The 12 Best Master Stories In Doctor Who

10. Utopia/The Sound Of Drums/Last Of The Time Lords (2007)

Yes, it's a cheat to treat these three stories as one entry - but really, aren't they simply one big three-part story? It's about the same length as an old-style six-parter, and in some ways it's a lot more satisfying. Let's get the less satisfying stuff out of the way first, though. One reason why this one isn't higher on the list is that, while John Simm's take on the Master is fresh and original, it's almost too much so. It's hard to reconcile this crazed comic book-style villain and his bizarre sense of humour with the urbane but dangerous figure that Delgado (and even Ainsley) cut. While this level of manic madness closely mirrors the Tenth Doctor's own manic qualities, the show tries too hard to sell him to us. Then there's that business with the drums (more on that in the next list), a plot point never heard before - and what's with the Doctor being shrunk down into Gollum? Some people liked the song "Voodoo Child" before this story, as well. And the ending - "If you believe in the Doctor, then clap your hands"? Once all of that is out of the way, though, there's good to be had. The phone conversation between the Doctor and his foe about the Time War is the most convincing piece of evidence that these two actually were friends at one point, and good ones at that. If not, why would the Doctor's forgiveness be something that the Master is horrified to ever receive? Also, enough can't be said about Sir Derek Jacobi's triumphant turn as the "human" Master, Professor Yana - though the main reason enough can't be said about it is that he's gone far, far too quickly. If only Simm's next appearance as the Master were as good...