Age of Steel is the second half of season 2's cyberman two-parter. It follows the Preachers, the Doctor and Rose, and Pete Tyler as they fight against the cybermen, led by Cybus Industries and John Lumic. It's full of intense and emotional moments that increase the suspense by the minute.
This episode's best feature is the characters in the alternate world. The Preachers, consisting of Ricky, Jake, and Mrs. Moore are very likeable characters, with Ricky being Mickey's parallel counterpart. I think Ricky and Mickey's dynamic is brilliant, with Ricky serving as a mirror for Mickey, showing him what he could do if he wasn't being held back. After Ricky dies during a mission to defeat Lumic, Mickey is left with Jake, who resents him because he believes him to be a weak replacement for his best friend. Their dynamic is also amazing, as they learn to work together. Mrs. Moore has a tragic ending, just as we learn her story, and I only wish there was more time to explore her character.
Overall, this episode is a brilliant sequel to Rise of the Cybermen, and I don't think it could be any better. Of course, it does end with Mickey leaving the TARDIS to fight cybermen across the world, but I think it's the perfect ending to his character arc. He's finally able to have a purpose and is surrounded by people to appreciate him and care about him, including his grandma. Every aspect of this episode is very well done and it really stands the test of time: 9.3/10.
This episode's best feature is the characters in the alternate world. The Preachers, consisting of Ricky, Jake, and Mrs. Moore are very likeable characters, with Ricky being Mickey's parallel counterpart. I think Ricky and Mickey's dynamic is brilliant, with Ricky serving as a mirror for Mickey, showing him what he could do if he wasn't being held back. After Ricky dies during a mission to defeat Lumic, Mickey is left with Jake, who resents him because he believes him to be a weak replacement for his best friend. Their dynamic is also amazing, as they learn to work together. Mrs. Moore has a tragic ending, just as we learn her story, and I only wish there was more time to explore her character.
Overall, this episode is a brilliant sequel to Rise of the Cybermen, and I don't think it could be any better. Of course, it does end with Mickey leaving the TARDIS to fight cybermen across the world, but I think it's the perfect ending to his character arc. He's finally able to have a purpose and is surrounded by people to appreciate him and care about him, including his grandma. Every aspect of this episode is very well done and it really stands the test of time: 9.3/10.