📝8/10

Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time!

This time: Poor Man's Spare Parts II

MY SCATTERED AND TOTALLY IRRELEVANT NOTES:

I love how the group is split up in the second part, reminiscent of the style used in Classic Who. This dynamic gives the episode a heist-like feel, making it far more engaging and exciting than the first part.

Helen Griffin delivers a standout performance as a fierce and compelling female freedom fighter. Meanwhile, Mickey finally rises to the occasion and embraces the role of a hero. I really enjoyed seeing him team up with Jake—they work well together and their budding camaraderie adds a nice touch.

These two episodes are directed by Graeme Harper, whose first credited work was Warrior’s Gate (1981). He would go on to direct several high-energy episodes of Doctor Who, and his skill is evident here. He does an excellent job, particularly in maintaining the suspense of the Cyberman reveal right up until the cliffhanger.

That said, the visual depiction of the parallel Earth is somewhat underwhelming—it comes across as very low-budget and lacks imagination.

This episode also takes time to remind us of the tragic humanity trapped inside the Cybermen. The absence of emotions is a grim necessity, as the alternative—being fully aware of the eternal pain inside those metal shells—is truly horrifying.

The story builds to a satisfying finale, followed by a poignant ending as Mickey chooses to stay behind in Pete’s World. His realization that he’s just the 'tin dog' is a bittersweet moment of growth for his character. Rose’s emotional turmoil, as her parallel father rejects her and Mickey leaves, adds a gut punch to the conclusion. While you can argue she had it coming, it still hits hard.