“Doctor Who: The War Games” (1969)

Television

Ten Episodes

Directed by: David Maloney

Written by: Terrance Dicks and Malcolm Hulke

Featuring: Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines and Wendy Padbury

The Doctor: “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!'”

Few Doctor Who stories carry the same weight in the history of the series as The War Games (1969). Originally broadcast in ten weekly installments at the end of Season 6, it marked not only the final regular appearance of Patrick Troughton as the Doctor but also the departure of companions Jamie (Frazer Hines) and Zoe (Wendy Padbury). More significantly, it was the story that pulled back the curtain on the Doctor’s origins, introducing the Time Lords for the very first time. Now presented as part of the Doctor Who: The Collection – Season 6 Blu-ray box set, The War Games finally receives the sort of definitive release that such a monumental story deserves.

The War Games is one of the most ambitious undertakings of the black-and-white era. Set against the backdrop of a mysterious conflict where soldiers from across different time periods are forced to fight one another, it begins like a relatively straightforward historical drama before gradually widening into something far grander. The Doctor, Jamie, and Zoe land in what appears to be the trenches of World War I but soon discover that different eras—from Roman legions to American Civil War units—have been pulled together into one colossal war zone.

The masterminds behind this scheme are the War Lords, who, with the aid of their henchman the War Chief (himself a renegade Time Lord), are attempting to create a vast army of brainwashed soldiers to conquer the galaxy. The Doctor’s hand is finally forced: he must call upon the Time Lords for help, thereby revealing his true origins. The story closes with a seismic change: the Doctor is put on trial, exiled to Earth, and forced into regeneration.

As a piece of television drama, The War Games is both sprawling and experimental. It’s slow by modern standards, but the cumulative effect is immense. The gradual expansion from battlefield mystery to galactic trial gives it an epic scope unmatched in the black-and-white era.

One of the greatest challenges with The War Games has always been its length—ten episodes make it one of the longest Doctor Who stories ever made. The Blu-ray release handles it superbly. The remastered picture is sharper and more stable than any previous DVD edition, with improved contrast that enhances the detail in sets, costumes, and especially the trench sequences, which now feel moodier and more atmospheric. The occasional softness of the source material remains (inevitable for 1960s studio video), but the restoration team has clearly done everything possible to maximize clarity.

Sound has also been cleaned up, offering more balanced audio. Dudley Simpson’s incidental music, often understated and eerie, comes through with far greater crispness than before, and dialogue is clearer without the muffling present in older versions.

Special Features

As with all releases in The Collection Blu-ray range, the extras elevate the set far beyond just a remastered presentation. The War Games benefits from a rich array of supplementary material:

• Documentaries & Retrospectives – The set includes in-depth looks at the making of the story, interviews with surviving cast and crew, and reflections on its place in Doctor Who history. Frazer Hines and Wendy Padbury provide warm, candid memories, and production staff speak to the immense challenge of sustaining a ten-part serial.
• Behind-the-Scenes Footage – Surviving production materials, rehearsal footage, and rare outtakes give a fascinating glimpse into the BBC’s production process in the 1960s.
• Commentaries – Multiple commentary tracks allow fans to experience the story alongside insights from actors, directors, and historians. Patrick Troughton’s colleagues are effusive in their praise of his mercurial, often mischievous performance.
• Archival Features – The Blu-ray preserves all the DVD extras, including documentaries produced in the 2000s, ensuring nothing is lost for long-time collectors.
• Restoration Comparisons – For those interested in the technical side, the set shows the painstaking work that went into restoring aging video and film elements.

The packaging is also up to the high standard of The Collection range, with Lee Binding’s striking artwork and a collector’s booklet offering essays and production notes.

Patrick Troughton’s performance is nothing short of extraordinary. Across ten episodes, he shifts seamlessly between clownish charm, fierce moral authority, and deep vulnerability. His Doctor is revealed in all his shades here—brilliant, fallible, compassionate, and at times desperate.

Frazer Hines as Jamie again proves why he was one of the longest-serving companions, bringing loyalty and earthy humor to counterbalance the high-concept narrative. Wendy Padbury’s Zoe gets several shining moments of intelligence and bravery. The War Chief, played with sinister gravitas by Edward Brayshaw, stands out as a chilling figure whose Time Lord connection foreshadows later villains like the Master.

The Time Lords’ first appearance, played with an austere detachment, has lost none of its power. Their calm, almost bureaucratic judgment of the Doctor feels alien and unsettling, laying groundwork for decades of mythology.

The War Games is not just another classic serial; it is one of the foundation stones of Doctor Who. Without it, the mythology of the Time Lords and the Doctor’s exile might never have crystallized in the form we know today. It was both an ending and a new beginning—closing the Troughton era while paving the way for Jon Pertwee and the UNIT years.

On Blu-ray, the story gains a presentation worthy of its legacy. The improved restoration allows modern audiences to experience the serial with unprecedented clarity, while the extras provide vital historical and contextual depth.

The Blu-ray release of Doctor Who: The War Games is a triumph. While the story’s length may test the patience of casual viewers, it rewards persistence with a rich, layered, and epic tale that forever changed the series. Patrick Troughton’s farewell is as poignant as ever, and the presentation on this set ensures it can be appreciated in the best possible quality.

For long-time fans, this Blu-ray is essential; for newer viewers, it offers a chance to witness the birth of modern Doctor Who mythology.ted the innocent wonder of childhood, then Aaahh!!! Real Monsters was its darkly comic shadow—a reminder that growing up also means confronting anxieties, insecurities, and the strange, slimy unknown.