The War Games

The War Games is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in ten weekly parts from April 19 to June 21, 1969. It was the last regular appearance of Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor.

Synopsis

The Second Doctor's TARDIS arrives in what appears to be a World War I battlefield, but turns out to be one of a number of simulated battlefields from Earth's history. An alien race, the War Lords, are using the fake battles to test and hone soldiers kidnapped from Earth, with the intention of developing an army with which they can take over the galaxy. They are assisted in this by their head scientist, called the War Chief, who is one of the Doctor's people, a Time Lord.

Realising that he is not up to the task of defeating the War Lords and transporting all the kidnapped Earthlings home, the Doctor alerts the Time Lords to the situation. They deal with it, but also feel obliged to deal with the Doctor, who by wandering the galaxy and getting involved has broken one of their cardinal rules. After a trial, he is sentenced to be exiled to Earth and forced to undergo a "change of appearance".

Notes

1. While Patrick Troughton's Doctor is sentenced to a forced regeneration at the end of this serial, we do not actually see him regenerate into the Third Doctor (who first appears in the next serial, Spearhead from Space). See also Season 6B.
2. Troughton reprises the role of the Second Doctor in The Three Doctors, The Five Doctors and The Two Doctors.
3. The Doctor again faces trial in The Trial of a Time Lord.

External links

• Cast and Crew list, on the BBC website