There's nothing particularly wrong with Claws Of Axos - but there is one hell of a lot in it that probably looked a lot better in 1971 than it does now. Whenever anyone enters Axos, it's a bit like stepping into some psychedelic dance club, complete with Top Of The Pops style camerawork. And what's up with the Master's "laser gun"? Surely the TCE can't be on the blink already? Apart from that, it's a good outing for Delgado's Master, even though he's already falling into some patterns that will define his character for years to come, including the whole "alliance with alien invaders" thing. This time, though, it appears for a long moment like the Doctor is going to help him. Pertwee's warm working relationship with Delgado really shines through here, making his guarded alliance with the Master to give Earth over to Axos all the more believable. One of the hallmarks of any good Master story is whether you believe these two had a friendship once, and it's easier to believe here than in just about any of the other early Master stories. Shame about the camerawork, of course, though it's better than tiny CGI Doctors in cages.
Tony Whitt has previously written TV, DVD, and comic reviews for CINESCAPE, NOW PLAYING, and iF MAGAZINE. His weekly COMICSCAPE columns from the early 2000s can still be found archived on Mania.com. He has also written a book of gay-themed short stories titled CRESCENT CITY CONNECTIONS, available on Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle format. Whitt currently lives and works in Chicago, Illinois.
