Cast : The Doctor : Patrick Troughton
Jamie : Frazer Hines
Zoe : Wendy Padbury
Lt. Carstairs : David Savile
Lady Jennifer : Jane Sherwin
General Smythe : Noel Coleman
Cmdt. Gorton : Richard Steele
Maj. Barrington : Terence Bayler
Cap. Ransom : Hubert Rees
Lt. Crane : David Valla
Sgt. Maj. Burns : Esmond Webb
Sgt. Willis : Brian Forster
Von Weich : David Garfield
Lt. Lucke : Gregg Palmer
War Lord : Philip Madoc
War Chief : Edward Brayshaw
Security Chief : James Bree
Chief Scientist : Vernon Dobtcheff
Sgt. Thompson : Bill Hutchinson
Corp. Riley : Terry Adams
Leroy : Leslie Schofield
Harper : Rudolph Walker
Spencer : Michael Lynch
Russell : Graham Weston
Moor : David Troughton
Du Pont : Peter Craze
Arturo Villar : Michael Napier Brown
Petrov : Stephen Hubay
Redcoat : Tony McEwan
Timelord 1 : Bernard Horsfall
Timelord 2 : Trevor Martin
Time Lord 3 : Clyde Pollitt
Tanya Lernov : Clare Jenkins
Written By : Malcom Hulke & Terrence Dicks
Produced By : Derek Sherwin
First UK Broadcast : 19 April – 21 June 1969.
Length : 10 x 25 minute episodes.
Plot : The Doctor, Jamie and Zoe – uncover a plot by a renegade Time Lord; involving the stealing and pitting of different time period Earth soldiers – against each other in battle. With the survivors forming a super army, to wage war through time-and-space.
Whats good : Troughton’s last episode, is an all out blast. Definite contender for greatest ever episode. Epic. Troughton. Edward Brayshaw. Philip Madoc. The Time Lord references. The Time Lord’s First Appearance. The trial. The regeneration ending.
Whats bad : That Troughton’s reign had to end – at all.
Review With Spoilers : The War Games, is the seventh and final serial of season 6 – and the final episode of the Troughton era.
The Doctor discovers a plot by a renegade Timelord, to train up a super-army; featuring soldiers from different time-periods. The soldiers are being pitted against each other in war-zones and the winners are then selected to form a super-army.
After defeating this plot, the Doctor summons the Time Lords, to help return the victims to their respective time-periods. However, the Timelords decide to put the Doctor on trial – for stealing a Tardis – and interfering with Earth history.
Troughton’s last episode – is a mini-epic at 10 x 25 minute episodes. It is essentially a morality tale, about the use and abuse of human life; for supreme power.
The War Chief; is expertly played by Edward Brayshaw, as a renegade Timelord (and possible contender for an earlier regeneration of the Master – although a link is never made). His scenes with Troughton, as they recognise and banter – their shared past; are joy to watch. Especially, as we begin to learn more about the Time Lords.
Also appearing briefly, is Who regular Philip Madoc – who brings value playing the War Lord. A bearded and cold alien-overlord of the War Games. It is interesting, watching the resulting powerplay between the War Lord, War Chief – and Security Chief.
Special praise has to goto Troughton himself, who acts his socks off – in this one. Towing the line, between liberator of the War Games and collaborator to the proceedings; to manoveur and save – his companions and friends.
Once having dealt with the War Games. The Doctor risks his own freedom, by calling in the Time Lords – to return all of the surviving soldiers to their own time-periods. Knowing full well, that the Time Lords will take the Doctor – into custody.
As a result, the Doctor is put on trial and despite mounting a spirited defence, is found guilty. The punishment, is Earth exile without a functioning Tardis – and to be spent spinning – into a void, with the next regeneration kickstarted. A great cliffhanger ending – to season 6.
It is also sad end for the Doctor’s companions aswell. As long-serving companion; Jamie – and Zoe are sent back to their own time-periods, with their minds wiped of all of their Tardis travels.
“You will be sent to Earth in the twentieth century, and will remain there for as long as we deem proper, and for that period the secret of the Tardis will be taken from you!” Timelord
Troughton’s time ends, on such a downer but this is down to such good writing. It really feels like the end of an era (and it was for 1960’s Doctor Who). Troughton – again, shines in this segment. Especially at the trial.
This episode, was the only one to use an unfinished regeneration (referenced as “a change of appearance”) – as a cliffhanger – to the next season.
The viewer then had to wait until the following season, to find out who the new Doctor was. It was a great way to end the Second Doctor’s era – as unresolved, rather than the normal practice of briefly – introducing the new incoming Doctor.
This was also the first direct mention and subsequent appearance of the Doctor’s home race; the Time Lords. The disabled Tardis sub-story, would form the backstory to the first three seasons of the new Pertwee-era.
The War Games, was also the last episode of Doctor Who – to be broadcast in black and white. The following season 7; with new Doctor Jon Pertwee – was in colour for the first time.
A definite high point – from Troughton’s era and possibly the greatest ever epsiode of Doctor Who. A fitting send off for the cosmic-hobo Doctor.
