Written by Alison Winter Jody Houser Lisa McMullin

Starring Sacha Dhawan

Originally released : September 2025

Listened to: October 2025

Episodes:

2.1 The Craft of Corruption by Alison Winter

2.2 The Ideal Quarry by Jody Houser
2.3 Reformation by Lisa McMullin

Context: not much to add here other than I enjoyed the first boxset a lot and therefore was looking forward to spending some more time with this incarnation of the Master!

THE REVIEW

What I thought: Overall a strong boxset, different from the first, which was more about re-introdicing us to this version of the Master rather than expansion of this incarnations timeline of adventures. Now he is established for this one, and as mad as ever, we are right back into mad scehemes, missteps and adventures. The first epiosde lost me a little bit, which probably meant I wasn’t listening attentively enough, as this is a good story, with the Master as a ships counsellor, which is a pretty cool idea (and I am a psychologist in real life). This one ends up expanding beyond the confines of the ship quite quickly, with threats, aliens and some kind of space secret service. It’s all good fun but not sure exactly what happened by the end of this one. The Ideal quarry then is a sidestep into a really fun take on the Master, pairing him up with a most amusing Dan Starkey Sontaran (Vegg). Some great banter between the Master and Vegg, lots of baked potato based humour. The Master is in a very naughty mood throughout this one, very much a characteristic of this incarnation of the Master.

The final episode is ‘deeper’ with the Master’s own conscience trying to ‘reform’ the Master. Its all a bit flashback heavy for me however there is some good stuff here, in particular back on Gallfrey and the story provides a great insight into how this Master sees himself. He really doesn’t have much of a conscience. Its good fun to hear the stuff about the Master abandoning the doctor to bullies back at the academy, and how this still plays on the Masters mind..maybe something about this version specifically and how this plays out with the 13th Doctor in future boxsets/13 doctor adventures, could be some great adventures ahead for 13 and this Master

Rating: 4 out of 5 TCE’s – Lovely to be back with Sacha’s Master, great stuff.

What I felt: happy, amused and a little confused, but not problematically so.

What am I left thinking?

• More boxsets? Nothing in the interviews so I wonder what the plan is?!?! I would be very disappointed if there isn’t any more of these
• Will we see this Msster and the 13th Doctor interact?

Memorable bits

• Every scene Vegg is in!
• This Master has the best insane cackle!
• The Master’s conscience personified!