Earthshock

"So we meet again, Doctor…"

A fateful landing on Earth in the 26th Century finds the TARDIS deep within a system of subterranean caves and even deeper within the mystery surrounding the brutal murder of a group of geologist working there.  Who is controlling the androids guarding the hatch in the rock face?  More importantly, what lies beyond the hatch?  The answers provide a serious threat for the Doctor as the time and place is set for an encounter with his old arch enemies.  The Cybermen are well and truly back…

• Following on the heels of one of the worst Davison stories ("Black Orchid") is perhaps one of his best, "Earthshock."

• "Earthshock" was the first Cybermen story since "Revenge of the Cybermen" some 6 years earlier.

• No mention of the return of the Cybermen was made prior to the transmission of this story.  So, their revelation at the end of episode 1 came as a surprise to fans.

• Adric, played by Matthew Waterhouse, leaves at the end of this adventure.  In a controversial move, he was killed off in the last few minutes of the program.  This hadn't been done since the Hartnell adventure "The Daleks' Masterplan" back in 1965.

• Fans of the series were surprised and shocked at the death of Adric, as no announcement had been made of his departure.

• Matthew Waterhouse (Adric) was very upset with the way his character was written out, feeling that it would exclude him from ever returning to the program.  He was so mad, in fact, that he refused to even talk to then producer John Nathan-Turner for several weeks.

• Watch carefully for some pretty amazing human troopers.  In one scene in episode 3 a trooper is grabbed from behind by a Cyberman while trying to enter the TARDIS.  She makes an amazing full recovery as the same actress can be seen only seconds later alive and well and already inside the TARDIS as the Cyberman enters.  

• This story is also available on DVD with a restored picture, isolated soundtrack and loads of bonus material (including several new special effects made for key sequences).