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Post by christmastrenzalore on Aug 25, 2019 14:27:34 GMT
Finally got round to this set. 5/5 set! While the first two stories aren't strictly necessary to the second half, they were cool, macabre tales that were enjoyable in their own right, and contributed to the atmosphere of the set. I was surprised and delighted that the last two stories were basically a two-parter, BOTH of which featured the Eighth Doctor. It was an awesome Master/Doctor match-up.
The ending faltered a little for me. That CIA guy seemed to die a bit unceremoniously given the amount of foreshadowing that seemed to be surrounding him (no joke; thought he was gonna be the Rani). And while I like the Doctor/Master interplay, the fact he was manipulating everything, their mental reconciliation, the idea that a piece of them exists in the universe, and the final screw-you the Master plays on him, I think the Rage was a bit mishandled.
Because it's intentions were so mysterious and ambiguous up to that point, the fact that it was only just given a clear goal at the end, then almost imediatly changed it's mind, it ended up feeling like not a whole lot happened. It was still a great story, but with a few tweaks, it had the potential to be on of the all-time Big Finish greats. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2019 15:44:33 GMT
Well its a beautiful sunny day in Glasgow-Time to Enter a Darker Realm of Audio
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2019 5:50:15 GMT
A strong set of stories from the opening examination of conscience to its final moments.
McGann and Jacobi excellent in their respective roles and definite relisten value.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2019 20:00:57 GMT
for some reason I was Listening to Wirrn Isle and listened to first episode and the thought listen to a download .
I went for what I thought was the weakest in the Rage of the Time Lords stories Coney Island Chameleon suddenly I was there in the story beside the docks on the Piers
And the misdirection all sucked me in the story I thought was the weakest has now been elevated to a higher level.
It always pays to revisit a tale
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Post by vivdunstan on Sept 22, 2019 0:56:26 GMT
Finished listening to this tonight. Overall disappointed I'm afraid, though episodes 1 and 3 were stronger. I just found it too much of a let down, especially in the final episode, which didn't satisfy me at all. I also was surprised not to be happier given the pairing of Eighth Doctor and Jacobi's Master (my favourite Master version, albeit very little seen on the telly!). But even that pairing didn't reach the heights it should have done.
Having said all that I am currently greatly enjoying listening to the behind the scenes interviews at the end. But the sealed box is still going on eBay soon.
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Post by tuigirl on Sept 22, 2019 7:20:13 GMT
Finished listening to this tonight. Overall disappointed I'm afraid, though episodes 1 and 3 were stronger. I just found it too much of a let down, especially in the final episode, which didn't satisfy me at all. I also was surprised not to be happier given the pairing of Eighth Doctor and Jacobi's Master (my favourite Master version, albeit very little seen on the telly!). But even that pairing didn't reach the heights it should have done. Having said all that I am currently greatly enjoying listening to the behind the scenes interviews at the end. But the sealed box is still going on eBay soon. Interesting. This set is certainly not as good as the amazing first one, but that would be very hard to beat. However, I found the meeting between the Master and the Doctor great. I guess that it is always what expectations you have from a release and that influences how happy you are with it. And the resolution here, I agree, is debatable if one would find it satisfying or not. |
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Post by nottenst on May 29, 2020 15:41:30 GMT
Finally got around to listening to it. It was quite interesting and I am looking forward to Anti-Genesis at a later time. (It really is hard to listen to too much War Master at one time.) I had completely forgotten what happened in Concealed Weapon until I read a review just now. I was also disappointed that there was no follow-through on Sabatini. The biggest surprise was the one sequence in the 4th story that was a dream sequence of sorts for The Master with the Doctor helping him out. There was a lot of confusing things going on in that story. It would be great to read a script of that.
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Post by Chakoteya on Dec 24, 2020 13:43:56 GMT
Just finished listening to story 3 - the missing link - and I have a bone to pick with Mr Foley.
If you're going to give characters names, please, please have another character call them that at least once in a production. I can make an educated guess at Crantz and Stern but who the heck is Pryor? These issues better be resolved in the last episode.
And then another character pops up who is named regularly (and killed off) who doesn't appear on the list at all! Argh!
Other than that, neat story. I was thinking the Doctor was a clone or something, he was so... not himself.
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Post by Ela on Feb 16, 2021 2:27:55 GMT
I listened to this box set last week. Derek Jacobi is an exceedingly evil Master, I have to say.
I enjoyed the stories overall, but felt bad for the way Alice was manipulated in The Survivor.
The bait and switch in The Coney Island Chameleon was surprising, but I'd like to know what happened to Esther after The Master took Sabatini.
The last two stories were okay, I didn't like the way the Eighth Doctor seemed to be so easily manipulated by The Master, and I didn't really get the point of it all.
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Post by dasmaniac on Apr 2, 2021 4:42:21 GMT
It was an ok set. Derek Jacobi continues to be such a versatile performer. I feel he has a very strong understanding of the character. I rather liked the supporting cast. It's rare for the Master to have underlings and I thought they played off his volatile personality rather well. I don't know what to think of this idea that The Master is searching for a way to end the war. I'm not convinced that's really in character.
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Post by Kestrel on Apr 3, 2021 17:54:57 GMT
I may feel differently when I get to my Rage relisten (currently on Callous) but my read at the time was that the Master was simply frustrated by the sheer chaos of the war, as it made it more difficult for him to do his own thing. It felt natural after WM2 where he was "dutifully" following Time Lord orders, and WM1 where he was completely fed up with the war. But, yeah, it definitely feels at odds with the sheer delight he seems to take in the chaos in WM4. The thing to keep in mind, I think, is simply that the War Master range doesn't tell stories in order. WM1 is, chronologically, the last set of stories, and WM2 the first (so far). So I'd chart out his arc like so: - Master goes to war on behalf of the Time Lords.
- Discovers a sense of purpose in acting for something other than his own ego.
- Realizes that he's having a ton of fun in the chaos.
- Chafes under Time Lord restrictions and eventually decides to abandon them, while still fighting the war on his own terms.
- Basically goes a bit crazy--like a child on a sugar high--treating the time war like his own personal playground.
- Finally grows up and realizes he'd achieve a lot more success without the constant chaos and unpredictability of the Time War, and seeks to end it once and for all, by any means that would also be beneficial for him.
- Grows up further and realizes his own limitations, decides to run away from the war and let someone else fix it instead.
The tragedy of the War Master is that he's the incarnation that best lives up to the name--he's the one Master that wins. But none of his victories matter, because in the maelstrom of the time war, they can be undone in an instant--literally erased from time. This is the Master in his most competent, in a setting where he cannot affect any permanent change. He's simultaneously the most and least effective incarnation.
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