Masterful (audio anthology)
Masterful was a special anthology released on 2 January 2021[1] by Big Finish Productions to celebrate fifty years since the Master's first appearance in a Doctor Who episode, the first part of Terror of the Autons.
This anthology marked the first time nine incarnations of the Master had appeared alongside each other in performed media, breaking the record of four set in 2019's Day of the Master. The anthology was also notable for the first appearance of John Simm in a Big Finish audio story, as well as Milo Parker's debut in the role. Alex Macqueen appeared for the first time since The Two Masters in 2016, another multi-Master story.
In addition to Simm, Parker and Macqueen, Geoffrey Beevers, Eric Roberts, Mark Gatiss, Derek Jacobi and Michelle Gomez all also appeared in the titular role.
The anthology was released both as a standard edition and a limited edition. The standard edition only contained the three-disc, titular story. The limited edition spanned eight discs and contained the previously released Short Trips stories I Am the Master and The Switching as well as a brand new audiobook, Terror of the Master, featuring the Third Doctor and UNIT. A disc of behind the scenes special features was also included.
Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]
A special release marking the 50th anniversary of the first tv appearance of the Master in January 1971.
The Master's finally done it. He's won. He summons his other selves to a celebration of his ultimate victory. And they come - from across time and dimensions. But he's forgotten to invite someone. And Missy's not happy.
Has the Master really conquered the universe? Or has something more awful been unleashed? Something that even all the Masters cannot stop?
Missy is determined to reveal the truth. Because one fact about the Master's existence never changes. No-one can trust the Master.
Not even the Master.
An eight-disc CD set, with a limited edition pressing of just 3,000 copies!
Discs 1-3: Masterful
Disc 4: Masterful - Behind the Scenes
Disc 5: Doctor Who - Short Trips: I Am The Master and Short Trips: The Switching (both previously available on download only)
Discs 6-8: Doctor Who: Terror of the Master by Trevor Baxendale, a brand new, narrated audiobook featuring the Third Doctor, the Master and UNIT.
Stories[[edit] | [edit source]]
Standard edition[[edit] | [edit source]]
| Title | Author | Director | Featuring | Released | Pr. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masterful | James Goss | Ken Bentley | Decayed Master, Tremas Master, Bruce Master, Reborn Master, War Master, Saxon Master, Missy, Unbound Master, Young Master, Kamelion, Jo Jones | 2 January 2021 | BFPMASTERFCD |
Limited edition[[edit] | [edit source]]
| Title | Author | Director | Featuring | Released | Pr. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masterful | James Goss | Ken Bentley | Decayed Master, Tremas Master, Bruce Master, Reborn Master, War Master, Saxon Master, Missy, Unbound Master, Young Master, Kamelion, Jo Jones | 2 January 2021 | BFPMASTERFCDLE |
| I Am The Master | Geoffrey Beevers | Lisa Bowerman | Decayed Master, Fourth Doctor | ||
| The Switching | Simon Guerrier | Nicholas Briggs | UNIT era Master, Third Doctor, Jo, the Brig, Yates, Benton | ||
| Terror of the Master | Trevor Baxendale | Third Doctor, the Brig, Yates, Benton, The Master |
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- This anthology was announced 13 December 2019, along with that John Simm would be reprising his incarnation of the Master.[2]
- The cover for this anthology was revealed 23 May 2020, as was the title for Terror of the Master.[3]
- The Limited Edition version of this release was limited to 3000 physical copies.[1][2][3]
- An exclusive scene of Masterful was uploaded to Big Finish's social media platforms on 1 December 2020.[4] It was later made available with the digital version of this anthology as a Bonus Scene, under Bonus Content, without the video element.
- This release marks the first time I Am The Master, first released on 27 October 2018,[5] and the audio version of The Switching, first released on 28 September 2017,[6] were available to purchase physically.
- With the re-release of Terror of the Master on 14 March 2023,[7] all four stories in the Limited Edition are now available separately, although the Behind the Scenes disc remains exclusive to the Limited Edition.
- In the Behind the Scenes feature, the male Masters are referred to by the cast and crew as the War Master (Jacobi), the Saxon Master (Simm), the Young Master (Parker), the Reborn Master (Macqueen), the Movie Master (Roberts), the Decayed Master (Geoffrey Beevers) and the Alternative Master (Gatiss).
Cover gallery[[edit] | [edit source]]
Limited Edition cover (Version 1)
Limited Edition cover (Version 2)
Standard Edition cover
Limited Edition textless cover
Standard Edition textless cover
_Limited_Edition.jpg)
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_Limited_Edition_textless.jpg)
_Standard_Edition_textless.jpg)
External links[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Official Masterful (Limited Edition) page at bigfinish.com
- Official Masterful (Standard Edition) page at bigfinish.com
Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Masterful is unleashed!
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 John Simm joins Big Finish for Doctor Who: Masterful
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 All the Masters revealed!
- ↑ Exclusive Masterful Scene Revealed
- ↑ I Am The Master - out now
- ↑ Out now - Short Trips Rarities plus fantastic special offers!
- ↑ The Master’s Reign of Terror Returns!
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