Doctor Who: Season 23

1986 · 14 episodes · ★ 6.2

The Trial of a Time Lord

What Season 23 of Doctor Who

Season 23 opens with the Doctor put on trial by the Time Lords, who hold him accountable for meddling in affairs that are not his own. The investigation, overseen by the Inquisitor, soon becomes a trial for his life, with the Valeyard as prosecutor. The evidence consists of recordings of his recent adventures, from Ravalox and the Andromedan space pirates to Thoros Beta, where Sil carries out dangerous neurological experiments. Peri, his companion, appears in several of these cases. Crozier, King Yrcanos and the Mentors also play a major role in the story.

14episodes

Sep 6, 1986premiered

Dec 6, 1986final episode

5.9 hrtotal runtime

Season 23 Episodes

23x01 The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 1
Sep 6, 1986 · 26 min · ★ 6.7
The Doctor is taken 'out of time' by the Time Lords and made to face an inquiry into his meddling in the affairs of others, overseen by the Inquisitor. The prosecutor, the Valeyard, soon has the proceedings upgraded to a trial for the Doctor's life. Evidence takes the form of recordings of the Doctor's recent adventures, beginning with his visit to the mysterious world of Ravalox and an encounter with Andromedan space pirates...
Directing: Nicholas Mallett · Writing: Robert Holmes · Cast: Roger Brierley, Joan Sims, Tony Selby, Adam Blackwood
23x02 The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 2
Sep 13, 1986 · 25 min · ★ 6.6
The Doctor has an appointment with the Immortal, while Peri finds herself caught up with Glitz and the Tribe of the Free. Meanwhile, Merdeen begins to question all he believes.
Directing: Nicholas Mallett · Writing: Robert Holmes · Cast: Roger Brierley, Joan Sims, Tony Selby, Adam Blackwood
23x03 The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 3
Sep 20, 1986 · 25 min · ★ 6.5
The Doctor escapes to rejoin Peri on the surface but shortly after becomes the prisoner of a surface-dwelling tribe called The Free. Ravalox isn't Ravalox after all, but before the Doctor can learn much more an irresistible agent from UK Habitat comes to fetch him back.
Directing: Nicholas Mallett · Writing: Robert Holmes · Cast: Roger Brierley, Joan Sims, Tony Selby, Adam Blackwood
23x04 The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 4
Sep 27, 1986 · 25 min · ★ 6.4
All those on Ravolox are in exponentially greater peril than anyone can comprehend. If anything in the entire universe is to survive, it may come down to the Doctor arguing against machine logic over the value of life.
Directing: Nicholas Mallett · Writing: Robert Holmes · Cast: Roger Brierley, Joan Sims, Tony Selby, Adam Blackwood
23x05 The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 5
Oct 4, 1986 · 25 min · ★ 6.6
The Doctor's trial continues. The Valeyard's next piece of evidence for the prosecution concerns the Doctor's recent trip to Thoros Beta. Though originally investigating arms dealing, the Doctor and Peri become embroiled in their old enemy Sil's alarming neurological experiments...
Directing: Ron Jones · Writing: Philip Martin · Cast: Christopher Ryan, Nabil Shaban, Patrick Ryecart, Brian Blessed
23x06 The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 6
Oct 11, 1986 · 25 min · ★ 6.9
The scientist Crozier keeps making empty promises and Yrcanos and Peri are seemingly betrayed by the addled Doctor who is sure the Matrix is being manipulated...
Directing: Ron Jones · Writing: Philip Martin · Cast: Christopher Ryan, Nabil Shaban, Patrick Ryecart, Brian Blessed
23x07 The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 7
Oct 18, 1986 · 25 min · ★ 6.6
While the Doctor helps Dr. Crozier transfer Lord Kiv's brain into a new host skull, Peri accompanies King Yrcanos as he searches for the Alpha Resistance fighters whom he feels, most certainly, will follow him into glorious battle against the Mentors and the Doctor.
Directing: Ron Jones · Writing: Philip Martin · Cast: Christopher Ryan, Nabil Shaban, Patrick Ryecart, Gordon Warnecke
23x08 The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 8
Oct 25, 1986 · 25 min · ★ 6.8
As the Possidor Ambassador visits, Sil is appalled to realise Crozier has selected Peri to be the Kiv's new host body - a move Yrcanos takes exception to with devastating results.
Directing: Ron Jones · Writing: Philip Martin · Cast: Christopher Ryan, Nabil Shaban, Patrick Ryecart, Gordon Warnecke
23x09 The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 9
Nov 1, 1986 · 25 min · ★ 5.0
With the prosecution case concluded, at last the Doctor is able to present his evidence. It takes place in the future with a new companion and new problems.
Directing: Chris Clough · Writing: Philip Baker, Jane Baker · Cast: Tony Scoggo, Honor Blackman, Michael Craig, Malcolm Tierney
23x10 The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 10
Nov 8, 1986 · 25 min · ★ 5.0
As the Hyperion III continues its journey, more mysterious deaths occur.
Directing: Chris Clough · Writing: Philip Baker, Jane Baker · Cast: Tony Scoggo, Honor Blackman, Michael Craig, Malcolm Tierney
23x11 The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 11
Nov 15, 1986 · 25 min · ★ 4.9
A course change that takes the Hyperion III closer to a black hole could prove unwise when there are so many aboard ship with hidden agendas. Disappearances continue, a murderer remains at large, and one person finally crumbles under the strain of harbouring a guilty secret.
Directing: Chris Clough · Writing: Philip Baker, Jane Baker · Cast: Tony Scoggo, Honor Blackman, Michael Craig, Malcolm Tierney
23x12 The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 12
Nov 22, 1986 · 25 min · ★ 5.0
With factions vying for control of the ship, the Vervoids are found to be responsible for the many disappearances. Only the Doctor sees the fundamental but missed point as to why they can't be reasoned with or why they can't be allowed to arrive on Earth.
Directing: Chris Clough · Writing: Philip Baker, Jane Baker · Cast: Tony Scoggo, Honor Blackman, Michael Craig, Malcolm Tierney
23x13 The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 13
Nov 29, 1986 · 25 min · ★ 6.7
The Valeyard's true identity is revealed and the trial aborted, but the Doctor and Mel must pursue his new enemy into the Matrix itself, where nothing is quite what it seems…
Directing: Chris Clough · Writing: Robert Holmes · Cast: Anthony Ainley, Geoffrey Hughes
23x14 The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 14 Season Finale
Dec 6, 1986 · 30 min · ★ 6.3
The final part of this epic adventure. The Doctor and the Valeyard have entered the world of the Matrix. Can the Doctor defeat the evil incarnation of himself?
Directing: Chris Clough · Writing: Robert Holmes · Cast: Anthony Ainley, Geoffrey Hughes