The War Machines
Joe Siegler
The War Machines
This Story: Season 3, Story 10. Production Code BB.
Overall: Story 27, Episodes 123-126
Airdates: 25 Jun 1966 – 16 Jul 1966
Written by Ian Stuart Black. Directed by Michael Ferguson.
Notes
- This the first time The Doctor is referred to as “Doctor Who” in character in the programme, and not as a joke play on words. It’s generally regarded as an error.
- This story is also considered the first one to pose a story format used a lot in the Troughton era and forwards.
Links
[ Wikipedia | Tardis Data Core | SPS Historium | Amazon US DVD | Amazon UK DVD ]
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 123 - The War Machines 1/4 (Serial BB, Story 27) - 25 Jun 1966. #DoctorWho 1/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) December 18, 2021
This story had a lot going on. It was the final story for Dodo and was the first for Ben & Polly. but most importantly, it set the template for what was to become a staple in the pic.twitter.com/VL5BtgwBJv
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 123 - The War Machines 1/4 (Serial BB, Story 27) - 25 Jun 1966. #DoctorWho 2/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) December 18, 2021
future. The London based story where the Doctor helps a military "unit" to defeat a threat to Earth. It was also the first story that changed the format of the opening titles. pic.twitter.com/PHuLWZ1XtG
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 124 - The War Machines 2/4 (Serial BB, Story 27) - 2 Jul 1966. #DoctorWho 1/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) December 20, 2021
The Wotan computer takes over several people including Dodo and sets forth to build the titular "War Machines". The Doctor is almost taken over, but isn't, and he saves Dodo. pic.twitter.com/nYaD1HUbDE
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 124 - The War Machines 2/4 (Serial BB, Story 27) - 2 Jul 1966. #DoctorWho 2/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) December 20, 2021
This is the final episode for Dodo. She disappears at the end of this episode, never to be seen again. They also double down on calling The Doctor "Doctor Who" in this episode. pic.twitter.com/d00yCjTLPH
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 125 - The War Machines 3/4 (Serial BB, Story 27) - 9 Jul 1966. #DoctorWho 1/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) December 21, 2021
Most of this episode is about the War Machines being completed in time for an attack. During this time, Ben tries to save Polly from her hypnosis - although why Ben wasn't also pic.twitter.com/y89OmbQ5ZW
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 125 - The War Machines 3/4 (Serial BB, Story 27) - 9 Jul 1966. #DoctorWho 2/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) December 21, 2021
hypnotized - who knows? He does get back to the Doctor and warn them about the War Machines.
This ep really feels like a 70's UNIT story, despite that concept not existing yet. pic.twitter.com/n9Jn3wAcpO
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 126 - The War Machines 4/4 (Serial BB, Story 27) - 16 Jul 1966. #DoctorWho 1/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) December 22, 2021
The Doctor comes up with a plan to reprogram/defeat the War Machines. After a scene with an unconvincing "capture" of one, he sends it off to destroy WOTAN, releasing control of pic.twitter.com/j1RucH4Pdp
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 126 - The War Machines 4/4 (Serial BB, Story 27) - 16 Jul 1966. #DoctorWho 2/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) December 22, 2021
all the humans. As he goes to leave, he waits for Dodo, who is explained as "leaving" by Polly - one of the worst companion departures ever. Ben & Polly stow away in the Tardis. pic.twitter.com/A0OkBmkMrj
