Monsters: Reformation

"What did I ever do to you?"

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: September 2025

Series: Call Me Master 2.03

Featuring: The Master

Synopsis

The Master is incarcerated in a reformation chamber where only his own moral conscience can free him. He's in big trouble.

Verdict

Reformation was a great episode to conclude the Monsters second series of Call Me Master! I sincerely hope this is not the last we have heard from this range because Sacha Dhawan's incarnation of the Master truly is one of the very best. His performance for this boxset has been exemplary and it's been a sheer joy to listen to the whacky nature he brings to the Master. He really is mad and deranged in absolutely the best way. His maniacal laugh is infectious and he's also an incarnation that likes a challenge. He certainly got one here! I thought this episode was intriguing in having the Master effectively battle his inner conscience and at times it became a bit of an internal battle. First it was a question as to whether he even had one, but then it became how much of one he had. It allowed for a fascinating insight into the life of this incarnation of the Master as he was experiencing memories in some rather harrowing flashbacks. He wasn't exactly thrilled by this tour through certain aspects of his life but as a listener it was exciting to get these glimpses. Going back to the days of the Academy was particularly magnificent and I like how he still feels bad – very deep down – about not helping the Doctor when they were growing up. Something so simple and even after everything they have been through, he still cares. The concept behind the reformation chamber was very strong and the jury being yourself seems flawed in that you could very easily just find yourself not guilty, but it was more of a journey than that. Sure, the Master would utilise that flaw to get out in quite extreme circumstances, but that's part of the beauty of this incarnation. He was intrigued by the challenge of his own conscience judging him and it was fun to think of the little peripheral vision showcasing it. Just an infinitesimal fraction in the future occupying the same space. That was great. I like it when things challenge my comprehension and that certainly did that! I thought the Master experiencing memories was fun, especially ones he didn't want to relive, but the way he took the initiative and showcased what he wanted to happen was brilliant. Memories that were to come. It was a very eery foreshadowing of the aftermath of events witnessed in Ascension of the Cybermen/The Timeless Children with the Master having wiped Gallifrey to the ground. This makes that even more impressive and just downright scary that he'd planned it all and then gone through with it! It's fair to say he hardly valued the concept of home. I really enjoyed when the Master worked out he was talking with his conscience in contactable form and that was genuinely interesting to him. I would think he had the resolution almost immediately and his actions in breaking free from the reformation chamber was something that made him awfully excited. How does one get a thrill out of literally killing your own conscience? This Master is different and perhaps the most unhinged of them all and it really does feel like his audio journey is only just getting started. I can't begin to explain how much praise I have for Sacha Dhawan's performance here. To be far, who thought it was a good idea to have the Master as judge and jury of anything, let alone his own conscience? Overall, a stunning performance and a really solid idea. A great listen to conclude a really strong series.

Rating: 8/10