Nemesis Express: Passion

"Fear is an illusion."

Writer: Robert Valentine

Format: Audio

Released: October 2022

Series: Master! 2.03

Featuring: The Master, Vienna

Synopsis

Finally reaching the head of the ship, Vienna and Passion find themselves exactly where the Master wants them. The Time Lord has more than revenge on his mind, however, and if they can't stop him, nothing in the universe will.

Verdict

Passion was a great finale to the Nemesis Express second series of Master! This rounded out the series very nicely and it really was a three-part arc that concluded with finality. It was a very enjoyable hour and certainly the best of the series so far as the Master's plan came into fruition. It was audacious to say the least and it must be troubling for him to have to continue to go to such extent to survive. Another body where he needs restoration and without regeneration. He's certainly got experience from his decaying incarnation! With all roads seemingly leaning towards Passion as the Master's intended host, the twist that he actually wanted to take over Vienna was great! It wasn't wholly unexpected but her reaction was priceless. I'm really loving how she is accepting that she is reformed and essentially wants atonement now for her past actions as an assassin. That is a powerful story beat and I'm delighted that there's at least one more series of this spinoff range to come. There's plenty more to explore and I love that Vienna has got the better of the Master twice now. Will she be so lucky a third time? I enjoyed the pairing with Passion once again but it was clear in this episode that Vienna was the main event. She was who the Master desired. I thought the revelation regarding Bruce whose form the Master took in The Movie being that he still existed within the body and was fighting from within in a silent scream was incredibly horrifying. It seems this incarnation of the Master has lasted for a pretty long time so the extent of that internal torture is almost incomprehensible! Vienna being told that just before the Master was planning to make the transfer and take her over really set her up nicely! Imagine that for your preparation. She was somewhat confident though because Passion was in play and was doing very well with interference. The genuine shock and surprise in the Master's voice was really good as just when he thought he had the upper hand and his plan was out to succeed, it was all taken away from him again. I'm a little surprised that the Master was defeated in his own spinoff series once again but I'm all here for it. It will only make him angrier and hungrier to succeed and that excites me, especially with his seeming destination being the Dark Times! Throwing this Master of all incarnations into that period of time is such an exciting concept and I beg the next series takes us there. I thought the continuity stretching back to the first series was great as well as the Master revealed to Vienna that the Kairos was actually built by Drake Interplanetary. Coincidence? Everything tying together across the series is a nice touch and really adds to the story being told. The return of Kryle from Nemesis Express was good and the Master consigning him to his fate almost as quickly as he returned was excellent. The Master at his brutal best when things didn't quite go his way once again. I thought the story was impressive in putting a shine on Vienna when they really didn't have to, but the Master still feels like he's far from finished despite his fate and destination. Passion played her role brilliantly and this rounded out the series very nicely. Onto the next one! 

Rating: 8/10