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“The War Games: A Monumental and Influential Classic”

The War Games is an epic tale that epitomises everything remarkable about Patrick Troughton’s tenure as the Doctor while also serving as a grand send-off to his era. Despite its ten-episode length and occasional padding, the story remains a masterpiece of tension, innovation, and characterisation, setting the stage for much of the lore that defines Doctor Who today.

The genius of The War Games lies in its ability to transform a seemingly simple narrative into a rich, multi-layered epic. Beginning as a war drama set in the trenches of World War I, the story gradually evolves into a high-stakes science fiction thriller. The introduction of armies from different historical periods, manipulated to fight endless wars on a single alien planet, is a brilliantly original concept.

This juxtaposition of historical and futuristic elements creates an engaging dynamic that keeps the story fresh throughout its runtime. The plot twists and revelations—from the true nature of the War Chief to the Time Lords’ role—ensure that the stakes grow continuously until the explosive finale.

Patrick Troughton delivers one of his finest performances as the Second Doctor. His blend of cunning, humour, and moral conviction shines through, particularly in the final episodes. The courtroom scenes, where he passionately defends his actions, are a standout, showcasing the depth and range of his Doctor.

Frazer Hines (Jamie) and Wendy Padbury (Zoe) are equally exceptional, proving why this TARDIS team is a fan favourite. Their camaraderie and determination come to the forefront as they lead the resistance, offering many memorable moments. Their emotional departure, forced by the Time Lords, is one of the most poignant farewells in the series’ history.

The supporting cast is stellar. Philip Madoc’s War Lord is a cold, calculating villain, and Edward Brayshaw’s War Chief is an enigmatic and charismatic presence. Their scenes together crackle with tension, particularly as their motives and loyalties come into conflict. Jane Sherwin as Lady Jennifer adds a welcome layer of strength and independence, while Noel Coleman’s General Smythe exudes menace.

The introduction of the Time Lords is one of the story’s most significant contributions to Doctor Who lore. Their portrayal as an omnipotent yet morally ambiguous race adds depth to the Doctor’s character, especially as he struggles with his decision to call on them for help. The War Chief’s connection to the Doctor hints at the rich backstory of Gallifrey, further explored in later years.

The story’s exploration of war, control, and resistance gives it an enduring relevance. Its depiction of moral dilemmas, particularly the Doctor’s inability to save the day alone, elevates it beyond a typical adventure.

David Maloney’s direction is exemplary, managing to keep this lengthy serial visually engaging. The World War I sequences feel authentic, and the alien command centre is suitably eerie. The use of location filming adds a cinematic quality, and the haunting music score enhances the atmosphere of tension and unease.

While the ten-episode structure does lead to some repetitive moments—such as the Doctor and companions being captured and escaping multiple times—the variety of settings and characters ensures the story remains engaging.

The War Games is one of the most influential stories in Doctor Who history. It introduced concepts and characters that continue to shape the series, from the Time Lords to the Doctor’s moral dilemmas. The epic scale and layered storytelling make it a fitting finale for the Second Doctor’s era.

📝Verdict: 9/10

Though its length may be daunting, The War Games is a richly rewarding experience. It’s a perfect blend of drama, action, and characterisation, featuring one of the most emotionally charged finales in Doctor Who. A cornerstone of the show’s legacy, it remains a must-watch for fans of the classic series.

Random Observations:

• The German soldier in episode 3 is so amazingly over-the-top I can't help but love him. His reaction to the sonic screwdriver is priceless.
• Is it just me, or does the German general look like Blofeld from You Only Live Twice?
• So many things with this story remind me of Westworld.
• I love the War Scientist, who is so devoted to his work that it takes a better part of two episodes for him to realise The Doctor isn't who he claims he is.
• There it is, the first time the Time Lords are mentioned by name, at the start of Episode 6. Interestingly, not by the Doctor or the War Chief, but by the Scientist.
• The scene in Episode 7 where Carstairs struggles to speak French with the rescued soldier is intentionally hilarious. The TARDIS should, of course, translate everything for everyone, but this serial seems to use that logic pretty loosely whenever the script requires that.
• There have never been enough great Mexican characters on the show, so we're lucky that the Troughton era gave us two: Salamander in The Enemy of the World and the loveably trigger-happy Pancho Villa here.
• The Episode 9 cliffhanger is arguably the most intense and dramatic since the ending to The Daleks' Master Plan.

Wow. The War Games is quite long, but it never drags or becomes boring. In fact, I feel that it's one of the more exciting stories of its era. There's plenty of action, frequent location changes, plenty of mystery and suspense, and engaging characters. I felt that there were some great sets and costumes, and the score also particuarly stood out to me. The ending is nice and fitting. This serial completely deserves the praise it so often receives.

A terrific story, one of Troughton's best.

From the first minute after the title sequence, you know that the showrunners knew they were onto something special, with a bombastic flashing title card amidst explosions and gunfire. Then, our gang seems to be thrust into the middle of a typical historical set in WWI. The viewer pre-emptively braces themselves for 10 episodes of wacky misunderstandings and hijinks, and mutter "please don't become another base under siege...".

That is until we are shown that something is very, very wrong with this war zone (aside from the usual fighting and death), as the clearly villainous English general sends a message to his (definitely alien) superiors, accompanied by some wonderfully ominous music from the Radiophonic Workshop. As the Doctor and his companions continue to fight for their lives, things keep going hilariously wrong (Romans appearing out of nowhere is now one of my favourite cliffhangers in Classic Who). After 3 episodes, the story completes the transition from weird historical to fully high-concept sci-fi, as the Doctor and Zoe travel in a TARDIS-like machine and arrive in a thoroughly alien, probably fascist, command centre/weird goggles convention.

The mysteries don't end there, however, as we get a very slow tease that there are other members of the Doctor's race, plus some wonderful former-best-friends-maybe-boyfriends/proto-Master chemistry between the Doctor and the War Chief. This is followed by several episodes of (to simplify) an intense cat-and-mouse game between the two, while in the War Zones, Jamie employs his usual Scottish charm to galvanise the Resistance into action. (They are in small groups, and engage in guerilla warfare, I wonder if that could symbolise anything in 1969...) Though, points get deducted as we get an instance of "black character dies first" as part of a tragic racist streak in the Troughton era, and Lady Jennifer, who has been a wonderful addition to the group so far, gets sidelined as she gets back to her """womanly""" job of being a nurse. Things are also not going very well at the School for Spiral Enthusiasts as usual fascist infighting/mutual distrust ensues between the two Chiefs, and they are forced to summon Daddy the War Lord.

All of this culminates in an epic, sweeping climax as the Resistance begins a coordinated effort at taking down the sci-fi incel rally... except it is interrupted as the Doctor realises just how bad the situation has gotten. What follows is possibly the greatest half-hour of Classic Who ever. The Doctor has uncharacteristically lost all hope, as these mysterious Time Lords yield never-before-seen power, vanishing people into thin air while pressing the "0.5x" button on their tape of the episode. They disable the TARDIS, destroying the show's format. They also un-do a season's worth of character development for Zoe, and separate the Doctor from his boyfriend. While the Doctor tries to maintain an air of optimism as he says his goodbyes, he knew the cruelty of the Time Lords only too well. (Troughton's delivery of "They'll forget me, won't they?" is heartbreaking)

The episode ends with our hero on a screen, screaming into the void, never to be seen again (except, not really)

The War Games uses its 10 episodes excellently to tell the story of one of the Doctor's greatest failures. It thoroughly re-invents the show, but not before telling a story of an elite who make war and brainwash the young, not for any ideology or injustice, but only out of a desire for power, and an utter disregard for life. In 1969, it is hard not to associate this with British diplomatic support for the US in the Vietnam War. The Doctor can do his job and get rid of the monsters, but is utterly incapable of dealing with the messy aftermath. As punishment, everything he loves is ripped away from him.

Regeneration stories rarely get this good.

The War Games is an excellent serial. The plot never stops, and when it does slow down, it still has enough moment to propel the overall story forward. There is enough variety is locations to make it feel like an Epic. Just as I was getting a bit bored with the WW1 setting, they moved on to another location. This continued throughout the entire story. The War Games more than makes up for some of the VERY weak serials that exist in the Second Doctor era.

The cast is excellent, with some superb guest performances. Special note to David Savile as Carstairs, and Philip Madoc as The War Lord.

This is an excellent send-off for Patrick Troughton, and the rest of the regular TARDIS team.

What a perfect 10 part story it doesn’t slow down pace it’s like a jump sprint all the way I loved it but this is far from the end for the 2nd doctor

The War Games marks the end of black and white 1960s Doctor Who and the end of Patrick Troughton's superb reign as The Second Doctor. These aren't the only seismic changes which can be found within these mammoth 10 episodes. It features the introduction of the term 'Time Lord', The Doctor's home planet (not yet named) and an explanation as to why he left. It was a brave and brilliant move to confirm that The Doctor does not necessarily see eye to eye with the rest of his race, disapproving with their 'hands off' approach to the universe. This story also features the first re-occurrence of the sonic screwdriver since its introduction in Fury from the Deep. Terrance Dicks and Malcolm Hulke are working hard to consolidate and extrapolate on the show's lore - which we should be grateful for. Not only does this story establish so much of what becomes vital to Doctor Who in the future, but it also has one of the most ingenious plots at the centre of it that the show has ever seen.

The Doctor, Zoe and Jamie uncover a plot to conquer the universe. Brainwashed soldiers are being taken out of their time and tricked into believing that they are fighting their own wars in simulated environments. The aim is to create an unbeatable army which can be used for plotter's own purposes. Luckily, there are rebels who have managed to overcome these brainwashing efforts. They group together with The Doctor and his companions to overthrow this corrupt prison.

The War Lord, the malevolent Time Lord in this story acts as yet another 'proto-Master' villain. This character is just one of many enemies The Doctor faces in The War Games. It needs these extra elements due to its outrageous length. The quality of episodes 8-10 is difficult to rival, which is what makes it my third favourite Second Doctor story. However, I believe it would be fair to say that the first seven episodes could easily be cut down to four. Once you are introduced to the strong concept behind this story, it takes a little too long for the mystery to unfold.

As the adventure draws to a close, it is clear that it is the most epic tale The Doctor has ever had to face, so dangerous in fact that he has to bite the bullet and inform the authorities on his home planet. He knows that this move will consign him to a trial himself, as he regularly breaks the conventions of his people. The consequences of handing himself in were so much greater then he ever could have guessed.

The Doctor's defence of his actions is powerful, he demands that the Time Lords see snippets of the enemies he has defeated (including the Quarks!) He makes a spirited justification of regularly interfering with events to put a stop to evil. The Time Lords accept that this is a difficult moral quandary for them, but after careful consideration simply believe it is unforgivable for him to interfere to the extent that he does.

The War Lord and his assistants are dematerialised as punishment, which marks The Doctor's victory. However, he has to lose Zoe and Jamie, who's memories of almost all of their time with The Doctor are tragically removed as punishment. This, especially for the longest running companion Jamie is drastic, he finds himself back in The Highlands where he began. The Doctor's own punishment is a banishment to Earth and a loss of his Space and Time travel capabilities. Again, we can see the writers shaping the form of the show to come - it could barely be more exciting. The Doctor is defiant as he is forced into a regeneration, it is a wonderful closing chapter to a version of the character which has undoubtedly changed the essential nature of the show forever.

I cannot wait to begin the show's third leg and am delighted to see Doctor Who more fleshed out than ever. Patrick Troughton has out shined William Hartnell's excellent efforts and has finished his time on a definite high. This is a story I will always hold dear - top stuff!

The War Games saw two milestones for Doctor Who. The first is that it's the longest Doctor Who story to date (unless you count Trial Of A Time Lord as one story) told in a whopping 10 episodes. The second is that it's the first mention of the name of the Doctor's species and their first appearance onscreen as the Time Lords (a Time Lord had been seen in The Time Meddler as the Meddling Monk but he was never referred to as such).

What makes this serial remarkable however is that over 10 episodes the story never drags. The War Games sees the Doctor taking on the War Chief (Edward Brayshaw), who has taken many historical armies including the Romans and World War 1 fighters out of time and thrown them into simulated versions of the wars they fought. This story feels like it's at exactly the right length and is a suitably epic finale for Patrick Troughton's Doctor. It's a story that echoes elements of the Moffat Era with all these various armies from Earth's history together. You could easily imagine Steven Moffat doing this.

The War Chief is also a great villain superbly played by Edward Brayshaw. It's a shame he never returned to the series as he is brilliant and could easily have become an iconic character to rival the Master. There is even a popular fan theory that he is a past incarnation of the Master and this would make a lot of sense as he shares a lot of the same qualities.

What makes this serial a true classic however are the last two episodes with the Time Lords. There is really no surprise that the Time Lords became such a recognisable alien species from the show. There's a nice element of ambiguity about them that directly mirrors the Doctor's own and you never quite where their moral compass with fall. This is more evident with new series Time Lords but it is arguably still noticeable here given their non-interference policy perhaps leading to the Earth undefended by the Doctor if they didn't decide to let him protect at least Earth. You could easily see the Time Lords allowing Earth to be invaded by the Autons and Nestene Consciousness but equally they interfered with the War Chief's plans. That's what's great about the Time Lords: you never know if they are allies or enemies.

Of course, you can't do a review of any regeneration story without mentioning the Doctor bowing out. Patrick Troughton is absolutely amazing here as his Doctor and is extremely believable at portraying his incarnation in a position where for once the evil cannot be 'fought' with him and his companions alone. You truly believe this is a desperate time for the Doctor where he has no other option but to call in his own people and his speech about his so-called 'interference' to the Time Lords is heartwarming and echoes an earlier one from The Moonbase. This is arguably among the strongest acting and writing the classic series ever saw.

Overall, the War Games is an epic 200 minute regeneration story for the 2nd Doctor and one that was a giant milestone for the show.

I'm not surprised that War Games is so beloved, but a little surprised it is this beloved. It's a fun story and a great send-off to the second doctor. I like how it introduces the Time Lords and reveals, without really spelling it out, why the Doctor ran from them to begin with.

There are some really cool ideas and the story is a fun concept, but I do have some issues with the execution. The story can drag out for a bit before the big Time Lords appearance and in a lot of ways, we just sort of shuffle from war zone to the next with our characters. Jaime and Zoe are always a delight as companions, though, and it is quite the send-off to the TARDIS team of this era. The costuming is impressive but I don't love the effects around Troughton's regeneration, either.

On the whole I would recommend it, but I'm not going to pretend it's my favourite Doctor Who story. As a second doctor adventure, it is quite a bit of fun and you could do a lot worse with these 60s stories. I am grateful it has survived BBC junking and Patrick Troughton is, as always, a delight, right up to the end.