Classic Who Catch Up

I have been a big fan of Doctor Who since it’s revival in 2005 but was too young to have watched the original series. On this blog I shall be recording my thoughts on every story from 1963 onwards!

33: The War Games

“All these evils I have fought, while you have done nothing but observe. True, I am guilty of interference. Just as you are guilty of failing to use your great powers to help those in need”

Format: 10 episodes, each 25 minutes long

Team TARDIS:

• Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton)
• Jamie McCrimmon (Jacobite Rebel from 1746)
• Zoe Herriot (Librarian from the future)

Story: The TARDIS arrives in the middle of what appears to be WWI. Turns out an alien race is taking humans from their own time zones and putting them on their own planet to simulate warfare. They have the help of a time lord and it is because of this the Doctor is forced to call upon his race and ends up being taken to trial for interfering with other worlds.

What I liked: 

• The whole idea of the war games. A horrible idea really but great for a story. A bit like a Matrix kind of thing.
• The sonic screwdriver appears for what I think is the first time
• The Time Lords are named and they visit Gallifrey (which isn’t named!)

What I disliked:

• The final episode did feel tacked onto the end just for the regeneration

Overall thoughts:A cracker of a story which has become my fave 2nd Doctor story! Many say ten episodes is too many but apart from the last one they were all entirely justified for the story. Bringing together wars from across time onto one planet was a horrific yet brilliant idea. Seeing the Time Lords is a delight but it’s sad to say goodbye to Zoe and Jamie. Their leaving scene is done wonderfully and brought a tear to my eye. And then all that’s left is for the Doctor to be told he will be exiled on Earth and is forced to change his appearance. It ends in the middle of his regeneration! A fantastic ending of a fantastic era. The trio of Two, Jamie and Zoe are one of the best TARDIS teams I’ve seen so far. This story must have been incredible in 1969 and it’s still pretty amazing now. Goodbye Two, you were awesome and bring on Three!

Next Time: New Doctor! Autons! UNIT! IN COLOUR!