Big Finish Review: The War Master - Only the Good

[@meris8486]

"Things die, it's just what they do. Every minute of every day on every world every galaxy, something dies. Crying over it is spitting into the wind. Death is natural, yes. There comes a time in the history of all civilisations; worlds great and small, when something, some event, some disease, some war tips the balance of things. When even nature must look at the numbers and nervously catch its breath. And on those occasions... well, it's time to make plans." -The War Master

[@andrewbowman4611]

It'll never happen now, sadly, but imagine if the War Master met the War Doctor. The voices of Jacobi and Hurt would been beautiful.

[@nightowl8477]

Why didn't they do that for the 50th???

[@jessetorres8738]

Andrew Bowman: There was a War Master incarnation. In the Doctor Who comics about the War Doctor, he fought in the Time War alongside The Master who took the form of a little kid. However, this incarnation existed in between Alex MacQueen's (the Big Finish exclusive) Master and Derek Jacobi's Yana Master. And the Kid Master regenerated into Derek Jacobi's Master near the end of the Time War.

[@zvimur]

@@jessetorres8738 Regenerated, or just grew up?

[@zvimur]

Look up "I, Claudius" miniseries. Jacobi=Claudius, Hurt=Caligula.

[@andrewbowman4611]

I know about I, Claudius (or Claudivs, if you prefer). That was the inspiration for my original comment. It was a reunion that can never be.

[@mccorade5941]

One of the most brilliant aspects of "The Sky Man" is how, even though it's a Master-lite story, you can really feel the Master's presence and influence on the story.

[@Ben-vf5gk]

I also kept falling for the nice old man act that Jacobi is so good at. At first I was thinking "I'm not falling for this again, I fell for it in Utopia but not this time!" But yeah I got fooled...

[@sirjedisentinel]

Yeah. That's the thing I love about the Jacobi Master compared to the others. He actually sells you on the disguise.

[@Ben-vf5gk]

He's a Master deceiver (pun intended) capable of fooling you into believing him to be your best friend for decades and can kill you in the time it takes for you to blink.

[@ahumanbeingfromtheearth1502]

Even in the second box set I managed to be fooled by him until he SPOILERS FOR WAR MASTER 2 just left everyone to die at the end, even though i really should have seen it coming.

[@meris8486]

The first part "Beneath the Viscoid" is currently free on Big Finish's website for anyone looking to have a taste before they drop thirty quid on it.

[@alexinabox6931]

Just did and my goodness what a story! Will be getting the next one

[@meris8486]

@@alexinabox6931 Glad to hear it. The first one is a good introduction but I think the next three have more interesting ideas

[@glenmcculla6843]

As a fan of 'I, Claudius' (which i'd wholeheartedly recommend to anyone, everyone, everywhere, by the way), there's just something about John Hurt being the War Doctor and Derek Jacobi being the War Master that's just so RIGHT.

[@alexinabox6931]

Ooh aah I love I, Claudius! Derek Jacobi's audiobook of it is divine

[@15schaa]

*I, Clavdivs.

[@glenmcculla6843]

@@15schaa Is the correct pronunciation.:)

[@kemmdog4444]

“Well, Olsen, I’ll certainly send you on your way.”

[@Ben-vf5gk]

I squealed like a fanboy when I saw this thumbnail. This was around the first big finish I bought, certainly the first boxset. And it's so bloody good! Jacobi is my favourite Master since Delgado. The Heavenly Paradigm is one of my favourite stories in Doctor Who.

[@Venemofthe888]

I feel like the master in this is like free range since the doctor isn't a threat to him he does what he wants because he can and disposes of things when he has used it all up or has no need. Makes a scarier villain than u can ever dream of

[@meris8486]

Hell yes. Great to see more big finish, especially some or their best work :D

[@tardisnet9487]

It was a great boxset. Derek Jacobi was just fantastic as the Master and it gave us the chance to really turn the Master as a character rather than just a villain as we see the universe from his point of view. It brilliantly questions the morality of good and what it actually means and how the Master fits into that in a time of war.

[@alexbennett7018]

for anyone interested in the Big Finish Box sets are cheaper to get directly from the big Finish website when they are first released as they are 5 to 10 pounds cheaper.

[@fomoran]

Alex Bennett also keep an eye on humble bundle's rolling varied charity deals and audible perhaps...

[@ErinTheFennec]

@@fomoran Spotify has a bunch of Big Finish stories too, though sadly a decent number of episodes past the first season of a lot of them are missing, for example the Eighth Doctor Adventures only goes up to Human Resources (Which is another excellent story)

[@kutless45]

I really dig the relationship between the Master and Cole. It's like exactly what would have happened if the Master had been the one to meet Charlotte Pollard rather than the Doctor.

[@MrRjhyt]

Sounds like such an excellent Jacobi performance. It reminds me of my first encounter with him. The BBC's 'I, Claudius', was fantastic, gripping, with an early appearance by Patrick Stewart, (pre. Sir.), back in 1976. A great adaptation, from an incredible book. I must look it out again, or try the 'War Master'.

[@direnova6284]

I, Claudius was a springboard to stardom for many very respected actors. It's like the Royal Shakespeare company said "Let's make a TV show" .

[@TheGuySilver]

Listened to the Whole Box Yesterday, It was Fantastic, My First Big Finish Outting.

[@vilmundurgunnarsson3904]

Just finished this box set. It’s just incredible how amazingly consistent it is.

[@BadWisdom523]

It is really good - and the next part seems to have recently come out! Great review, loved how you kept saying “Doctor”. I laughed out loud!

[@DoctorDodge]

Excellent review. I absolutely adore The War Master series. I've actually lost track of how many times I've listened to Only the Good since it came out last year. Such a great series, and the second box set, while very different, is also really enjoyable and very satisfying. And Derek Jacobi is easily my favorite of the New Series Masters now.

[@thomasjohnston9795]

I love the war masters theme, if you listen to the beats, it's the drum beats the master had in the new series. Took me ages to notice

[@Concreteowl]

Protect and survive is Doctor Who as Black Mirror.

[@15schaa]

Is it possible for anyone outside of the UK to watch the live episode of Inside No. 9 today?

[@ErinTheFennec]

I loved how these stories could show The Master doing things that would be considered good if they were done by someone like The Doctor, but because it's The Master there is always an evil undertone, even when he's helping people, it's for his own gain, even when he tries to let Cole save a planet, it's all to show him the futility in the idea of saving people, it breaks Cole before The Master's plan culminates in him just abusing the trust he'd gained from Cole, the stories are terrifying in such a good way. I also feel like The Sky Man might have been drawing some parallels to the Cybermen, and they were horrifying because they built up these normal people into killing machines, even more heartbreaking with Elidh.

[@themastermind9967]

So is John Simms like the ptsd master

[@stevenclubb7718]

Jacobi was also the Master in Scream Of The Shalka, featuring the Great Intelligence as the other 9th Doctor and the Queen from Beast Below as the companion. He's not the villain though. He's kind of a prisoner in the TARDIS or something. It's animated and available on DVD.

[@Nickman826]

He's the Doctor's Live in android boyfriend

[@stevenclubb7718]

David Tennant even has a cameo. If memory serves, he was in the studio recording something else and talked his way into the Who production.

[@Natala00]

Please Review Eighth Doctor Scherzo. It is one of the most unique Big Finish episodes, both experimental and beautifully written. If people only wish to listen to one Eighth episode, that's the one. No spoilers: The Doctor is stranded in a place of nothing. He has no Tardis, no sonic screwdriver, not even his normal Time Lord powers, in fact... there is no 'time'. He thinks he is alone but Charlie his companion has followed him. The two of them walk through this white silent place and has almost nothing to do but talk. The Doctor opens up about his view on death, his mortality, humans, why he brings along companions, and if he can love a companion etc. It's like an interview with the Doctor written by a very talented writer.

[@jacobdavies9033]

One of the best Doctor Who stories ever

[@meris8486]

Don't you need to listen to Zagreus for context? Or at least read a summary of that madness

[@Natala00]

Scherzo can be listened to on its own, but I agree, it is worth researching "Why" the Doctor is isolated. While a minor spoiler for Zagreus (which is worth listening to as well, though long) I don't think it hurts Zagreus to look up what has happened. I mean the Doctor does say in Scherzo but it makes more sense certainly.

[@meris8486]

@@Natala00 Yeah I read a summary for Zagreus, cause I got bored of listening after a few tracks. Apparently Rassilon stabs the doctor with a sword forged from the outside of the tardis. Jeez they went off the deep end. A shame cause Neverland was awesome

[@Ben-vf5gk]

Basically all you need to know is that there is this universe Rassilon created to lock up these creatures called the Divergents to stop them from replacing the timelords as the most powerful beings. The Doctor stopped him in Zagreus and threw him into the Divergent universe, but because he's still infected with the anti-time he exiles himself into the same universe with the Tardis and Charley follows him. Also he and Charley have confessed that they're in love but it's complicated.

[@Lil-Dragon]

So glad he came back as he did great in his scene in Utopia. At least its filling in some timeline gaps for the character.

[@alexinabox6931]

At some point can you do a quick review of 'I am the master'? It's creepy and cool and amazing.

[@jaa954]

I listened to beneath the viscode (free on the big finish website) and now I feel like I need to by the set but I wish you could buy the box sets seperately like the most recent fourth doctor series.

[@RegularCody]

Fuck me, Skyman is such an amazing story

[@louisward6881]

you need to unscrew the top to replace the batteries

[@danieljohnson6975]

For the first couple of months big finish boxset are often about £15 cheaper.(in the UK). So as I can't justify spending £35/£40 on only 4 hours of entertainment I usually grab them then or u have to wait until they get reduced

[@mad_the_monk]

Great video

[@FreakyTeeth]

This is a TIME war mate. "Chronological order" doesn't exist at all.

[@leslieshafer6343]

I wonder what my chances are for convincing my city's library system to carry the audio books. Probably not good.

[@CouncilofGeeks]

No idea what kind of discount libraries get, but these are not cheap, especially in physical form.

[@Reprodestruxion]

Has a great soundtrack and check out the epilogue in Gallifrey time war

[@Reprodestruxion]

Check out Viscious as a series where Derek Jacobishows his sardonic acting chops

[@zvimur]

In the first story, I think Master needed someone to set off a booby trap of sort. As for his view of anyone not him, a quote from Wizard's Apprentice. You see that couple over there? You're the puppy.

[@WiloPolis03]

100th comment (not sorry for including that), came here because you said Sky Man is as dark as Children of Earth, now I'm intrigued

[@somthingbrutal]

yup a great set of stories

[@Reprodestruxion]

Well Cole’s life as a time paradox fed a WMD

[@Ben-vf5gk]

I'm not sure if Big Finish is doing more War Master boxsets. The way this one wraps up felt kind of final and since this they've just had the War Master appear in stuff e.g. Gallifrey Time War, UNIT Cyber Reality and now River Songs 5th boxset.

[@CouncilofGeeks]

It’s been announced they’re working on more.

[@Ben-vf5gk]

@@CouncilofGeeks I hadn't heard that, thanks. Looking forward to the next one I guess

[@Ben-vf5gk]

Oh sorry I didn't see it. Thank you

[@Concreteowl]

Is it a song?

[@Reprodestruxion]

How to use help as a weapon but the master is incapable despite his utilitarianism

[@MSGSDestiny]

Would u rate this box set higher/more entertaining than Series 11 so far?

[@R4ggedyM4n]

so is this before or after his Doctor Who episode?

[@deanvrosch1404]

Before!

[@Jedi_Spartan]

I'm assuming before as in Utopia he regenerates into Harold Saxon/John Simm Master

[@maxeyre2024]

Before, after this he becomes human and escapes to the end of the universe for the events of Utopia. This would happen between the TV movie and Series 3.

[@samuelbarber6177]

I wish Jacobi had been the Master for the duration of Sound of Drums, Last of the Time Lords. I don't really like John Simm and on top of that, Jacobi gave a far better performance in my eyes (and he only like five min ties as the Master, not just Professor YANA.)

[@sirjedisentinel]

Just curious, when you got this, did you get the CD or the download? I hope you do more box sets in the future (given what you said, I understand it may not be for some time). There's a lot of really good ones (The Diary of River Song is my favorite Doctor Who spinoff, & I just started Counter-Measures, which is also shaping up to be really good)

[@CouncilofGeeks]

I did it as a download because it was cheaper.

[@simonshurville612]

Nice !!!!

[@BadWisdom523]

Actually, on the subject of Sir Derek... Have you ever watched I, Clavdivs? You will go ice-cold-thick-banana-whips over the cast list alone, let alone the twists and turns of the story. It’s GoT without the dragons! (That’s a terrible tagline...)

[@gloriatg100]

While this has nothing to do with what you are talking about it`s a milestone just the same. 2018 marks the bicentennial of Frankenstein.