Yes, The Master is back. People that complain that the Daleks are in nuWho too often clearly didn’t see how often The Master was in PertweeWho…
The story is based around the idea there’s a monster in time. Funny that. And The Master is, rather predictably, trying to get the thing under his control.
What the story may lack in creativity though, it makes up for in scripting. The first couple of episodes are very funny and there is humour throughout the story.
But the scripting doesn’t stop there – we get another commentary on faith – talking about the Athenians – “Once reality became unbearable for them, they would invent a legend to tame it”. A lovely idea that faith is based in reality with mythology built up around it.
Pertwee’s performance is superb and is again helped by great scripting. Communicating with Jo through the TARDIS and his conversation with her when held captive in Atlantis are massive highlights for him and develop The Doctor as a character.
Benton gets a meaty role – he proves himself both cunning and a complete dumbass in quick succession but gives a solid performance.
The flashes to Atlantian time becomes a bit dull. There are a number of times I sat thinking how I could easily cut the story down a bit. However when we actually travel back in time the story gets interesting again with flashes of religious commentary about the place.
The execution of the Chronos monster is a shame. The image is imposing until you see the whole thing is basically a bloke in a white sheet. At least they had the decency to blur it a bit…
The Master is a proper bastard in this. He gets some great lines as well, in between failed attempts to kill off The Doctor and Jo.
All in all, the story itself is a bit unoriginal and it’s with rolling of eyes we greet the fact that The Master is utterly unable to control the beast he unleashes on the universe. But the script more than makes up for that and, with a slight amount of drag in places notwithstanding, the script is more than capable of propelling the show along.
Points only lost by the fact it probably should have been a 4 parter and slight unoriginality of the plan. Mark gained for possibly the most ridiculously phallic prop in the history of the BBC.
The story is based around the idea there’s a monster in time. Funny that. And The Master is, rather predictably, trying to get the thing under his control.
What the story may lack in creativity though, it makes up for in scripting. The first couple of episodes are very funny and there is humour throughout the story.
But the scripting doesn’t stop there – we get another commentary on faith – talking about the Athenians – “Once reality became unbearable for them, they would invent a legend to tame it”. A lovely idea that faith is based in reality with mythology built up around it.
Pertwee’s performance is superb and is again helped by great scripting. Communicating with Jo through the TARDIS and his conversation with her when held captive in Atlantis are massive highlights for him and develop The Doctor as a character.
Benton gets a meaty role – he proves himself both cunning and a complete dumbass in quick succession but gives a solid performance.
The flashes to Atlantian time becomes a bit dull. There are a number of times I sat thinking how I could easily cut the story down a bit. However when we actually travel back in time the story gets interesting again with flashes of religious commentary about the place.
The execution of the Chronos monster is a shame. The image is imposing until you see the whole thing is basically a bloke in a white sheet. At least they had the decency to blur it a bit…
The Master is a proper bastard in this. He gets some great lines as well, in between failed attempts to kill off The Doctor and Jo.
All in all, the story itself is a bit unoriginal and it’s with rolling of eyes we greet the fact that The Master is utterly unable to control the beast he unleashes on the universe. But the script more than makes up for that and, with a slight amount of drag in places notwithstanding, the script is more than capable of propelling the show along.
Points only lost by the fact it probably should have been a 4 parter and slight unoriginality of the plan. Mark gained for possibly the most ridiculously phallic prop in the history of the BBC.
8/10.