Who is the Master?

[OmahaStar]

When you think of the Master, which version do you automatically think of? Is it your first one (like your first Doctor), or the most recent one you've seen?

The reason I bring this up is in my project I'm going back and watching all of the classic Who on dvd, then posting about it in a thread here. I've finished watching Claws of Axos, which is, for me, the introduction of the Roger Delgado Master. He's only in two of the released (here, that is) dvds. Unlike William Hartnell, I don't feel any connection with him being the first Master.

When I'm thinking of the character, it's the Anthony Ainley version. He's the one I saw first, and the one I've seen the most of. What about you?

 

[cb31]

I had to vote Ainley! He didn't do it first, but he definitely did it the longest. I thought he was a great Master, but I also enjoyed Delgado and Simm does a pretty good job too.

 

[Admiral_Young]

I voted for Ainley since he's just so great in the part...Jon Simm's comes pretty close and he's my first Master too.

 

[arch101]

The Meddling Monk Master

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

"Crispy Master"...

Ainley is my favorite, he's the first one I was familiar with.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Although Ainley was my first Master, I always think of Delgaldo first because has, pardon the pun, masterful in the role.

Oh, and it's "Jacobi."

 

[Turbo]

Ainley was both my first Master and the one I still think of when I hear about the Master. "Farewell, my friends. Farewell forever! Ahahahahahaha!"

That said, I think that Delagdo was the best Master. Ainley's second to him, but first in my mind's eye.

 

[Stevil2001]

Edward Brayshaw.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Edward Brayshaw.

I'm still not convinced The War Chief is an earlier incarnation of The Master.

 

[Cutter John]

Delgado ftw.

 

[The]

Roger Delgado is The Master, just as Tom Baker is The Doctor...

 

[Sci]

For me, the definitive moment of the character of the Master is the scene in "Utopia" when the revived Master is cornering Chantho. As the Master muses to himself about how he can now call it self-defense, the terrified Chanthou asks, "Who are you?"

The Master, pure rage and hate, simply replies, "I am the Master."

Derek Jacobi just is the Master to me.

Of course, looking at it from a more writerly POV, that scene is probably not the best one. Really, in terms of dramatic structure, it would probably have worked a lot better to cut away from "Who are you?" and then not have the Master refer to himself in the third person upon regenerating. From there, the question of just who this guy is (particularly for new and casual viewers -- not big fans who would get the hints) would go unanswered until the very end.

"Say my name!"

".... The Master. I'm sorry."

"Tough! End of the Universe! Bye-bye!"

 

[captcalhoun]

where's the option for 'all of the above'?

 

[The Castellan]

Never really liked the Master, was overused and often was portrayed as over the top cartoon character, especially in the 1980's.

The only version I liked was Peter Pratt from 1976's The Deadly Assassin.

 

[Bones2]

As much as I'd love to be able to say Eric Roberts, it is Ainley I think of first.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Delgado, obviously.

 

[All-Seeing I]

Delgado, but I've found they've all had something to offer (and Simm actually gave us two Masters, Saxon and TEOT feral version). Geoffrey Beevers' performance in The Keeper of Traken I wasn't initially impressed with, but the work he's done since in a couple of Big Finish Master stories was superb - his rich, overripe to the point of rotten, fruity tones are perfect for the audio version of the decaying Master.

 

[FalTorPan]

Delgado is my favorite actor in the part, but Ainley is great, too. Simm is good, although I wish RTD hadn't insinuated that the Master has always been insane.

 

[Tom]

Ainey was my first so i got use to him before I saw Delgato. Delgato is more 'gentlemen' then the other.

 

[Skellington]

I voted Ainley. The Master/Tremas moment at the end of The Keeper Of Traken was my first real introduction to regeneration, and Ainley made an immediate impression with that scene and both Logopolis and Castrovalva (making three comnsecutivr Master stories). I've never purchased a Doctor Who DVD or videotape so am largely unfamiliar with Delgado's incarnation.