Spare Parts


Spare Parts by Marc Platt

Based on this stories reputation, I assumed this story was literally Jesus. 
I'm not trying to disparage Spare Parts. It’s rather exquisite, and easily the second best Doctor Who Cybermen origin, next to TVs World Enough and Time. 
That being said, it was built up so much for me that it couldn’t help but give me a sense of disappointment. 
That and knowing what was going to happen to Yvonne and her family.
My problems with Spare Parts mostly amount to what doesn’t work for me in particular. On Paper, it's perfect. A cyberman origin story that delves into the body horror that makes them such good villains.
If anything...it’s just not twisted enough. Don’t get me wrong, It’s rather messed up, and I utterly adore the scenes at Yvonne’s house with the Cyberman and them trying to show him the Christmas tree and help him remember. It ultimately should have gone further with this story. The cyberman’s origin is miserable and in my opinion, my problems with this one a largely fixed in World Enough and Time. And neither discounts the other, which is lovely. 
Brave Heart: Peter Davison’s voice has always aged the most out of the Doctor’s, but this more dignified portrayal fits Five. He’s rather good, but you end up saying that of every Doctor to some degree.
Nyssa: This is a pretty dang good showing for Nyssa. She’s remarkably strong here, and without Tegan and Adric, she has the screen time that should have been afforded to her on television. (Yes, I know she’s in loads of 5 audios.)
That being said, she’s electrifying, and her almost mournfulness throughout culminating in asking Five about Adric, are the stories best scenes. That’s with stiff competition.
The Monsters: My problems with Spare Parts mostly amount to what doesn’t work for me in particular. On Paper, it's perfect. A cyberman origin story that delves into the body horror that makes them such good villains.
If anything...it’s just not twisted enough. Don’t get me wrong, It’s rather messed up, and I utterly adore the scenes at Yvonne’s house with the Cyberman and them trying to show him the Christmas tree and help him remember. It ultimately should have gone further with this, in my opinion. The cyberman’s origin is miserable and in my opinion, my problems with this one a largely fixed in World Enough and Time. And neither discounts the other, which is lovely. 
“WE WILL SURVIVE…”
Overall: It sounds like I’m being really harsh on Spare Parts, but all of my reviews have to establish my opinion on a story. And Spare Parts, although heavily flawed in my view, deserves all the praise it gets, as what it does well it does ludicrously well. 
What, did you think this was a negative review or something? 
9.5/10

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