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The War Master #2
The War Master: The Master of Callous
On the mining colony Callous, Elliot King struggles to meet the demands of its governor, Teremon. The odds are stacked against him, and his options are running low. The world that once promised dreams now offers only despair.
A wild Ood stalks the forests, carrying an antiquated phone. The caller promises much – he claims he can change the world – but he always speaks a devastating truth.
He is the Master and the Ood will obey him... but to what end?
1. Call for the Dead by James Goss
2. The Glittering Prize by James Goss
3. The Persistence of Dreams by Guy Adams
4. Sins of the Father by Guy Adams
A wild Ood stalks the forests, carrying an antiquated phone. The caller promises much – he claims he can change the world – but he always speaks a devastating truth.
He is the Master and the Ood will obey him... but to what end?
1. Call for the Dead by James Goss
2. The Glittering Prize by James Goss
3. The Persistence of Dreams by Guy Adams
4. Sins of the Father by Guy Adams
Audio CD
First published December 1, 2018
About the author
James Goss
232 books183 followersJames Goss has written two Torchwood novels and a radio play, as well as a Being Human book. His Doctor Who audiobook Dead Air won Best Audiobook 2010. James also spent seven years working on the BBC's official Doctor Who website and co-wrote the website for Torchwood Series One. In 2007, he won the Best Adaptation category in the annual LA Weekly Theatre Awards for his version of Douglas Adams' novel Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 15, 2019
Rated 2.5/5, rounded up to 3 for Goodreads
The War Master: The Master of Callous is one of my least favorite box sets from Big Finish Productions. It's a shame, too, as I really love Derek Jacobi as the Master and I enjoy stories that focus on the Master doing dastardly things. I enjoyed the first War Master box set, Only the Good, quite a bit, mostly because it felt like the writers had something to say about the War Master and had something for him to do. That box set went a long way towards tying the Master from the classic series (and Eighth Doctor audios) and the Master from the revived TV series together. This box set, on the other hand, features none of that interesting writing. Here, it doesn't feel like the writers had anything new to say about the character, nor did it feel as though the character actually had anything to do. In fact, he's barely in two of the four stories! Needless to say, I'm not a fan of this box set. (NOTE: There will be spoilers ahead.)
The Master of Callous is, essentially, one four-hour long story split into four hour-long episodes at seemingly obligatory points. I'm not inherently against the idea of these box sets telling one long, continuous story (instead of the usual four, somewhat connected but often stand-alone stories usually found), but the problem here is that there isn't actually enough story to warrant it being four hours long. At best, there's enough story for one really good hour-long episode. This box set is really the perfect example of Big Finish trying to stretch an idea based around the revived TV series into as long of a story as they possibly can. There is literally no reason for this particular story to be four hours long. Two of those hours barely feature the Master at all; he briefly appears at the end of episode 1, he's in episode two, Derek Jacobi voices a version of the Master that's only in the mind of a character suffering from delusions - so that doesn't really count, and then he's in the final episode where he finally actually does something kind of Master-y.
So what we're left with is a story about a bunch of side characters that we never really care about. This kind of story could have worked if it was about one of the incarnations of the Doctor. However, it's not. This is a story about the Master - and not just any incarnation of the Master, but the one who was around during the Time War. The most dangerous incarnation of the Master. And, yet, he doesn't do anything particularly evil until the last twenty minutes or so of the entire box set. Sure, he's behind the scenes pulling the strings some, but he's given so little to work with most of the time that his character disappears behind all these side characters that the writers want us to care about but never really endear them to us. Pretty much everyone in the story is unlikable and hard to sympathize with. They're all acting out of selfish greed, for the most part. Again, this could be interesting if the Master was given a real chance to act like himself opposite them instead of being in disguise the entire time. As such, we're given a four-hour story about the Master that barely features the Master. That's not really what I want from a box set about the Master. I'm not here for a story about a bunch of other people; I want to see the Master being evil and doing what he does best.
Aside from the severe underuse of the Master, the writing, in general, is rough. Like I previously said, there's really not enough story here to justify this set being one, long, continuous four-hour story. The first episode spends an hour and fifteen minutes introducing a character just to kill him off so we can be introduced to his daughter, who is even less likable than he is. The plot doesn't actually get rolling until the end of the second episode, and then it's immediately ground to a halt for the entirety of the third episode as we spend a bunch of time with one of the side characters going crazy in isolation (as a side-effect of the thing they've been mining this whole time; don't ask, it doesn't really matter). The final episode is easily the best one, but that's because the plot actually gets moving and the Master gets to do some evil stuff and we find out what all of this was actually for (spoiler alert: he's trying to mine this substance because it's needed for the construction of battle TARDISes. He intends to sell this substance to Narvin for a hefty sum of money and a chameleon arch (which places the events of this box set before the events of the previous one). The sad thing is, this premise isn't actually a bad idea for a story about the War Master. It seems absolutely plausible that he'd do all of this and then sacrifice all the people he took advantage of. The problem is that this idea is not one that supports four hour-long episodes. It's a good storyline for a single, hour-long story. Instead, it's stretched out for four hours.
The Master of Callous is long, drawn out, and boring for much of its runtime. Frankly, it's a four-hour long story that has no business being any longer than about an hour. The plotting is meandering, frustrating, poorly paced, and focuses on a cavalcade of side characters the listener cares little about instead of focusing on the title character of the set. Derek Jacobi is as good as always in the role, but he's given very little to do until the final episode. The rest of the guest cast do a suitable job; their performances suffer because their characters are written so unsympathetically that no actor could really shine performing these words. I really wanted to like this box set; I enjoyed the first one quite a bit and I really like stories about the Time War and I love the War Master. This box set, however, is just a mess. It's one of my least favorite Big Finish box sets that I've listened to. The entire four-episodes of this set should have just been one really good episode alongside three other really good episodes telling different stories. But, alas, that's not what Big Finish did.
2.5 out of 5 wands
The War Master: The Master of Callous is one of my least favorite box sets from Big Finish Productions. It's a shame, too, as I really love Derek Jacobi as the Master and I enjoy stories that focus on the Master doing dastardly things. I enjoyed the first War Master box set, Only the Good, quite a bit, mostly because it felt like the writers had something to say about the War Master and had something for him to do. That box set went a long way towards tying the Master from the classic series (and Eighth Doctor audios) and the Master from the revived TV series together. This box set, on the other hand, features none of that interesting writing. Here, it doesn't feel like the writers had anything new to say about the character, nor did it feel as though the character actually had anything to do. In fact, he's barely in two of the four stories! Needless to say, I'm not a fan of this box set. (NOTE: There will be spoilers ahead.)
The Master of Callous is, essentially, one four-hour long story split into four hour-long episodes at seemingly obligatory points. I'm not inherently against the idea of these box sets telling one long, continuous story (instead of the usual four, somewhat connected but often stand-alone stories usually found), but the problem here is that there isn't actually enough story to warrant it being four hours long. At best, there's enough story for one really good hour-long episode. This box set is really the perfect example of Big Finish trying to stretch an idea based around the revived TV series into as long of a story as they possibly can. There is literally no reason for this particular story to be four hours long. Two of those hours barely feature the Master at all; he briefly appears at the end of episode 1, he's in episode two, Derek Jacobi voices a version of the Master that's only in the mind of a character suffering from delusions - so that doesn't really count, and then he's in the final episode where he finally actually does something kind of Master-y.
So what we're left with is a story about a bunch of side characters that we never really care about. This kind of story could have worked if it was about one of the incarnations of the Doctor. However, it's not. This is a story about the Master - and not just any incarnation of the Master, but the one who was around during the Time War. The most dangerous incarnation of the Master. And, yet, he doesn't do anything particularly evil until the last twenty minutes or so of the entire box set. Sure, he's behind the scenes pulling the strings some, but he's given so little to work with most of the time that his character disappears behind all these side characters that the writers want us to care about but never really endear them to us. Pretty much everyone in the story is unlikable and hard to sympathize with. They're all acting out of selfish greed, for the most part. Again, this could be interesting if the Master was given a real chance to act like himself opposite them instead of being in disguise the entire time. As such, we're given a four-hour story about the Master that barely features the Master. That's not really what I want from a box set about the Master. I'm not here for a story about a bunch of other people; I want to see the Master being evil and doing what he does best.
Aside from the severe underuse of the Master, the writing, in general, is rough. Like I previously said, there's really not enough story here to justify this set being one, long, continuous four-hour story. The first episode spends an hour and fifteen minutes introducing a character just to kill him off so we can be introduced to his daughter, who is even less likable than he is. The plot doesn't actually get rolling until the end of the second episode, and then it's immediately ground to a halt for the entirety of the third episode as we spend a bunch of time with one of the side characters going crazy in isolation (as a side-effect of the thing they've been mining this whole time; don't ask, it doesn't really matter). The final episode is easily the best one, but that's because the plot actually gets moving and the Master gets to do some evil stuff and we find out what all of this was actually for (spoiler alert: he's trying to mine this substance because it's needed for the construction of battle TARDISes. He intends to sell this substance to Narvin for a hefty sum of money and a chameleon arch (which places the events of this box set before the events of the previous one). The sad thing is, this premise isn't actually a bad idea for a story about the War Master. It seems absolutely plausible that he'd do all of this and then sacrifice all the people he took advantage of. The problem is that this idea is not one that supports four hour-long episodes. It's a good storyline for a single, hour-long story. Instead, it's stretched out for four hours.
The Master of Callous is long, drawn out, and boring for much of its runtime. Frankly, it's a four-hour long story that has no business being any longer than about an hour. The plotting is meandering, frustrating, poorly paced, and focuses on a cavalcade of side characters the listener cares little about instead of focusing on the title character of the set. Derek Jacobi is as good as always in the role, but he's given very little to do until the final episode. The rest of the guest cast do a suitable job; their performances suffer because their characters are written so unsympathetically that no actor could really shine performing these words. I really wanted to like this box set; I enjoyed the first one quite a bit and I really like stories about the Time War and I love the War Master. This box set, however, is just a mess. It's one of my least favorite Big Finish box sets that I've listened to. The entire four-episodes of this set should have just been one really good episode alongside three other really good episodes telling different stories. But, alas, that's not what Big Finish did.
2.5 out of 5 wands
December 20, 2018
2.1 Call for the Dead by James Goss
Inizio lento, per creare l'atmosfera e presentare i personaggi.
Il Master e gli Ood sembrano essere una buona accoppiata. Del resto sappiamo bene quanto siano influenzabili.
2.2 The Glittering Prize by James Goss
La storia prosegue poco dopo la conclusione della prima parte.
Il Maestro compare e aiuta in giro, ma non si comprende ancora il fine ultimo.
2.3. The Persistence of Dreams by Guy Adams
Quasi un monologo, un delirio indotto dal minerale più dannoso dell'universo, la realizzazione di una profezia... con pochi elementi un ottimo (e disturbante) capitolo, che ci porta direttamente al finale.
2.4. Sins of the Father by Guy Adams
Finale coi fiocchi, con un Maestro all'ennesima potenza. Tutto va come previsto, i dettagli per arrivare alla conclusione c'erano tutti, ma si ascolta con piacere.
Il secondo cofanetto del War Master si colloca prima di quello di esordio, che ci portava direttamente a Utopia.
Il Maestro è ancora riluttante collaboratore dei Time Lords e sta iniziando a muoversi verso la propria liberazione.
Le quattro storie sono strettamente collegate, quattro capitoli della stessa vicenda. Due Master lite, dove le piccole aparizioni sono comunque godevoli, e due dove il Maestro la fa da protagonista assoluto.
Un ottimo cofanetto, lo so sono ripetitiva, che dimostra come una storia resa completa come quella del Maestro offra spunti sempre nuovi grazie alla visione non lineare del tempo a cui siamo abituati.
Inizio lento, per creare l'atmosfera e presentare i personaggi.
Il Master e gli Ood sembrano essere una buona accoppiata. Del resto sappiamo bene quanto siano influenzabili.
2.2 The Glittering Prize by James Goss
La storia prosegue poco dopo la conclusione della prima parte.
Il Maestro compare e aiuta in giro, ma non si comprende ancora il fine ultimo.
2.3. The Persistence of Dreams by Guy Adams
Quasi un monologo, un delirio indotto dal minerale più dannoso dell'universo, la realizzazione di una profezia... con pochi elementi un ottimo (e disturbante) capitolo, che ci porta direttamente al finale.
2.4. Sins of the Father by Guy Adams
Finale coi fiocchi, con un Maestro all'ennesima potenza. Tutto va come previsto, i dettagli per arrivare alla conclusione c'erano tutti, ma si ascolta con piacere.
Il secondo cofanetto del War Master si colloca prima di quello di esordio, che ci portava direttamente a Utopia.
Il Maestro è ancora riluttante collaboratore dei Time Lords e sta iniziando a muoversi verso la propria liberazione.
Le quattro storie sono strettamente collegate, quattro capitoli della stessa vicenda. Due Master lite, dove le piccole aparizioni sono comunque godevoli, e due dove il Maestro la fa da protagonista assoluto.
Un ottimo cofanetto, lo so sono ripetitiva, che dimostra come una storia resa completa come quella del Maestro offra spunti sempre nuovi grazie alla visione non lineare del tempo a cui siamo abituati.
June 22, 2021
We were ROBBED of Derek Jacobi as the Master onscreen. Bless Big Finish for bringing him back to scare the shit out of us all.
August 17, 2021
3/10
Verdict: Should Skip
I wish I could like this. This boxset is filled with great concepts, a mine on a jungle planet filled with ood and rocks that drive people insane. There is an entire episode where someone is stuck on a space station going insane with two ood and it is somehow the most boring thing I've ever listened to. I don't like any of the characters here, well, except the Master, who has one good 3 minute segment in this 4+ hour story. The main villain for the majority of this is generic evil capitalist woman and her army of 'as long as it pays well' soldiers. Too long, too focused on melodrama like the struggling relationship of the two leads and too little Master. This might have been enjoyable if half as long, and even then it'd be dragged out. Overall, I feel like this was all a massive waste of time.
Verdict: Should Skip
I wish I could like this. This boxset is filled with great concepts, a mine on a jungle planet filled with ood and rocks that drive people insane. There is an entire episode where someone is stuck on a space station going insane with two ood and it is somehow the most boring thing I've ever listened to. I don't like any of the characters here, well, except the Master, who has one good 3 minute segment in this 4+ hour story. The main villain for the majority of this is generic evil capitalist woman and her army of 'as long as it pays well' soldiers. Too long, too focused on melodrama like the struggling relationship of the two leads and too little Master. This might have been enjoyable if half as long, and even then it'd be dragged out. Overall, I feel like this was all a massive waste of time.
April 26, 2020
I just realised I have been listening to a lot of dark, bleak big finish recently. I, Davros, Davros, Gallifrey Time War 2 and now the War Master and I love it when big finish go very bleak and dark.
I've just finished listening to the War Master; The Master of Callous and I had an absolute blast listening to this. This boxset quite possibly topping the first boxset. All the stories I really did sit on the edge of my seat in anticipation of what might happen next which has happened to me in a while and the governor is such a brilliant character. Very Darkel and Lady Calcula (I, Davros) like which I LOVE.
Also, huge appreciation for the sound design and music in this boxset.
Well done big finish. I have enjoyed every story in the Master of Callous. Can't wait for boxset 3!
I've just finished listening to the War Master; The Master of Callous and I had an absolute blast listening to this. This boxset quite possibly topping the first boxset. All the stories I really did sit on the edge of my seat in anticipation of what might happen next which has happened to me in a while and the governor is such a brilliant character. Very Darkel and Lady Calcula (I, Davros) like which I LOVE.
Also, huge appreciation for the sound design and music in this boxset.
Well done big finish. I have enjoyed every story in the Master of Callous. Can't wait for boxset 3!
July 8, 2023
Just remarkable. Legitimately a masterpiece.
March 18, 2026
(Very Light spoilers included - nothing major)
Okay, well… I gave this box set a 2 overall (as GR doesn’t currently allow for half ratings, else this would’ve been a 2.5) and I was quite disappointed, I must say. Honestly, if it wasn’t for the fact that this is specifically a War Master box set, I think I would’ve enjoyed this a lot more. But as it was, I was disappointed with the sheer lack of the Master.
So I wasn’t so keen on the first War Master box set, because the Master wasn’t really in it (as the Master) until the very last episode. So with this set I was excited to finally get four proper Master-y adventures.
Instead I got what was essentially a rehash of the first box set, with different characters.
The only other difference with this set is that it’s one big story, set in the same place, with the same characters, rather than individual adventures.
Episode 1 - Call For the Dead - 3 stars
This was an interesting enough set up to the main story, but I did spend the entire episode wondering when the Master was going to show up. I did eventually become interested in the characters and their story, and this would’ve been a fine prologue to the box set, IF it wasn’t the longest episode and only featured about 30 seconds total of the Master.
Episode 2 - The Glittering Prize - 2 stars
So this one actually features the Master, but not AS the Master. He’s in disguise and being all “kind” and whatnot, which sure he does a lot when he wants stuff, but it just felt too much like the first box set, where he basically does the same thing, with nothing much to it. The most interesting part of this episode was the beginning of Cassie’s descent into (a type of) madness, due to the same cause as her father, which was intriguing, but I’ve spent two hours now waiting for the title character of the box set to show up, so I was more focused on that.
Episode 3 - The Persistence of Dreams - 2 stars
So this one definitely would’ve been a 4, or even potentially a 5 star story, IF it wasn’t a solo story for a side character in the story, and the THIRD story in the set where the Master doesn’t really appear. It’s such an interesting take on a descent into madness and it does feel weird and claustrophobic and eerie, but the entire focus is on one side character who, whilst they have an interesting story here, doesn’t mean anything at this point to the main story, or the Master. So why are we hearing this? This is a story which should’ve just been in a World of Who type box set, or some sort of box set which deals with the fallout of the Time War for other species that aren’t Time Lords or Daleks. In fact, that point stands for this whole box set. The War Master could still have appeared in the exact same capacity as he did in this set, but it would’ve just meant that I would’ve had a reason, from the start, as to why I should care about every other character in this story. Anyway, had that been the case, I would’ve enjoyed this story a whole lot more, and would’ve rated it so much higher. Because it was really well made and well scripted and well acted throughout. It just wasn’t a good Master story.
Episode 4 - Sins o the Father - 3 stars
So here is where we end the box set and we FINALLY have the Master being a bit more Master-y. But to be honest, at this point, it’s too little, too late. The story is still too focused on all the side characters and their story. Which, again, would be fine and would actually work really well IF this wasn’t specifically a War Master box set. By the time I listened to this story, I was just sort of ready for the whole thing to be over. This part of the story was okay, but I was tired of the 3 hours it took to get to this point.
Overall, as I said before, this set was okay, but disappointing as a War Master set. If you want to listen to this set, I would recommend going into it as a Time War set and not a specific War Master set. The story itself is good, and episode 3 especially is brilliantly crafted, but when you’re expecting to listen to 4 hours of the War Master being all Master-y, and he only properly appears in two stories, and even then he’s not even acting like the Master in one of them, it just makes the whole set seem bad.
So yeah, whilst it’s not bad in general, overall I didn’t enjoy it as much as I otherwise would have, had it have been released as a World of Who set instead of a War Master one.
Okay, well… I gave this box set a 2 overall (as GR doesn’t currently allow for half ratings, else this would’ve been a 2.5) and I was quite disappointed, I must say. Honestly, if it wasn’t for the fact that this is specifically a War Master box set, I think I would’ve enjoyed this a lot more. But as it was, I was disappointed with the sheer lack of the Master.
So I wasn’t so keen on the first War Master box set, because the Master wasn’t really in it (as the Master) until the very last episode. So with this set I was excited to finally get four proper Master-y adventures.
Instead I got what was essentially a rehash of the first box set, with different characters.
The only other difference with this set is that it’s one big story, set in the same place, with the same characters, rather than individual adventures.
Episode 1 - Call For the Dead - 3 stars
This was an interesting enough set up to the main story, but I did spend the entire episode wondering when the Master was going to show up. I did eventually become interested in the characters and their story, and this would’ve been a fine prologue to the box set, IF it wasn’t the longest episode and only featured about 30 seconds total of the Master.
Episode 2 - The Glittering Prize - 2 stars
So this one actually features the Master, but not AS the Master. He’s in disguise and being all “kind” and whatnot, which sure he does a lot when he wants stuff, but it just felt too much like the first box set, where he basically does the same thing, with nothing much to it. The most interesting part of this episode was the beginning of Cassie’s descent into (a type of) madness, due to the same cause as her father, which was intriguing, but I’ve spent two hours now waiting for the title character of the box set to show up, so I was more focused on that.
Episode 3 - The Persistence of Dreams - 2 stars
So this one definitely would’ve been a 4, or even potentially a 5 star story, IF it wasn’t a solo story for a side character in the story, and the THIRD story in the set where the Master doesn’t really appear. It’s such an interesting take on a descent into madness and it does feel weird and claustrophobic and eerie, but the entire focus is on one side character who, whilst they have an interesting story here, doesn’t mean anything at this point to the main story, or the Master. So why are we hearing this? This is a story which should’ve just been in a World of Who type box set, or some sort of box set which deals with the fallout of the Time War for other species that aren’t Time Lords or Daleks. In fact, that point stands for this whole box set. The War Master could still have appeared in the exact same capacity as he did in this set, but it would’ve just meant that I would’ve had a reason, from the start, as to why I should care about every other character in this story. Anyway, had that been the case, I would’ve enjoyed this story a whole lot more, and would’ve rated it so much higher. Because it was really well made and well scripted and well acted throughout. It just wasn’t a good Master story.
Episode 4 - Sins o the Father - 3 stars
So here is where we end the box set and we FINALLY have the Master being a bit more Master-y. But to be honest, at this point, it’s too little, too late. The story is still too focused on all the side characters and their story. Which, again, would be fine and would actually work really well IF this wasn’t specifically a War Master box set. By the time I listened to this story, I was just sort of ready for the whole thing to be over. This part of the story was okay, but I was tired of the 3 hours it took to get to this point.
Overall, as I said before, this set was okay, but disappointing as a War Master set. If you want to listen to this set, I would recommend going into it as a Time War set and not a specific War Master set. The story itself is good, and episode 3 especially is brilliantly crafted, but when you’re expecting to listen to 4 hours of the War Master being all Master-y, and he only properly appears in two stories, and even then he’s not even acting like the Master in one of them, it just makes the whole set seem bad.
So yeah, whilst it’s not bad in general, overall I didn’t enjoy it as much as I otherwise would have, had it have been released as a World of Who set instead of a War Master one.
January 23, 2021
・Call for the dead
あらすじ
エリオット・キングは惑星カルロスの採掘に着手しようとしていたが、なかなかうまくいかない上に資金不足に悩まされていた。にも関わらず、議員のテレモンは高い税金を課してくる。エリオットが採掘のため家族と離れて暮らすようになって、あっという間に10年が経過していた。ある時、エリオットの娘カサンドラが電話をしてきて体調を崩した妻に会いに戻るよう訴えるが、エリオットは仕事を理由に戻らず、そのまま妻は他界してしまう。しかし、交通費が捻出できず、エリオットはお葬式にもでることもできない。
エリオットは望みをかけて採掘ロボットを導入することにするが、そこで自由ウードに出会う。ウードはエリオットに電話がかかってきているというが、エリオットは忙しいと言って受け取らない。不運なことに採掘ロボットは2日で不具合を起こしてしまい、仕事に忙殺されてエリオットはカサンドラの卒業式も逃してしまう。
再びエリオットの前に自由ウードが電話がかかってきていると現れる。エリオットはが電話にでると、その電話の相手からエリオットが病気の妻に送ったはずの薬代すらもテレモンに搾取され届いていなかったことと、娘のカサンドラが母親が苦しみながら死んでいくのを1人で看取ったときかされ、エリオットは自殺する。
その後、エリオットの娘カサンドラがパートナーのマーティンと共にエリオットが住んでいた家にやってくる。2人はエリオットの遺志を継ぎ採掘を再開することにする。カサンドラは大学で採掘技術者の資格をとっており、ウードの力を借りて採掘をはじめる。順調に進むかに見えた採掘だが、ウードが突然不調をきたし、作業員に襲いかかるという事件が頻繁に起こりウードと作業員の間に深刻な不和が生まれ、雲行きが怪しくなる。
感想
惑星カルロスの採掘をエリオット、カサンドラとキング家の父と娘、二代に渡って事業を立ち上げようとするが、肝心のミネラルまで掘り下げることができず、エリオットは自殺。うまくいくかと思えたカサンドラも作業員達の反乱で採掘を続けるどころではない。どん底へと転がり落ちていくなか、自由ウードが届けてくる電話。それはマスターの声ではあるのだけれど、目的はまだ定かではない。
肝心のマスターがほとんど出て来ない中、ひたすら暗い暗い転落物語をしかも登場人物の誰一人として共感できる存在がない状態で1時間16分聴き続けるのは正直なかなかの苦行だ。しかもまだほんのプロローグでしかないようだ。続きものということなので、この時点で作品を判断することはできないが、次回よりマスターがメインで活躍してくれて、ドラマがぐっと面白くなることを願いたい。
・The Glittering Prize
あらすじ
数年後、惑星カルロスは見違えるように活気に満ちていた。採掘の成功が莫大な利益を産んだのだ。その功労者であるオーマンは人柄の良さで皆から好かれていた。しかし、彼がどこから来たのか誰も知らない。マーティンはオーマンに採掘場を見にきて欲しいと何度となく誘うが未だにオーマンが訪れたことはない。しかし、マーティンがキャシーの様子が心配と打ち明けるとオーマンは採掘場に共に来てくれることに同意した。マーティンはキャシーが年々採掘場に取り憑かれていくようで心配していたのだ。
議員のテレモンがさらなるマージンを要求してきたことでキャシーは頭を悩ませていた。そんな折、北の採掘場で掘削を続けていたウードが調子を崩し、戻ってくる。またウードの暴走かと銃を向けるハーシャルを諌め、キャシーはウードの手当てをする。北の採掘を掘りすすめるほどにウードが体調不良を起こすことにキャシーも気がついておりその原因を突き止めようとしていた。手当てを受けたウードもまた作業を続けると自ら北の採掘場に戻っていく。
後日、オーマンがやってきてキャシーにイングリッシュ・ティを振る舞う。オーマンはキャシーにさりげなく心配ごとはないかと尋ねるが、キャシーが自覚している様子はない。ところが銃声が聞こえ2人が外に出てみるとウードが“闇は飢えている”と言いながら歩いてくる。しかし、キャシーが声をかける前にハーシャルが射殺してしまった。
さらにウードが作業をしていた現場で掘削機が暴走するが、オーマンが止める。マーティンが掘り上げた物質をみてオーマンはそれがスゥエーイという機械と精神を繋ぐエネルギーを有している珍しい物質である言い、この北の採掘現場の底に極めて純度の高いスゥエーイが存在するため、ウードが調子を狂わせたとキャシーとマーティンに話す。この発見はコロニーに莫大な富をもたらすだろうが同時に危険も呼び寄せるため当分秘密にしておいた方がいいと一同意見を一致させた。ところが、この騒動がテレモンの耳に入り、現地視察をすると言い出してくる。スゥエーイの存在を知られれば、テレモンに採掘場を乗っ取られてしまうと、キャシーは作業員達に結束を呼びかけ打開案を募るが、かえって反感をかってしまう。しかしmオーマンが騒ぎだす従業員に信頼の証としてスゥエーイの発見のことを打ち明け、協力してテレモンの視察をやり過ごせば、そのあとは一緒にコロニーを立て直すのもよし、または他所で人生をやり直すに十分な額の報奨金を払うと呼びかけて協力に賛同させる。
マーティンはオーマンの手際に感服するがキャシーは動揺する。マーティンはキャシーに採掘にこだわるばかり、父親の二の舞になりかけていると日頃から抱いていた不安や不満をぶつけ、キャシーもそれを認め、2人は仲直りする。
数時間後、テレモンが兵士を引き連れ乗り込んできた。テレモンにスゥエーイの発掘に気づかれないよう、オーマンが密かに持っていた古い宇宙船にスゥエーイをのせ惑星の軌道上に隠れる。その船にはキャシーやオーマンのやり方に懐疑心を持っていたハーシャルが密かに乗り込んでいた。
感想
オーマン氏の可愛いおじいちゃんぶりにグイグイ引き込まれつつも、正体がマスターだとわかっているので、いつどこのタイミングで牙をむくのかハラハラしながらのリスニング。ウード達はすでにマスターの手中にあるようなのだが、まだ目的は定かではない。今のところ、コロニーの活性化に手を貸し、極悪非道の政治家テレモンに全財産をむしりとられそうになっているキャシーとマーティンを手助けしてくれためっちゃいい人なのだが、マスターがめっちゃいい人のままでいてくれるのは期待できないだろう。でも期待したくなってしまう。本当に魅力的で頼り甲斐があって信頼したくなってしまうのだ。未だに物語の向かう方向の見当がつかないが、デレク・ジャーマン氏の魅力を存分に堪能できたので満足度は高い。
・The Persistence of Dreams
あらすじ
オーマンが去り、ウードと2人でスゥエーイを積んだ宇宙船に取り残されたマーティンは孤独に苛まれ、だんだん正気を失っていく。
感想
正直に言えば、マーティンを50分もかけてフィーチャーする必要があったのかという疑問と、よしんばあったとしても50分も彼女の悪夢というか錯乱していく過程をやる必要があったのかという...まぁ、憤りの方がですね、勝っているわけですね。これが最終話に効いてくるというのなら、まだしも...無くてもいいというか、もうこれから聴く人にはスキップすることを強くお勧めしたい。いや、マジで。
俳優さんは大変だったと思う。ものすごい熱演で、よく頑張ったなぁ、演技とはいえ辛かっただろうなぁとか本当に役者さんって凄いなぁと感嘆の思いしかないわけですが...デレク・ジャコビのウォー・マスターを堪能したくてこちらも聴いてるわけなので...。出てはきますが、もう牙を向いた状態で、前回つちかってきた信頼関係すらも描く必要あったのかと思うぐらい、意味なしなシーンになっているというか。というのも狂気として描かれているので、マーティンのリアルな心理ショックも感じられず...。
こちらとしてはテレモンとついに対面したマスターはどう出るつもりなのかってことが気になってしょうがないのに、そこは微塵も描かれないわけで...。狂気混じりのマスターの本性を描きたかったんだとしても、マスターがヤバイ人なのはこちらも分かっているので、しかも、残念ながらマスターの非情さに震撼できるような作りにはなっていないし。これまた、デレク・ジャコビ氏も熱演を提供してくれているだけに全然活かしきれていない脚本への憤りがフツフツと。あー、もったいない。
・Sins of the Father
マスターはやっぱりとんでもなく怖かった。
あらすじ
テレモン完全に制圧された惑星カルロス。キャシーもオーマンも発掘したスウェーイの隠し場所を教えろと厳しく尋問され続けていた。追い詰められたキャシーはウードに一緒に戦って欲しいと頼むが、断られる。次第に正気を失っていくキャシーは死んだ父親エリオットの声をきく。エリオットは採掘こだわったことを後悔しているという。一方、テレモンは拷問を続けても全く口を割る気配をきせないオーマンに手を焼いていた。テレモンがオーマンにさらなる脅しをしかけた時、ウードがマスターの指示に従い反乱を起こす。
感想
もしかしたらキャシー達の反乱を助けてくれるのかしらなんてチラリとでも思った私が大バカでした。なんというか、マスターは本当にこともなげに裏切るし、大量虐殺をやらかすし...。全てはターディスの修理パーツに支払う代金をゲットするためだったっていうのが...。そこまで手間かけなくても、もっとあっさりした悪事でなんとかマスターならできるんじゃないだろうかとか。暗いし、カオスだし、マスターは非道だし。しくしく....。ダレク・ジャコビの迫力恐るべしということ意外は...うーん。。。
✏️: 特典のキャストのインタビューはすごく面白い。ウード視点でいけば、今回の一件でマスターの方がドクターよりもヒーローという話で盛り上がるのが面白い。カオスな3話目もキャストさん視点で語られると興味ふかい感じに。やりがいはあったけれど、オーディエンスの人たちがついてこられるか心配いう話も。デレク・ジャコビ氏はマスターは何にでもなれるし、何でもやれるからこそすごく魅力的なんだと思うと。
あらすじ
エリオット・キングは惑星カルロスの採掘に着手しようとしていたが、なかなかうまくいかない上に資金不足に悩まされていた。にも関わらず、議員のテレモンは高い税金を課してくる。エリオットが採掘のため家族と離れて暮らすようになって、あっという間に10年が経過していた。ある時、エリオットの娘カサンドラが電話をしてきて体調を崩した妻に会いに戻るよう訴えるが、エリオットは仕事を理由に戻らず、そのまま妻は他界してしまう。しかし、交通費が捻出できず、エリオットはお葬式にもでることもできない。
エリオットは望みをかけて採掘ロボットを導入することにするが、そこで自由ウードに出会う。ウードはエリオットに電話がかかってきているというが、エリオットは忙しいと言って受け取らない。不運なことに採掘ロボットは2日で不具合を起こしてしまい、仕事に忙殺されてエリオットはカサンドラの卒業式も逃してしまう。
再びエリオットの前に自由ウードが電話がかかってきていると現れる。エリオットはが電話にでると、その電話の相手からエリオットが病気の妻に送ったはずの薬代すらもテレモンに搾取され届いていなかったことと、娘のカサンドラが母親が苦しみながら死んでいくのを1人で看取ったときかされ、エリオットは自殺する。
その後、エリオットの娘カサンドラがパートナーのマーティンと共にエリオットが住んでいた家にやってくる。2人はエリオットの遺志を継ぎ採掘を再開することにする。カサンドラは大学で採掘技術者の資格をとっており、ウードの力を借りて採掘をはじめる。順調に進むかに見えた採掘だが、ウードが突然不調をきたし、作業員に襲いかかるという事件が頻繁に起こりウードと作業員の間に深刻な不和が生まれ、雲行きが怪しくなる。
感想
惑星カルロスの採掘をエリオット、カサンドラとキング家の父と娘、二代に渡って事業を立ち上げようとするが、肝心のミネラルまで掘り下げることができず、エリオットは自殺。うまくいくかと思えたカサンドラも作業員達の反乱で採掘を続けるどころではない。どん底へと転がり落ちていくなか、自由ウードが届けてくる電話。それはマスターの声ではあるのだけれど、目的はまだ定かではない。
肝心のマスターがほとんど出て来ない中、ひたすら暗い暗い転落物語をしかも登場人物の誰一人として共感できる存在がない状態で1時間16分聴き続けるのは正直なかなかの苦行だ。しかもまだほんのプロローグでしかないようだ。続きものということなので、この時点で作品を判断することはできないが、次回よりマスターがメインで活躍してくれて、ドラマがぐっと面白くなることを願いたい。
・The Glittering Prize
あらすじ
数年後、惑星カルロスは見違えるように活気に満ちていた。採掘の成功が莫大な利益を産んだのだ。その功労者であるオーマンは人柄の良さで皆から好かれていた。しかし、彼がどこから来たのか誰も知らない。マーティンはオーマンに採掘場を見にきて欲しいと何度となく誘うが未だにオーマンが訪れたことはない。しかし、マーティンがキャシーの様子が心配と打ち明けるとオーマンは採掘場に共に来てくれることに同意した。マーティンはキャシーが年々採掘場に取り憑かれていくようで心配していたのだ。
議員のテレモンがさらなるマージンを要求してきたことでキャシーは頭を悩ませていた。そんな折、北の採掘場で掘削を続けていたウードが調子を崩し、戻ってくる。またウードの暴走かと銃を向けるハーシャルを諌め、キャシーはウードの手当てをする。北の採掘を掘りすすめるほどにウードが体調不良を起こすことにキャシーも気がついておりその原因を突き止めようとしていた。手当てを受けたウードもまた作業を続けると自ら北の採掘場に戻っていく。
後日、オーマンがやってきてキャシーにイングリッシュ・ティを振る舞う。オーマンはキャシーにさりげなく心配ごとはないかと尋ねるが、キャシーが自覚している様子はない。ところが銃声が聞こえ2人が外に出てみるとウードが“闇は飢えている”と言いながら歩いてくる。しかし、キャシーが声をかける前にハーシャルが射殺してしまった。
さらにウードが作業をしていた現場で掘削機が暴走するが、オーマンが止める。マーティンが掘り上げた物質をみてオーマンはそれがスゥエーイという機械と精神を繋ぐエネルギーを有している珍しい物質である言い、この北の採掘現場の底に極めて純度の高いスゥエーイが存在するため、ウードが調子を狂わせたとキャシーとマーティンに話す。この発見はコロニーに莫大な富をもたらすだろうが同時に危険も呼び寄せるため当分秘密にしておいた方がいいと一同意見を一致させた。ところが、この騒動がテレモンの耳に入り、現地視察をすると言い出してくる。スゥエーイの存在を知られれば、テレモンに採掘場を乗っ取られてしまうと、キャシーは作業員達に結束を呼びかけ打開案を募るが、かえって反感をかってしまう。しかしmオーマンが騒ぎだす従業員に信頼の証としてスゥエーイの発見のことを打ち明け、協力してテレモンの視察をやり過ごせば、そのあとは一緒にコロニーを立て直すのもよし、または他所で人生をやり直すに十分な額の報奨金を払うと呼びかけて協力に賛同させる。
マーティンはオーマンの手際に感服するがキャシーは動揺する。マーティンはキャシーに採掘にこだわるばかり、父親の二の舞になりかけていると日頃から抱いていた不安や不満をぶつけ、キャシーもそれを認め、2人は仲直りする。
数時間後、テレモンが兵士を引き連れ乗り込んできた。テレモンにスゥエーイの発掘に気づかれないよう、オーマンが密かに持っていた古い宇宙船にスゥエーイをのせ惑星の軌道上に隠れる。その船にはキャシーやオーマンのやり方に懐疑心を持っていたハーシャルが密かに乗り込んでいた。
感想
オーマン氏の可愛いおじいちゃんぶりにグイグイ引き込まれつつも、正体がマスターだとわかっているので、いつどこのタイミングで牙をむくのかハラハラしながらのリスニング。ウード達はすでにマスターの手中にあるようなのだが、まだ目的は定かではない。今のところ、コロニーの活性化に手を貸し、極悪非道の政治家テレモンに全財産をむしりとられそうになっているキャシーとマーティンを手助けしてくれためっちゃいい人なのだが、マスターがめっちゃいい人のままでいてくれるのは期待できないだろう。でも期待したくなってしまう。本当に魅力的で頼り甲斐があって信頼したくなってしまうのだ。未だに物語の向かう方向の見当がつかないが、デレク・ジャーマン氏の魅力を存分に堪能できたので満足度は高い。
・The Persistence of Dreams
あらすじ
オーマンが去り、ウードと2人でスゥエーイを積んだ宇宙船に取り残されたマーティンは孤独に苛まれ、だんだん正気を失っていく。
感想
正直に言えば、マーティンを50分もかけてフィーチャーする必要があったのかという疑問と、よしんばあったとしても50分も彼女の悪夢というか錯乱していく過程をやる必要があったのかという...まぁ、憤りの方がですね、勝っているわけですね。これが最終話に効いてくるというのなら、まだしも...無くてもいいというか、もうこれから聴く人にはスキップすることを強くお勧めしたい。いや、マジで。
俳優さんは大変だったと思う。ものすごい熱演で、よく頑張ったなぁ、演技とはいえ辛かっただろうなぁとか本当に役者さんって凄いなぁと感嘆の思いしかないわけですが...デレク・ジャコビのウォー・マスターを堪能したくてこちらも聴いてるわけなので...。出てはきますが、もう牙を向いた状態で、前回つちかってきた信頼関係すらも描く必要あったのかと思うぐらい、意味なしなシーンになっているというか。というのも狂気として描かれているので、マーティンのリアルな心理ショックも感じられず...。
こちらとしてはテレモンとついに対面したマスターはどう出るつもりなのかってことが気になってしょうがないのに、そこは微塵も描かれないわけで...。狂気混じりのマスターの本性を描きたかったんだとしても、マスターがヤバイ人なのはこちらも分かっているので、しかも、残念ながらマスターの非情さに震撼できるような作りにはなっていないし。これまた、デレク・ジャコビ氏も熱演を提供してくれているだけに全然活かしきれていない脚本への憤りがフツフツと。あー、もったいない。
・Sins of the Father
マスターはやっぱりとんでもなく怖かった。
あらすじ
テレモン完全に制圧された惑星カルロス。キャシーもオーマンも発掘したスウェーイの隠し場所を教えろと厳しく尋問され続けていた。追い詰められたキャシーはウードに一緒に戦って欲しいと頼むが、断られる。次第に正気を失っていくキャシーは死んだ父親エリオットの声をきく。エリオットは採掘こだわったことを後悔しているという。一方、テレモンは拷問を続けても全く口を割る気配をきせないオーマンに手を焼いていた。テレモンがオーマンにさらなる脅しをしかけた時、ウードがマスターの指示に従い反乱を起こす。
感想
もしかしたらキャシー達の反乱を助けてくれるのかしらなんてチラリとでも思った私が大バカでした。なんというか、マスターは本当にこともなげに裏切るし、大量虐殺をやらかすし...。全てはターディスの修理パーツに支払う代金をゲットするためだったっていうのが...。そこまで手間かけなくても、もっとあっさりした悪事でなんとかマスターならできるんじゃないだろうかとか。暗いし、カオスだし、マスターは非道だし。しくしく....。ダレク・ジャコビの迫力恐るべしということ意外は...うーん。。。
✏️: 特典のキャストのインタビューはすごく面白い。ウード視点でいけば、今回の一件でマスターの方がドクターよりもヒーローという話で盛り上がるのが面白い。カオスな3話目もキャストさん視点で語られると興味ふかい感じに。やりがいはあったけれど、オーディエンスの人たちがついてこられるか心配いう話も。デレク・ジャコビ氏はマスターは何にでもなれるし、何でもやれるからこそすごく魅力的なんだと思うと。
May 3, 2025
The Master Of Callous is a truly exceptional piece of fiction. All four stories are woven together to create something morbid yet fascinating, and devastating yet hilarious. The set really given Derek Jacobi a chance to flesh out his iteration of the Master and demonstrate the unique evil. The fact the Master is so patient to get, what is to him, a small reward amplifies the horror of events. So many characters either die, are manipulated, or are so easy to loathe that their shocking fate is so satisfying. The Ood were an amazing choice of alien/monster for the set, able to be ambient and creepy when normal, and terrifying when in the thrall of the Master. The supporting characters like Elliot and Cassandra King had so much depth, and were perfect for highlighting the diversity of human nature; some providing the unsettling aspects of fear, namely Martine as the sole character in the third episode.
A brilliant supporting cast created the sense of community that made the narrative so intense, again being something treated as nothing to the Master; making clear that he treats everyone equally, with indifference. Silas Carson possibly gave the best performance of all, quite present in all four stories and giving the Ood more character than just ‘they’re nice normally, and evil when possessed’. They’re sympathetic characters, and the slow build up in intensity really altered that and made for such haunting monsters. Even the simple imagery of a sole Ood holding a telephone in the night rain in episode one implants of feeling of unease.
The fact that having a story with one character, and one ood so detached from the overall plot, yet so gripping is just a testament to the strength of the writing in the boxset. This is further demonstrated on reflection as it’s quite hard to hate the Master or root for the ‘protagonists’ when he has such charm and humour. If anything the rather antagonistic governor Teremon was the person that all my hatred was directed to, a real parallel to the fact that on Callous the citizens ignore the Master while trying to fight Teremon. The fact the ending is so small and simple was not in any way a dissatisfying ending, it was honestly more crushing than usual shock endings when the world is devastated over so little.
I am biased towards Big Finish stories with forays into psychological horror so this set really satisfied me. It’s not the Master just heartlessly murdering strangers for no good reason, it’s him working toward his selfish end by manipulating and destroying people. I was quite glad it took a while for the Master to appear, allowing for a clear picture of the environment and the situation the characters are in to be painted; before his nefarious and evil interference took hold. I didn’t find the fact that this range of boxsets are told in reverse chronological order, as it didn’t matter that we know how this Master’s story ends; it’s just about his humour and his heartlessness. I think this is easily one of the best audio dramas I have ever listened to, and recommend it to all fans who like stories with a darker or more horror based edge.
A brilliant supporting cast created the sense of community that made the narrative so intense, again being something treated as nothing to the Master; making clear that he treats everyone equally, with indifference. Silas Carson possibly gave the best performance of all, quite present in all four stories and giving the Ood more character than just ‘they’re nice normally, and evil when possessed’. They’re sympathetic characters, and the slow build up in intensity really altered that and made for such haunting monsters. Even the simple imagery of a sole Ood holding a telephone in the night rain in episode one implants of feeling of unease.
The fact that having a story with one character, and one ood so detached from the overall plot, yet so gripping is just a testament to the strength of the writing in the boxset. This is further demonstrated on reflection as it’s quite hard to hate the Master or root for the ‘protagonists’ when he has such charm and humour. If anything the rather antagonistic governor Teremon was the person that all my hatred was directed to, a real parallel to the fact that on Callous the citizens ignore the Master while trying to fight Teremon. The fact the ending is so small and simple was not in any way a dissatisfying ending, it was honestly more crushing than usual shock endings when the world is devastated over so little.
I am biased towards Big Finish stories with forays into psychological horror so this set really satisfied me. It’s not the Master just heartlessly murdering strangers for no good reason, it’s him working toward his selfish end by manipulating and destroying people. I was quite glad it took a while for the Master to appear, allowing for a clear picture of the environment and the situation the characters are in to be painted; before his nefarious and evil interference took hold. I didn’t find the fact that this range of boxsets are told in reverse chronological order, as it didn’t matter that we know how this Master’s story ends; it’s just about his humour and his heartlessness. I think this is easily one of the best audio dramas I have ever listened to, and recommend it to all fans who like stories with a darker or more horror based edge.
August 7, 2023
I have a feeling that The War Master second set is going to divide listeners. It is tough to assess. Instead of four independent but loosely connected stories, this set is one story divided into four chapters, almost an audio novel. The Time War is a distant background, and all the story takes place around the colony world of Callous. The colony is centered around a mine, operated by the colony founder, Elliot King. They are supposed to be mining a substance called sueño (that's Spanish for "dream" if you don't get it). This substance is in high demand, although it is not really explained why, but almost impossible to mine because it has telepathic properties that drive people mad. Elliot King struggles to get anything out of the mine, suffering setback after setback, while trying to fend off greedy governor Teremon, who runs a worldwide protection racket and demands ever-increasing fees. Plus, Elliot is constantly pestered by a strange Ood with an old-fashioned phone who keeps telling him that there is a call for him. After Elliot's death, his estranged daughter Sarah, and her wife, space pilot Martine, take over and try to make the mine a going entity. They suffer many of the same problems that Elliot had, but are eventually seemingly rescued by a kindly if peculiar old man named Orman (get it, ore man?). But, once Sarah has her lucky strike, things go downhill in a hurry.
One can see that almost none of the focus is on The Master. Whatever his plan is, it is slow to develop, taking over ten years to happen. He is very much in the background for this, hardly appearing at all in parts 1 and 3, and only really significant in about half of part 4. The focus is really on the colony and the Kings. There is very little adventure or danger and most the conflict is person against person. The soundtrack music emphasizes this aspect by being mostly low-key piano rather than big orchestration.
All this leaves a listener with a puzzle. On the one hand, the story is very well executed and sticks to a consistent tone right down to the bitter end (and it is very bitter indeed). On the other hand, it does not really need The Master in the plot, which is shown by the fact that he is in less than half of the whole thing. So, someone expecting a Master story may be right to feel a bit disappointed when The Master of Callous isn't really much of a Master story. I am giving the benefit of charity on the side of the production, which is very well written and well acted.
One can see that almost none of the focus is on The Master. Whatever his plan is, it is slow to develop, taking over ten years to happen. He is very much in the background for this, hardly appearing at all in parts 1 and 3, and only really significant in about half of part 4. The focus is really on the colony and the Kings. There is very little adventure or danger and most the conflict is person against person. The soundtrack music emphasizes this aspect by being mostly low-key piano rather than big orchestration.
All this leaves a listener with a puzzle. On the one hand, the story is very well executed and sticks to a consistent tone right down to the bitter end (and it is very bitter indeed). On the other hand, it does not really need The Master in the plot, which is shown by the fact that he is in less than half of the whole thing. So, someone expecting a Master story may be right to feel a bit disappointed when The Master of Callous isn't really much of a Master story. I am giving the benefit of charity on the side of the production, which is very well written and well acted.
December 18, 2018
PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS! PLEASE STOP KILLING LESBIANS!
If you are a writer and you can only think of a way to include queer women is to kill them off just don't bother! I used to be SO happy when queer women would appear in things, FINALLY I'd think someone like me! In the world I love! But now they show up and it's like, Great how long before they die??? It is the WORST of all tropes. Worst because it was started in the age of homophobia when the only way that queer characters were allowed was if they were killed off at the end to punish them for their sinful ways. Now with equal marriage, with a world that supposedly accepts women WHY is this STILL happening to 99.9 percent of queer women in media? Oddly enough when queer women write queer women THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN! Maybe it's because they can think of more experiences beyond simply dying! But somehow the male writers don't. (And no being a male gay writer doesn't give you a card blanche to kill off queer women any more than being a straight male writer lets you use rape as a perfectly valid plot device!)
The stories by James Goss were nice and atmospheric, very spooky use of phones and the Ood. It was nice to have a long adventure spanning many stories. (which is why it's three stars) But as soon as it was revealed the women were married I knew they'd die. I didn't realise one of the four stories would be an hour long great discourse in killing off one of the queer women, which was particularly painful to listen to.
I *know* writers always think it's perfectly justifiable to do so. Because to them their story demands it. Every Single One of them thinks that way. And yet why is it a trope that queer women die and not the straight ones??? Yes lots of straight ones die too, but Many, Many, Many survive. And we really need to start re-addressing that balance before more get killed!
If you are a writer and you can only think of a way to include queer women is to kill them off just don't bother! I used to be SO happy when queer women would appear in things, FINALLY I'd think someone like me! In the world I love! But now they show up and it's like, Great how long before they die??? It is the WORST of all tropes. Worst because it was started in the age of homophobia when the only way that queer characters were allowed was if they were killed off at the end to punish them for their sinful ways. Now with equal marriage, with a world that supposedly accepts women WHY is this STILL happening to 99.9 percent of queer women in media? Oddly enough when queer women write queer women THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN! Maybe it's because they can think of more experiences beyond simply dying! But somehow the male writers don't. (And no being a male gay writer doesn't give you a card blanche to kill off queer women any more than being a straight male writer lets you use rape as a perfectly valid plot device!)
The stories by James Goss were nice and atmospheric, very spooky use of phones and the Ood. It was nice to have a long adventure spanning many stories. (which is why it's three stars) But as soon as it was revealed the women were married I knew they'd die. I didn't realise one of the four stories would be an hour long great discourse in killing off one of the queer women, which was particularly painful to listen to.
I *know* writers always think it's perfectly justifiable to do so. Because to them their story demands it. Every Single One of them thinks that way. And yet why is it a trope that queer women die and not the straight ones??? Yes lots of straight ones die too, but Many, Many, Many survive. And we really need to start re-addressing that balance before more get killed!
September 23, 2021
The initial entry in this series was a set of four episodes linked by a common arc; here, although the episodes are individually titled, it's much more one single story in four parts. It concerns a failing mining colony and the attempts of its administrator to make a go of things despite the efforts of a corrupt official higher up in the Earth Empire. The Master is in every episode, but is only prominent in two of them, playing things from behind the scenes in the others.
There are, as is apparent from the cover, ties to the modern series. In particular, the Ood have a major role to play - and, when you think about it, they're a race tailor-made for a story featuring the Master. But the real stand-out is, of course, Jacobi making his version of the Master scary and menacing even while he appears to be friendly. And that's one of the key features of this Master, setting him apart from other incarnations - his ability to seem like a good person, avuncular and friendly yet always remaining the same man underneath. In fact, given how pantomime the other villain of the story is, you can certainly understand why the colonists assume him to be preferable.
I'm not giving this five stars because the beginning is rather slow. Yes, it's all necessary as set-up and there is a pay-off at the end, once we discover what the Master is trying to achieve. But at times it's... well, a story of a failing mining colony. Indeed, the third episode is entirely an aside, albeit a very good one where things become increasingly surreal and disjointed as it moves along.
This is, as we're basically told before the theme music even starts, not a story that's going to have a happy ending. Indeed, much of it is very dark, leaving the listener with the question of just how many of the other characters the Master is going to trample on the way to his mysterious objective and whether they'll survive the experience.
There are, as is apparent from the cover, ties to the modern series. In particular, the Ood have a major role to play - and, when you think about it, they're a race tailor-made for a story featuring the Master. But the real stand-out is, of course, Jacobi making his version of the Master scary and menacing even while he appears to be friendly. And that's one of the key features of this Master, setting him apart from other incarnations - his ability to seem like a good person, avuncular and friendly yet always remaining the same man underneath. In fact, given how pantomime the other villain of the story is, you can certainly understand why the colonists assume him to be preferable.
I'm not giving this five stars because the beginning is rather slow. Yes, it's all necessary as set-up and there is a pay-off at the end, once we discover what the Master is trying to achieve. But at times it's... well, a story of a failing mining colony. Indeed, the third episode is entirely an aside, albeit a very good one where things become increasingly surreal and disjointed as it moves along.
This is, as we're basically told before the theme music even starts, not a story that's going to have a happy ending. Indeed, much of it is very dark, leaving the listener with the question of just how many of the other characters the Master is going to trample on the way to his mysterious objective and whether they'll survive the experience.
August 6, 2019
A Doctor Who story without the Doctor? Sometimes it works very well, and this is a good example of this. I quite enjoyed the previous War Master boxset Only The Good and this was even better. Great music score and direction really adds to a foreboding, brooding atmosphere feeding of some fantastic scripts. Good casting as well, with Derek Jacobi the pick of the bunch in the lead role. In hindsight, seems a bit of a shame that we saw so little of him in the TV show - probably missed a trick there.
September 15, 2021
Okay on a writing and story level this boxset is fantastic. It's beautfully written.
But.....
Where the actual fuck is The War Master?????
It's supposed to be his story and he is barely in two of the four stories here. On the previous boxset there was also a story were he wasn't in that much but in that one story he had more screentime then two of the four here.
It's just a shame because when he does finally show he is bloody brilliant and steals the spotlight every time.
I just want more of The War Master.
But.....
Where the actual fuck is The War Master?????
It's supposed to be his story and he is barely in two of the four stories here. On the previous boxset there was also a story were he wasn't in that much but in that one story he had more screentime then two of the four here.
It's just a shame because when he does finally show he is bloody brilliant and steals the spotlight every time.
I just want more of The War Master.
May 20, 2023
Much better than the first boxset, being a 4-part story worked wonders for the world-building and the characters to have time to breath, and of course Jacobi to play his deliciously treacherous Master in all his glory. Listening to the interviews they cite Conrad's Nostromo as a very big inspiration, and wow it makes so much sense in this setting and in the Time War context. Well done.
January 9, 2025
The 3rd story which I think most people enjoyed the most I found a bit predictable.
Listening to someone obviously go insane is about as entertaining as knowing that it was all a dream. It's well performed, but not very original
Rest of the set I thought was great enjoyed the 4 episode threw plot.
Listening to someone obviously go insane is about as entertaining as knowing that it was all a dream. It's well performed, but not very original
Rest of the set I thought was great enjoyed the 4 episode threw plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2021
This wasn’t as good as Only The Good. (That’s a mouthful, isn’t it?) But that was always gonna be tough to follow. Because of what happens in that one, this particular box set here takes place sometime before. The acting is really superb all around.
June 25, 2021
This gets a three only because I enjoyed the bits with the Master in it especially the last story and I enjoyed hearing the Ood. Other than that pretty boring, didn’t like the other characters and was honestly waiting for them to die as people tend to do around the Master.
April 13, 2019
The master tries to take over a planet with a valuable mineral needed by the time lords.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2020
Properly unsettling, as a good Master story should be, though I do wish there was a bit more of him in it.
May 5, 2024
2.1 Call For the Dead - yeah, okay, fine, moving on …
2.2 The Glittering Prize - and another episode that didn’t really do anything for me.
2.3 The Persistence of Dreams - all alone and slowly, inevitability going mad. Nice.
2.4 Sins of the Father - another meandering story, but it all comes together at the end. I suppose, this whole set really pays off with the Big Finish (yes, obviously the pun was intended). It does all come together and it pays off, but it takes a very long time to get there.
2.2 The Glittering Prize - and another episode that didn’t really do anything for me.
2.3 The Persistence of Dreams - all alone and slowly, inevitability going mad. Nice.
2.4 Sins of the Father - another meandering story, but it all comes together at the end. I suppose, this whole set really pays off with the Big Finish (yes, obviously the pun was intended). It does all come together and it pays off, but it takes a very long time to get there.
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