Why A Multi-Master Story Needs to Happen

Guest contributor Drew Savicki explains.

Surprisingly in Doctor Who’s 51 years of existence, there have been a plethora of Multi-Doctor stories, but never once has there been a Multi-Master story. Since the character’s debut in 1971’s Terror of the Autons, the character has appeared countless times whether it is on TV, in books, or on audio.

In 1971, there was only one Master and only three Doctors. At the time the very first Multi-Doctor story, The Three Doctors, didn’t even exist. There was no notion at the time that anybody other than Roger Delgado would be the Master. After his untimely death, the character disappeared from Doctor Who and didn’t appear again until 1976’s The Deadly Assassin, which featured Peter Pratt as an emaciated form of the Master. It was revealed that sometime between Delgado’s incarnation and Pratt’s, the Master had used up all his regenerations. Since the bold recasting of the character, the Master became a mainstay on Doctor Who, popping up once again on TV last year in the form a female incarnation known as Missy.

With Michelle Gomez’s rapturous reception and the character’s popularity at an all time high, perhaps it’s time not for another Multi-Doctor but to set a new precedent with a Multi-Master story. Ideally the story would feature Geoffrey Beevers, Alex Macqueen, Derek Jacobi, John Simm, and Michelle Gomez. Sadly five incarnations of the Master would really be too much for one episode (even if it were an extended one at 90 minutes in length). That would mean cutting out two incarnations and those would have to be Derek Jacobi and John Simm.

A Multi-Master story would be a great time to give the spotlight to two of the best actors to ever play the role, Geoffrey Beevers and Alex Macqueen. Geoffrey Beevers originally played the role in the Season 18 story The Keeper of Traken. He played the emaciated form previously played by Peter Pratt in The Deadly Assassin. He is most associated though with playing the character for Big Finish Productions in numerous stories alongside the first eight incarnations of The Doctor.

Alex Macqueen first debuted as the Master in UNIT: Dominion. There he fought the Seventh Doctor as an incarnation of the Master post TV Movie (confusing, right?). He has continued to play the role in the Dark Eyes saga alongside Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor.

Their appearances would reaffirm that Big Finish is canon. Not only were Big Finish’s Doctor Who audio dramas made officially canon in 2013’s The Night of the Doctor, but on the official Doctor Who YouTube account, the Dark Eyes 3 trailer was uploaded, which could be viewed as an endorsement that the BBC now considers Big Finish a part of the TV Show.

Storywise a Multi-Master story offers a writer a challenge because not only has it never been done, but also coming up with a story that would work with multiple incarnations of this character is difficult. Part of what makes Multi-Doctor stories so much fun is how the different incarnations interact with one another. A Multi-Master story should be done because it is challenging and offers writers the chance to explore the relationship the Master has himself, and herself! Would the Master’s incarnations get along? Would they even recognize each other? The Doctor can recognize himself but would the Master?

Essentially a Multi-Master is a fascinating concept that is just begging to be explored. Not one writer to this day has done it but it would be a fascinating story and a chance to really explore the Master’s character. It would also serve as a chance to introduce two lesser-known incarnations to a whole new generation of fans. For the anniversary of Doctor Who returning to TV, instead of a Multi-Doctor a Multi-Master story would be one heck of a surprise.