A classicDoctor Whoserial has been updated for a new era. Prior to 1978, the BBC did not concern itself with maintaining archives of its shows, which meant that many First (William Hartnell) and Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) episodes were missing. Others, still, have poor audio quality and dated special effects. ThesurvivingDoctor Whoepisodesfrom these early seasons are also all black-and-white, which can make it difficult to perceive the nuances of the actors' performances. The BBC previously colorized the 75-minute First Doctor serial, “The Daleks”, but no other episodes have received that treatment.
Decades after its release, theBBChas announced that the Second Doctor will be receiving a remaster of his own. The updated serial ofThe War gameswill feature full colorization, recovered footage that has not been seen since 1969, and updated audio. That means a new soundtrack, improved sounds, and better visual effects.The episodes will be released as a 90-minute special on December 23, and is expected to air on BBC Four and will also be available on iPlayer. Showrunner Russell T Davies indicated that colorizing the old episodes “was the plan” when he elected to return to the show.
The BBC also released a trailer for the special on YouTube, which features scattered footage from the serial, with the colorized reveal ranging from shots of the episode’s villain to an early reveal of a crucial Patrick Troughton scene, which had never before been witnessed. It also showcases Jamie McCrimmon (Frazer Hines) and Zoe Heriot (Wendy Padbury) as the Doctor’s companions. Check it out below:
What The War Games Remaster Means For Doctor Who
The Serial Was An Extremely Important Chapter In The Show’s History
The War Gameswas one of the most significant serials inDoctor Who, as the episodes marked the final run for Troughton and the first appearance ofJon Pertwee’s Third Doctor. That would make the remaster iconic even without considering everything else that it introduced.Gallifrey and the Time Lords made their debut in this serial, sparking generations of stories about the Doctor’s mysterious people. Without these episodes, the entire new era would never have been able to focus so closely on the loss of Gallifrey.
Because the BBC did not appropriately maintain its archives until 1978, 53 of Patrick Troughton’s 119 episodes remain missing.
The episodes were also the final black-and-white serial, the last produced and released in the 1960s, and proof that the show would not just see its titular character regenerate once. It was also a rare regeneration that did not show the Doctor’s new form. Audiences were left to wait and see the new Doctor in the next season, as Pertwee first debuted in 1970’s “Spearhead from Space”. The edit will be the first to feature a true regeneration, andwill also only be the second official colorization, showing that BBC understands the importance of this serial.
Our Take On The Newest Official Doctor Who Remaster
This Has Been A Long Time Coming
Because “The War Games” is so essential to the show, it is only surprising that a full remaster has come so late. It will be thrilling to finally see his complete regeneration after so many decades of speculation about this fairly unique regeneration. The newly-recovered footage should also offer some insight into the show’s history and could reveal more about the Time Lords.Doctor Whohas evolved immensely since the 1960s, but the show is still connected to its roots, and this remaster is proof.
Doctor Who
Cast
Doctor Who: Doctor Who is a British sci-fi television series debuting in 1963, following The Doctor, a time-traveling alien Time Lord. The Doctor explores the universe in the TARDIS, accompanied by companions, confronting various adversaries and striving to save civilizations while addressing injustices.
