10 Doctor Who Controversies That Divide Fans
7. The Sacha Dhawan Master Ignores Missy's Redemption Arc
Though few people actually expected Missy/The Master to be gone for good after soaking up a laser screwdriver blast in the Series 10 finale, it was nonetheless a surprise when the character returned in Series 12's Spyfall.
Again, not because fans expected the Master to be dead - but rather, because this latest version of the character (played by Sacha Dhawan), felt like a step backwards after the arc that Missy had been on throughout her run.
While Dhawan's portrayal of the character received a lot of praise from fans and critics alike, there was a subset of Whovians who were displeased and confused as to why this new Master had regressed back into a moustache-twirling villain, after the Missy arc had shifted the Doctor's oldest foil more towards the light. Missy's decision to become a do-gooder cost her her life, so why undo such a powerful character moment for the more bog-standard villain antics we've had for the last 50-odd years?
Though Big Finish's The Lumiat story would fill in the gap between Series 10 Missy and the Series 12 Master, it would've been much more interesting to continue the Missy story onscreen with this new regeneration. But credit where credit is due, Sacha Dhawan has been one of the highlights of the Chris Chibnall era thus far - and he looks set to continue that streak in the upcoming Centenary Special.