Doctor Who’s Cybermen have been a staple of the franchise’s history since their first appearance in 1966. Their origin story has been reimagined several times, with each iteration adding to their lore. The original Cybermen came from Mondas, a twin planet of Earth, where the Mondassians replaced their bodies with cybernetics. Later episodes revealed the Cybermen’s presence in alternate universes and gave them a new home planet, Telos. The most recent explanation is that Cybermen are a result of parallel evolution, with any species capable of becoming them. The Cybermen represent the dangers of technology, with their gradual replacement of organic parts with machinery being a common theme in science fiction. Despite not receiving as much recognition or merchandise as the Daleks, the Cybermen remain an integral part of Doctor Who’s history and have been a solid metaphor for the dangers of technology.
The Evolution and Origin of Doctor Who’s Cybermen
Doctor Who has been a staple of science fiction for decades, with numerous story arcs and a rich lore that has captivated audiences worldwide. Among the Doctor’s foes are the Daleks, the Master, and the Cybermen, who were the first enemies to force the Doctor to regenerate. However, the origins of the Cybermen have been explored in various ways throughout the series.
Real-World Origins
Behind the scenes, the Cybermen were the brainchild of Kit Pedler, a medical scientist from the University of London who was also a firm believer in psychic phenomena. Pedler’s extensive knowledge of hard science and his interest in pseudoscience made him the perfect fit for the Doctor Who production team as its unofficial scientific advisor. Pedler collaborated with the show’s story editor, Gerry Davis, on two serials that explored the idea of science having a negative impact on humanity, with “The Tenth Planet” introducing the first iteration of the Cybermen in 1966.
Cybermen Design
In their debut, the Cybermen were designed by Alexandra Tynan, credited as Sandra Reid for unknown reasons. Their suits were made of cotton jersey fabric, with vinyl holes for their eyes and mouths, and metal frames made of polythene. Wellington boots, plastic piping, and silver paint were used instead of gloves. However, their appearance evolved over time, with their current design featuring fiberglass pieces layered on top of a Lycra bodysuit. The Cybermen now require forty distinct pieces, brushed with aluminum and polished for a distinctive shine. Although various logos and extraneous pieces have come and gone over the years, the most memorable aspect of their appearance is still the matched handles on either side of their metal helmet.
Despite not receiving as much recognition or merchandise as the Daleks, the Cybermen remain an integral part of Doctor Who’s history. With the franchise constantly evolving and adding to its lore, it remains to be seen if the origins of the Cybermen will continue to be explored in future story arcs.
Doctor Who’s Cybermen: Evolution and Explanation
Doctor Who’s Cybermen have been a recurring threat for the Doctor since their first appearance in 1966. Over the years, their origin story has been reimagined multiple times, with each iteration adding to their lore.
The Original Cybermen
In their initial appearance, the Cybermen hailed from Mondas, the twin planet of Earth. Thousands of years ago, Mondas tumbled out of orbit, putting its citizens at constant risk of death. The Mondassians were technologically advanced and replaced large portions of their bodies with cybernetics. Despite their advancements, most Mondassians died. To replenish their numbers, they forcibly performed the same procedures on other beings, becoming conquerors and adding anyone they could to their ranks.
New Homes and Alternate Universes
In later episodes, the Cybermen were given a new home planet, Telos, which held several tombs that contained the cyborgs for millennia before their initial discovery. They were also revealed to be present in an alternate universe.
The Most Recent Explanation
The most recent explanation ties together the previous ones. Cybermen are a case of parallel evolution, in which multiple species independently develop similar traits. Any sufficiently advanced species will eventually start augmenting themselves, with some turning to cybernetic enhancement and eventually fully replacing themselves with machinery. This results in Cybermen appearing across the multiverse.
The Metaphor of Technology’s Dangers
The Cybermen are a solid metaphor for the dangers of technology. The idea of a person gradually replacing every part of their body with machinery until they are no longer distinguishable as a human is a common theme in science fiction, but Doctor Who was one of the first examples. The Cybermen represent the natural result of any sapient species that decides to set aside their organic forms in favor of steel and plastic.
Despite not receiving as much recognition or merchandise as the Daleks, the Cybermen remain an integral part of Doctor Who’s history. They’ve been the central antagonist for some of the most important stories in the franchise’s long history, and they’ve been one of the most straightforward forces in the universe.
The Lesson of the Cybermen
In conclusion, the evolution and explanation of the Cybermen have provided multiple examples of the dangers of technology. The latest explanation that Cybermen are a result of parallel evolution emphasizes that any species can become them, making it a cautionary tale for all. The Cybermen remain a favorite of Doctor Who fans and a classic example of science fiction villains.
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