Doctor Who Producer Addresses The New Master Retcon

Doctor Who producer Phil Collinson addresses how editing decisions in the colorization of Patrick Troughton’s final Second Doctor story “The Wars Games” may have established a new incarnation of rival Time Lord The Master. Created by Terrence Dicks and Barry Letts for Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor’s era, the rogue villain Time Lord was first portrayed by Anthony Delgado in 1971’s “Terror of The Autons”. Concluding Troughton’s Doctor Who tenure, 1969’s “The War Games” saw the TARDIS materialize on a mysterious world, where alien masterminds have abducted human soldiers from throughout human history to create a perfect army.

Following the release of “The War Games” colorization, Doctor Who producer Phil Collinson tells Doctor Who Magazine (via RadioTimes) how the use of The Master’s musical motif from the revived series implies that the War Chief (Edward Brayshaw) is an earlier incarnation of the Master. For Collinson personally, he reveals that he has always held the belief that the War Chief was The Master, and had intentionally leaned into the theory with the choice of music for “The War Games”:

In my head, the War Chief was always the Master, and we’ve lent into that, . We’ve got Murray Gold and Dudley Simpson’s Master themes under some of those big confrontations he has with Patrick Troughton.

Furthermore, Collinson states that establishing the adventure as an early battle between the Doctor and Master added new stakes to the story. Check out Collinson’s explanation below:

It’s brilliant, such brilliant Doctor Who, but when you imagine it’s the Doctor and the Master, it becomes even more epic. You end up investing so much more in that character. I mean, what a finale for the Second Doctor. I think it’s one of the best Doctor finales there’s ever been.

What The Master’s New Early Adventure Means For Doctor Who Canon

The Decision Has Not Been Met Unanimously By Fans

​​​​​​With the character having been a part of Doctor Who canon for over 54 years, the implications of The War Chief being an early incarnation of the Master have been met with controversy. Though it had been theorized, the character had been read and developed as his own individual character in expanded media for over fifty years. As such, many may feel irked that those tales have seemingly been decanonized.

However, showrunner Russell T Davies current approach to canon may offer fans the opportunity to reconcile the colorization’s retcon. As seen by the surprise return of Richard E Grant’s animated Ninth Doctor, the current approach to continuity offers more freedom. As such, viewers are able to interpret which take works best for their view on the Whoniverse.

Our Thoughts On The War Chief Master Retcon

The Story Adds A New Layer To Troughton’s Final Battle

​​​​​​

​​​​While divisive, the decision to establish the War Chief as the Master adds a new layer to both Troughton and Pertwee’s eras. Both the Doctor and Master reunite in the same adventure before the former is exiled to Earth, meaning that their battles in The War Games could have had a larger role in placing them both on Earth. As such, Collinson’s perspective may be appreciated by many fans. Now, viewers will have to wait and see what potential changes future Doctor Who colorizations may hold.

Source: Doctor Who Magazine (via RadioTimes)

​​​​

​​​

​​​​​