Doctor Who has begun the process of colorizing some of its classic episodes. While some fans expressed worries that this might alter the original versions, one of the producers reassured them that this wouldn’t be the case.
Doctor Who has begun the process of colorizing select classic episodes. This initiative is a fresh approach for the franchise, with the first fully colorized episode, “The Daleks’ Invasion of Earth: Episode 2,” set to debut in celebration of the franchise’s 60th anniversary in 2024. Originally filmed in black and white, this episode has been colorized to attract a younger, contemporary audience. Nevertheless, some fans have expressed worries after noticing that another remastered version appeared to shorten the original episode.
One of the series being remastered is The War Games, which originally had a runtime of four hours and 10 minutes. The remastered version has been trimmed down to a 90-minute feature, significantly shorter than the original. This change raised concerns among fans who worried that the remastered versions might replace the originals, fearing that the essence of the story would be lost in the transition from over four hours to just an hour and a half. However, Doctor Who producer Phil Collinson reassured fans that the original episodes would remain untouched. “I cherish those stories. They were a big part of my childhood. We would never remove them. They will always be available for everyone to enjoy,” Collinson shared with Doctor Who Magazine. He also explained the decision to colorize some original episodes, noting that younger viewers often struggle to engage with lengthy black-and-white content. “I adore it, and many others do too. These tales are fantastic and stand up to anything we’re airing today. Sometimes, they just need a little boost to resonate with audiences. That’s our goal, and we’re pouring our hearts into it.”
Richard Tipple, who oversaw the colorization of The War Games, shared that their intention was to enhance the appeal of the series for younger audiences. The War Games is the final serial of Doctor Who’s sixth season, which aired from August 10, 1969, to June 21, 1969, featuring 10 episodes, each over 20 minutes long. Tipple remarked, “A casual viewer might be intimidated by the idea of diving into 10 black-and-white episodes, but a 90-minute color film is definitely more inviting.” He expressed hope that this could open up this era of the show to new fans, saying, “How cool would that be?” He also mentioned that they gave the serial a “2024 refit” with a lot of love for the original series.
Concerns about shortening the original Doctor Who serial are quite valid. Passionate fans who love revisiting classic episodes certainly don’t want to lose any beloved scenes. Cutting a four-hour serial down to just 90 minutes seems excessive. On the other hand, Tipple’s reasoning is also sound. To engage a contemporary audience, it’s essential to adapt the classic episodes, and remastering is one effective method. If the remaster is overly long, it might deter younger viewers, but a film-like length could encourage them to give it a shot. For the long-time Doctor Who enthusiasts, there’s no need to fret, as the original versions are still readily available.