I watched in vain waiting for “The Sound of Drums” to explain how Derek Jacobi’s Master was able to regenerate into John Simm’s version, at the end of the previous episode, when, in both “The Deadly Assassin” and “The Keeper of Traken”, the Master states that he has passed through all twelve regenerations! Geoffrey Beevers, in the thirteenth and final incarnation of the rogue Time Lord, steals the body of Anthony Ainley’s Tremas, in the latter of the two Tom Baker stories, but I presume that action didn’t come complete with a new set of regenerations? I suppose, as the Master starts out in the Paul McGann TV movie as a shapeless morphant creature, in an attempt to ape “The X-Files”, before taking over the body of ambulance driver Bruce, played by Eric Roberts, the 1996 film only serves to muddy the waters where the Master is concerned. Russell T Davies has obviously decided to ignore the evolution of the character opting to utilise merely its bare essence. It’s a misnomer that you necessarily need an actor who looks, or even acts, like the original, as presumably was the case in casting Ainley. The Doctors have usually been chosen in physical contrast to their immediate predecessors so why not the Master? If nothing else, that has been the case in “Utopia”! All the Doctors retained dignity, up to and including the eighth incarnation, as indeed has the Master until the arrival of John Simm!!
It’s telling that the single best moment, this season, is when Derek Jacobi proclaims “I am the Master” and is almost-immediately followed by the single worst when John Simm waves “Bye, bye” as if he were a five-year-old! This immature portrayal carries over into “The Sound of Drums”, noticeably when, gas-masked, he gives a double thumbs up at his ruthless execution of the cabinet!! It’s like the child who, realising his photo is about to be taken, compulsively raises a thumb to the air!!! I’m surprised the Doctor didn’t say to the Master, when they finally confront one another, “What you need is a jolly good smacked bottom!” For those who don’t know, it’s how the first Doctor tells off his granddaughter during “The Dalek Invasion of Earth”!! And, the point of reintroducing the jelly babies? (Time) Lord knows, other than making “Doctor Who” is a bit like Chinese Takeaway… using very few ingredients but in every possible combination!!!
Russell’s taste in music leaves a lot to be desired, too. There’s nothing wrong with Simm tapping out the rhythm of the theme tune, which incidentally is the same as Beethoven’s most famous Symphony, the Fifth, but what was the point of Rogue Trader’s “Voodoo Child” on the soundtrack except to add to the cacophony? For a politician, Ann Widdecombe was amusing but unnecessary whereas Sharon Osbourne and McFly nothing more than a complete waste of space. Especially awful was the close up of the one in the baseball cap, about which my feelings are the same as those of Richard Dawkins! To end on a positive note, I did enjoy Russell’s equally anti-American/anti-British jibes, at our real respective political leaders (although, one of those spin Doctors is regenerating this week!!), as well as the lovely Alexandra Moen’s perfectly-pitched portrayal of the premiere’s spouse, Lucy, seemingly much sweeter than her real-life counterpart!!!
9 comments:
I found myself in a quandary regarding the Master/John Simm. Having missed out on the DW back history the previous incarnations of the Master mean absolutely nothing to me. I also like John Simm and think he is a terrific actor. Watching DW Confidential I could see the logic of giving the Master a more manic sense of humour to match that of Tennant's Doctor but like you had some misgivings about his dialogue. I wanted it all to be darker, more malevolently controlled, more understated. It was slightly too flash for my tastes and did grate a little - though you could argue (given the title to your posting) that such spin and polish is what politics is all about these days. I did like the fact that the yanks got set up rather nicely and for that alone found myself applauding the Master.
And now all is in the hands (presumably) of Martha. Hmm. I'm not sure I'm convinced that her character has got what it takes but I'm being unfair. Let's see what next Saturday brings...
Tim: "I watched in vain waiting for “The Sound of Drums” to explain how Derek Jacobi’s Master was able to regenerate into John Simm’s version"
In Utopia, the Master says that the Time Lords 'resurrected' him to fight itn he Time War - presumably this came with a full new set of regenerations, as per the 5 Doctors.
I have to admit I quite like Simm as the Master, mirroring Tennant in the same way that Delgado mirrored Pertwee. You wouldn't want loads of it (as you suggest, that kind of one-note charcaterisation could soon get annoying) but for a few episodes it's fine (Jacobi, it goes without saying, would have been far better).
Oen thing though - "Alexandra Moen’s perfectly-pitched portrayal"? She was absolutely awful, I thought - challenging for position of worst performance since Graham Crowden, way back when :)
The fact that RTD has brought back the Master at all suggests he must, in some way, want to appeal to fans of the original series! Otherwise, he could've introduced someone with the same character traits Simm is portraying but given him a different name!! The Master isn't going to mean anything to those who didn't watch the classic series between 1971 and 1989 (and the 1996 TV movie)!!!
And, as Simm bears so little resemblance in character to his predecessors, he could've just as readily been called the Meddling Monk (the original renegade Time Lord not counting the Doctor himself)! What you describe in wanting from the Master, Steve, is exactly how he used to be!! You only have to hear the incidental music that accompanies Roger Delgado's appearances, as the original Master, in "The Sea Devils" for your skin to go cold!!!
If Time Lords can be so easily resurrected, Stuart, why doesn't the Doctor revive his entire race? It would mean that, ultimately, Time Lords never die, even after their allotted 13 lives, and thus have no need to fear death.
In turn, the resurrection of Time Lords, as a concept, means the Daleks (or whoever) can exterminate the Doctor as often as they like because once "finally" dead he can always be brought back to life! This would make him indestructible, like Captains Jack and Scarlet before him, and removes the possibility of an audience ever again having to worry about his ultimate fate!!
I thought Alexandra Moen showed far more restraint than Simm and enjoyed the way she switched from sympathy for the victim to sadistic pleasure from their deaths! Much more psychotic than Simm's overblown tantrums!! There are just so many challengers for the worst performance award over the last three years (Peter Kay deserves that particular gong)!!!
God yes - I hated Peter Kay as that stupid alien. Totally embarrassing and totally undercut what had been a fairly decent story up to that point!
Tim: "If Time Lords can be so easily resurrected, Stuart, why doesn't the Doctor revive his entire race? "
Well it's established that they can be in The Five Doctors, so there is precedent.
As for why the Doctor can't, it's only the High Council who have the knowledge required, again according to the 5 Docs.
Tim: "and removes the possibility of an audience ever again having to worry about his ultimate fate!!"
I don;t think anyone bar the very smallest child ever really worries about the Doctor's eventual fate - he's always going to win! :)
Hello all!
Well I enjoyed "The Sound of Drums" a lot but I can see the logic in your comments about John Simm as the Master. I thought he definitely had his moments in this episode (after the not very promising debut of "Utopia") and on the whole (for me anyway) the good aspects of his performance outweighed the bad. Simm played the part of the conniving politician very well, all smarm, charm and fakery and I liked his addresses to the public/nation too (although exactly how did he get away with gassing all of the cabinet?! How did he dispose of the bodies?!) The scene when Saxon/the Master talks to the Dr on the phone was well done too, hinting at the real darkness within. I hope we get more of this in part two. That said he did have some potentially cringeworthy bits, such as the lip-zipping scene with the President and the happy-angry face bit in the cabinet meeting (I know you probably hated those moments Tim - I'm more charitable!).
The new version of the Master has obviously been conceived as a kind of evil counterpart to David Tennant. I think his characterisation is very much a sign of the times - gone is the cackling old Time Lord of yore - they've made the character younger and more virile (snogging a woman for god's sakes!) and with a real line in "in your face", gleeful humour. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't. Bear in mind that a lot it is down to Russell T Davies' writing and his conception of the character - the blame can't entirely be apportioned to the actor! As good as Derek Jacobi is in some ways he would have been "too old" as a permanent adversary for David Tennant's Dr - I can see the logic of a younger version being cast. Let's give it more time to see how he shapes up.
As for the Master regeneration thing I suppose we got a kind of blanket explanation but not much - it's true we needed to know how he got a new lease of life - again hopefully they'll be some exposition in the next episode.
I wasn't sure about the inclusion of "Voodoo Child" - it was a similar moment to the use of "Toxic" in "The End of the World" and "Lion Sleeps Tonight" in "Rise of the Cybermen" - potentially quite jarring but designed to fit in with the eurphoria of the moment and Saxon's/the Master's glee at unleashing the Toclafane upon the world. It did put a smile on my face and I liked it when Saxon's wife started to boogie! I can see why some people might not like it though.
And I too liked Alexandra Moen as Lucy - a good actress, interesting character and obviously revelling in her husband's bad bahviour! But why? How can she condone all he is doing? I get the feeling we're going to find out more about her soon...
Also really liked some of the cameos especially Nicola Macauliffe (where's she been since "Surgical Spirit"?!) as the journalist Vivien Rook (I wondered if this was a pun on the old Fleet Street journalist Jean Rook? Remember her? A right homophobic old cow...) And it was good to see Elize Du Toit back again albeit briefly. She plays the part of the sinister woman with a real steeliness.)
I also think you're all being a bit mean on poor Peter Kay - I thought he was great as Victor Kennedy, playing the part with a genuine menace - although a bit silly as the Abzorbolaff perhaps...
Thank you for indulging my ramblings!
I do actually like Peter Kay and love his comedy work... but I just couldn't take him in DW at all!
Nice review Tim. I'll be honest though: I can't blog about this episode as I was SO disappointed, every time i try writing about it, I end up in a venomous rage at the sheer incompetance of it all.
Never mind. It'll be over soon and all my childhood dreams will have been well and truly crushed.
Thanks Steve, Stuart, Simon and Paul for all your further comments.
I don't dislike Peter Kay either, though "Phoenix Nights" was better than its spin-off. I've enjoyed Simm, too, in "Cracker" and as a reporter in "Sex Traffic".
I don't think the Doctor does always win! It depends on your definition of winning. Some of his friends have died in the past. Women who care about him keep slipping through his fingers!! How is that winning? It's clear that nobody won in the Time War, neither the Daleks or the Time Lords!!!
The PM had the removal men in mid-week, Simon, so maybe the bodies were taken away by them! Good point, though, which again questions the so-called grounding in reality that RTD purports as a rule of the series.
When Simm pulled his angry face, I thought he looked like Jasper Carrot! I did find the repetition of pulling his gas mask off and replacing it and opening and closing the door to hear Vivien's death cries a little tedious!!
I didn't mind it when Lucy started to boogie! She may well turn out to be the real power behind the throne!! Always happy to indulge your ramblings, Simon!!!
I understand where you're coming from Paul. I do feel massively let down by RTD's version of "Doctor Who". As a child, and even into adulthood, I respected the lead character which I no longer do as presently portrayed. No scene lasts long enough to convey much sense of dignity, either, which makes the whole feel very disposable.
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