Also, I don't doubt for a second that anyone reading this list expected this to be here. Here's the thing - In CONCEPT, it's not a bad idea. The whole idea of the Master "bodysnatching" a corpse to survive had not only been done before ("The Keeper Of Traken"), it actually would be retooled again to allow him back TWICE in the new series. And given that it gave us Derek Jacobi and John Simm in amazing form, it was well worth it. So, in theory, the TV movie was ahead of its time, and technically even upped the dramatic ante by regenerating the Doctor as well - Both Time Lords were desperate, recovering, and put to the test of their respective situations. And as the Doctor was reborn, the Master's being gruesomely tore into a hospital worker's body to use the vessel until he could claim the Doctor's preferable Time Lord form. Well, it SOUNDS good, anyway. Casting an American to play out the role was not necessarily a bad idea either. It'd make the Master's fish-out-of-water status all the more alien. The idea was even written with someone like Bruce Willis in mind (Hence the name of the character before he's "Master-fied"). Someone who could act like an average Joe you'd have a beer with and then become this cold, detached sociopath would work PERFECT. But, they cast Eric Roberts. Roberts seems to just treat the role in its extremes as some kind of foppy, eccentric, madwoman. Much has been joked about his turning up in Gallifreyan robes and drawling, "Ah always dressss for the O-ccasion." - But this Master O'Hara from his plantation Tara really has to be seen to be believed. Roberts veers wildly from being either cod-spooky generic sci-fi bad-guy with Yank witticisms ("No way!" "Yes Way.") to instead being a generic alien (The Master - whether it be Delgado, Ainley, or Simm - would never use phrases like "The Asian Child" to describe street kid Chang Lee like some kind of little green man from planet Zorg. It'd be something simply condescending - "The boy" - or far more witty). The TV movie stands a chance before Roberts gets into full swing as The Master. After he shows up though, it's no coincidence that the ride only gets rougher and rougher.
(Less than) Shining Moment:
How wooden and wrong is Roberts in this role? Here's something that pretty much lays it out for you in absolute terms. Chang Lee, seduced (Ha!) by the Master's hypnotic promises, is driving an ambulance in chase of the Doctor as the Master sits beside him. They are stuck in traffic, and the Doctor has just managed to break free of the jam and speed off. Chang Lee is panicking that the traffic is holding them in, and Roberts unnaturally stammers, "THIS. IS. AN. AMBULANCE". Lee gets the idea, puts the siren on, and breaks through the wall of cars. Cut to Series 2 of the New Series. Almost the SAME moment plays out with Mickey and K-9: Mickey can't figure out how to get into a locked building, and K-9 quips "We are in a car". Mickey realizes what the dog is saying, gets the idea, and breaks through the wall with the car. What's my point? K-9 has more charisma, personality, and perfectly executes the joke. Roberts blows it, and demonstrates that a PROP can play a scene better than he can.
In a parallel universe where game shows' final jackpots and consequent fortunes depend on knowledge of obscure music trivia and Jon Pertwee/Tom Baker Doctor Who episodes, I've probably gone rich, insane, and am now a powermad despot. But happily we're not there, so I'm actually rather pleasant. Really.
