THE TIMELINE I FOLLOWED (OR: HOW I WATCHED THE STORIES)
I was sensing that I needed a break from just sitting through entire seasons of Doctor Who and reviewing them. Feeling quite random, I just threw on Doctor Who - The Movie and enjoyed the only televised Who we got in the 90s. As the Eighth Doctor got back to munching jelly babies and reading The Time Machine, I still didn't want to start on Season 14, yet. Rather than just put on a bunch of unrelated episodes, I decided to maintain some sort of "theme" as I continued my re-watch. So I thought to myself: "Where do I go next?".
Ultimately, I decided I'd watch the next story that featured the Master. Which was, of course, Utopia. Logically enough, I continued with Sound of Drums and Last of the Time Lords. From there, it seemed obvious: End of Time Parts One and Two.
Clearly, I was going to just keep watching all the New Who adventures featuring the Master**. Which worked well since I still want to re-watch Power of the Doctor another 30 times or so over the next little while and this particular journey would take me there. However, watching all stories involving this character can be a bit tricky.
I decided that, in my quest to watch all New Who Master Stuff, I needed to be super-linear and, even, super-precise. The Simm Master escapes his fate on Gallifrey as End of Time concludes and ends up on the Mondasian colony ship in World Enough and Time/The Doctor Falls so I decided that should be the one I watch next. I'll view it again during Missy's timeline and not really care. This is an awesome story, anyway. I also believe that Missy actually remembers what happens during this tale and is just lying to her former self. So it's interesting to watch her, now, in the Twelfth Doctor era with the idea that she knows what she will become.
As I worked my way through Series 8, I only bothered to watch the various cameos that Missy gets in adventures like Deep Breath, Into the Dalek and so on.... Until, of course, we get to the last two episodes where she is messing, some more, with Cybermen (which she would understand better, now, since she had been tampering with them in the final days of her previous incarnation). And then, at the beginning of Series 9, I only have to enjoy that lovely little Dalek two-parter, where Missy finally meets Davros and pokes him in the eye!
Series 10, like Series 8, gets a bit tricky. Missy has a presence in quite a few early episodes of the season because she is in the Vault the whole time. But I still don't bother to watch those episodes. I jump all the way over to Extremis because that is the first time we actually see her. Lazy bastard that I am, I skip Pyramid at the End of the World because she is nowhere to be found in it and go straight to Lie of the Land. From there, I do the same as Series 8 and only actually watch her cameo scenes until we get to the season finale.
From there, things get pretty simple, again. I watch Spyfall Part 1 and 2, Ascension of the Cybermen/The Timeless Children and Power of the Doctor. And that gets me all the Sacha Dhawan that's out there (I could have been lazy, again, and only watched the last few minutes of Ascension but I do really love that story!). I think there are still some fans that like to argue that he does not follow Missy and is an earlier incarnation of some sort - but I'm not one of them. In my mind, he is the most recent incarnation.
Here's the interesting thing: there are some fascinating arcs that get built into the character as you follow him/her through the New Series. Some were, of course, very intentional. Others, I think, weren't planned at all and I am just "seeing patterns in things that aren't there". Nonetheless, I'd like to take some time to examine all the things I saw going on with the Master/Missy.
**Technically, Doctor Who - The Movie is neither New or Old Who. It's kinda it's own thing. However, I feel it leans more towards being part of the New Series rather than the Classic. Which is why I'm making it a part of this Analysis. Other people, of course, feel differently. They make some good arguments that it should be considered Original Series Who. I make an effort to look at both sides of the debate, here: https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2020/01/points-of-debate-96-telemovie-new-or.html.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OLD WHO MASTER AND NEW WHO MASTER
Back in the Classic Who Days, the Master was treated more as just a foil for the Doctor. A great villain, of course, but there wasn't a whole lot of depth to the character. He was, essentially, the antithesis of the title character. While the Doctor strove for justice and peace throughout the Universe, the Master just wanted to oppress as many sentient beings as he could and rule the cosmos with an Iron Fist. Where the Doctor yinged, he tended to yang.
Because he was a Time Lord, we could enjoy him in a similar way to the Doctor. Each new incarnation gave the actor in the role an opportunity to put their own unique spin on the character. And, quite naturally, we would also get an interesting new costume (I always loved the way Ainley, essentially, wore a sort of futuristic tailcoat!). But there wasn't really that much more to the character than that. When he showed up in a story, we knew he was up to no good and that the Doctor needed to stop him. And, in many ways, that's all we really needed.
There were rare instances where we would see what looked like an extra layer to the character. On certain occasions, for instance, the Master would actually cooperate with the Doctor for a bit. Which led us to believe there might be some good in him In Logopolis, for example, he forms an alliance with the Doctor to stop the entropy field from consuming the Universe . He even tries to rescue multiple incarnations of his arch-rival from the Death Zone during The Five Doctors. But such gestures only occurred because they served the Master in some way. They presented a greater benefit to him than his usual tactic of just trying to destroy the Doctor. In the end, the Master wasn't displaying any kind of benevolence, he was still working from a completely self-serving motivation. It might seem, for a moment, that there was more to him than we thought. But, ultimately, he was still that extreme narcissist. There weren't really any deeper layers to him.
Mind you, we could argue that the Doctor during Old Who was equally-predictable. Some interesting interpretations were made by certain actors in the role that gave him some extra depth here and there. But, overall, we know the Doctor will always side with good. He will fight to protect the weak and overthrow any form of tyrany. He is not really all that more complex than his bitterest foe.
All that tends to change for both of the Time Lords as New Who kicks in. Writers make great efforts to make the Master and the Doctor far more complex. Most notably, certain ongoing arcs get built into the characters that allow them to experience all sorts of interesting developments.
A most obvious arc is seen immediately with the Ninth Doctor. He is dealing with some serious survivor guilt over what he had to do to bring the Time Wars to an end. It eats away at him over the span of several episodes. By the conclusion of Series One, he seems to have laid that angst to rest as he makes a different choice with the Delta Wave transmitter that he's constructed in Parting of the Ways. Finding himself in a similar scenario to the one he was in when he possessed the Moment, he decides, this time, to be "a coward." In so doing, he seems to feel redeemed for the choices he had to make to conclude the Time Wars. We get to take quite the emotional journey with him throughout this season. Which is not something we really did with the Doctor before.
In the same respect, some interesting arcs have been built into the Master during New Who to make him a bit more nuanced. As I watched from The 96 Telemovie, onwards, I noticed two very prominent ones. While there are a few minor ongoing threads that have also been woven through the character, I'll mainly stick to highlighting these two more significant ones.
For the rest of this entry, I shall discuss the first one in great detail. I'll cite various examples from specific stories that seem to contribute to the arc's progression Or, in some circumstances, its recession.
ARC ONE: THE QUEST FOR A COMPANION
THE SON HE HAS YEARNED FOR....
Throughout the Classic Series, the Master tended to work alone. Sure, he formed partnerships or alliances from time-to-time - but they were often relationships of pure convenience. When the arrangement no longer proved useful, he would often dispose of the ally quite ruthlessly. Look at how the Master simply leaves Trenchard to die in The Sea Devils once he no longer needs him. Or the way he leads those Cybermen to their deaths on a pi-inspired checkerboard in The Five Doctors. These individuals were simply pawns in his game. To be tossed away when it suits him.
But the Master seems to be almost getting a bit lonely by the time we reach Doctor Who - The Movie. Quite frequently, he has exploited the affections the Doctor has for his companions. Getting the benevolent Time Lord to do what he wants by simply threatening to harm a dear friend. But he must have also been noticing the benefits of such a relationship. When he finally meets Chang-Lee, he doesn't really require anything of him. Aside from being his driver for a bit when they commandeer an ambulance and being an extra pair of eyes when searching for the Doctor at the New Year's Eve Ball, Lee serves no real purpose to him. But the Master still keeps him around. He even claims he will take the young gang member away with him when the Earth is destroyed by the Eye of Harmony.
"Lee is the son I have always yearned for!" he swears.
To all intents and purposes, he doesn't seem to be laying any kind of real con, here. He really does want to adopt the human as a companion of some sort. This is re-enforced by the fact that he doesn't really need Chang Lee for anything. Even opening the Eye of Harmony is something he can achieve with any human readily on hand. When the Master does snap his would-be companion's neck, it's not because the boy no longer has any purpose in his latest sinister plan. It's because Chang Lee finally sees the evil renegade for who he really is and doesn't want to be involved with him any further. Upset that he has lost his friend, the Master kills him.
It really does seem like, for once, the Time Lord was trying to take on a companion. Something that has never been of particular interest to him during the Classic Series. But, suddenly, it's become a goal for him. While it didn't work out with Chang Lee, this doesn't seem to stop him from trying again.
BEING GOOD TO SOMEONE'S FATHER...
Caught in another seemingly inescapable predicament at the end of The 96 Telemovie, we don't see much of the Master for a while. Until, of course, he makes his triumphant return after a huge plot twist in Utopia. After a quick regeneration from Jacobi to Simm, he will dash off to Earth and manipulates his way into becoming Prime Minister of Britain.
But the fact that, while in the guise of Professor Yana, he still had Chantho with him almost seems to reveal a subconscious desire for a friend. Even when he's completely re-written himself, the need for companionship still shines through. Once he has restored his identity and been forced to kill Chantho, it doesn't take long for him to find someone new Nowadays, he seems to really hate being alone for too long.
Having made his way to Earth, he takes on a new companion. This time, however, he goes one step further and marries her!
Like Chang Lee, Lucy does very little to help advance the Master's latest agenda. Yes, she comes from an influential family that seems to help him make certain connections that probably assisted him in his progress to win over the hearts of the British Public. But he could have easily accomplished this sort of social climbing without her. I'm more inclined to believe that Lucy was chosen because, once more, he just wants someone by his side as he goes about his plans. He even refers to her as "my faithful companion".
Of course, this is still the Master we're talking about. He's wasn't kind to Chang Lee and he's even crueler to Lucy. In Last of the Time Lords, there seems to be some legitimate domestic violence going on in their marriage. In certain scenes, we see Lucy with a bruise on her face. The abuse seems to have created enough resentment in her that she shoots him in the final minutes of the episode. It looks like, once more, the Master's attempts to recruit a companion have failed.
Except, of course, it gets even worse. Holding back his regeneration, the Master appears to die. But plans were already in place for his resurrection at a later time. Lucy is required in the ritual to bring him back. Which, admittedly, does make it seem like their relationship may have been a bit more functional than I originally believed. But I still think that, overall, the Master was looking for a companion and not just someone to leave his DNA on (which sounds sooo wrong!).
Lucy, however, is not done hatting the man for what he did. Just as he's about to return to the Land of the Living, she throws her own special potion into the mix that botches the whole Resurrection Process. No matter what, Lucy is determined to stop the Master from existing again and spreading more terror.
This final attack from the woman he wanted so badly as a companion appears to teach the Master a very harsh lesson. Having someone by his side as he conquers the Universe just isn't going to work for him. For quite some time, he goes back to being on his own.
HIS OWN FAM
After the harshness of the Lucy Debacle, we see the Master flying solo again. The Simm Master tolerates Bill as he lives with her aboard the Mondasian colony ship. But only because he, ultimately, plans to have her converted into a Cyberman. But this definitely doesn't seem like another attempt at companionship.
As we move on to Missy, she does not seem the slightest bit interested in having a companion. Before Series Ten, anyone that comes into her life is used for very specific purposes and discarded when that usefulness is at an end. The way she treats Clara in Witch's Familiar is the best example of this. If Clara fails an intelligence test at the start of the episode, the Time Lady would have considered her too useless and eaten her! She does cut Clara down and keep her around. But it's to do things like check the depth of a pit. Or lure a Dalek down to the sewers. Or seal her into a Dalek casing so they can act as prisoner and escort and meet the Supreme Dalek. Her ruthlessness never ends. Even back in the Main Control Room of the Dalek City, she uses Clara as a mere bargaining point.
The whole time, Clara is only kept alive because she can help Missy with her plans. Once she no longer fulfills any purpose, she tries to trick the Doctor into killing her. Just because it will be fun! These are clearly the actions of a woman that is not seeking a companion of any sort. People have gone back to just being pawns for her.
Of course, she does develop very different social needs in Capaldi's final season. She seems to genuinely want to mend her ways and become a better person. But, even with the change in attitude, she doesn't seem interested in having anyone travel with her. Just look at the way she talks about Bill and Nardole at the start of World Enough and Time.
As I have explained in other entries, I do think Missy is lying to the Simm Master about not being able to remember their encounter on the Mondasian colony ship. She is actually prepared for him to shoot her with his laser screwdriver and has taken precautions. I thought she was wearing protective clothing that absorbed a significant amount of the blast. But now I wonder if, maybe, her sonic umbrella was projecting some sort shield around her. She is in the process of grasping it as he fires upon her. Whatever it was that saved her, it only provided so much of a protection. She must still induce a regeneration to survive. At this point, the Sacha Dhawan Master is born.
He, too, seems to have no real interest in friendship during most of his episodes. He is offering an alliance to the Cybermen during The Timeless Children, but this is definitely something that's more professional than personal. Particularly as he creates the CyberMasters. These creatures are mere extensions of his own will rather than individual beings that he might, somehow, befriend.
But then, he says something interesting during Power of the Doctor. The Doctor has been captured by the Daleks and is brought back to the Czar's winter palace in the early 1900s. She sits trapped in the ruined casing of the Dalek Traitor, surrounded by Daleks and CyberMasters. And, of course, the Master is there, too. As they discuss the company the evil renegade's been keeping, he makes a remark to the nature of: "You're not the only one who can have a Fam!"
More than likely, the Master is just being a bit facetious. But there could be some actual sincerity to the statement. After being burnt a few times by his earlier attempts at friendship, he's trying to reach out again. But humans are so unpredictable. Why not try to befriend creatures that are a bit more single-minded and, therefore, easier to handle? While the Daleks and Cybermen are helping to facilitate his plans, he is also providing them with some benefits, too. There doesn't seem to be any kind of double-cross in the works, either. It would appear that the Master really does just want to get along with these cyborgs and have a nice time with them.
This is also the first time in a while that he's seen his arch-rival with so many companions. The Doctor having her own "Fam" might have made him legitimately jealous. So he, finally, decides to make his own, too. But it's a Fam that he will find easier to associate with. They share much of the same ambitions and goals that he does. This really could be another attempt on the Master's behalf to have companions.
The arrangement, however, seems to have been ruined by the Doctor. After all, it's hard to maintain a Fam when they'be been utterly destroyed!
And thus concludes the first half of this essay. In the second part, we will be looking at a much more complex arc that has been weaving through the evil Time Lord's character during the Revived Series.
We'll see you again, shortly.
Want a better idea of how I think Missy survived? Read here:
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