The War Games - Episode 4

I like the moment when Zoe asks about who else could have something that’s bigger on the inside than the outside and the Doctor has an idea but is almost to scared to admit it. This shows that he knows more than he’s willing to admit and that he’s deliberately keeping Zoe and Jamie in the dark about things. The story splits its time between two areas which is handy to keep the episode feel fresh and not feel like padding.

Whilst the Doctor and Zoe are in the time capsule, Jamie and Lady Jennifer are stuck in the American Civil War and it’s the return of Von Welch. During their scenes we see a very young looking Rudolph Walker who goes on to play Patrick in Eastenders. There is also an appearance from David Troughton who would play King Peladon during the Pertwee years. It’s during this period that we learn that there are those who don’t believe that they are where they thought they were and the brainwashing that has occurred has worn off.  I didn’t really find the American Civil War stuff to be interesting in this context. When the story returns to the Doctor and Zoe its here we learn a bit more and Zoe realises that they aren’t on earth. When Carstairs has been re-brainwashed and points out the Doctor and Zoe as spies the look on their face is quite good. Patrick Troughton and Wendy Padbury seems to be getting on well together and work well on screen together.

It’s seems like another episode where Jamie is kept away from the Doctor and Zoe. They get to do the exciting stuff and learn things whilst Jamie gets to hang around with Lady Jennifer. That said I thought that Frazer Hines got to do some good stuff especially riding the horse which he seemed to enjoy and the location stuff was quite well done which is credit to David Maloney.

The cliffhanger was a bit like the first but less grim. With Zoe at the end of Carstairs gun is another indication that the regulars aren’t going to get out of this story unscathed. I thought that on the whole this episode was pretty much the same as the other three. I think that its still moving at a good pace and we learn a little bit more and its interesting stuff. Whilst I wasn’t blown away with the sets used on the main base of the War ‘people’ but I must say that found them all to be quite good and after four episodes the story is still holding my attention.