Doctor Who Series 10: 7 Reasons To Be Excited About The Return Of John Simm's Master
4. Missy Is The Master
Fans who are still hoping that Missy will be unmasked as an impostor, or even the Rani pretending to be the Doctor’s oldest friend and adversary, are almost certainly going to be disappointed. Steven Moffat has made it clear that Time Lords can change gender and any attempts to make the Master to Missy transformation an exceptional case are way off beam. In a twist of logic, one of the exciting things about bringing Simm back is that it will put to bed such fanciful theories, by firmly fixing Missy in the Master’s timeline.
In the course of the episode, it wouldn’t be a surprise if at one point things appear to be heading down that direction – perhaps Simm’s Master will initially refuse to believe that she is his successor. If so, it wouldn’t be the first time the showrunner has trolled certain sections of fandom. Last season Moffat teased us by revisiting the old chestnut of whether or not the Doctor is half-human, and in Matt Smith’s final season brought to the fore the question of the Doctor’s name.
As brilliant as it will be to see John Simm return to the role, he is unlikely to upstage or sideline the current incumbent. Missy, along with River Song and the War Doctor, will one day be remembered as Steven Moffat’s most significant contribution to Doctor Who mythology, bringing back John Simm will only reinforce the importance of the character.