Maybe a bit controversial, but lately I noticed whenever I see a Ranking of the 60s or Hartnell Stories that this one was always one of the highest. Personally, I kinda can’t see that, so I would be curious to hear from possibly people who do love or at least like that Story why they perhaps do.
(And yes I know due to it being the first Cybermen and first Regeneration Story, I am not surprised that it is seen in such high regards, for that I also respect the Story a lot, but personally I really can’t get along too well with the Story. It isn’t the worst or a bad one, but in my eyes it rather leaves a bitter taste.)
I think you hit the nail on the head - first Cyberman story, first regeneration. It’s a Classic.
I’ve only seen it once and I gave it 4/5, extremely high for Classic Who for me. It was probably also because of how momentous it was. I can’t remember anything that really happened lol.
It might also be because this has one of if not the best Cybermen design in the show. The Cybermen are also possibly at their scariest here. They are more human here than the emotionless robots they seem to devolve into.
Yeah, that’s actually a great point. I do really love the Mondasian Cybermen, their Design and voice is superb, shame they weren’t able to stick with that Design in later stories
Honestly, one of the best Cybermen designs (though I do really like the redo of the design in World Enough and Time/The Doctor Falls), it was the origin of the whole concept, and a lot of other Cybermen stories tend to treat them as if they were just robots.
And while there were definitely sections of the story that could have used improvement, a good, well-acted scene can do a lot, and we got this…
I love the Cyber design in this story and, as a story, it is hugely significant for obvious reasons but…
…I rewatched it very recently with my eldest and was really rather bored! There is a lot of people talking in only a couple of sets and it does seem to be a lot of scenes of the Cybermen repeatedly walking into the control room. Ben keeps crawling between sets through the ventilation and there are various people stuck in spaceships who can’t move talking about stuff too.
Yeah, I can see that, as I said I am not the best in articulating my complicated feelings, overall it’s a serial I respect for its significant rather than like it.
One of these ones where I’d tend to feel the serial does have some issues (and the central “tenth planet” bit hasn’t held up), over all… but it’s also introducing the Cybermen for the first time and does a great job of that, has some memorable scenes (“Have you no emotions?”), and the very first regeneration. All in all, good stuff.
On the plus side, has a black astronaut. On the minus side, they die…
This is a perfect Example of a Story, which I respect more than I actually like.
I am more than grateful of what it introduces and there are PLENTY of Bits, I really like, it’s not like I don’t like this Story, just don’t love it.
On the positives, the Cybermen are at their Peak, their Design scary, their Voices terrifying, and their Goal fits perfectly with them. Their presence gives this one a superb eerie Feeling. The first Regeneration Scene is done so well, and I quite like how suddenly it all happens with the Doctor just acting weird, collapsing and becoming a whole new Man. Hartnells Speech about Emotions is one of the Show’s best and shows how great of an Actor he really was. And yet there is just something missing for me to elevate this one further. Of course, the Fact that his Presence is on ultimate low here doesn’t help much the matter to make it a really satisfying Ending for this Era of the Show. It’s really hard to articulate it, as I said it does have PLENTY of Things which makes it a GOOD Story, but it’s still very far away from being a great Story.
As for the Animation: It’s honestly one of my favorites. It has a nice, more dynamic Touch to it compared to the previous outing from the same Studio, which was on a good Path but just felt super akward. This one just works and brings the last Episode to life pretty seamless.
So here’s the deal. I really like The Tenth Planet, but every time I rewatch it, I am reminded of how it can feel a bit samey and slow at times. But it’s up there thanks to its fantastic setting, the introduction of the Cybermen (in their best design!) and the regeneration, of course. I also agree that the main trio is sorely underutilised, with Polly reduced to coffee duty. Hooray for 60s gender roles!
Anyway, can’t wait to finally move onto the Troughton era in two weeks!
7/10
The Tenth Planet is not a perfect story—it suffers from a slow middle act, underused companions, and the absence of its leading man for a quarter of its runtime. But what it does achieve is historic: it introduces the Cybermen in genuinely creepy form, establishes the regeneration concept that would define the show’s future, and delivers a strong base-under-siege narrative with a rich atmosphere and thematic depth. Kit Pedler’s attempts at “serious” sci-fi don’t always land, but they give the story a distinct flavour. Add in solid direction, a diverse cast, and that haunting final scene in the TARDIS, and The Tenth Planet becomes far more than just a send-off—it’s a rebirth.
Feel free to read my full review below (unhidden spoilers):
