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Article: Fifty Years of The Master

posted 4 years ago by Satan2016 (25577)
9 replies | jump to latest

There are four actors playing The Master in the original series, but I only remember Delgado and Ainley. Pictures of all eight.

https://www.doctorwhonews.net/2021/01/fifty_years_of_the_master.html

Created by producer Barry Letts and script editor Terrance Dicks, the character was devised as a foil to the Third Doctor as played by Jon Pertwee. Given an academic name. The Master, to counterpoint the name of The Doctor, the character was to be the Moriarty to Pertwee’s Holmes, a character very much the equal to the Doctor in terms of intelligence and background.

The character outline was sketched out in an internal BBC document sent to the writers of Season 8 of the series, a document which also introduced the characters of Jo Grant and Captain Mike Yates, played by Richard Franklin and Katy Manning.

Only one actor was considered for the role of the Master, Roger Delgado, an actor known for playing sinister villains and a personal friend of Jon Pertwee.

[–] peter_t_2k3 (1052) 4 years ago

Delgado will always be the best for me. He just has so much screen presence and can do so much with just a look. I also love the relationship his master has with the 3rd doctor. The master grew up with the doctor and where friends and you see it more with these two probably because they really where friends.

I find Simms master a little too over the top. Delgado worked because he was the opposite, the doctor if dark and evil and with Simms I feel they tried to match him too much with 10. There are some good moments but things like the hunger and chicken eating in the end of time are just a bit too much.

I kind of liked the balance with missy, kind of a dark Mary Poppins. Pantomime at times but a bit fun. The new master has some great dark moments but sometimes gets ruined with the over the top side again.

I recommend Alex mcqueens master from big finish audios who's balance between evil and sarcastic is great

[–] johnnybear (146) 3 years ago

Edward Brayshaw as the War Chief in The War Games is also considered by some to be the Master! His hatred towards the Doctor in Terror of The Autons would explain this plus the War Chief is a Time Lord, has a Nehru suit and a beard and knows the doctor from long ago!!!! Who else could he be?
JB
Shut the door, Mary

[–] peter_t_2k3 (1052) 3 years ago

Interesting idea although I think I prefer them as separate characters

[–] johnnybear (146) 3 years ago

Try to like him as the Master and their feud makes so much more sense!
JB

[–] peter_t_2k3 (1052) 3 years ago

It's a while since I've seen it but I always felt there was more history with the master, you could tell they grew up together, where friends etc.

I didn't see this with the war chief from what I remember. They may have known each other but I didn't see them having as much history. May have to re-watch

[–] johnnybear (146) 3 years ago

The Doctor ran for his life after seeing the War Chief at the end of part four so that is hardly the actions of them not having much history together. I believe they knew each other very well and although the Chief had only left Gallifrey more recently than the Doctor it is still evident that he knows who he is. Later on when the Doctor pretends to be joining the War Lords the Chief seems overjoyed and believes the Doctor will help him in their conquest of the galaxy like two very old friends coming back together after a long time apart or ending a feud!
Shut the door Mary
JB

[–] peter_t_2k3 (1052) 3 years ago

Like I said it's ages since I've seen the episode. I'm not saying they didn't have history but it was more they knew who each other where while as the chemistry between the doctor and master feels a lot different. With the master and the 3rd doctor I can sense they grew up together and had a lot of respect, but I never saw as much of that with 2 and the war chief

[–] johnnybear (146) 3 years ago

It's there. The Chief seems very alarmed at first and then angry that the Doctor is in their base. It's only that regeneration wasn't a thing at that time that stops people accepting the Chief is the Master! His hatred of the Doctor spans from his betraying here I believe...
Shut the door Mary
JB

[–] peter_t_2k3 (1052) 3 years ago

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