Doctor Who classic moments: “A new body…at last!” (The Keeper of Traken)
By James Aggas
We look at the ending of The Keeper of Traken – a crucial moment in Doctor Who history that marks the beginning of Anthony Ainley’s iconic portrayal as the Master…
As we recently reviewed, there’s a lot to enjoy about Tom Baker’s penultimate story, The Keeper of Traken. There are some really interesting themes, and it’s a pretty solid adventure that’s told very well. But the ending is especially important, particularly due to its impact on Doctor Who history…
The story features the very likable character of Tremas, who finds himself caught up in terrible events on Traken. His wife Kassia has been helping a great evil, ironically so that Tremas will never leave her to become the Traken Union’s new Keeper. Technically, she succeeds, but at the cost of her marriage, her soul, and eventually her life.
And who or what is this great evil? Everyone on Traken had known it as a calcified creature named Melkur. But this was only a disguise for one of the Doctor’s greatest enemies – the Master, as played by Geoffrey Beevers.
At this point in Doctor Who history, the Master isn’t exactly as strong as he once was. Horrifically disfigured and on his last regeneration, he had initially intended to possess the Doctor’s body and give himself new life.
Naturally, at the end of the story, that didn’t happen. The Master is defeated, Traken is safe, and the Doctor leaves Tremas and his daughter Nyssa to enjoy peaceful lives on Traken. But then Tremas decides to look at a mysterious clock, and that’s when the final tragedy of the story unfolds…
An iconic transition
There are a couple of reasons why the Master’s possession of Tremas stands out. Within the context of the story alone, it’s a pretty shocking ending. As I’ve mentioned, Tremas was a genuinely likable character, thanks to a strong performance from Anthony Ainley. The moment he’s possessed by the Master, he’s effectively killed off.
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Not only is this a terrible fate for his character, but it also completes the tragedy of Kassia’s story. For the best of reasons, she made some terrible choices, all so that she wouldn’t lose her husband. But by the end, not only did her actions cost her her own life, but Tremas’s, as well.
Of course, this moment is even bigger when looked at in terms of Doctor Who‘s wider mythology. Firstly, it marks the clear beginning of one of Doctor Who‘s most prolific Masters. From this moment until Survival – the final story of the Classic Series – Anthony Ainley has a good, long run as the Master. While he didn’t receive many of the best stories in the role, there’s no question that he was the Master for many Eighties fans.
Secondly, this moment is, until Utopia, the closest thing to a regeneration for the Master on-screen. While the Master is another Time Lord like the Doctor, surprisingly, we never saw an actual regeneration for the character in the Classic Series. The Master’s possession of Tremas isn’t exactly the same thing. But it still has the same feeling of satisfaction at seeing the change from one incarnation to another.
The ending of The Keeper of Traken will always be one of my favorite moments in Doctor Who history. It’s a dark and tragic ending, while also establishing the beginning of one of the most iconic Masters. An absolutely essential moment for Doctor Who fans to see.
Next. Re-Watch: The Keeper of Traken. dark
What are your thoughts on The Keeper of Traken‘s ending? How well do you think it handled the transition from Beevers’s Master to Ainley’s? Let us know in the comments below.