Doctor Who has basically just confirmed one of the franchise's oldest, most popular fan theories. First played by the late Roger Delgado, the Master is one of the Doctor's most terrifying foes. He's the Moriarty to the Doctor's Sherlock Holmes, driven by his ego to prove himself the Doctor's match and to conquer the universe.
The Master first appeared in the 1971 story "Terror of the Autons." Viewers soon learned the Doctor and the Master had studied together at the Time Lord Academy, but there were hints that they'd clashed after they both left Gallifrey, in unseen adventures where they'd gone head-to-head before. All this led to a popular fan theory that the Master was in fact the War Chief, another Renegade Time Lord who made his debut two years earlier. Now, it looks as though that theory has been proven true.
The War Chief Has Always Seemed To Basically Be The Master
The classic version of the Master, played by Roger Delgado, is an arrogant individual who believed himself the rightful ruler of the universe. Suave and sophisticated, he tended to form alliances with alien races, intending to use them as pawns and later betray them. Oh, and he was also noted for a very distinctive appearance; a high forehead, a mustache and beard.
That pretty much describes the character of the War Chief to a T, as well. Appearing in the 1969 story "The War Games," the War Chief was a renegade Time Lord who had allied himself with an unidentified alien race. He gave them secrets of time travel, and together they conspired to pluck human soldiers from time and space, subject them to barbaric war games, and ultimately transform them into an elite fighting force. Using these humans, they would conquer the galaxy.
As convoluted as the plot was, it was basically the standard Master-plan.
A tall but somewhat abrupt individual, the War Chief was noted for a high forehead, a mustache and a beard. He never intended to honor his alliance with these mysterious aliens; rather, he planned to betray them, taking control as ruler of the galaxy. As convoluted as the plot was, it was basically the standard Master-plan. Naturally, many viewers assumed Edward Brayshaw's War Chief was actually the Master. The character was shot in the end, left for dead, but there's no reason to assume that did anything more than trigger a regeneration.
Doctor Who's New Rerelease Of The War Games Subtly Confirms This Fan Theory
The BBC has just released an edited version of "The War Games," the final Patrick Troughton story, recolored and with some striking alterations. One of the most subtle is a smart change in the music, adding the iconic Master's theme to a key scene in which the War Chief discusses his plans with the Doctor. This had always been the moment viewers pointed to as proof the Master and the War Chief were so very similar - and the music change literally underscores this.
Realistically, this is as close as Doctor Who will ever come to explicitly confirming that "The War Games" is actually a Master story. The effect is about as subtle as a sledgehammer, and the intent is so very obvious. It's sure to leave Doctor Who viewers delighted, an unexpected treat that subtly rewrites the franchise's history and honors one of the most popular fan theories of all.
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Doctor Who - Season 6
Episode List
The Dominators (1)
, The Dominators (2)
, The Dominators (3)
, The Dominators (4)
, The Dominators (5)
, The Mind Robber (1)
, The Mind Robber (2)
, The Mind Robber (3)
, The Mind Robber (4)
, The Mind Robber (5)
, The Invasion (1)
, The Invasion (2)
, The Invasion (3)
, The Invasion (4)
, The Invasion (5)
, The Invasion (6)
, The Invasion (7)
, The Invasion (8)
, The Krotons (1)
, The Krotons (2)
, The Krotons (3)
, The Krotons (4)
, The Seeds of Death (1)
, The Seeds of Death (2)
, The Seeds of Death (3)
, The Seeds of Death (4)
, The Seeds of Death (5)
, The Seeds of Death (6)
, The Space Pirates (1)
, The Space Pirates (2)
, The Space Pirates (3)
, The Space Pirates (4)
, The Space Pirates (5)
, The Space Pirates (6)
, The War Games (1)
, The War Games (2)
, The War Games (3)
, The War Games (4)
, The War Games (5)
, The War Games (6)
, The War Games (7)
, The War Games (8)
, The War Games (9)
, The War Games (10)
English (US) ·