2.21: The War Games, episodes one to five
In which the Western Front is not what it seems.
Broadcast: April-May 1969
Watched: November 2019
This one’s ten (!) episodes long, and unlike a lot of Troughton stories isn’t the same episode over and over again - in fact, it’s a pretty pivotal story - so rather than break your inboxes I decided to break this post in two.
The War Games, Episode One
Okay first question... why does the old DVD line always use the early 80s theme music? [Because they did The Five Doctors (1983) first, and annoying Tomstalgic fans is funny.]
Second: is the title a reference to 1960s Threads prequel The War Game? [Do not look for details of either of these films unless you want to have nightmares about nuclear apocalypse for weeks.]
Everyone sniggering at Jamie treading in a puddle when the audience knows we’re on the western front is oddly tense. Also I can’t work out if it’s just because we haven’t had a historical in years [the last was The Highlanders, over two years earlier], or because it’s a relatively recent event in 1969, but the WWI setting is actually quite traumatic. The sets look identical to the ones for Blackadder Goes Forth.
There is something season finale-ish about the increase in the stakes… which is odd in some ways because there are nine episodes left. Almost disappointed we find out its a scifi story less than halfway through episode one, I thought the feint lasted longer. Although it’s still possible to believe it’s aliens in WWI I guess.
The War Games, Episode Two
Aaaaaaand we’re full scifi now, TARDIS sounds and everything. Love the Doctor’s “Don’t you know who I am” routine. Also that he’s gone full circle, being the examiner again.
Zoe braining someone is brilliant. So is Jennifer getting the major to bore on about logistics to distract him. The cliffhanger where the Romans show up is a proper headf*ck
The War Games, Episode Three
“Time travellers! I wonder...”
The sonic screwdriver actually undoes screws! I’d forgotten that there’s a whole scene in German.
Where did the idea that German officers have facial scars come from? [Dueling societies, it turns out.]
The shot of the villains planning their offensives from under the glass table is a nice touch.
The War Games, Episode Four
“Well there is an answer to that, but I hope I… I just hope...” The Doctor quietly worrying about needing to call the Time Lords is *brilliantly* done.
The confederate soldier is really nice. What the f*ck. Oh wait the black guy is the first person we’ve seen that the hypnosis doesn’t work on, so I’ll forgive it.
The design work in the alien base is terrific. It is very helpful of the scientist to explain absolutely everything the audience needs to know in his lecture.
The War Chief and the Doctor recognising each other is a great moment. Although that the Time Lord isn’t the one called the War Lord is intensely irritating.
This is not the Master.
The War Games, Episode Five
“Better leave him on simmer.”
The Doctor tricking the scientist into deprogramming Carstairs is great.
Odd how so many six parters drag like crazy and despite being a load of capture escape loops this one doesn’t.
To be continued…