Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2016 0:41:10 GMT
A thread to discuss the amazing instalment in the Villains Trilogy, Master!
|
|
|
|
Post by mrperson on Jul 27, 2016 13:32:41 GMT
The only thing I didn't like about it was the notion of death as an actual character/entity, especially when it wasn't the DEATH.
Everything else was brilliant.
|
|
|
|
Post by whiskeybrewer on Jul 27, 2016 14:12:42 GMT
Well it was the Eternal being Death from the VNA's which i was actually happy about myself. I like the fact That they linked that in.
Such a great moment when the Doctor was heartbroken while trying to say sorry and goodbye to his old friend before Death sent him away.
|
|
|
|
Post by fingersmash on Jul 27, 2016 14:18:16 GMT
One of my favorite releases ever. I really wish we got more introspective stories like this outside of the Companion Chronicles and Rocket Men stories. Sometimes we do indeed need to look into the Doctor's mind and this was the perfect way to do it.
|
|
bobod
Chancellery Guard
Likes: 2,759 
|
Post by bobod on Jul 27, 2016 14:43:41 GMT
Still my favourite of the DW audios.
|
|
|
|
Post by kimalysong on Jul 27, 2016 23:09:07 GMT
Listened to this the first time last week and it was excellent. It wasn't what I was expecting at all and that made it so much better. Also have to say I like this origin of the Master/Doctor a bit more than the TV series. The whole who killed the bully and the twist at the end really worked for me because it was so simple at its core. This story also was simple at its core with a small group of characters that we could pull the layers out underneath and discover their true complexities. Nothing was black and white here.
Have to say I didn't think anything could replace my love for Davros but this just might have beaten it. Now I am sad I can never get this one on CD.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2016 23:14:37 GMT
Listened to this the first time last week and it was excellent. It wasn't what I was expecting at all and that made it so much better. Also have to say I like this origin of the Master/Doctor a bit more than the TV series. The whole who killed the bully and the twist at the end really worked for me because it was so simple at its core. This story also was simple at its core with a small group of characters that we could pull the layers out underneath and discover their true complexities. Nothing was black and white here. Have to say I didn't think anything good replace my love for Davros but this just might have beaten it. Now I am sad I can never get this one on CD. Very well said. A very dark and emotional story but a very simplistic one. |
|
|
|
Post by whiskeybrewer on Jul 28, 2016 11:45:02 GMT
Now I am sad I can never get this one on CD. It is possible to find at a good price on Ebay or Amazon. Thats how i was able to find it. Think i got it for about £10-£15 in the end. If you can find it for a good price, go for it |
|
|
|
Post by elkawho on Jul 29, 2016 4:23:40 GMT
I have to listen to this one again. It's one of the stories that I listened to early on, before I had seen any but a few classic episodes. I only knew The Master from the modern series and I just didn't get it. I didn't really like it very much at the time. So many of the stories that I heard at the start of my BF listening seem so different now that I have so much more Who under my belt.
|
|
|
|
Post by elgranto on Jul 30, 2016 16:35:01 GMT
Joseph Lidster needs to write more DW. His work is terrific.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2016 17:22:19 GMT
Just finished Part 4 and like every other time I have listened to it, I have to say it is just plain wonderful. The Music is perfectly suited for the story, the actors are on top form, The writing is some of the best in Big Finish and for for 2.99 I suggest that everyone who doesn't have it, picks it up.
|
|
|
|
Post by mrperson on Jul 31, 2016 19:15:21 GMT
Listened to this the first time last week and it was excellent. It wasn't what I was expecting at all and that made it so much better. Also have to say I like this origin of the Master/Doctor a bit more than the TV series. The whole who killed the bully and the twist at the end really worked for me because it was so simple at its core. This story also was simple at its core with a small group of characters that we could pull the layers out underneath and discover their true complexities. Nothing was black and white here. Have to say I didn't think anything could replace my love for Davros but this just might have beaten it. Now I am sad I can never get this one on CD. Positively loved the twist. It makes perfect sense of so much, and I vastly prefer it to the TV series origin. (Incidentally, I also vastly prefer BF's portrayal of the Master to New Who and even to the classic series. Some tropes are necessarily reused, but he's not merely insane (New) or canned camp villain (Not always, but for many classic appearances, the moreso the later)) Hmmm...I was up to MR150 on my MR re-listen, but maybe I'll have to give Master another listen out of order. |
|
|
|
Post by barnabaslives on Aug 1, 2016 8:34:38 GMT
Such an amazing job proving how so many things I usually don't expect in a story with The Master can work so incredibly well. Somehow it's exactly the sort of story I'd still be wishing for had Joe not already blessed the Big Finish catalog and us listeners with it. This was at least my third listen to Master and at least as engaging as the first. I think this story is also commendably adept at challenging the listener's expectations not only about Master stories but about people and characters in general, which certainly heightens the excitement of a really good mystery here.
|
|
|
|
Post by jason on Sept 5, 2016 21:32:07 GMT
I just listened to Part One of this (for the first time) last night, right before bed as I always do. My subconscious must've really been into it, because I actually continued the story in a dream I had last night. The kind of dream where I woke up groggy and at first I wasn't sure if I'd actually put on Part Two and fallen asleep during it, or dreamt a continuation to the story.
Unfortunately, I can't remember the details! So I can't compare it to the actual Part Two when I listen to it tonight. In my 40s, I can barely remember things that actually happened to me the previous night, never mind sketchy dreams of Big Finish releases.
|
|
|
|
Post by icecreamdf on Sept 5, 2016 21:45:45 GMT
Since it was available on iTunes, the villains trilogy were some of the first BF stories that I heard. I'm in the process of relistening to it now, and I love it just as much today as I did a few years ago. Geoffrey Beevers didn't get the chance to do anything interesting in Keeper of Traken, but BF really has turned him into one of my favorite Masters.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2016 22:08:42 GMT
Well it was the Eternal being Death from the VNA's which i was actually happy about myself. I like the fact That they linked that in. Such a great moment when the Doctor was heartbroken while trying to say sorry and goodbye to his old friend before Death sent him away. Serious props to Charlie Hayes for embodying the Death I'd feared and respected from the NAs, it was one of those snap moments like Lisa Bowerman and Benny Summerfield. Incredible that the Doctor doesn't actually turn up until Part Two, you really don't notice it. It's the final end of the Seventh Doctor for me. Equal parts deeply powerful and vulnerable, a man who is cheated by fate at every turn, yet nevertheless vows to make right all that has gone wrong. I can't help but feel that we're saying goodbye to him with this story, one final act of defiance in the name of justice and good that ends up killing him. |
|
|
|
Post by whiskeybrewer on Sept 6, 2016 11:19:05 GMT
Well it was the Eternal being Death from the VNA's which i was actually happy about myself. I like the fact That they linked that in. Such a great moment when the Doctor was heartbroken while trying to say sorry and goodbye to his old friend before Death sent him away. Serious props to Charlie Hayes for embodying the Death I'd feared and respected from the NAs, it was one of those snap moments like Lisa Bowerman and Benny Summerfield. Incredible that the Doctor doesn't actually turn up until Part Two, you really don't notice it. It's the final end of the Seventh Doctor for me. Equal parts deeply powerful and vulnerable, a man who is cheated by fate at every turn, yet nevertheless vows to make right all that has gone wrong. I can't help but feel that we're saying goodbye to him with this story, one final act of defiance in the name of justice and good that ends up killing him. And it would explain really why Seven went to Skaro to pick up The Masters remains. I would love for BF to do this version of Death again for at least a couple of audios spread throughout Seven's timeline |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2016 14:53:42 GMT
No question, Master is up there with the best of them. A very different type of Doctor Who Main Range story at the time: creepy, dark and atmospheric, but very engaging. Sylvester McCoy gives one of his best ever performances in this, along with Geoffrey Beevers who has the standout role. (His 'Master' is quickly becoming my favourite Master... his voice is so creepy!) All in all, a well written Doctor Who story that stands the test of time. One of my favourites.
|
|
|
|
Post by jason on Sept 9, 2016 1:25:08 GMT
I just listened to Part One of this (for the first time) last night, right before bed as I always do. My subconscious must've really been into it, because I actually continued the story in a dream I had last night. The kind of dream where I woke up groggy and at first I wasn't sure if I'd actually put on Part Two and fallen asleep during it, or dreamt a continuation to the story. Unfortunately, I can't remember the details! So I can't compare it to the actual Part Two when I listen to it tonight. In my 40s, I can barely remember things that actually happened to me the previous night, never mind sketchy dreams of Big Finish releases. Hmm...I think I could have dreamed a better resolution. Literally all I knew about this play when I put it on was that the Master was in it (obviously) and that it was a fan favorite. I'm sorry, for me the way it played out didn't live up to the promise the first episode or three had. Things I did like: Major league performances. No one was like, 'This is a niche audio play based on a licensed property. When's lunch?' The cast and crew brought it, all of them, and especially Philip Madoc.
Atmosphere! Suspense! I kept sitting up in bed during most of Part Three. Some cracking drama, for sure. And I loved how the story was set on an alien planet in the future, but except for a few hints, it could have been early 20th century England.
I really came to care about John. Even though I knew how it had to end, I kept hoping...
Actually, about midway through Part Three, I had a stark realization and I was sure I had figured it out. One of the supporting characters was going to turn out to be the Master...of the Land of Fiction. Yep, that's where this was taking place. Clever double-meaning for the play's title! Ha. Damn, I felt so smart. Seems like it was actually taking place in New Who. (I do realize 'Master' came out before New Who. Hmm...wasn't there actually an episode of New Who where the Master loses his memory and lives life as a kindly man? I haven't see it - but I do hang out on Doctor Who forums.) Is it me, or did a lot of the themes and happenings here kind of preview the new series? Love conquers all, and that's official. (Romantic love only, of course.) The universe works that way, really. Edgy (out-of-) characterization for the Doctor. The Doctor - my childhood hero! - enters into an agreement to commit cold-blooded murder. True, he ends up welching, but he seems to have made that deal in 'good' faith ("I didn't realize you'd have friends..."). The entire story sets up a Moment. The choice the Master has to make at the end doesn't come organically from the plot of the story. It's all set up - to hit us right in the feels. I hate when they do that! I know a lot of people really like this story, and I respect that and I don't want to be contrary for its own sake, but...I like my Land of Fiction ending better.  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2016 1:55:02 GMT
Love conquers all, and that's official. (Romantic love only, of course.) The universe works that way, really. Edgy (out-of-) characterization for the Doctor. The Doctor - my childhood hero! - enters into an agreement to commit cold-blooded murder. True, he ends up welching, but he seems to have made that deal in 'good' faith ("I didn't realize you'd have friends..."). The entire story sets up a Moment. The choice the Master has to make at the end doesn't come organically from the plot of the story. It's all set up - to hit us right in the feels. I hate when they do that! I know a lot of people really like this story, and I respect that and I don't want to be contrary for its own sake, but...I like my Land of Fiction ending better. I.. do not remember the story having a "Love conquers all attitude," if anything I thought it was the opposite -- "The universe doesn't give a damn about your love." In fact, Death used John's love to get what she wanted. You'll find with Seven that the fact he welches out is an exception rather than a rule. This is a man who shoots another creature in the face as part of taking responsibility for his actions, who manipulates a man into putting a gun against his head and pulling the trigger, who made a Dalek beg to be killed, who destroyed an entire world who had just made peace because of the danger it represented, who was going to kill over twenty thousand children if the situation needed it. He doesn't welch and when he does it is seriously unexpected. This was the 1990s VNA Seventh Doctor who was capable of doing very nasty things so that others could live. Ahh, that's Death's game. She has enough power to visit the Doctor when he's at his lowest and tease him with the knowledge that he will die frightened and alone, surrounded by strangers. The pact that the Doctor has made here for John is the same one he made for Ace in Love and War. However, that raises a very good question that I don't think anyone's proffered up so far. What choice do we believe John made? Did he kill Victor and once again become the Master or allow him to live and have the night transpire as we saw? |
|
