Masterful

"One of these Masters is not like the other."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio 

Released: January 1971

Series: 50th Anniversary Master Special

Featuring: The Master, Missy, War Master, Jo, Kamelion

Synopsis

The Master's finally done it. He's won. He summons his other selves to a celebration of his ultimate victory. And they come – from across time and dimensions. But he's forgotten to invite someone. And Missy's not happy.

Has the Master really conquered the universe? Or has something more awful been unleashed? Something that even all the Masters cannot stop?

Missy is determined to reveal the truth. Because one fact about the Master's existence never changes. No-one can trust the Master. 

Not even the Master.

Verdict

Masterful was just that. A fine story to celebrate fifty years of the incredible villain! And what an incredible treat to bring together so many different incarnations of the Master in one place. This was honestly just such a treat and the opening half an hour or so where they all come together and interact was just perfect. It was an incredible piece of drama. This story certainly went ahead with some intriguing pair ups and starting things off with the Decayed Master and the younger Master that we saw glimpsed on screen in The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords was not what I expected. But then much of what the former incarnation went through in the story was not what I would have anticipated. I thought the Saxon Master was just excellent here and it feels right that he was the incarnation that had claimed victory over the universe. He had won, and hell he'd even thrown the Doctor to her death which was quite the surprise! I would love to get a tale where John Simm and Jodie Whittaker would perform opposite each other! Of course, Sacha Dhawan is her Master but there's nothing like a mix of the eras. I loved how the Saxon Master referred to the War Master as dad and that theme continued when Missy arrived on the scene and said the exact same thing to the Saxon version. I was a little surprised that World Enough and Time/The Doctor Falls wasn't referenced between them, but Missy being the one on hand to spoil the party was rather fun. She was a little peeved at not getting invited and soon revealed the true intentions of the Saxon Master. He hadn't actually brought all of his previous selves together to throw a party, he was actually planning on taking all of their lives. I thought it was fun to play on the body instability witnessed in The End of Time there and the Saxon version claiming that all of them were his lives to take was actually a little difficult to argue with! They had all been him at one point. Hearing how pretty much every version of the Master was a little scared at what they would become in the form of Missy was quite humorous and I just loved how she entered the fray with a disguise. She revelled in it and what would a celebratory Master story be without one? I was a big fan of hearing John Simm again and his Master absolutely delivered on audio. I thought it was delightful for him to refer to his past selves as early drafts as he now believed this incarnation was the one he got right. The one for victory. It didn't quite turn out to be true of course. I thought the concept of the entropy wave in the story was fantastic and that really allowed some solid character development for different incarnations. I thought the Decayed Master having a life again with Kitty was really rather emotional and his reaction to seeing himself without the crispy look was stunning. His being mocked almost by the Bruce Master was a little odd though, but I loved it. He revelled in everything. The imagery of the Saxon Master and the War Master driving around together was an absolute delight and I liked how the pair weren't put off by the other killing so destructively. Missy naming each of her past incarnations all of the same except for 'crispy' was a tremendous moment and I thought her reaction to the Lumiat making a cameo was delightful. Speaking of which, having Jo Grant appear was sublime and I think she was the perfect companion to feature. Sure, we did get Kamelion but he didn't make too much of an impact. I do like that he featured though given his history and connection with the Master. It felt right. I thought the Ainley version of the Master featuring was stunning and Jon Culshaw's impression at times was sensational. I just wish we heard more from him! Hearing the Reborn Master on Gallifrey was a delight and I thought it was also superb to have the Unbound Master featured and get very associated with Missy! What a pairing they briefly were. There really is so much to mention here and the story itself plays out very nicely. The War Master finding amusement in saving the universe was terrific and I thought it was fitting for Missy to be the final incarnation wiped out to cause the paradox bringing back reality. Overall, just a tremendous celebration! Masterfully mad. 

Rating: 9/10