This season had a unique format, never again repeated in the show. Doctor Who had returned to production after a near-cancellation and an eighteen-month production hiatus. For the first time, a season consisted of a single story, The Trial of a Time Lord, although this was made up of four serials from a production perspective: each serial was written by a different person (save for The Mysterious Planet and the first part of The Ultimate Foe, both of which were written by Robert Holmes) and featured a different story presented as evidence, excluding the final two episodes which concluded the o
All episodes — The Trial of a Time Lord
S23 E1The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 1
Sep 6, 19866.726 min
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 Docto
S23 E2The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 2
Sep 13, 19866.625 min
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.
S23 E3The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 3
Sep 20, 19866.525 min
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 Ha
S23 E4The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 4
Sep 27, 19866.425 min
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.
S23 E5The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 5
Oct 4, 19866.625 min
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
S23 E6The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 6
Oct 11, 19866.925 min
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...
S23 E7The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 7
Oct 18, 19866.625 min
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 t
S23 E8The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 8
Oct 25, 19866.825 min
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.
S23 E9The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 9
Nov 1, 1986525 min
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.
S23 E10The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 10
Nov 8, 1986525 min
As the Hyperion III continues its journey, more mysterious deaths occur.
S23 E11The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 11
Nov 15, 19864.925 min
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 st
S23 E12The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 12
Nov 22, 1986525 min
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 a
S23 E13The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 13
Nov 29, 19866.725 min
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…
S23 E14The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 14
Dec 6, 19866.330 min
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?