Doctor Who: 5 Reasons You Should Give The 1996 TV Movie A Chance

2. Eric Roberts Was Not A Terrible Master

A lot of people have complained that Eric Roberts was the worst Master ever, but I really don't think this complaint is justified. The biggest criticism is that his portrayal was too over-the-top, yet the Master has always been an over-the-top character. Think about his flair for the dramatic and his tendency for formal speech, qualities that were present way back in 1971 when Roger Delgado first appeared as the Master in Terror of the Autons. The Master has always been this sort of eccentric character, so I don't see any valid reasons to criticize Eric Roberts for clearly having fun with the role. I mean, who wouldn't enjoy a chance to play a larger-than-life character like the Master? Eric Roberts certainly did. Parts of his performance did tend to border on the campy side, namely in how he delivered some of his lines, but he was enjoying himself, and that enjoyment came out in positive ways as well. Although some of his lines were delivered with cheesy intonation, others had a wry twist of cynicism and sarcasm that made the words come alive in unexpected ways. I found myself enjoying his performance simply because he was doing the same thing. If you give his Master a chance, you might find that you enjoy it as well.