Stories Television Doctor Who Season 11 Serial: 1 2 3 4 5 The Time Warrior 1 image Overview Episodes Characters How to Watch Reviews 12 Statistics Related Stories Quotes 6 Transcript Overview First aired Saturday, December 15, 1973 Production Code UUU Written by Robert Holmes Directed by Alan Bromly Runtime 100 minutes Story Type New Companion Introduction Time Travel Past Tropes (Potential Spoilers!) First TARDIS trip, Mind Control, The Doctor’s Name, Time Travel Pivotal Story Arc (Potential Spoilers!) Working for UNIT Inventory (Potential Spoilers!) Rhondium sensor Location (Potential Spoilers!) Earth, England Synopsis When scientists start to go missing in the 20th century, the Doctor is called in by the Brigadier to investigate. His investigations lead him to deduce that they are being kidnapped through time, and he sets off in pursuit, unknowingly kidnapping journalist Sarah Jane Smith in the process. Arriving in the middle ages, the Doctor and Sarah find themselves caught up in the machinations of the robber baron Irongron and his "star warrior". The alien, a Sontaran named Linx, is arming him with modern weapons in return for helping him repair his damaged ship, and it's up to the Doctor and Sarah to stop him from ruining the Earth's timeline. Watch Watched Favourite Favourited Add Review Edit Review Log a repeat Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Owned Save to my list Saved Edit date completed Custom Date Release Date Archive (no date) Save 4 Episodes Part One First aired Saturday, December 15, 1973 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Robert Holmes Directed by Alan Bromly UK Viewers 8.7 million Appreciation Index 59 Synopsis England, the 12th century. Robber baron Irongron is recruited by Linx, a Sontaran warrior whose starship has been forced down on Earth. Linx is forced to use a time-travel device to steal resources and scientists from the future to repair his ship, but in doing so involves UNIT and the Doctor... Part Two First aired Saturday, December 22, 1973 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Robert Holmes Directed by Alan Bromly UK Viewers 7 million Synopsis The Doctor tracks the missing scientists to Irongron's castle, where Linx is using them to repair his spaceship and construct advanced weapons for Irongron. Part Three First aired Saturday, December 29, 1973 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Robert Holmes Directed by Alan Bromly UK Viewers 6.6 million Synopsis The Doctor escapes the castle with Sarah and Hal and must persuade Sir Edward to trust him before Irongron launches an attack on them. Part Four First aired Saturday, January 5, 1974 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Robert Holmes Directed by Alan Bromly UK Viewers 10.6 million Appreciation Index 60 Synopsis The Doctor attempts to return the scientists to their own time, before Linx tries to use his spaceship and destroys the entire castle. Show All Episodes Characters Third Doctor Jon Pertwee Sarah Jane Smith Elisabeth Sladen First Appearance Commander Linx Sontarans First Appearance The Brigadier Nicholas Courtney UNIT Show All Characters (6) How to watch The Time Warrior: Watch on iPlayer DVD The Time Warrior DVD Bred For War – The Sontaran Collection DVD The Monster Collection: The Sontarans DVD An Introduction to the Third Doctor VHS The Time Warrior (VHS) Reviews Add Review Edit Review Sort: Date (Newest First) Date (Oldest First) Likes (High-Low) Likes (Low-High) Rating (High-Low) Rating (Low-High) Word count (High-Low) Word count (Low-High) Username (A-Z) Username (Z-A) Spoilers First Spoilers Last 12 reviews 13 June 2025 · 110 words Review by ErickSoares3 1 That was for sure the Sontaran episode which I most enjoyed!! Sarah Jane Smith starts as an intriguing character - and as someone who would make "certain people" nowadays have a heart attack - and I'm excited to see what will happen with this character in the future. On the plot itself, I loved to see Sarah using the Occam razor to understand her own situation - but it backfired when she thought that the Doctor was working with the enemy. There are some nice gender commentary here and there, and it was heart-warming to see the Doctor, as always, not wanting to see anyone dying - even the antagonist. ErickSoares3 View profile Like Liked 1 1 June 2025 · 72 words Review by kawaii2234 when is this happening? which war are the soldiers fighting in? Robert please my history autism is kicking in I need a date beyond 'the middle ages' however this series debuts one of the most beloved companions and an iconic villain so I can't complain too much. this serial sets Sarah Jane up nicely showing us that she's bold and capable despite being out of her depth in terms of time travel. kawaii2234 View profile Like Liked 0 4 May 2025 · 79 words Review by Scottybguud Once again another strong season opener for the Third Doctor. The first appearance of both Sarah Jane Smith as well as the Sontaran species. Commander Linx, stuck in the middle ages, is stealing scientists from the 20th century to help him repair his ship. It's a good story, and anytime the Doctor, Sarah or Linx are on screen, they are great. Irongron and the people's of the 13th century i think, however, are not so good when on screen. Scottybguud View profile Like Liked 0 19 March 2025 · 94 words Review by KieranCooper Sarah Jane is a stand-out in this story, such energy and gusto in her character, especially in a male-heavy cast Side cast often felt like they were chewing the scenery, bit on the nose for me I do love a medieval setting, so I do have a soft spot for it This being the first Sontaran story is interesting, I think I prefer them whilst they're on solo missions I will never understand the cliffhanger to the 2nd episode and how that was orchestrated, just run in a straight line to the exit duh? KieranCooper View profile Like Liked 0 14 March 2025 · 37 words Review by Azurillkirby 1 It's no wonder that the Sontarans became such popular monsters after this. They feel like such a breath of fresh air compared to the usual Doctor Who villains. Extremely well utilized antagonist. Also Sarah Jane! A+. #KirbyDW Azurillkirby View profile Like Liked 1 Show All Reviews (12) Open in new window Statistics AVG. Rating536 members 3.94 / 5 Member Statistics Watched 982 Favourited 110 Reviewed 12 Saved 5 Skipped 1 Related Stories Other adaptations of this story: We define an adaptation as a recreation of a similar story but on a different medium or with different characters. Target Collection Doctor Who and the Time Warrior Rating: 3.64 Story Skipped Book Reviews(1) More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: Target Collection Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved Quotes Add Quote Link to Quote Favourite DOCTOR: A straight line may be the shortest distance between two points, but it is by no means the most interesting. — The Time Warrior Show All Quotes (6) Open in new window Transcript Needs checking Part One [Irongron's hall] (As a spaceship streaks through the inky black void, an axe smashes into a table in the great hall. Two men wearing heavy fur cloaks are seated.) IRONGRON: This sheep has been dead a year. Are they trying to poison me?BLOODAXE: It is salted.IRONGRON: Salted? It stinks! Wine! Must I perish of thirst? Bring me wine! (A serving woman pours from a pitcher into his tankard.) Show Full Transcript Open in new window
