Written by Robert Valentine Georgia Cook Una McCormack

Starring Sacha Dhawan

Originally released : February 2025

Listened to: February 2025

Context: not an awful lot to add here, I pre-ordered this ages ago so kinda forgot this was coming out. It was a welcome addition to the listening for last month, some of which was digested whilst running (very slow running I should hasten to add).

THE REVIEW

What I thought: it was really cool to return to the Chibnall era albeit sans Jodie and the fam. I liked this era of the show and particularly liked this version of the Master, mad, interestingly anxious and full of the usual equally brilliant and mad plans. This was a good start to what I hope will be a regular fixture of the BF schedule going forward. The first story sets up the Master well, and the preceding are equally as good (I did get a little lost in the Poirot-esque middle story). I LOVED the idea of the Master getting some therapy to try to come to terms with the fact Missy betrayed him/herself! Fantastic idea and a strong cast made this final story a hoot. I thought this was a very promising start for the Sacha Master..really hoping for some further battles with 13!

Rating: 4 out of 5 Daleks – this is elevated for me due to that final episode, right up my alley (being a psychologist and all).

What I felt: joy to be back in this era, the music helped evoke those feelings really well (and I must admit made me wish we were still in that era rather than where we are now, maybe I will review the upcoming 2025 episodes?!?)

What am I left thinking?

• Where this is going? (Standard)
• Are future stories going to investigate the Masters discovery of the Doctors past / destruction of Gallifrey?

Memorable bits

• The Master in distress over the fact he betrayed him self
• The is definitely the Master after Missy (my head cannon likes this)
• The Master stuck in a freezing cave up a mountain!