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Doctor Who review: The War Master: Shockwave brings in Mark Gatiss’s Master

By James Aggas

There's a Big Finish box set that explores what would've happened if the Master had created the Daleks. And it's rather brilliant.(Photo credit: Doctor Who/Big Finish Productions.Image obtained from: Big Finish Productions.)
There's a Big Finish box set that explores what would've happened if the Master had created the Daleks. And it's rather brilliant.(Photo credit: Doctor Who/Big Finish Productions.Image obtained from: Big Finish Productions.) /
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The War Master’s actions are causing devastation to both Gallifrey and the whole of the Doctor Who universe in Shockwave. Only one man can stop him – another Master altogether…

The third episode of The War Master: Anti-Genesis – Shockwave – is very different to the previous two. Before, there had been a lot of focus on the War Master and his grand plan to change the history of the Doctor Who universe and become the creator of the Daleks. That plan is mostly complete, and so the focus shifts from the plan itself to its consequences, particularly on Gallifrey. So normally, this would be the Master-lite episode. If it weren’t for the fact that another Master entirely is heavily focused on…

Mark Gatiss features in this episode as the Master from another universe. He was originally introduced in the Doctor Who Unbound range before later returning in The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield, so it’s nice to see him brought into the main universe in this one.

Don’t worry if you haven’t heard him before, though. Alan Barnes does a great job of keeping things simple with this incarnation, so that you only need to know that he’s from another universe. The opening scene helps to establish that very easily, while also setting up this episode nicely.

Mark Gatiss resumes his role as the Unbound Master in The War Master: Anti-Genesis: Shockwave.

(Image Courtesy: Big Finish Productions.)

The Other Master

Why is Gatiss’s Other Master here now? Ironically, the Daleks need his help. Even more ironically, they need him to save the universe. The consequences of the War Master’s actions have lead to the risk of time falling apart completely. Even Gallifrey is badly affected, with its own history constantly changing. Only the Master and the Daleks can save the universe!

There isn’t a great deal of story in this one. The Other Master and the Daleks look for a way to save the universe on Gallifrey while we experience history changing. That’s the key story of Shockwave for the whole episode.

That isn’t a bad thing, though. Particularly as it allows for plenty of focus on Gatiss’s Master. This is what Shockwave is really about – focusing on this very distinctive Master and introducing him to a new audience. Gatiss has always been fantastic as this incarnation, and he’s an absolute delight to listen to. Which is exactly what you need, especially for a series where Derek Jacobi gets to constantly show off just how amazing he truly is in the role.

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Crossing the line

Speaking of which, while the War Master doesn’t get as much to do in this episode, he definitely gets enough. There’s one particular scene that shows just how ruthless he truly is. More than that – it shows us just how far he’s willing to go. There’s a line that the Master’s never quite crossed – he’s come extremely close to it, but he’s never gone through with it completely. In this episode, he crosses that line in a big way. And he takes sheer delight in it.

Shockwave is an episode that lets us experience the huge consequences of changing history in the Doctor Who universe, and you definitely need an episode like that in this box set. Like I said, there isn’t a great deal of plot to it – not compared to the previous two episodes, From the Flames and The Master’s Dalek Plan. But with Gatiss being so brilliant as the Other Master and having so much fun with the role, it really is a delight to listen to.

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Have you listened to any stories featuring Mark Gatiss as the Master? Do you think he should also appear in a story with the main universe Doctors – perhaps even in the TV series itself? Let us know in the comments below.

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