What a mixed bag. Now halfway through McCoy's era on my first ever watch-through, I feel I understand its vibe a little better than I had simply absorbing the 7th Doctor through other media.

This season continues to outdo McCoy's first season even when it stumbles. Though I can't even truly say whether Silver Nemesis is a stumble. I find myself asking: What does it all mean?

For example, our opening shot and a decent amount of the plotting involve a neo-Nazi group from South America pursuing this powerful weapon. But why Nazis? Two stories ago, we got a Nazi-lite far-right group getting mixed up with Daleks in a way that intentionally drew parallels between the two. Here, the Nazis seem to be nothing more than a recognizable, definable and evil faction included because we can reliably count on them to pursue the MacGuffin du jour and expect our heroes to oppose them, Indiana Jones-style. There are definite themes you can pull out of a Nazi/Cyberman crossover. This adventure very nearly does that in Episode 2, when the Nazi leader speaks of supermen and superiority. But I kept expecting and hoping it would amount to more.

Relatedly, there's a level of confusion that pervades this era. Maybe I'm not as media literate as I need to be to understand these plots better, but basically every 7 story to this point has left me asking, at multiple points, why characters are doing what they're doing. Why are things happening? Why are characters going where they're going? Saying things the way they're saying them? Taking a step back, the plots make sense from a distance. But actually watching them leaves me with the feeling that there are steps missing. This is mirrored in the geography of some scenes. The clunkiness of yelling out chess moves as the Doctor and Ace twirl around Cybermen is definitely something that looked good on paper and absolutely falls apart as it starts happening on screen.

All of this said, I do appreciate what this episode does well. The characters are fun and better defined than in some other McCoy serials. I love an episode where we hop between different times. It makes the Whoniverse, and the concept of time-travel, feel very alive and less like a device to drop our protagonists in Pompeii or wherever.

Other reviewers have pointed our that this adventure adds little to the mystery of who the Doctor is, and I would agree and add it seems to be mysterious for mystery's sake, which is always annoying. But it is interesting to me, someone who came to DW through NuWho, how well the dialogue here gels with the Timeless Child revelations.

Rewatched 2025-05-07 (⭐⭐⭐)

Hmm, well. In terms of how it's filmed it's probably the worst of the McCoy era, if not late 80s Who. A lot of location filming that makes it look like a student film, and not a very good one. The writing's decent, not bad but also the plot could have had a few extra drafts. So, in terms of how this is made its really forgettable.

That being said, I like most of the performances - Lady Peinforte especially, I'd really like to see her in another story (if its able to capture her energy) - and I can at least understand what goes on at the end so it isn't the worst McCoy serial.

• I'm not sure what I was expecting with this story, but maybe something a little more exciting
• The Cybermen don't have much of a presence and that disappointed me, I love the Cybermen
• I'm not sure how this story adds much depth to the mystery of the Doctor, it doesn't really
• I did enjoy the scenes of Ace battling Cybermen
• Performances were great, so at least that served when the story doesn't

I went into this one expecting to be disappointed, but it was better than I'd anticipated. Not good, mind you, but an enjoyable enough watch. I really think this one suffers from having too much happening at once; Lady Peinforte, the Nazis, the Cybermen, at least one of them needed to go (preferably not Peinforte, though). The whole thing felt pretty bizarre, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it really could have done with a few more rounds of editing. Mind you, I did quite enjoy Seven and Ace here, and Peinforte's gambit at the end was interesting indeed. Overall, I think that this story is just overshadowed as the 25th anniversary story when compared to Rememberance. On its own, it's pretty fun, though I'm not in a hurry to rewatch it anytime soon.

This is part of a series of reviews of Doctor Who in chronological timeline order.

Previous Story: The Happiness Patrol

I'd say this is McCoy's first dud. The fact that I can say that and it's still a pretty solid story says a lot about the quality of his era. There's a fair bit to like here. For starters, this story just looks brilliant. The sets are really nice and there's some great location stuff too. I also don't know what it is but the Cybermen look the best they have since 1966 here. I'm not sure what tweaks were done to the design since we last saw them but they look excellent.

There's a lot of odd stuff here though. The whole neo-nazi plot doesn't really amount to much in the end. Lady Peinforte is an odd character too, she's clearly very knowledgeable in things she shouldn't be. I'd be interested to see her backstory. There's also a lot of hints at the Doctor's unseen adventures which feel a lot like they're supposed to be building up to some big reveal a season or two down the line (but we all know how that turned out). I'm not sure I like the backstories they're hinting at for the Doctor but that's not a complain with this story.

The dialogue was very odd. You can tell the cast are trying their best but there were some really odd sounding lines that even McCoy and Aldred couldn't save. I'm also pretty sure some of it was ADR which really didn't help it sound natural. Other than that though, I had fun with this story but I can't say it's a particularly good one especially after the non-stop bangers we've been having.

Next Story: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy

📝6/10

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

"Silver Nemesis: An Ambitious Mix of Ideas That Doesn't Quite Land"

Silver Nemesis is a fascinating ambition-over-execution story that attempts to combine several intriguing elements—neo-Nazis, a 17th-century time traveller, and the Cybermen—with mixed success. While the individual concepts are engaging and hint at the larger mythos of the show, the plot ultimately struggles to integrate them into a cohesive and satisfying narrative.

The first episode is undoubtedly the strongest, as it effectively establishes the different players: Lady Peinforte from the 17th century, neo-Nazi supremacists led by De Flores, and the Cybermen. The way these elements intertwine with different points in time is an exciting concept, and there’s a real sense of mystery and promise in Part One. However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear that the plot lacks focus.

Part Two and Part Three seem more concerned with moving the characters around than advancing the narrative meaningfully. Instead of delivering on the intrigue established early on, the plot meanders with filler sequences that don’t add much substance. By the time the climax arrives, it feels dragged-out and anticlimactic, failing to capitalize on the setup.

That being said, the story does tease deeper revelations about the Doctor’s past, aligning with the Cartmel Master Plan. Hints about the Doctor’s hidden identity and his relationship to Time Lord history add an air of mystery to the Seventh Doctor's characterisation, even if these ideas remain unresolved due to the show's premature cancellation.

The Seventh Doctor continues to develop as a darker, more manipulative strategist, following his brilliant characterization in Remembrance of the Daleks. His fierce and confident confrontation with the Cybermen echoes his growing mastery of manipulation and planning. McCoy’s performance is excellent as usual, balancing the Doctor’s charm and subtle menace.

Ace shines once again as one of the best companions of the classic era. Her bravery, intelligence, and rebellious streak are on full display. She deliberately disobeys the Doctor’s orders, not out of recklessness, but because she knows she can help him in her own way. This demonstrates her trust in the Doctor and their growing partnership. It’s also refreshing to see her fearful yet resolute, proving that she is a multi-dimensional character. Her ability to take on Cybermen rivals her memorable battle with the Daleks in Remembrance of the Daleks.

Lady Peinforte is an intriguing character played with theatrical flair by Fiona Walker. She is introduced as a fearless and cunning time traveller from the 17th century. Her knowledge of the Doctor’s secrets and her role in the story adds an air of menace early on. Unfortunately, her character devolves into comic relief by Part Three, which undermines her earlier impact.

Lady Peinforte’s companion, Richard, also suffers from inconsistent characterization. He begins as an interesting sidekick but becomes increasingly irrelevant.

De Flores, the neo-Nazi leader played by Anton Diffring, is a chillingly believable villain. His unwavering supremacist ideals make him detestable yet grounded. However, his plotline never fully pays off, and he ultimately feels like another underused character.

The Cybermen, while visually imposing and competently portrayed (with David Banks as the Cyber-Leader once again delivering), feel more like secondary players in their own story. They lack the menace and gravitas they had in Earthshock.

Despite the narrative shortcomings, Silver Nemesis features strong production values. The location shooting is well utilized, particularly the 17th-century sequences and the outdoor Cybermen battles. The use of CGI effects—especially for 1988—is commendable and adds to the visual flair of the serial.

The Cybermen design remains consistent with previous appearances, but the story doesn’t do anything innovative with them. The Cybermen are ultimately overshadowed by the Doctor’s schemes and Lady Peinforte’s theatrics, which is disappointing for their final appearance in the classic series.

The pacing is one of the story’s biggest flaws. While the first episode feels tightly constructed, the remaining parts slow down considerably, leading to a finale that feels drawn out and underwhelming.

The story continues to build on the darker, more mysterious characterization of the Seventh Doctor. The hints about the Doctor’s hidden past—particularly Lady Peinforte’s cryptic knowledge of his secrets—contribute to the Cartmel Master Plan. This was an attempt to reintroduce mystery into the Doctor’s backstory, elevating him beyond the established lore and implying that he might be “something more” than just a Time Lord.

Unfortunately, the unresolved nature of these hints leaves them feeling more like teases than revelations. It’s fascinating but frustrating in retrospect, as the show’s cancellation prevented any follow-up on these ideas.

Final Thoughts:

Silver Nemesis is a story with great ideas that never quite come together. Its intriguing mix of historical and futuristic elements, combined with hints of the Doctor’s deeper secrets, shows clear ambition. However, uneven pacing, underused characters, and an anticlimactic conclusion prevent it from reaching the heights of other Seventh Doctor stories like Remembrance of the Daleks.

That said, it’s still an enjoyable adventure with solid performances and great moments for the Doctor and Ace. While it’s not a standout Cybermen story, it remains a light and watchable tale that fans may revisit for its atmosphere and ambitious scope.

Random Observations:

• The Doctor’s digital stopwatch is an amusing nod to advancing technology in the late 1980s. It feels charmingly old-school now.
• This serial marks the final Cybermen appearance in the classic series. Their next major return wouldn’t occur until Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel in the revived series.

I came into these episodes expecting a pretty rough time.  Silver Nemesis is generally considered disappointing by a lot of fans, and the last few Cyberman stories from the Classic Who era I've encountered (stuff like Wheel in Space and Attack of the Cybermen) have been underwhelming.  So colour me surprised when I found Silver Nemesis an utterly charming little adventure.  There's a lot I really liked here.  Primarily Ace and the Doctor really get to just enjoy each other's company and some music early on in this story, to the extent I could have just watched them do that for an hour.  There's something very charming about it all, undoubtedly thanks to the acting chops of McCoy and Aldred.  Yet there's also some really fun, snappy dialogue that got me laughing on a few occasions.

It helps that one of our villains, Lady Peinforte, is pretty great and silly all at once.  Her, a person from 1638, is pretty amusing to watch trapse around Windsor in 1988 with her henchman Richard.  Those two carry a lot of scenes and I love how Richard shows up at the end to play more music for the Doctor and Ace.

This is a great story overall but is a little clunky in parts.  Instead of focusing on Peinforte and this Nemesis object in space which I found decently compelling as a story, we also have two other villains - the Cybermen and some Nazi named De Flores.  The Nazi was okay.  He reminds me a lot of a generic Indiana Jones-style villain and I like his backstory of being one of those officers who escaped to South America.  He's fun enough but isn't around much and then gets killed off quite unceremoniously.  The Cybermen only fair a little better.  I do like how they recognize the Doctor by now but they don't really feel like they were needed for the story.

These problems are more technical than prohibitive, I find.  Sure, it's a bit of a cluttered story, but most of the actual scenes in this serial are focused on Ace and the Doctor chilling, or Peinforte and Richard on a rampage, and I have a lot of fun with those scenes.  I'd definitely recommend this one and it really helps round out Season 25 for me as one of the better runs of Doctor Who episodes.

I think the hate for this mainly comes from it being marketed as the 25th anniversary episode and it maybe not living up to that tag but I actually enjoyed it. There's nothing particularly bad about it, it's just there's too much going on for it to do everything justice in 3 episodes. Some of the action is terrific, especially the scene with Ace and the Cybermen in episode 3 and even if it never came to anything, the hints about The Doctor are intriguing.

There’s a hell of a lot going on in this one. Much like Remembrance of the Daleks you have several different enemies vying for screen time but in far less effective fashion. The 17th century magic folk, the macguffins, the cybermen, the neo-nazis - none of this stuff hangs together. Everyone seems poised for violence and destruction of others at the drop of a hat.

It’s a weak 25th anniversary treat, working in the anniversary date in a pretty inconsequential way. One of many threads that could have been more effectively expanded upon. I can’t say I’m devastated that this is Kevin Clarke’s first and last story.

I did enjoy the moments between McCoy and Aldred. The show is so lucky to have them holding everything up. This would have been a painful watch with the previous TARDIS team.