The Valeyard

The Valeyard is the main antagonist of the 14-part Doctor Who serial "The Trial of a Time Lord". He is a lawyer and a dark version of the Doctor himself from the future.

He was portrayed by Michael Jayston.

Personality

Being the embodiment of all dark sides of the Doctor and was born sometime between The Doctor's final two incarnations. The Valeyard is one of the few villains who can match the Doctor's intelligence (Since he is essentially the Doctor himself). His urge to prevent his own death at any possible cost is very similar to the motives of the Master.

History

As the Valeyard does not have many regenerations left, he wants to get the Doctor accused in a trial for the death penalty as such he makes a deal with the time lords and convinces them into allowing The Doctor to be held up for the trial.

In order to seem convincing The Valeyard brings several pieces of fabricated evidence to the trial including a staged death of the Doctor's best friend and companion at the time Peri, several crimes "The Doctor" had committed on other planets among various other things.

The Valeyard almost succeeds however, The Master appears in the trial to point out that the Valeyard is actually the Doctor himself, much to the entire courtroom's shock. In a panic the Valeyard flees into the matrix where the Doctor pursues him.

In the end the Doctor can avoid the death sentence, but also the Valeyard is able to escape. He is never seen again in the TV series however he has appeared in some of the expanded media.

Trivia

• In the fifth season of the series' revival there has been another villain who is a mix of the darkest sides of the Doctor: The Dream Lord.
• Alongside Sharaz Jek, The Master, The Rani and The Dream Lord The Valeyard is one of the few villains to match The Doctor in intelligence.

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