We have one of my earliest experiences with Big Finish in Master. As I mentioned previously with the Davros audio from the Sixth Doctor, Big Finish made a trilogy of audios to celebrate the 40^th anniversary where Doctors Five, Six and Seven were paired up with an individual villain in a story that focuses more being a character piece for said villain. In this case we have the Seventh Doctor facing the Master in a very unconventional story that draws a lot of influence from the famous Seventh Doctor novel Human Nature (though most fans will be more familiar with the Tenth Doctor episode of the same name).

Dr John Smith has been a resident of Perfugium for ten years after stumbling into a hostel with no memory of who he was and no indication of what once he had been other than his physical disfigurement. On the night he considers his birthday, exactly ten years after his arrival, he invites his two closest friends for dinner, to take their minds off his mysterious past and the fact the town is plagued by a wave of murders. But the night is about to become much darker as an old curse looms over the house, something evil stalks the corridors and from the storm comes a strange man who knows John Smith’s true identity and has come to kill him.

This story is sort of a mix between Human Nature (both novel and episode) and Utopia from Series 3 where the Master has spent a decade living as a kind and gentle person but is troubled by thoughts buried deep in his mind of what sort of person he used to be. Geoffrey Beevers puts in his finest work in what I can honestly say is my favourite Master story. It delves into the Master’s beginnings with his childhood and that first act to start him down his dark path. Or so it seems at first as the climax features a shocking twist that paints the Doctor in a grimmer light. Master is much more psychological and introspective than most Doctor Who stories, the vast majority of the story is less on plot and more on discussions between characters on what makes a killer who they are, what can drive someone to perform acts of evil, whether it is through their own choice or something else at work. It’s not a cheerful story and it has one massive downer of an ending but that’s sort of the point and what makes the Master such a tragic villain and how things could’ve been between him and the Doctor. If you’re a fan of the Master, then this is a must listen.

Master is a work of art.  It might be, out of all the hundreds of Big Finish audios I have listened to so far, the single most emotionally moving story I've encountered yet.

I really like all the characters here.  Not only does the Master and the Doctor have a number of incredible scenes and lines here, but the supporting cast is all very memorable.  I got invested in Victor and Jacqueline, and they worked really well as friends of the Master's assumed identity.

The audio is at its best when it is nothing but quiet build-up, mystery, and a growing sense of dread and darkness.  I love the framing device of the Doctor relaying this story to a sniper.  It's very good an a cool take on the Master and Doctor's past together.  Death showing up was quite the twist, and I kept waiting for it to be revealed she is some secret alien in disguise or something, but no.  It's Death, personified and with a very specific agenda here.  It's good stuff all around and absolutely gets a recommendation from me.

Not only one of the best Doctor Who stories, but one of the best stories ever written of all time! The setting, the characters, the dialogues, absolutely everything is perfect on this story!

Esse é um áudio mais que OBRIGATÓRIO para todo entusiasta pelos áudios dramas da BIG FINISH e principalmente fãs do Mestre, ouvir essas incríveis duas horas de enredo. Eu realmente sou apaixonado por histórias que conseguem transmitir com tão pouco algo muito grandioso, o nível altíssimo de qualidade de “Master” é colossal se enquadrando entre os melhores áudios que a BIG FINISH já lançou em toda sua história. A escrita genial de Joseph Lidster ( @josephlidster ) serve como um estudo precisamente aprofundado na natureza e origem maligna do vilão, adicionando mais ao personagem e mexendo diretamente nas raízes da relação Doutor e Mestre levando seu ouvinte até mesmo a infância dos dois. O enredo inicia com o 7° Doutor visitando um soldado que está prestes a retorna ao campo de batalha, convencendo o jovem a ouvir uma de suas histórias – Somos transportados a uma casa isolada onde mora um enigmático Doutor chamado John Smith (interpretado por Geoffrey Beevers), ele convidou seus amigos mais próximos, o Inspetor Victor Schaeffer e sua esposa, Jacqueline, para um jantar em comemoração ao seu aniversário. [⚠ SPOILERS] O passado de John é um grande mistério para todos já que nem ele mesmo se lembra de quem era, aos poucos Joseph Lidster vai nos apresentando seu conceito tornando cada minuto instigante, John Smith é uma versão bondosa do Mestre que permitiu-se viver como uma pessoa comum, tendo uma vida comum, lidando com sua essência maligna. [⚠ FIM DE SPOILERS] Com a chegada do Doutor, coisas sobrenaturais começam acontecer na casa supostamente fazendo ligações com alguns assassinatos recentes investigados pelo Inspetor. Conforme a situação vai se intensificando uma amargurante e sufocante batalha de auto controle de sua persona se inicia na mente de John, fazendo-o questionar e se conhecer profundamente para encontrar as repostas de quem ele realmente é, a chegada de uma entidade traz mais melancolia e reflexão em todo esse processo de escolha. É impressionante como grudamos de um jeito indescritível a trama, sua imersão medonha juntamente com seus excelentes personagens que aliás, todos são escritos e interpretados com maestria, de fato” Master” é um caso raro onde não se encontra um ponto negativo se quer. Essa é mais uma das histórias da BIG FINISH que comprovam que a sétima encarnação é uma das mais interessante e imprevisíveis de se aprofundar em Doctor Who, sempre sendo surpreendente em suas problemáticas, a forma como manipula, conduz, posiciona cautelosamente todas as suas peças estrategicamente calculadas, o faz com que o controle de toda a situação se torne uma obsessão – Tanto é que “Master” se trata do Doutor querendo consertar algo que ficou e já está fora de seu controle a muito tempo a atrás. O mais impressionante é como todo esse jogo do 7° Doutor vai gradualmente se tornando nítido aos enredos. No final de tudo, a história nada mais é que uma carta aberta do Doutor lamentando profundamente por não conseguir ajudar o Mestre a tira-lo da escuridão que o consome, que o destrói. De longe essa foi uma das minhas experiencias mais incríveis que tive com os áudios da BIG FINISH, digna da avaliação máxima.

Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time! 

“Master: A Haunting Reflection on Good, Evil, and Redemption”

The final part of Big Finish's Villains Trilogy is a compelling exploration of morality, identity, and the complex relationship between the Doctor and the Master. Framed as a haunted house mystery, the Seventh Doctor faces off against the decayed incarnation of the Master (voiced by Geoffrey Beevers), who exists under the persona of "John Smith." This character-driven story delivers an eerie, atmospheric tale packed with psychological tension, ethical dilemmas, and standout performances.

Atmosphere and Setting: A Classic Gothic Tale

The story’s intimate setting—a remote house shrouded in stormy weather—immediately establishes a brooding atmosphere. The unsettling sound design, with strange voices echoing through the halls, enhances the story's haunted quality. The anonymity of the house's owner, Doctor John Smith, and the gradually revealed secrets of the supporting characters sustain a constant undercurrent of unease.

The classic Gothic overtones—hidden identities, dark pasts, and the thin line between good and evil—make this a standout example of Big Finish's ability to reimagine Doctor Who in new and evocative ways.

The Master Reimagined: A Tragic and Unstable Figure

Geoffrey Beevers delivers a masterful performance as the decayed Master, torn between his John Smith persona and the dark memories of his true identity. The parallels to Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are clear as Smith's outward civility crumbles under the weight of his suppressed nature. His interactions with the Doctor are electrifying, particularly as the story probes whether redemption is possible for someone as corrupted as the Master.

The supporting cast amplifies the Master’s complexity. Jacqueline, played by Anne Ridler (from Wheel in Space), represents a misguided hope for the Master’s redemption, believing in the goodness of his John Smith persona. Meanwhile, Philip Madoc’s (one of the all-time great Doctor Who guest stars; see The War Games and The Brain of Morbius) Victor steals the show in Part 4, his transformation from a seemingly helpful friend to a brutal murderer adding layers of moral ambiguity to the tale. This is easily Madoc’s finest performance in the Whoniverse.

The Seventh Doctor: Manipulative and Unpredictable

Sylvester McCoy’s Seventh Doctor is at his most enigmatic and manipulative here, entering the narrative as a delirious stranger and slowly unraveling the mysteries of the house. His morally ambiguous deal with Death and his willingness to exploit others to entrap the Master highlight the darker side of this incarnation. The Doctor’s conversations with the Master about evil, responsibility, and their shared past are some of the story’s most gripping moments.

Themes of Love, Betrayal, and Death

This story delves deeply into the Doctor and Master’s shared history, suggesting that the Doctor once committed murder to protect his childhood friend. This revelation recontextualises their relationship, presenting it as a tragic tale of betrayal and lost potential.

The introduction of Death, played with chilling authority by Charlie Hayes, adds an existential weight to the narrative. Her offer to free the Master from his torment—or to trap the Doctor in her service—creates a harrowing moral dilemma. The story’s exploration of love and redemption as potential avenues for the Master to escape his darkness is poignant, though ultimately unresolved.

A Gripping Climax

The final part brings the tension to a boil. The reveal of Death's manipulation, the unraveling of Victor’s murders, and the Doctor’s ultimate betrayal of the Master create a crescendo of drama. The Master’s decision, left ambiguous until the very end, keeps the listener on edge. The story concludes with the Doctor facing Death's punishment, a haunting and fitting end for such a morally complex tale.

📝Verdict: 98/100

Master is a standout entry in the Villains Trilogy, blending Gothic horror, psychological depth, and philosophical inquiry. Its exploration of the Doctor and Master’s shared history, combined with strong performances and a tense, atmospheric setting, make it a must-listen for fans of darker, character-driven Doctor Who stories.