Doctor Who: 12 Greatest Master Moments Of All Time
9. So A New Body At Last.
In Tom Baker’s penultimate episode, The Keeper of Traken, the degenerate Master finally gets his wish: a new body in the form of a younger version of Nyssa’s father, Tremas. The resemblance to Delgado’s Master, though sometimes overstated, was clearly intentional. It’s never stated, but by choosing to inhabit a physical form so reminiscent of his previous incarnation, there’s a sense that the Master is trying to reverse time and get back to the glory days of being the Doctor’s nemesis.
The scene isn’t one of Doctor Who’s finest. Tremas is mysteriously drawn to the Master’s TARDIS, now disguised as a grandfather clock and meekly cries for help when he realises he can’t detach his hand from it. The clock opens and the Master occupies his body.
It could have been hugely improved with better incidental music and special effects, but even that might not have been able to make up for some less than convincing acting. That said, this was such a great twist, cleverly disguised by the fact that Ainley had been aged to play Tremas, that it stands out as one of the Master’s finest moments.
The writers pulled a similar trick in The Deadly Assassin with the Master again escaping in the TARDIS, but this time it’s clear that he will be back.