10 Most Cringeworthy Doctor Who Moments From The '80s

10. Chatty Cybermen - Earthshock (1982)

The 1982 episode Earthshock is a high point in '80s Who. Seriously. It has everything: the death of a companion (albeit an unpopular one); the triumphant return of a deadly enemy; a lot of gory, messy deaths; a cracking plot (so long as you don't look too closely at it); and chatty Cybermen. OK. Maybe not so much that last one. In episode three, as Tegan and the soldiers from Earth are looking for an opening to attack a couple of Cybermen, they watch them very carefully - as said Cybermen are apparently having an animated conversation about cybermat futures, or just how soft they prefer their software, or something. Whoever these extras are, they seem not to have gotten the memo about Cybermen being the emotionless remnants of our former selves rather than gossipy pensioners for whom Cyberconversion is just another entry on the bucket list. Watch this scene alongside one featuring Cybermen from the new series, and the difference is clear: 100% less cringiness!