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[[File:Mindbending.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The [[Fourth Doctor]] and [[Morbius]] enter a contest. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Brain of Morbius]]'')]]
{{first pic|Mindbending.jpg|The [[Fourth Doctor]] and [[Morbius]] enter a contest. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Brain of Morbius (TV story)}})}}
'''Mindbending''' was a form of psychic wrestling played by [[Time Lord]]s. Usually it was only a game, but it could end in deathlock. The competitors placed their heads against the mindbending device and the process began. It involved mental warfare hence, mindbending.  
'''Mindbending''', '''mind-bending''', or a '''telepathic battle''', was a psychic contest the [[Fourth Doctor]] likened to "[[Time Lord]] wrestling."


The [[Fourth Doctor]] and [[Morbius]] entered a mindbending contest on the [[planet]] [[Karn]] with the former eager to prove the latter's mental instability following his revival. Both were badly hurt by the fight and Morbius was forced to retreat before being forced over a cliff by members of the [[Sisterhood of Karn]]. The contest left the Doctor dying, but he was restored when the Sisterhood had him drink the [[Elixir of Life]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Brain of Morbius]]'')
 
== Set-up ==
A mind-bending set-up was a complicated electronic apparatus composed of a framework of girders with a circular central screen and two head-sets, enabling two opponents to match the force of their [[mind]]s in direct confrontation. A player's face appearing on the screen was a sign of losing. Though usually a game played for fun, it could be dangerous if played to the ultimate, ending in mental deathlock where a winner could ''think'' his opponent to the death by driving him back to the moment of birth and then beyond.
 
[[Mehendri Solon]] kept a mind-bending set-up in his castle as it was one of [[Morbius]]'s favourite toys; before his [[execution]], Morbius used to boast that he'd never been beaten. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Doctor Who and the Brain of Morbius (novelisation)}})
 
== Etymology ==
When the [[Monochrome Auteur]] and [[the Goddess of Gendar]] began their battle on [[Gendar]], the [[Gendar (species)|Gendar]] high priestess [[Jecriss]] explained to her child [[Covioll]] that "[[Lightbringer]]s wrestle[d] with their ''spirits''", to which they replied "Mind-bending!", a term which they had recently heard in a [[cartoon]]. The Monochrome Auteur commented that "[he] like[d the term]" and
that "[it] might catch on". ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Two Auteurs (short story)}})
 
== Known battles ==
=== The Fourth Doctor and Morbius ===
{{main|Mindbending contest between the Fourth Doctor and Morbius}}
The [[Fourth Doctor]] challenged [[Morbius]] to [[Mindbending contest between the Fourth Doctor and Morbius|a mindbending contest]] on the [[planet]] [[Karn]], eager to prove the latter's mental instability following his surgical revival. Although Morbius's face appeared first, the screen began showing the Doctor's face, followed by [[First Doctor|his]] [[Second Doctor|first]] [[Third Doctor|three]] [[incarnation]]s, then [[The Doctor (The Brain of Morbius)|eight of the Doctor's earlier lives]] before the device burnt out. Both were badly hurt by the fight, with [[static electricity]] fusing the circuits in Morbius's brain case, reducing him to a mindless monster. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Doctor Who and the Brain of Morbius (novelisation)}}) The Doctor was left dying, only being restored when the [[Sisterhood of Karn]] had him drink the [[Elixir of Life]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Brain of Morbius (TV story)}})
 
=== The Monochrome Auteur and the Goddess of Gendar ===
{{main|Mindbending contest between the Monochrome Auteur and the Goddess of Gendar}}
After the [[Monochrome Auteur]] and [[the Goddess of Gendar]] were summoned to [[Gendar]] by [[Covioll]], the Monochrome Auteur rewrote Gendar's history, and the Goddess of Gendar was not pleased with these alterations, so they had [[mindbending contest between the Monochrome Auteur and the Goddess of Gendar|a mind-bending contest]] over it. The Monochrome Auteur cycled back through his past incarnations, in the end surrounding the Goddess with [[Auteur's thirteenth incarnation|his multi-choice thirteenth incarnation]]. However, the Goddess and [[the Father of Christmas]], her next incarnation, teamed up to erase the Monochrome Auteur from their future, becoming detached from him. The adjudicator for the contest was [[Jecriss]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Two Auteurs (short story)}})
 
=== The Fourth Doctor and the Megron ===
The Fourth Doctor later defeated the [[Megron]] in what he called "telepathic will deployment," albeit without any equipment, banishing the Megron from [[Earth]] forever. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Exploration Earth (audio story)}})


== Behind the scenes ==
== Behind the scenes ==
During the mindbending sequence several faces are shown. They were images of the production team. The appearances of these images has led to several theories concerning the Doctor's past regenerations. One such theory revolves around the character of the Other, whom the Doctor is suggested to be related to. For more information, see the article on [[the Other]].
=== Morbius Doctors ===
During the mindbending sequence, several faces are shown. They were images of the production team. The appearances of these images has led to several theories concerning the Doctor's past regenerations. These pre-Hartnell incarnations of the Doctor have come to be known [[The Doctor (The Brain of Morbius)|"Morbius" Doctors]]. They would appear again, through archival footage, in 2020's ''[[The Timeless Children (TV story)|The Timeless Children]]''.
 
[[Category:Gallifreyan culture]]
[[Category:Gallifreyan culture]]
[[Category:Gallifreyan technology]]
[[Category:Gallifreyan technology]]
[[Category:Psychic powers]]
[[Category:Psychic powers]]
[[Category:Combat]]
[[Category:Games]]

Latest revision as of 15:31, 17 March 2024

The Fourth Doctor and Morbius enter a contest. (TV: The Brain of Morbius [+]Loading...["The Brain of Morbius (TV story)"])

Mindbending, mind-bending, or a telepathic battle, was a psychic contest the Fourth Doctor likened to "Time Lord wrestling."


Set-up[[edit] | [edit source]]

A mind-bending set-up was a complicated electronic apparatus composed of a framework of girders with a circular central screen and two head-sets, enabling two opponents to match the force of their minds in direct confrontation. A player's face appearing on the screen was a sign of losing. Though usually a game played for fun, it could be dangerous if played to the ultimate, ending in mental deathlock where a winner could think his opponent to the death by driving him back to the moment of birth and then beyond.

Mehendri Solon kept a mind-bending set-up in his castle as it was one of Morbius's favourite toys; before his execution, Morbius used to boast that he'd never been beaten. (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Brain of Morbius [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and the Brain of Morbius (novelisation)"])

Etymology[[edit] | [edit source]]

When the Monochrome Auteur and the Goddess of Gendar began their battle on Gendar, the Gendar high priestess Jecriss explained to her child Covioll that "Lightbringers wrestle[d] with their spirits", to which they replied "Mind-bending!", a term which they had recently heard in a cartoon. The Monochrome Auteur commented that "[he] like[d the term]" and that "[it] might catch on". (PROSE: The Two Auteurs [+]Loading...["The Two Auteurs (short story)"])

Known battles[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Fourth Doctor and Morbius[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Mindbending contest between the Fourth Doctor and Morbius

The Fourth Doctor challenged Morbius to a mindbending contest on the planet Karn, eager to prove the latter's mental instability following his surgical revival. Although Morbius's face appeared first, the screen began showing the Doctor's face, followed by his first three incarnations, then eight of the Doctor's earlier lives before the device burnt out. Both were badly hurt by the fight, with static electricity fusing the circuits in Morbius's brain case, reducing him to a mindless monster. (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Brain of Morbius [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and the Brain of Morbius (novelisation)"]) The Doctor was left dying, only being restored when the Sisterhood of Karn had him drink the Elixir of Life. (TV: The Brain of Morbius [+]Loading...["The Brain of Morbius (TV story)"])

The Monochrome Auteur and the Goddess of Gendar[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Mindbending contest between the Monochrome Auteur and the Goddess of Gendar

After the Monochrome Auteur and the Goddess of Gendar were summoned to Gendar by Covioll, the Monochrome Auteur rewrote Gendar's history, and the Goddess of Gendar was not pleased with these alterations, so they had a mind-bending contest over it. The Monochrome Auteur cycled back through his past incarnations, in the end surrounding the Goddess with his multi-choice thirteenth incarnation. However, the Goddess and the Father of Christmas, her next incarnation, teamed up to erase the Monochrome Auteur from their future, becoming detached from him. The adjudicator for the contest was Jecriss. (PROSE: The Two Auteurs [+]Loading...["The Two Auteurs (short story)"])

The Fourth Doctor and the Megron[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Fourth Doctor later defeated the Megron in what he called "telepathic will deployment," albeit without any equipment, banishing the Megron from Earth forever. (AUDIO: Exploration Earth [+]Loading...["Exploration Earth (audio story)"])

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Morbius Doctors[[edit] | [edit source]]

During the mindbending sequence, several faces are shown. They were images of the production team. The appearances of these images has led to several theories concerning the Doctor's past regenerations. These pre-Hartnell incarnations of the Doctor have come to be known "Morbius" Doctors. They would appear again, through archival footage, in 2020's The Timeless Children.