Only the Good: The Heavenly Paradigm

"I doubt everything but myself."

Writer: Guy Adams

Format: Audio

Released: 14th December 2017

Series: The War Master 1.04

Featuring: War Master, Cole

Synopsis

With his plans approaching fruition, the Master travels to Stamford Bridge in the 1970s: a location he believes might hold the key to his success. But what terrible secret lurks under the stairs of No. 24 Marigold Lane? And what sacrifices will the Master make in the name of ultimate victory?

Verdict

The Heavenly Paradigm concluded the Only the Good boxset in wonderful style! It really was an outstanding conclusion to this little trip into the world of the War Master and I have to say it was pretty much perfect from start to finish. It was everything I had hoped for from this spin-off series and I definitely thought it was Derek Jacobi's best performance yet as the Master. His incarnation has been different to those that we have witnessed on screen and with the elderly slant and changed personality, I was delighted to see the traits of the villainous character I love so much. After seemingly doing everything in his power to save Cole in The Sky Man, it was revealed that the Master had a plan all along - something that pleased me greatly! He had been waiting patiently for a way to end the Time War and he believed he got it with Cole. The paradox had its uses and that was multiplied exponentially when he turned a community of farmers into a race of killers. The Master realised that the paradox who created a paradox was an infinite source of temporal power and was going to use him to power the Heavenly Paradigm. This was not quite the weapon that ended the Time War like the Moment in The Day of the Doctor, but its potential was quite extraordinary. Its origins were particularly interesting with it being intended to go back and rewrite the timeline of the Daleks and ensuring that there would be peace on Skaro between the Thals and the Kaleds. I loved that idea but the Master being the Master, he wanted to use it to rewrite the entire universe. He casually saw that Cole ceased to exist to power his monstrosity but it was overloading. He had a little battle of words with Tandeeka and I loved how a scene was left with him just having a cup of tea and her aiming a staser at his hearts yet he was the one who was in control just a few minutes later. This really was the Master of old. The Daleks didn't feature in the episode which was fine and I really liked the setting of Stamford Bridge in 1976. Earth seems a great place for a Time Lord vault of deadly weapons and the subconscious defence system was brilliant. The Master though, got more than he bargained for and instead of making the entire universe better, it became even more chaotic. He influenced the Time War in a big way and it saw a crucial victory for the Dalek Emperor at the Cruciform, something that frightened him greatly. Seeing the Master scared was quite unique and it really showed just how deadly the Time War had become. I didn't actually expect the boxset to finish with the perfect setup for how we saw the Master in Utopia, but we actually got it! We got to hear the Master turn himself human and shun his TARDIS into departure. He was helpless now but the narration was wonderful because the Master was supremely confident that the winning side would come calling. That wouldn't quite turn out to be the case but this Master would return for battle with the Tenth Doctor, and I think the way this linked with the television appearance of Derek Jacobi was superb. Overall, an astounding conclusion to the series!

Rating: 10/10