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“CYBERWOMAN: A CONTROVERSIAL BUT COMPELLING CHARACTER PIECE”

Cyberwoman, written by future Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall, finally brings Ianto into the spotlight after several episodes of him being sidelined. While Jack, Gwen, Tosh, and Owen remain largely in the background, this episode gives Ianto a personal and emotional story as he hides a dark secret beneath the Torchwood Hub—Lisa, his partially converted girlfriend from the Doctor Who two-parter Army of Ghosts/Doomsday. Desperate to save her, he has been keeping her alive in a hidden vault, believing that she can be cured. Of course, things inevitably go wrong when her Cyber-programming resurfaces, turning the episode into a tense base-under-siege thriller.

EXPLORING THE CYBER HORROR

One of Cyberwoman's strengths is its focus on the psychological horror of Cyber-conversion, something rarely explored on-screen in Doctor Who. Lisa's half-converted state is particularly disturbing, as she struggles with her lost humanity and views herself as incomplete. This episode also touches on the aftermath of major Doctor Who events, showing how individuals like Ianto deal with trauma long after the Doctor has left the scene of a botched Earth invasion. The central theme—blurring the line between human emotions and Cyber-control—adds depth to the story, even if similar ideas have been explored more effectively in The Quintessence and other Doctor Who media.

PRODUCTION CHOICES AND CONTROVERSIES

The biggest criticism of Cyberwoman in the fandom has always been Lisa's design. Instead of the full-body horror concept Chibnall initially envisioned, the production team opted for something more visually striking (and unfortunately "sexy"), resulting in a look that feels more like a budget cosplay than a terrifying Cyberman hybrid. While the concept of a half-converted Cyber-victim is great, the execution doesn’t fully do it justice.

That being said, the Cyberwoman design isn't nearly as terrible as received wisdom claims it to be.

PERFORMANCES AND CHARACTER INTERACTIONS

Gareth David-Lloyd delivers an intense but occasionally over-the-top performance as Ianto, particularly in the episode’s later half. While his grief and desperation are palpable, his breakdowns verge on melodramatic. Similarly, Caroline Chikezi as Lisa doesn’t fully capture the eerie detachment needed for a Cyber-converted character. Captain Jack, on the other hand, is at his most commanding and uncompromising, confronting Ianto with brutal honesty about the consequences of his actions. The rest of the team also gets a moment to shine as they wrestle with the difficult choice of fighting against their own colleague’s loved one.

One of the episode’s most misplaced moments is Owen kissing Gwen while they hide from Lisa—an attempt at tension that feels completely out of place. While it fits Owen’s character, it detracts from the overall drama.

ACTION, TENSION, AND A SHOCKING FINALE

The first half of Cyberwoman builds its tension well, while the second half delivers non-stop action as the team fights to reclaim their base. The highlight—Lisa’s apparent demise at the hands of the pterodactyl—is a bold and bizarre choice, though the visual effects don’t entirely sell it.

The episode’s climax is particularly disturbing, with Lisa transferring her brain into a pizza delivery woman and attempting to convince Ianto that she is still the same person.

VERDICT: FLAWED BUT FASCINATING

Cyberwoman is a divisive episode, blending intense psychological horror with some questionable production choices. While it suffers from melodramatic moments and a controversial Cyber-design, it remains one of Torchwood's most memorable episodes, offering an in-depth look at Ianto’s character and the emotional toll of his past. Imperfect but intriguing.

📝83/100

RANDOM OBSERVATIONS:

• The Torchwood hub set was later used as the Cyber conversion chamber in The Next Doctor.