If there’s one relationship in Poppy Playtime that makes absolutely no sense at first, it’s the alliance between the Prototype and the Doctor.

Seriously, think about it.

The Prototype, also known as Experiment 1006, spent years suffering inside Playtime Co.’s laboratories. Meanwhile, Dr. Harley Sawyer was one of the scientists responsible for turning innocent people into terrifying living toys.

These two should be enemies, right?

Well, here’s the shocking part: the Prototype and the Doctor actually worked together after the Hour of Joy.

And after the revelations in Poppy Playtime Chapter 5: Broken Things, we finally have a better understanding of why.

So, why does the Prototype work with the Doctor, and what secret were they trying to uncover?

Let’s investigate!

Spoiler Warning: Major spoilers for Poppy Playtime Chapters 4 and 5 ahead.

Who Is the Doctor in Poppy Playtime?

Before we explore their strange partnership, let’s talk about the man behind the nightmare.

Dr. Harley Sawyer Created the Bigger Bodies Initiative

Dr. Harley Sawyer was one of Playtime Co.’s most influential scientists and the mastermind behind the Bigger Bodies Initiative.

This horrifying project transformed human subjects into giant living toys.

Characters such as Huggy Wuggy, Mommy Long Legs, and CatNap were connected to the company’s experiments.

Sawyer believed his research could revolutionize science, but his methods were incredibly cruel.

He treated living experiments as scientific tools rather than people.

Eventually, even Playtime Co.’s management turned against him.

What Happened to Harley Sawyer?

After falling out of favor with company leadership, Sawyer became a victim of experimentation himself.

His biological remains were integrated into a computerized system, allowing his consciousness to control mechanical bodies and factory equipment.

By Chapter 4, he’s known simply as the Doctor.

Pretty ironic, isn’t it?

The scientist who turned people into monsters became one of his own company’s experiments.

Why Did the Prototype Hate the Doctor?

Here’s what makes their partnership so surprising.

The Prototype had every reason to despise Harley Sawyer.

During his captivity, Experiment 1006 was subjected to painful research and constant observation.

An earlier recording, Log 24459, reveals a tense conversation between Sawyer and the Prototype.

The Prototype questions the scientists’ cruelty, while Sawyer continues treating him as a fascinating research subject.

Their relationship is clearly hostile.

So why would Experiment 1006 eventually cooperate with someone who helped cause so much suffering?

The answer comes down to one thing: the Doctor knew something the Prototype desperately needed.

Why Does the Prototype Work With the Doctor? The Real Reason

The strongest evidence appears in a hidden Chapter 4 VHS recording called Time.

The Secret Conversation Between Two Villains

In the recording, the Prototype confronts the Doctor about their lack of progress on a mysterious project.

Sawyer explains that the research requires more time.

The Prototype grows impatient and questions whether keeping him alive is worthwhile.

But Sawyer points out that his scientific knowledge makes him the Prototype’s best chance of uncovering the secret.

And here’s the chilling detail.

The Prototype makes it clear that Sawyer’s usefulness is the only reason he hasn’t been killed.

That’s not exactly a healthy working relationship!

This conversation reveals that their alliance isn’t based on friendship.

It’s based on necessity.

Chapter 5 Reveals What They Were Working On

Now things get really interesting.

In Poppy Playtime Chapter 5: Broken Things, players discover documents that shed new light on the mysterious research.

The Prototype Was Trying to Create Immortal Experiments

A document called Experiment Notes reveals that the Prototype was conducting experiments involving Poppy Gel and other substances.

His objective appears to involve creating living beings capable of surviving indefinitely.

The notes describe multiple experimental subjects, failed attempts, and gradual improvements.

They also acknowledge Harley Sawyer’s cooperation.

This gives us a much clearer explanation for their partnership.

The Prototype needed the Doctor’s scientific expertise to help him create new, potentially immortal life.

Why Was Immortality So Important?

Chapter 5 reveals another disturbing detail about the Prototype.

He fears eternal loneliness.

Although Experiment 1006 can survive under extraordinary circumstances, the same isn’t necessarily true for everyone around him.

Perhaps he believes that creating immortal companions will prevent him from spending eternity alone.

That’s a surprisingly emotional motivation for such a terrifying villain.

But the methods he’s willing to use are absolutely horrifying.

Three Reasons the Doctor Agreed to Help the Prototype

Of course, there’s another question we need to answer.

Why would Harley Sawyer cooperate with someone who threatened his life?

1. He Wanted to Survive

Let’s start with the obvious.

The Prototype was dangerous enough to destroy Sawyer.

Cooperation gave the Doctor a reason to remain alive.

When you’re dealing with a monster made of mechanical parts and the remains of other experiments, staying useful is a pretty good survival strategy.

2. He Wanted to Continue His Research

Harley Sawyer was obsessed with scientific discovery.

Even after becoming an experiment himself, he remained fascinated by the possibilities of artificial life.

Working with the Prototype gave him access to research that might help answer questions he had spent years investigating.

For Sawyer, the opportunity to make a groundbreaking discovery could have been irresistible.

3. He Wanted Power and Control

Here’s my personal favorite theory.

Maybe Sawyer believed he could eventually outsmart the Prototype.

Throughout Chapter 4, the Doctor controls much of the prison area using factory technology and his Omni-Hand.

He commands machines, manipulates experiments, and terrorizes surviving toys.

Perhaps he viewed the partnership as an opportunity to expand his influence.

The Prototype needed his intelligence.

Sawyer needed protection and resources.

Neither had to trust the other.

Were the Prototype and the Doctor Really Friends?

Absolutely not—or at least, there’s no convincing evidence that they were.

Their recorded conversation sounds much more like an argument between two dangerous enemies forced into an uneasy alliance.

The Prototype threatens Sawyer.

Sawyer challenges the Prototype’s expectations.

Both appear interested in what the other can provide.

Personally, I think that’s what makes their relationship so fascinating.

They’re both incredibly intelligent villains, but neither wants to surrender control.

And sooner or later, partnerships like that tend to fall apart.

What Happened to the Doctor in Chapter 5?

At the end of Chapter 4, the Player destroys the Doctor’s original life-support and control systems.

It looks like Harley Sawyer is finally gone.

But Chapter 5 delivers another shocking twist.

After the Prototype captures Poppy, the Player and Giblet reach the Data Center and activate the mysterious Master Backup.

And guess who’s waiting?

Harley Sawyer!

A digital backup of the Doctor’s personality has survived.

His return raises a massive question: Could the Doctor eventually help the Player defeat the Prototype?

Maybe.

But considering Sawyer’s history, trusting him would be incredibly risky.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did the Prototype Work for Harley Sawyer?

Before the Hour of Joy, Sawyer was involved in researching Experiment 1006. After the uprising, their positions changed, with the Prototype holding the upper hand in their uneasy alliance.

Why Didn’t the Prototype Kill the Doctor?

Because Sawyer possessed valuable scientific knowledge. Their Chapter 4 conversation confirms that his usefulness was keeping him alive.

What Were the Prototype and Doctor Creating?

Chapter 5’s Experiment Notes indicate that the Prototype was experimenting with creating new life and pursuing immortality, with Sawyer providing assistance.

Is the Doctor Still Alive After Chapter 5?

His original Chapter 4 form was destroyed, but a digital backup of Harley Sawyer appears at the end of Chapter 5.

Final Thoughts: An Alliance Built on Fear and Ambition

So, why does the Prototype work with the Doctor?

Because Harley Sawyer possesses scientific knowledge that helps the Prototype pursue his frightening goal of creating immortal life.

The Doctor, meanwhile, benefits from remaining useful to a creature powerful enough to destroy him.

It’s a partnership built on fear, ambition, and mutual advantage.

And with Sawyer’s surprising return in Chapter 5, their story might not be over.

Could these former allies become enemies again?

I wouldn’t be surprised!

Explore Poppy Playtime Chapter 5 Plush Collectibles

Love uncovering the dark secrets behind the Prototype, Harley Sawyer, and Playtime Co.?

Bring your favorite horror game characters into your collection!

Explore our Poppy Playtime Chapter 5 Stuffed Animals at Five Star Toy.

Discover creepy, cute, character-inspired plush collectibles perfect for Poppy Playtime fans and horror game enthusiasts.

Now it’s your turn: Do you think the Doctor will help defeat the Prototype, or will he betray everyone again? Share your theory with fellow Poppy Playtime fans!