Nestled in the frantic buzz of a new confirmed companion and villain there has been a more quiet whisper of one other development regarding Doctor Who series eight the return of the Master. While my colleagues here at Whatculture.com have done a fine job suggesting those up to the task of playing the villainous Time Lord, I wanted to take a look back at the past and see how whomever is chosen might take on the role. After all, with forty-three years of history behind him and an array of performances in every Doctor Who medium to choose from, his shoes are nearly as hard to fill as the Doctor's. Remarkably, through more than half dozen actors, and large hiatuses between appearances, all versions of the Master have remained highly consistent. The Master is undeniably one of the most important characters in the history of Doctor Who, and is all the more vital in a post Last Great Time War version of events. He reinforces that the Doctor is definitely unique among the lot of Time Lords and Ladies, and is responsible for reintroducing the native populous of Gallifrey back into Modern Who (both literally and figuratively). Despite the large number of prerequisites that come which a character with this much history, there is still potential for a number of choices and considerations, each one vital to making an incarnation that seems fresh, while still retaining much of the man we love to hate. Herein explores five elements of the Master's essence, and offers suggestions for how things could move forward.
A person who thought a lot, then decided thinking with other people is more fun. If you fancy a chat, feel free to email NicoleatWhatCulture@excite.com
