The Master (Terror of the Autons): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Individual
{{Infobox Individual|
|individual name= The Master
individual name= The Master |
|image= [[Image:Second_Master.jpg|250px]]
alias = see [[Aliases of the Master]] |
|race= [[Time Lord]]
image = [[Image:First_Master.jpg|250px]] |
|home planet= [[Gallifrey]]
race= [[Gallifreyan]] ([[Time Lord]]) |
|home era= [[Rassilon Era]]
home planet=[[Gallifrey]] |
|appearances=<ul><li>[[DW]]: ''[[The Deadly Assassin]]''</li><li>[[DW]]: ''[[The Keeper of Traken]]''</li><li>[[DW]]: ''[[Logopolis (TV story)|Logopolis]]'' (flashback cameo)</li></ul>
home era= [[Rassilon Era]]|
|actor= <ul><li>[[Peter Pratt]] ([[DW]]: ''[[The Deadly Assassin]]'')</li><li>[[Geoffrey Beevers]] ([[DW]]: ''[[The Keeper of Traken]]'')</li></ul>
appearances= see [[The Master - List of Appearances]] |
}}
actor= [[Roger Delgado]]}}


In a physically degenerated condition and with no more [[regeneration]]s left, the thirteenth incarnation of '''the Master''' attempted to find an energy source to restore himself.
The first incarnation of the malevolent [[Time Lord]] known as '''[[the Master]]''' opposed [[Third Doctor|the Doctor]] and [[UNIT]], mostly on [[20th century|late 20th century]] [[England]] though occasionally in other times and places.


==Profile==
==Profile==
===Personality===
This incarnation of The Master established the basic character traits for his successors. He was suave and debonair with a sardonic sense of humour. A haughty psychopath, he regarded most beings as his inferiors but had a mutual respect for the Doctor as a worthy opponent and (almost) his intellectual equal.
===Biography===
===Biography===
====Escape to Tersurus====
:''Though formerly friends with him, the Master had, by this time already, [[The_Master#Early_life|sworn enmity against the Doctor]].''
In [[The Master (UNIT years)|his prior incarnation]], he killed [[Susan Foreman]]'s husband [[David Campbell]] and kidnapped her. On the [[planet]] [[Tersurus]], where he had taken [[the Master's TARDIS|his TARIDS]], Susan used the [[telepathic circuits]] of his craft against him. Susan then caused an explosion in which the Master got caught. By the time the [[Time Lord]] [[Chancellor]] [[Goth]] had come to Tersurus, the Master had exhausted his [[regeneration cycle]] recovering from the injuries. Goth had come to Tersurus to investigate the materialisation of an un-authorized [[TARDIS]]. ([[EDA]]: ''[[Legacy of the Daleks]]'') Goth found the Master, in a wasted condition. The Master had by this time reached the end of his cycle of [[regeneration]]s and had begun to denegerate physically. He turned into a decaying animated corpse. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Deadly Assassin]]'')
 
Prior to the Doctor becoming aware of his presence, the Master infiltrated UNIT's [[UNIT HQ|headquarters]]. Here he learned of the failed [[Nestene]] invasion and decided to ally himself with them. ([[DWM]]: ''[[Reconnaissance]]'')
 
:''The Master appears to have originally intended to proceed directly with his plan to use the [[Keller Machine]], as he spent many months establishing his (and the Keller Process') credentials, and must have brought the mind parasite to Earth with him prior to joining forces with the Nestenes.''
 
The Master then appeared at a circus, his [[Type 40|TARDIS]] materializing in the form of a circus trailer or horse box. He promptly [[hypnosis|hypnotized]] the circus troupe to obey his orders, as part of his plan to assist the [[Nestene]]s in their latest bid to conquer Earth. A Time Lord emissary alerted the Doctor to his rival's presence on the planet ([[DW]]:''[[Terror of the Autons]]'').
 
:''As far as the Master's transport, it seemed he owned a Type 40 Mark II TARDIS, compared to [[the Doctor's TARDIS|the Doctor]]'s Type 40 Mark I.''
 
The Doctor stole the [[dematerialisation circuit]] of his ship, stranding the Master on [[Earth]]. He returned again, using the [[Keller Machine]] to try and foment nuclear war ([[DW]]:''[[The Mind of Evil]]''); recovered his mobility and brought [[Axos]] to Earth, ([[DW]]: ''[[The Claws of Axos]]''); and used information stolen from the Time Lords to visit an alien world in the future to try to gain control of a doomsday machine ([[DW]]: ''[[Colony in Space]]'')


====On Gallifrey====
In the [[Wiltshire]] village of [[Devil's End]], he summoned the [[Dæmon]] [[Azal]], to no avail. At the conclusion of this event, UNIT captured him ([[DW]]: ''[[The Dæmons]]''). Following a trial by Human authorities, the Master was given a sentence of life imprisonment on a prison on an island designed especially to hold him. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Sea Devils]]'') The government used him as a scapegoat for all the alien attacks that had occurred. ([[MA]]: ''[[Who Killed Kennedy]]'')
The Master made Goth, in line for the position of [[Lord President]] of the [[High Council]] of Time Lords, into his slave. He also took over the mind of [[Solis]], one of the [[Chancellory Guard]]. With a [[telepathic]] summons and a vision of the future created by [[the Matrix]], Master lured [[Fourth Doctor|the Doctor]] to [[Gallifrey]] to prevent the murder of the then-serving Lord President. The Doctor failed and ended up on trial for the President's murder. In the mean time, the Master casually killed a guard with his [[Tissue Compression Eliminator]] and left it for the Doctor to find like a grisly calling card.


Secretly, the Master had access to [[the Matrix]]. He also had guessed the secret of the [[Eye of Harmony]] and various artifacts left behind by [[Rassilon]]. He realised that the Eye of Harmony, a [[black hole]], resided beneath the [[Panopticon]] and, realizing that it had immense power, believed he could use the [[Sash of Rassilon]] to protect himself from the raw power of the Eye and the destruction that unleashing it would cause. He thought that it could channel that energy to renew himself. The Doctor defeated the Master in physical combat. The Master appeared to have fallen into a crevice created by a localized earthquake. In fact, he had gained access to [[the Master's TARDIS|his TARDIS]], disguised as a [[grandfather clock]] and escaped. [[Cardinal]] [[Borusa]] determined to make it look to the people of Gallifrey as if Goth had died attempting to stop the Master's evil plans. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Deadly Assassin]]'')
While in custody, with the Doctor gone to [[Peladon]] ([[DW]]: ''[[The Curse of Peladon]]''), the Master collaborated with UNIT in preventing an invasion by [[Parallel Earth (Inferno)|a fascist version of Earth]]. ([[PDA]]: ''[[The Face of the Enemy]]''). The Master quickly gained control over his jailer, [[George Trenchard]], and nearly caused a war between [[Human]]s and [[Sea Devil]]s. He later escaped in the confusion. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Sea Devils]]'')  


====On Traken====
Sometime during his obvious actions against the Doctor and UNIT, the Master infiltrated the government's Department [[C19]] to a shocking degree. He took control of the [[Glasshouse]], a facility for traumatized [[UNIT]] soldiers and in particular of [[Francis Cleary]]. He also tried to undermine UNIT in the short term. In the long term, he planned to use a [[time ring]] and have Cleary go to [[1963]], prevent the [[Kennedy assassination]] and thus alter Earth's history to make it more vulnerable to invasion. The plan failed. ([[MA]]: ''[[Who Killed Kennedy]]'')  
The Master repaired to the [[planet]] [[Traken]], the center of [[Traken Union]] in a [[TARDIS]] configured into the sculpture-shaped [[Melkur]]. He set about a plan to steal [[the Source]] to restore himself. To this end, over a period of years, he won over [[Kassia]], wife to [[Tremas]] and mother of [[Nyssa]]. Defeated once more by [[Fourth Doctor|the Doctor]] and [[Adric]], he took over the body of Tremas. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Keeper of Traken]]'')


:''For an account of the Master's activities in Tremas' body, see [[The Master (Tremas)|separate article]].''
The Master travelled back to ancient [[Atlantis]], confronting the Doctor there, brought forth [[Kronos]], king of the [[Chronovore]]s, and escaped the destruction that followed in Kronos' wake ([[DW]]: ''[[The Time Monster]]''). Returning to 1970s Earth, he used [[time travel|time-displaced]] [[Scotland|Scottish]] warriors to seize a nuclear [[submarine]] and threaten Britain with obliteration if he wasn't given [[the Doctor's TARDIS]]; he ended up temporarily trapped in the [[18th century]]. ([[TVC]]: ''[[The Glen of Sleeping]]'') He also later worked with the [[Gaderene]] race to conquer Earth ([[PDA]]: ''[[Last of the Gaderene]]'')


===Personality===
He forged a short-lived alliance with the [[Dalek]]s, acting as their agent to provoke warfare between the [[Earth Empire]] and the [[Draconian Empire]] in the [[26th century]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[Frontier in Space]]'')
This incarnation was far less charming and witty than his previous incarnation and  
 
mainly preoccupied with finding a way to [[regenerate]]. The vengeful and vindictive side of the Master was at its most apparent in this incarnation.
For a short while the Master adopted the identity of Duke Dominus, a gangster on early 20th century Earth, but his plan on this occasion was halted by [[Fourth Doctor|a regenerated Doctor]] without his even knowing it. ([[VD]]: ''[[The Duke of Dominoes]]'')
 
The Master's finally went under cover in [[Earth]] following the [[22nd century Dalek invasion]]. ([[EDA]]: ''[[Legacy of the Daleks]]'')
 
:''For later events in the Master's life, see [[The_Master#Degeneration|main article]].''
 
==Behind the Scenes==
Although they played antagonists onscreen, in real life [[Roger Delgado]], who originated the role of the Master, and [[Jon Pertwee]], the Third Doctor, were actually close friends. In interviews and convention Q&A sessions, Pertwee often cited the death of Delgado as one of the factors which led him to give up the role.
 
His death meant that, on-screen, the feud between the Doctor and the Master never came to any resolution. Originally the Master would have died saving the Doctor's life. The Doctor would have then regenerated. Rumours suggest that the story would have revealed the Master as the evil side of the Doctor's personality, which would have explained why the Master never sought to actually kill the Doctor.
 
A persistent rumour, not verified by the production team of that era, has said that story would have revealed the Doctor and the Master as brothers.
 
The later story ''[[Planet of Fire]]'' included a line of dialogue which led to some speculation in this regard. A reference to this occurs much later in ''[[The Sound of Drums]]'' when [[Martha Jones]] tells the [[Tenth Doctor]] she thought he and the Master were brothers, to which he dismissively replies, "You watch too much TV".  


==See also==
{{DEFAULTSORT:Master Unit Years}}
*[[The Master]]
{{Season 8 aliens}}
{{Season 14 aliens}}
{{Season 9 aliens}}
{{Season 18 aliens}}
{{season 10 aliens}}
[[Category:Fourth Doctor enemies|Master]]
[[Category:Third Doctor enemies|Master]]
[[Category:Incarnations of the Master|Master]]
[[Category:Incarnations of the Master]]

Revision as of 02:08, 28 June 2009

The first incarnation of the malevolent Time Lord known as the Master opposed the Doctor and UNIT, mostly on late 20th century England though occasionally in other times and places.

Profile

Personality

This incarnation of The Master established the basic character traits for his successors. He was suave and debonair with a sardonic sense of humour. A haughty psychopath, he regarded most beings as his inferiors but had a mutual respect for the Doctor as a worthy opponent and (almost) his intellectual equal.

Biography

Though formerly friends with him, the Master had, by this time already, sworn enmity against the Doctor.

Prior to the Doctor becoming aware of his presence, the Master infiltrated UNIT's headquarters. Here he learned of the failed Nestene invasion and decided to ally himself with them. (DWM: Reconnaissance)

The Master appears to have originally intended to proceed directly with his plan to use the Keller Machine, as he spent many months establishing his (and the Keller Process') credentials, and must have brought the mind parasite to Earth with him prior to joining forces with the Nestenes.

The Master then appeared at a circus, his TARDIS materializing in the form of a circus trailer or horse box. He promptly hypnotized the circus troupe to obey his orders, as part of his plan to assist the Nestenes in their latest bid to conquer Earth. A Time Lord emissary alerted the Doctor to his rival's presence on the planet (DW:Terror of the Autons).

As far as the Master's transport, it seemed he owned a Type 40 Mark II TARDIS, compared to the Doctor's Type 40 Mark I.

The Doctor stole the dematerialisation circuit of his ship, stranding the Master on Earth. He returned again, using the Keller Machine to try and foment nuclear war (DW:The Mind of Evil); recovered his mobility and brought Axos to Earth, (DW: The Claws of Axos); and used information stolen from the Time Lords to visit an alien world in the future to try to gain control of a doomsday machine (DW: Colony in Space)

In the Wiltshire village of Devil's End, he summoned the Dæmon Azal, to no avail. At the conclusion of this event, UNIT captured him (DW: The Dæmons). Following a trial by Human authorities, the Master was given a sentence of life imprisonment on a prison on an island designed especially to hold him. (DW: The Sea Devils) The government used him as a scapegoat for all the alien attacks that had occurred. (MA: Who Killed Kennedy)

While in custody, with the Doctor gone to Peladon (DW: The Curse of Peladon), the Master collaborated with UNIT in preventing an invasion by a fascist version of Earth. (PDA: The Face of the Enemy). The Master quickly gained control over his jailer, George Trenchard, and nearly caused a war between Humans and Sea Devils. He later escaped in the confusion. (DW: The Sea Devils)

Sometime during his obvious actions against the Doctor and UNIT, the Master infiltrated the government's Department C19 to a shocking degree. He took control of the Glasshouse, a facility for traumatized UNIT soldiers and in particular of Francis Cleary. He also tried to undermine UNIT in the short term. In the long term, he planned to use a time ring and have Cleary go to 1963, prevent the Kennedy assassination and thus alter Earth's history to make it more vulnerable to invasion. The plan failed. (MA: Who Killed Kennedy)

The Master travelled back to ancient Atlantis, confronting the Doctor there, brought forth Kronos, king of the Chronovores, and escaped the destruction that followed in Kronos' wake (DW: The Time Monster). Returning to 1970s Earth, he used time-displaced Scottish warriors to seize a nuclear submarine and threaten Britain with obliteration if he wasn't given the Doctor's TARDIS; he ended up temporarily trapped in the 18th century. (TVC: The Glen of Sleeping) He also later worked with the Gaderene race to conquer Earth (PDA: Last of the Gaderene)

He forged a short-lived alliance with the Daleks, acting as their agent to provoke warfare between the Earth Empire and the Draconian Empire in the 26th century. (DW: Frontier in Space)

For a short while the Master adopted the identity of Duke Dominus, a gangster on early 20th century Earth, but his plan on this occasion was halted by a regenerated Doctor without his even knowing it. (VD: The Duke of Dominoes)

The Master's finally went under cover in Earth following the 22nd century Dalek invasion. (EDA: Legacy of the Daleks)

For later events in the Master's life, see main article.

Behind the Scenes

Although they played antagonists onscreen, in real life Roger Delgado, who originated the role of the Master, and Jon Pertwee, the Third Doctor, were actually close friends. In interviews and convention Q&A sessions, Pertwee often cited the death of Delgado as one of the factors which led him to give up the role.

His death meant that, on-screen, the feud between the Doctor and the Master never came to any resolution. Originally the Master would have died saving the Doctor's life. The Doctor would have then regenerated. Rumours suggest that the story would have revealed the Master as the evil side of the Doctor's personality, which would have explained why the Master never sought to actually kill the Doctor.

A persistent rumour, not verified by the production team of that era, has said that story would have revealed the Doctor and the Master as brothers.

The later story Planet of Fire included a line of dialogue which led to some speculation in this regard. A reference to this occurs much later in The Sound of Drums when Martha Jones tells the Tenth Doctor she thought he and the Master were brothers, to which he dismissively replies, "You watch too much TV".