After eight years away the Cybermen successfully roar back into the series with this excellently spooky dramatic 1982 offering which poignantly also saw the departure of Matthew Waterhouse's Adric character. I agree that the best episode is the first with an element of mystery prevalent around what exactly lurks in the tunnels and whom are controlling the black androids. An hours worth of extras is lead off by the approx half hour 'Putting the Shock Into Earthshock', rather fanish in tone and unforgivably making a political connection between past and present Cyber design it does adequately deliver some interesting aspects of the making of this story. A reasonably entertaining title of a landmark Cyber story.

Yeah its a joke they use on the DVD but Matthew Waterhouse bows out as Adric in this story. Yes not a lot of people liked him and found him irritating and it was true that he was the logical choice to go when it cam eto cutting back companions.
All that to one side it is an explosive exit for him one of th emost powerful in the shows entire history, possibly now only beaten by the departure of Rose. The cybermen are kept hidden until the end of the first episode when it finally is realised what is going on. All in all a good story that explains away a little piece of history as well.

Androids! Bomb! Cybermen! Time travel! Adric!
Earthshock's story has plot holes so big you could fit a spaceship through, but the whole story holds together by the accurate use of suspense, timing and sudden revelations. Adric's final moment in the series is particularly touching, even for those who hated the character.
(Just don't judge the Doctor too harshly when you hear his pep talk about well-prepared meals)