of the Cybermen” really didn’t add much to the mythology or the lore of the villains, nor did it really grip interest like last episode did. With the season finale next week, let’s hope that changes for the best, or else.