Doctor Who producer on War Chief twist: ‘Imagine it’s the Master, and it becomes even more epic’

As a devoted Whovian with decades of Gallifreyan lore under my belt, I must say that the recent revelation in The War Games special edition has sent a thrill down my Time Lord spine! The hinted connection between the War Chief and the Master, long-discussed by fans, now feels like an exciting truth.

A more casual rewording could be: The latest spin on the timeless Doctor Who tale, The War Games, seemed to suggest a significant disclosure, aligning with a popular fan speculation for years. Now, we have insights from the show’s top boss, Phil Collinson, about the reasons behind this choice.

In a twist from 1969, the series “The War Games” introduces a malevolent figure named the War Chief, portrayed by Edward Brayshaw, who deviates from the usual norms as a member of the same alien species as the Doctor.

Even though the well-known Doctor Who villain The Master didn’t make his official appearance on the show until two years later, starting in 1971’s Terror of the Autons, many fans have pondered if the War Chief could have been an earlier form of that character.

The War Games in Colour – a re-edit of the serial featuring new colourised visuals and a new soundtrack – appeared to lend credence to that theory, incorporating composer Murray Gold’s musical theme for The Master into scenes featuring the War Chief.

According to Doctor Who executive producer Collinson, as far as he’s concerned, the War Chief was the one in control, and they’ve adopted that perspective. (Doctor Who Magazine)

In some intense conflicts between Patrick Troughton, we’ve incorporated the master themes by Murray Gold and Dudley Simpson.

It’s absolutely fantastic, this Doctor Who series, but when you envision it as the Doctor and the Master, it takes on an even grander scale.

In the end, you invest significantly more emotion into that character. Truly, the ending for the Second Doctor was exceptional; I believe it ranks among the finest Doctor exits in history.

Previously, connections between the War Chief and The Master have been explored in different spin-offs – some tales supporting this theory, while others contradict it.

In 2025, the upcoming season of Doctor Who will broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom, and globally on Disney Plus. A sneak peek, or trailer, was released on Christmas Day, hinting at the debut of new companion Belinda Chandra (portrayed by Varada Sethu) and the reappearance of past TARDIS explorer Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson).

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2024-12-28 15:33