Neil Gaiman on Nightmare in Silver - Doctor Who Series 7 Part 2 (2013) - BBC One

Neil Gaiman reveals the process behind the return of the Cybermen in Nightmare in Silver.

#bbc

[ironjoker]

I recently found out that this episode was originally supposed to be a two-parter. I still really like it, but it's also really annoying they squished it down into a single part. 

[ganados]

If they want the Cybermen to be scary then just remind people of what they are: humans turned into machines. Go into the horror of it by showing a mass conversion in progress, take action into a conversion chamber, do an episode where cybermen regain their souls and the doctor wrestles with turning vital circuits on again, do something beyond the recent episode that have just been Cybermen rebuilding their army.

[DCSMedia]

Even though I don’t like this episode, I can respect and appreciate Neil’s ambition.

[Sterlingdg]

Oh no wonder I loved this episode so much, Neil wrote it.

[maddjshorts]

This episode has been one of my favorite performances from Matt. So much fun to watch.

[NeoDragonCount]

As much as I really don't want to argue with Neil Gaiman, but the 2006 Cybermen are far from steampunk. Their designs are derived more from the 1930's and 40's Art Deco style. Sure they did use improvised technology when they ended up in the Victorian era following the point when the Daleks and Davros almost destroyed the multi-verse, but concerning their intelligence, it's not surprising how they managed to up Victorian tech to the kind we've seen in steampunk fiction. I'd put them closer to dieselpunk or at least an archaic mode of cyberpunk, concerning their ability in linking up with any technology that encompasses some form of wireless function.

[irg]

The first time I found the Cybermen scary, great job Nail Gaiman!

[danielwilliamson]

Originally it was called "The Last Cyberman" but Steven Moffat had the title changed.

[OmarAhmed-eguu]

"Super soldiers" Thats how the cybermen were portrayed in Dark Waters/Death in Heaven, too. People need to understand that cybermen aren't meant to be super soldiers. They're not an army of iron men. Being invincible metal soldiers like in Iron man 2 isn't what makes them scary

[inglebritt]

Except that if you watch some classic who (in particular Tomb of the Cybermen), you'll discover that it's actually the other way around, the Borg are the Cybermen.

[timaustin]

"It all now worked" quoth Neil Gaimen. "No it bloody didn't" quoth I.

[Terri_MacKay]

That death has actually stayed with me as one of the most heartbreaking I've ever seen on the show.

[MechaOrangeStudios]

Matt Smith was brilliant in this episode and the Emperor twist was well executed and made sense in hindsight.

[DalekTheSupreme]

But David Tennant left the show YEARS ago, and Matt Smith portrayed the Cyber-Planner chillingly and brilliantly. Honestly, get over him! And the fact that Cybermen can now upgrade themselves makes them more unstoppable and a much deadlier force to be reckoned with.

[Cybermat]

I'm still hoping they bring back the Tenth Planet Cybermen someday...

[chrisodowd]

This was definitely the best cyberman episode of new who

[DalekTheSupreme]

They're not JUST machines and not JUST creatures, they're BOTH. They have the adaptability and drive to survive of animals, but the cold, emotionless logic and metallic power of machines.

[emivalx]

The cybermen are my favourite Doctor Who opponent. My favourite episode with them in is either Nightmare In Silver or The Tenth Planet but mainly because I haven't seen (or heard the audio for) any others.

[AlphaMunky]

I wanted more cyber action :(
I can honestly say I love the new redesign, but I hate the fact we haven't seen the cybermen properly in action since Tennant was the doctor. Yeah, we got them here and there.But I'm not satisfied. Same case with the Daleks...

[kingcrimson]

Neil Gaiman: The cyber men are scarier now, they are super-fast killing machines!
*Cuts to a Raston warrior robot looking into the camera like its in the office*