Should we see more of the Time War?

Guest contributor Liam Catterson takes a look.

When Doctor Who returned in 2005, lead writer Russell T Davies created an event to guarantee that the Time Lords would not be returning and that the Doctor was the last of his kind – the Time War. I will be honest, I quite liked this arc and wanted to see more of what happened, and we eventually got that with The Day of the Doctor. However, I don’t actually feel that was quite enough to satisfy me. I will agree with comments that some events should not be explained through any media outlet, but what I am asking for is to experience a bit more of the war because in the last ten years of Doctor Who, it has been one of the most prominent features in the show’s revival and in the Doctor’s life.

I am going to elaborate further now with a few of my main reasons why we should see more. Take note, I have NOT yet purchased the Engines of War book (hides) but will do in the upcoming weeks, so no spoilers please!

The Daleks

Now a lot of people have complained that the Daleks have not been that menacing and I agree. Watching Into the Dalek however was actually a great feeling because the Daleks were actually exterminating people and they were deadlier. But go back to The Day of the Doctor to find some of the scenes during the Time War. Now how many on-screen exterminations were there? Well I may have missed something in the background, but from my memory, none… That is right, no on-screen exterminations in The Day of the Doctor.

What made madder was the fact that a Dalek listened to a Gallifreyan pleading with it to stop as it was about to butcher his family. Why I ask? The Daleks in the Time War on the final day should not pity their arch-enemies. You know how much I wanted to see that Dalek exterminate that little girl? No, not because I am a heartless creature, but because we would have seen the true hatred of the Daleks. For years, viewers would hide behind sofas knowing the Daleks would return, exterminating their way to glory. The Time War is meant to depict them at their most fearful and in the few minutes they are on screen we don’t see a Dalek killing anyone. Ok, you might argue there are some in aerial blasts, but I never saw the Daleks shoot someone up close with their weaponry.

I think seeing the Daleks perform these ruthless acts would give us a reason to really hate and fear the Daleks further. Take Big Finish for example, what they do in the Dark Eyes stories and the Eighth Doctor adventures of Series 4 made me feel anger against them. I won’t go into details why, but all I am saying is in the outcome, I smirked with what happened. If we get to see a future take on the Time War, I say, let’s really push the cruel nature of the Daleks to the point where it would surpass any limitations.

The War Doctor

For a while, we’ve heard of John Hurt’s incarnation being credited as a man whom the Doctor never wanted to be reminded of again and how his duration in the Time War changed who he was. We already know that the Eighth Doctor had no desire to be a part of war and was eventually forced to initiate the role as the warrior, but what events followed exactly and made him want to forget who he was? I find it hard to believe that just taking part in the Time War is the only reason.

There is a game coming out called Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain where it explores the main protagonist (Big Boss) changing into a heartless warrior and becoming a monster, diverse from who he was in previous games where he’d save the world or become a hero to America. I think most can agree that they’d like to see John Hurt return and see a similar transformation. There has to be an event where the War Doctor will even deliberate on what he is doing, maybe before The Day of the Doctor, but I think we should see how far the Doctor can descend into darkness. Personally, I feel like the story of the War Doctor can be one we can become emotionally involved with.

The Stories

Like I said before, we shouldn’t be treated to every event and many can appreciate that not seeing the majority of the Time War keeps the prestige of how historic it is. What I am going to suggest is something similar to a YouTube series by Batmanmarch. They did a Time War story arc and the stories were so good that I think the BBC need to get in contact. I think if Big Finish ever did get rights to do a Time War franchise, listening to those stories would just be inspiring and enchanting. And hell, this could give Paul McGann some access to being in the stories such as how the Time War began. I could go on forever about what stories would be amazing. Ones with Derek Jacobi as the Master (Alex Macqueen regeneration?), the Dalek Emperor, Davros’ supposed demise, the Nightmare Child… Oh we could go on until Series 13 of the TV series. This could also refer to the notables of Gallifrey such as Leela and Ace.

Big Finish

Now let’s just put the idea out there that Big Finish are doing War Doctor adventures focused on the Time War. It gets announced and thus, many fans are immediately listening and throwing their money at Big Finish. This may already be the case now with the Torchwood and UNIT new series adventures, but I am sure there is still a faction of fans who don’t yet feel confident giving their money to Big Finish because it has no new series era Doctor in. So I think Big Finish is the way to go to continue any Time War adventures, if anything.

John Hurt isn’t getting any younger and I doubt the BBC will focus on two Doctor series at the same time as I feel that the BBC don’t want focus being drawn away from one to another, especially for any Capaldi haters out there. With Big Finish, they release a lot of content every year and voice acting, I feel, is easier than physically acting out the scenes as well as the possibility of John Hurt playing a younger War Doctor. I wish the BBC would see this and realise it is a stupid idea to not allow Big Finish the rights to new adventures.

Conclusion

So that is that. Some of you readers might not be persuaded by this article and I am happy with your opinions. This is a discussion after all and like I said, some feel that the Time War’s events should remain a mystery we can produce with good ol’ head canon. Though for some like me, seeing this range of series announced would have me dancing on the floor.

So what are your thoughts? Would you jump at the chance for more Time War adventures, or would you prefer the book to be closed?