In a complex universe, you’re a constant.

A step up from the previous episode. I thought that the speech between Sam and Fiona in the finale was great, and the Doctor’s appreciation for the Brig was lovely…but the Cybermen plotline wasn’t anything to ride home about.

The Ninth Doctor #17

'Old Friends: The Forth Generation' (2022) from The Ninth Doctor Adventures: Series 1.

Maybe I just wasn't paying enough attention to this, but I was really not invested in the almost entirely action-based story here. Lots of military / Brigadier communications and Cyberman stuff going on. The partial conversion of the woman in the story was a highlight, but still I didn't have any connection to her or the other side characters unfortunately.

While more impressive compared to its Part One (for more Thoughts on that Episode, please read my Review about that), I have to admit this second Part still didn't catch me as much as I would have hoped.

It's pretty solid all around. There are some great Moments/Uses of the Cybermen throughout it all out. And Culshaw's Brig with 9 is just lovely, really. I am not sure how I feel about the ending and if it really all came together at the end, but hey It does have its Moments, even if I hoped for a little more.

This was my first exposure to Jon Culshaw’s take on the Brigadier and I was pleasantly surprised, it was wonderful hearing the Brig notch one more Doctor (and one from the 21st century!) I was picturing Downtime era Courtney (which I think was the idea).

The best moment of the finale for me was when the proto-Cybermen were first waiting in the water, ready to make their first steps. An incredible visual summoned through audio.

(Review for this and the previous story.)

Two-parter with Cybermen and the Brigadier! ...Unfortunately I don't know the Brigadier well enough yet for this to be particularly nostalgic, and it wasn't much interesting otherwise.

C.