• Quite enjoyed this story, I believed I would and I did, simplistic and effective
• A great introduction to both Ben and Polly, love that they come from different worlds and come together
• Whilst in today's eyes, the War Machines themselves are clunky, they look cool. They're huge and domineering
• Not a fan of how Dodo is written out, it was such a sour and apathetic way to go
• I did love that the story felt like it had scale and a genuine threat

A UNIT Story, all but in name.
The War Machines is in my Eyes a bold Statement for Doctor Who going forward. Introducing Ben and Polly, who genuinely bring a fresh new Wind to the Show. They are both played really well by each of their Actors. The same can be said for Hartnell, who feels like he gets an energy boost here, as much as I do like quite a few Stories from before, here he plays the first Doctor with so much energy. It's truly delightful.
Even Jackie Lane's Dodo gets great Material here, ]even if her farewell is non-existing and the very worst of the Show.
The titular War Machines are really enjoyable here, offering us some very nice Set Pieces and great Moments with the Doctor. I especially liked the Moment of that one Cliffhanger where he faces against them. And who can forget WOTAN with its iconic "We must find Doctor Who" Lines?

I don't think it's one of Hartnell's best Serials honestly, while great, I think it would suit the second or third Doctor a bit better if I am being honestly. Still, it's always nice having a Story that gets out of the comfort zone of its Doctor like this one does.

My favourite serial from season 3. Nice to see the Doctor on present day earth. Dodo gets the worst exit for a companion so far, but Ben and Polly are great replacements.

Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time!

“THE WAR MACHINES: WHEN THE DOCTOR FOUGHT THE INTERNET”

Season 3 of Doctor Who closes with a timeless piece of Orwellian science fiction, introducing new companions while letting the Doctor save Earth once again. Written by Ian Stuart Black—his second script in a row and the middle instalment of his three contributions to the show—The War Machines is deceptively simple but undeniably compelling. It blends a contemporary setting with eerie but believable sci-fi concepts and a chillingly prescient look at the dangers of artificial intelligence.

The story’s Orwellian atmosphere is one of its strongest assets, with a powerful supercomputer, mass mind control, and the eerie hum of WOTAN’s hypnotic influence. Even the story’s title screen is something special—this was the first time Doctor Who experimented with stylised title cards, a technique that would appear again in later serials. The opening scene, in which the Doctor and Dodo marvel at the newly completed Post Office Tower, offers a rare moment of warmth before the tension sets in. From there, we are immediately introduced to WOTAN, the computer system that will soon turn against humanity.

THE STORY THAT PREDICTED THE INTERNET

One of the most fascinating aspects of The War Machines is how much of its science fiction has since become reality. Black effectively predicted the internet with WOTAN’s interconnected computer network, making the story even more unsettling when viewed today. The idea of machines developing independent thought and taking control of society remains an ever-relevant warning about the dangers of AI and technological overreach.

As WOTAN exerts its influence, the story masterfully builds tension. Much like The Savages, Black takes a basic sci-fi concept and crafts an engaging, well-paced narrative around it. The way WOTAN quickly takes control of multiple people and begins construction of the War Machines is deeply unsettling. The Part 1 cliffhanger—featuring the now-iconic line, “Doctor Who is required”—is delightfully eerie, proving that even the silliest moments in Doctor Who can still send shivers down your spine.

Unlike many four-part serials, The War Machines flows effortlessly, keeping the stakes high and the momentum strong. It serves as a prototype for the Earth-based invasion stories that would later define the UNIT era of Doctor Who, complete with the army battling mechanical invaders in the streets of London. Seeing the First Doctor in a contemporary setting, working alongside politicians and military figures, is both refreshing and slightly surreal. The nightclub scenes, in particular, feel unusually grounded for Doctor Who, capturing the spirit of 1960s London in a way the show rarely did before or after.

NEW COMPANIONS, HYPNOTISED FRIENDS, AND A SUDDEN EXIT

Dodo is given a unique role in this story, but it’s not exactly a flattering one. Strongly affected by WOTAN’s mind control, she spends most of the serial under its influence, working against the Doctor before being abruptly written out. Her final exit is one of the worst in Doctor Who history—she simply disappears after Part 2, with a throwaway line explaining that she has gone to the countryside to recover. Jackie Lane delivers a solid performance, convincingly portraying Dodo’s mental struggle, but it’s clear that the production team had little interest in giving her a proper farewell.

Polly fares slightly better, following a similar trajectory as Dodo but sticking around to become a new companion. Ben Jackson, a dashing young sailor, also gets a strong introduction. Their first meeting is natural and well-integrated into the plot, making their eventual recruitment into the TARDIS crew feel organic. Both prove to be clever and proactive—Ben’s attempt to snap Polly out of her hypnosis in Part 3 is particularly well-handled, as is Polly’s unsettlingly cold betrayal of him under WOTAN’s control.

The Doctor himself is given a few standout moments, particularly in the way he resists WOTAN’s influence. His superior intellect is once again highlighted, as he clearly feels the pull of the machine’s hypnosis but is too strong-willed to succumb to it. William Hartnell’s performance is a mixed bag—his illness is starting to show, leading to a few line flubs and instances of him talking over other actors. But when it counts, he’s as commanding as ever, particularly in the climax of Part 4, where he takes charge of the fight against the War Machines with a passionate energy that reminds us why he made such a brilliant Doctor. His fearless stance in front of a War Machine at the end of Episode 3 is an iconic image from the Hartnell era.

This story also marks the first time the Doctor uses hypnosis—calming Dodo with his ring in a method that would later be used by other incarnations (and, more commonly, by the Master).

WOTAN, WAR MACHINES, AND 1960s INVASION ACTION

For a supercomputer, WOTAN is deliciously sinister—cold, calculating, and eerily emotionless. Unlike the later BOSS computer in The Green Death, which had an eccentric personality, WOTAN is pure logic-driven menace. The eerie sound effect accompanying its mind control sequences adds an extra layer of creepiness.

The titular War Machines themselves are clunky, but their bulky design, complete with unsettlingly face-like features, makes them feel genuinely threatening. The battle sequences, particularly in the final two parts, are ambitious for 1960s television, with the army struggling to take down the seemingly unstoppable machines. The fact that this all unfolds in recognisable London locations—rather than a distant alien planet or futuristic city—adds to the realism and makes the threat feel immediate.

The supporting cast is strong across the board. John Harvey’s Professor Brett and Alan Curtis’s Major Green make for solid allies, while Sir Charles Summer serves as an interesting bridge between the political and scientific sides of the story. Anneke Wills slightly overacts in some of Polly’s hypnosis scenes, but she still makes an impression as a lively and intelligent new companion.

📝VERDICT: 8/10

With its Orwellian undertones, forward-thinking sci-fi concepts, and gripping execution, The War Machines stands out as a landmark serial. It effectively introduces new companions, establishes a template for Earth-based invasion stories, and provides one of Hartnell’s last great moments as the Doctor. The mishandling of Dodo’s exit is a glaring flaw, but the strength of the story ensures its place as a classic of the era. Its vision of a world controlled by supercomputers may have once seemed like pure science fiction, but in 2025, it feels more relevant than ever.

what a horrible exit for dodo,probably the worst companion exit. why even write her in? i get the impression she was a late addition by a writer who didn't realise they were meant to include her at first. i like ben and polly i think! i think they should have already known each other before the start of the story though. i like the begining, it is very nice and slow in a good way. it seems like this story is meant to be a critique of nato, as wotan without the w is just the spanish/french name, otan, or it is just nato backwards. and it is this inhumane unfeeling war machine taking over europe, then the usa and then the world

As much Dodo's leaving was. written really boringly, I enjoyed The War Machines. Ben and Polly are delightful and feel more like people than any characters we've gotten since maybe Ian and Barbara. WOTAN is a lot of fun but that might just be the computer history in me - it's the pre-Internet Internet and the pre-2001: A Space Odyssey HAL 9000. Sure, some of the props were a bit rubbish, but I have a lot of love in my heart for this one

This was just alright I think. I don't love how the story handled Dodo, yet it is kind of what stands out most out of the whole thing. WOTAN and all that was pretty boring, although I do appreciate that this story was important in developing the Doctor into a more heroic character. The whole Ben and Polly intro was also very underwhelming. It was a decent way for the First Doctor to start his exit from the series, and Hartnell does stand out quite a bit in the War Machines in a positive way, even with his health issues.

The War Machines: 9.3/10 - Wotan is simply a great AI villain. The concept of an Ai villain back then was very new and the way it’s executed feels really nice. Ben and Polly are both good characters and I’m interested in seeing how their characters develop. The major weakness of this episode is the way that Dodo is written out. She simply leaves and we get no explanation for it. Another downside is the sounds that the War Machines themselves make which can end up being really annoying similarly to the Zarbi.

It's refreshing to be in contemporary 1960s London. Having only one companion in their home setting establishes Dodo a little bit further for her final story although I still don't feel there has been much of an effort made to flesh the last few companions (especially the female ones) out, they instead continue to fulfill the original companion's templates.

The Doctor suspects something wrong in the BT tower and somehow infiltrates it straight away. It would have been nice if they had tried to justify this. On meeting WOTAN the super intelligent computer there is a degree of intrigue, if perhaps it’s a tad pedestrian... but then suddenly we are transported to the "hottest nightspot in town!" The Inferno!!

We meet the bright young sparks Ben and Polly! These companions are exciting, contemporary and have a sense of play and banter between them. Seeing them meet and get to know each other is fantastic fun. For the first time since Barbara we are given a strong female character. I am glad they have finally re-written the rules for what the companions can be. They are SO cool.

I'm not quite sure why they kept getting the War Machines to drive into boxes. We get it, they are strong! But I like the idea that they are an unstoppable force. The modern day setting helps sell the story, as the team are able to cut to a pub where local citizens watch news broadcasts commenting on the situation. More of this please! The Machines rampaging through London look great.

WOTAN's control over humans is excellent - I love it calling the club and controlling Dodo who isn't the most inconspicuous person under Wotan's control. As soon as doctor catches wind of it he puts her to sleep to recuperate for 48 hours, if this is the production team writing her out of the show its a bit cruel. No actor should spend there last episode asleep. Would they have done this to Steven? Absolutely not.

Once the Doctor reprograms a war machine to foil WOTANS plan and bring the hypnotised people (including Polly) back to consciousness, he sets off. He mentions Dodo one more time... she has a message for him - no dramatic exit - she just wants to stay in London now. Despite that disappointment every part of any viewers being would surely be desperate to see Ben and Polly jump aboard, The Doctor didn't invite them - but Ben still has a key from earlier!

In terms of direction this episode is so beautifully shot, the angles are perfect, the show feels refreshed.

What an amazing end to a series and for one I feel gives us a whole new era of the show Hartnell is at his best here too with dodo leaving half way through it’s probs the closest we got to a 1st doctor aline tardis team vibe

Ending a season on a TV story for a change! And quite a fun one at that!

“The War Machines” sees the Doctor and Dodo land in London, 1966. After landing, they meet up with professor Brett, a scientist who’s building a sentient, hyper intelligent computer called WOTAN. His plan is to hook up the computer to all the others in the world. However, WOTAN himself has other plans.

My first thought when going through this was “Doctor Who has just invented the internet”, since we’re talking about a computer that’s connecting to all others all over the world. However, as the story goes on, that thought changed a little. It’s less about connecting to others and more about WOTAN having thoughts and influencing those of humans. So, by modern standards, it’s a bit more like AI. WOTAN is literally an artificial intelligence gone mad. Which I’m kind of impressed by, considering its age. This was released 2 years before 2001: A Space Odyssey, which features the famous killer AI HAL 9000.

That’s not saying the idea is new, since other movies like the famous “Metropolis” from 1927 featured similar ideas (Which Doctor Who will eventually also play with), but still, It’s notably early for this kind of concept.

But I think it works! And what makes it more impressive: It works in a very kid-friendly fashion. This story has a very notable child-friendly tone and knows when to take its time. When computer concepts get explained, we give the explanations room to breathe. They never feel rushed. Sure, the concepts explained here might feel basic nowadays, but I assume this was quite helpful for children back then. We know what the big ambitions behind WOTAN are, even when he turns evil.

But the child-friendliness also shows in other moments. Like the introduction. There’s a silent bit of acting from Dodo and the Doctor when they first get out of the Tardis. Like 2 clowns that aren’t allowed to speak. There’s probably a clever acting word for it that I don’t know. Still, it’s presented as a funny and light-hearted scene. Something made to bring a smile on your face. These moments are carried throughout. For such a serious threat, the story stays notably light hearted.

Another noteworthy aspect of this story is the introduction of new companions Ben and Polly. Before watching, I didn’t have the most favourable impression of these two. They’re always sort of lumped together. Oh yeah, those two who hung around a bit during Hartnell’s last stories. But I’ve got to say, the first impressions are pretty good! Polly is smart and noticeably snarky, but still has a heart of gold. She can dish out some sarcastic comments, but will also pay the taxi fare for a homeless man. It’s something we haven’t really seen in a companion yet, and could be fun.

Ben, too, is clearly different from Ian and Steven. All of them can be labelled as “The Muscle”, but Ben’s first go at it is noticeably clumsy. He falls over, gets captured and honestly, kind of fails at the action. Personality wise he’s also a bit of a loudmouth, rough type. Less composed than his predecessors, which could lead to fun moments.

After we’ve met our two new companions, it doesn’t take long for WOTAN to begin his plans. He hypnotizes people to do his bidding, the big idea being that the human race has long reached its evolutionary peak, and should be wiped out. His pure logical thought has lead him to the conclusion that the world can only prosper if the stagnant humans are thrown out. That kind of plan hits kind of different nowadays, huh? Other than that, it is interesting to see logic without feelings presented as the big bad. Especially since some familiar cyber-faces might pop up next season.

Using hypnosis, WOTAN brings people under his control and puts them to work, making them build tank-like machines he can control. The Designs of these war-machines are kind of interesting. Way bigger than other threats. Like small cars. To improve his designs, WOTAN is looking for the Doctor (who he actually calls “Doctor Who”. Interesting). He has hypnotized Dodo to fetch him, which leads me to her “fate”.

The Doctor and friends soon discover that Dodo is hypnotized. Using his psychic abilities and ring, the Doctor is able to snap her out of it. She will have to recover for a while, though. So one of the characters sends her off to his vacation home. This is the last time we see her.

Wow. Talk about unceremonious. Polly later tells us that Dodo is having a great time, doesn’t want to travel anymore and sends her love. I genuinely have no words. The departures have definitely not been as strong this season, but this is a new low. The companion didn’t show up for her goodbye, what the hell?

Yet this, somehow, in a weird way, feels exactly in character for Dodo. The oblivious, impulsive idiot, who’s so out of touch she didn’t even show up for her own ending. That doesn’t make it a good ending, mind you. But I can’t imagine any other ending for her. At least she didn’t get married. We can finally lay that trope to rest, right? ……. Right?

But enough about Dodo, let’s talk about the final showdown with the War Machines. Frankly, I didn’t care for it. It turns into an army showdown that mostly feels like filler until the Doctor comes along and actually takes them down. At this point, Ben is resting up, Polly is hypnotized and Dodo is out of commission. The only character of our main cast left to care about is the Doctor, who mostly watches the action from the back. And I don’t really care for all these random army men and their stupid faces when their guns don’t work. I didn’t find it exciting at all.

Which is a bit of a bummer, because the story definitely held my attention during the first 3 episodes. But the last episode doesn’t have much to care about. I wish we had something smaller scale and more personal. Maybe our main team could’ve faced only one War Machine. The first one built. Maybe the Doctor learns how to deactivate all the other ones from that first encounter. That would’ve been more entertaining than soldier #12 looking afraid and pulling the trigger on his fake gun with no bullets.

Yikes, I hope I’ll like the Pertwee years.

But after the War Machines and Wotan are taken down, we head back to the Tardis and end as our 2 new companions enter. The end of a season being the start of a new beginning.

So that was the War Machines, which was pretty good except for the final episode. Neat concepts for a villain, companions and enemies, but also a really odd companion departure and a weak final part. Is it worth a watch? Yeah! It's fun, light-hearted tone makes for some great moments and our new duo is surprisingly endearing. I’m looking forward to seeing more from them!