Inhumanity and the Loss of Humanity
The Cybermen serve as an unnerving embodiment of inhumanity, forcing characters to confront what it means to be human in the face of relentless, emotionless logic. Evans’s transformation from a presumably compassionate scientist into a Cyberman puppet underscores the theme of lost humanity, while the crew’s exhaustion and desperation mirror the erosion of their moral and physical resilience. Ben Jackson’s skepticism and Jamie McCrimmon’s wariness reflect a broader human resistance to dehumanization, even when survival demands compromise. This theme is further complicated by the Doctor’s ambiguous relationship with his own 'inhuman' intelligence and detachment, blurring the line between protector and potential threat.
Events Exemplifying This Theme
In the control room, the crew’s exhaustion and mounting tension reach a breaking point as Hobson and Benoit discuss the unsustainable strain on Benson, who has been operating the critical …
In the moonbase’s control room, the crew’s exhaustion and desperation are palpable as they struggle to maintain the gravitron’s stability. Hobson and Benoit discuss the unsustainable workload on Benson, who …
In the moonbase’s control room, Commander Hobson attempts a desperate negotiation with Evans—now fully under Cyberman control—pleading for his humanity and offering a path to resistance. Evans, his voice cold …
The Doctor’s immediate concern for Polly’s well-being shifts abruptly when Nils reveals the moonbase is now running on dwindling reserve oxygen—a desperate measure to conserve supplies. The sudden, eerie silence …
The Doctor abruptly shifts focus from Polly’s recovery to the critical realization that the gravitron has stopped—a direct result of Evans’s sabotage while under Cyberman control. His urgency is palpable …