Day 683: Battlefield Part 2

So this story is all about the Doctor engaging with the legend of King Arthur, as he fights Morgaine Le Fay, the evil villain who fought Arthur in days of old. What's interesting about this setting, however, is who they have in the role of Merlin. It's the Doctor, which is fairly obvious as far as analogues go, although what's not obvious is which Doctor. Merlin is a future version of the Doctor, and has set up a lot of this adventure such that his past self can come along and finish it for him.

It's a fun idea, not only because it plays with the idea of time travel (something which is rarely mentioned in Doctor Who in the Classic era) but also because it plays with the idea of the Seventh Doctor. The Seventh Doctor has become known for being a bit of a manipulator, developing complex and ornate plans in order to defeat villainy across the Universe. Here, he's been put in a position where he's a pawn in a future version of himself's game, and he's willing to play his role, treating it as some sort of puzzle where he has to figure out exactly how everything falls into place.

It all adds to the sense of fun behind this story, and makes each episode one to look forward to, as we see what happens as the Doctor figures out the Doctor's plan.