I'm sure people have told you already, but Roger Delgado, who played the original Master, died during the Third Doctor era, which is why we never see him after the Frontier in Space. The original plan for the end of the Third Doctor era, was for the Master to sacrifice himself to save the Doctor, but the Doctor still regenerating. They ended up using the same concept for The End of Time and the end of the Tenth Doctor.
The Deadly Assassin is the apex of dark Who, a thrilling and savage rollercoaster that broke the show's formula in ways that sent shockwaves through the fandom for years. It's the first time that: - The Doctor spends an entire adventure without a companion. - A story is set entirely on Gallifrey and shifts the Time Lords from near-omnipotent beings into conniving politicians. - Introduced the twelve regeneration limit into lore. - Rassilon is mentioned. - The Time Lord high collar design. - Not only recast a major recurring villain in The Master but turned him into an emaciated horror, lovingly dubbed 'The Crispy Master' by fans. - Used the show's title sequence within the story itself which hadn't been done since the pilot. - and even for this era, it pushed the limits of how adult Dr Who could be with its assassinations, politics, violence, horror imagery, mentions of suicide and excessive needles. It's Doctor Who meets The Manchurian Candidate meets The Matrix (23 years before the film) with an opening scroll a year before Star Wars made it iconic. It might not be to everyone's tastes but it's undeniably bleeding edge (with emphasis on the bleeding).
@@rnw2739 ...whilst making it a central point of the 11th Doctor's swansong *and* directly referencing it and making the limit a key part of the Timeless Child mythos.
The story that forever changed how Gallifreyan/Time Lord society is depicted, from omnipotent immaculate beings into apathetic, static museum pieces obsessed with politicking & tradition. Also I will never get tired of the way Tom Baker says "Gallifrey", it's music to my ears.
The Doctor's first solo story, The Deadly Assassin is still a truly stunning piece of storytelling. The Matrix sequences are compellingly nasty and savage, and Gallifrey's rotten core has never been more cynically portrayed. One of the absolute best Fourth Doctor outings.
You may recognise Chancellor Goth. The same actor, Bernard Horsfall, played one of the Timelords in the trial at the end of The War Games. He was also in two other story arcs, The Mind Robber in which he played Gulliver and Planet of the Daleks playing Taron, the leader of the Thals! Another fun fact: This was the first story with no human characters at all.
Yes! Deadly Assassin is my second favourite story after Genesis of the Daleks. Again this was another story I borrowed from my local library and became hooked to the story, so I have very fond memories and im really excited for this reaction. Also it’s great to see the return of the master, this time played by Peter Pratt, since Roger’s passing in 1973. This version Master is very scary.
The first appearance of the Decayed Master (who is my favourite version of him from the Classic series). I love how Deadly Assassin shows us our first look at Time Lord society and to have 4 by himself without a companion. Great reaction 👍
This is the Master on his 13th (and final) life, refusing to die and trying to steal more life. Basically, this is what would've become of your honey if he'd stayed even longer on Trenzalore.
My favourite Who story of all time (and Pertwee is my favourite Doctor!) The whole thing is just so ingenious, dark and compelling! Using the Master as the story’s main villain was sublime and much of Who lore was created in this story. Writer and script editor Robert Holmes (for me still the greatest Who writer of them all), along with producer Philip Hinchcliffe were certainly at the apex of their respective careers with this story. Episode 3 brings everything I’ve just mentioned to the fore, in terms of budget, ideas and execution, and is my single favourite Who episode of all time! If I had one tiny complaint regarding this story, it was showing the Doctor having the image of himself picking up the gun and firing it at the President, because it tips the audience off as to what is going to happen, therefore the surprise at the end of the first episode is spoiled somewhat! Taking those few short seconds out would have made the ending so much more powerful, as the audience would have been seeing the Doctor suddenly picking up the stager rifle for the first time and shooting the President! A bit nit picking I know, but I still rate this story an 11/10!
If memory serves, there was an episode of The Brady Bunch that had one of the girls sneezing whenever the dog was around. Turns out it wasn't the dog after all, but the brand of flea powder they were using on him.
So we have the first appearance of the decayed master it’s an interesting choice to bring the master back as animated corpse when the previous actor to play the role died. Goth was the time lord who ordered Jamie and Zoe’s memories wiped and sentenced the 2nd Doctor to regeneration and exile to earth back in the war games.
So chancellor goth is played by the same actor who played the main time lord just known as "timelord 1" in part 10 of the war games leading to the theory that chancellor goth was the time lord who sentenced the 2nd doctor to regenerate and banished to earth
@@papalaz4444244 do you recognize someone you only met once for a short while several years ago? And in the Doctor’s case, that’s two lifetimes prior (in the literal sense) spanning possibly thousands of years.
No apology needed Jess… at least your "allergies" are no longer a mystery! (I know you weren't allergic to Doctor Who, as you once speculated long ago!) Best wishes on working out an effective treatment. BTW, this story is a favorite by many fans nowadays, but it was definitely divisive when it came out. Many fans preferred the Time Lords being cloaked in mystery. However, Robert Holmes laid a huge foundation of lore that has persisted to the present day. The scenes in the Matrix are definitely up there in the trippiness factor!
Wasn't it the President of the Dr Who Appreciation Society who moaned in print, "what has happened to the magic of Doctor Who?" in reaction to this story?
@@frankshailes3205 This is the only complaint people ever mention. Nobody I knew had any issue they loved this story. DWAS only had their first meetup about 2 months before this was on tv.
Deadly Assassin, brilliant story, paved the way for all future episodes involving the Time lords and Gallifrey. Also really love the fancy robes the Time lords wear.
I'm sure you've been told before. But I'll say, sadly Roger Delgado died in an accident, which is why the master just stops appearing in the third doctors era. After many years they bought back the master in a now decayed body
This is my favorite story of Tom Baker's run. For the longest time, when I first started getting into Doctor Who, Peter Pratt here was my favorite Master.
My childhood introduction to Doctor Who was VHS taped reruns and this was one of the three stories I remember, along with the Android Invasion. It was my first introduction to the Master. Edit: thank you for sharing about the allergies, I've had issues myself, and testing showed nothing.
This is one thing about Classic Who I love vs New Who because of the Time War there is almost a reverence for the Doctor while in Classic who he is basically a nobody a man you would say "Doctor Who?" to even on Gallifrey.
I personally like to headcanon that the surgeon is a memory of Tecteun bleeding through because they are in the Matrix. Please form your mob of torches and pitchforks into an orderly queue
The first detailed depiction of Time Lord society and gone are the omnipotent godlike beings of the early 70s. A turning point in Who lore brought to us with a great script, performances and atmosphere. Always thought too it gives us the first look at the difference between Time Lords and regular Gallifreyans, even if it doesn't dwell on it. A belter of a story!
Never really saw omnipotent beings in scenes with guys in a bowler hat floating about or the near destruction of Gallifrey in The Three Doctors, to be honest. I always think that is exagerrated. It's interesting Runcible doesn't regenerate when stabbed. I guess he never ascended to Time Lord or got the Rassilon Imprimatur. Hence he wound up on Capitol TV lol
There are many classic who series where I am not sold on the first couple of episodes but by the end I’m completely bought in and love. This one I assure you, you will be 100% here for by the end.
Simply one of Who’s greatest ever moment (Classic or new). It’s sublime in every respect. Possibly Robert Holmes’ greatest script (certainly in his best 2 or 3) and the definitive text on Time Lord society and culture. This is one of those stories - like The War Games, The Time Meddler etc - that changes Who profoundly. And in addition it’s so far ahead of its time in presenting the virtual reality world of the Matrix - before the term virtual reality had been even thought of. Great 10/10
Tom Baker's first episode Robot part one is the very first episode of Doctor Who that I ever saw the end of August 1980 on my local PBS station WCMU channel 6 out of Mount Pleasant MI. I was instantly intrigued and at that point I had no idea what I had gotten myself into and certainly kept watching. By the time they showed the Deadly Assassin I had become a huge fan, but it was this story that made me the RABID fan that i am now, LOL. Still drooling for another morsel of the Doctor's story never to stop wanting more 30 plus years later. blush... Full transparency, you look up Whovian in the dictionary and there is a picture of me...lol
Great story, good to see more of Gallifreyan society and how the Doctor deals with an adventure without a companion. Really love how The Master is just trying to survive at this point. The Wachowskis clearly ripped off this episode and they know it!
OMG! That last bit made me laugh. sorry that you suffered through that. you did have a reaction to a tree. minor one, but still. this was another story i've been waiting to see your reaction too. especially to see your reaction to the reveal of the Master. exactly what i thought. can't wait for the rest of this story.
I know how you feel: the first time I saw this I had a serious case of WTF? I had never heard of the Master (Tom Baker being my first Doctor) but I was truly intrigued. I loved the backstory on the Time Lords and the Doctor's relationship with them. Can't wait for more from you, sweetie. Take care.
Don't worry - you're totally meant to find the "chalk outline" of the President (complete with ceremonial collar) hilarious. All part of Hinchcliffe and Holmes's mordant sense of humour!
I have Perennial Rhinitus, which is my reason for being sniffly in the winter. I get heyfeaver from grass pollen in the Summer but not effected by tree pollen. Its all a bit random.
Dear Jess I'm glad it's not your Dog that makes you poorly 😊 I hope you get better soon and the hospital gets to the bottom of it. Great reaction I love this story and it was great to see my old friend the late Harry Fielder playing one of the guards, he pops up alot in the Tom Baker era. Take care and role on the next reaction x
One of the scenes that was edited was the Gallifreyian CIA mention (Celestial Intervention Agency). Apparently, they have been secretly behind some of the unexpected aspects of Gallifreyian life. It was at their insistence that the Third Doctor was restored fully as a Time Lord in 1973...Yes, that is supposed to be the Roger Delgado Master who was burnt. (Roger Delgado died in real life in an automobile accident in 1973)...
I really love this story and this version of the master is certainly interesting. Where I live we get things on prescription and it doesn't cost anything. Glad to hear you got to the bottom of your 'allergies'
This story FINALLY gave us a real look at Time Lord Society. All the Pomp and ceremony. all the Pompousness too Yeahm, we saw some of it in "War games", and "Three Doctors" but this was finally a REAL gallifrey story!!! Last two parts are good!
This adventure is interesting, as it simultaneously establishes the "12 regenerations" limit but also hints that this rule can be bypassed. We see this explored in later adventures in Classic and Nu-Who, but it long seemed to be that a Timelord's regeneration cycle can be extended under exception circumstances.
It's good to know there's nothing seriously wrong. I often get out of breath these days and it hasn't been related to weight or anything like that, so maybe it's worth getting checked out. I know my father used to wake up in the night and end up staggering around the bedroom, gasping for breath. And he only had three children.
On paper, bringing back the Master feels like an unwelcome throwback, in an era that seems to pride itself on ignoring the foes of the past. Desperate and shorn of his earlier charisma, the character now claws at survival and lives for revenge. And it's a nice performance by Peter Pratt, even if we never see him!
An interesting fact about this story is that it was suggested by the Producer and was supposed to prove to Tom Baker that the Doctor needs a companion to bounce off of. Unfortunately, it was written by Robert Holmes, who produced what is generally considered to be one of the all-time classic stories.
This story was The Biggest Deal! From the pre-story scroll{?) to the Doctor being on his own (first time) to our first extended stay on Gallifrey, so much! We see the Gallifreyan Timelord formal robes in detail, and the design is so strong it's lasted to today. This is also the first time we learn about possible corruption in Gallifrey's politics, see the different classes of people (not everyone is a timelord), on and on and on! Congratulations on being allergy free! You never lied, but don't try being a diagnostician! LOL!! I had that allergy test the first time when I as 5, so I appreciate how uncomfortable that was! I think you should still try saline solutions to clear your sinuses.
Bernard Horsfall is again a Time Lord (and has also been a Thal IIRC) , and the posh Time Lord from Three Doctors makes a re-appearance? They aren't regenerating a fast as the good Doctor, but it's fun to spot them.
Hope the new treatment will help your non-allergies, Jess! Often I find that what is causing medical symptoms is half the battle, although a bit like yourself, I have frequently defied and confounded medical convention, which can be frustrating. Congratulations to you for persevering through two rounds of allergy tests!! I only managed to get part way through the test, then I was 6 or 7 years old. Even though I chickened out, I still showed positive to a range of things, including cat fur (or more specifically, cat saliva) and budgie feathers, at the time we had a cat and two budgies, which I will note, my parents didn’t get rid of (and after moving to Australia, ended up with even more cats - at one stage three at the same time!). 🤔🤨
There's a condition called induced laryngeal obstruction that gives the sensation of respiratory problems. Took many years for me to be diagnosed correctly.
Back in 1976 the reworking of the Time Lords tore fandom apart in the same way the timeless child has done in recent years, This story was voted the worst story of the season in the Doctor Who Appreciation Society poll in 1977. However Robert Holmes and the production team basically set up everything we know about the Time Lords to this day (except the Chibnall stuff) we get the robes, the chapters, Rassilon, the seal of Rassilon, the Matrix, chancellery guards, the Panopticon, type 40 TARDIS, and yes Bernard Horsfall who plays Chancellor Goth is the same actor who played the first Time Lord at the second doctors trial (malfeasance tribunal) so could also have been Goth.
A great story, as one would expect from Bob Holmes, but I've always wondered whether the mythos of Gallifrey and the Time Lords really should ever have been explored. Letting them remain enigmatic and impenetrable concepts always seemed eminently more sensible to me. Once the top layer is scratched away, the mystique is gone and all that can be perceived is mundane and bathetic
yeah I had allergy skin tests as a kid cos I got asthma and excema and they all reacted (apart from the base liquid the reactants were in), so I'm allergic to pretty much everything. But as life went on I got gradually less allergic to stuff, I'm now 55 and nothing really affects me anymore, even my asthma is normally under control. Really funny that you're not actually not allergic to anything you just have non-specific rhinitis, but is there any treatment for that? cos it still must be very annoying.
This story marked the first reappearance of The Master after Frontier in Space (1973) where sadly Roger Delgado died in a car accident and he would have had a proper ending with The Third Doctor
@Caitlin I'd have to find the article. It was in a Doctor Who fan magazine, and from a Q&A they did years ago at a con (possibly SDCC). They said the concept was inspired by a lot of old sci-fi they were exposed to growing up, and included this episode. But it wasn't the ONLY thing that planted the seed to The Matrix. But it is easy to see the influences.
@@caitlin329 I was at a con when it was brought up. So it might be bad information I got. I know they said they had seen the episode growing up (who hadn't? lol), so it could be just an anecdote.
You may refer to the Master as Crispy!Master (or Barbecue, like Missy does in audio dramas) - the rest of us do. Also acceptable terms are The Evil One Oh, *him.* Charbroiled Bob the Crunchy Cloak and Dagger Want Some Moisturiser, Crunchy? And Dayum, you ugleh.
These days we are so used to fandom blowing up every time the Doctor's background undergoes some slight shift that it's occasionally instructive to recall that this has always been the case. Just because the Time Lords engage in office politics and are no more impressive, outside of their customs, as the higher echelons of the British academic system - or even the comical idiosyncrasies of the British parliament - doesn't mean to say they are not powerful or sinister. And yet then Dr Who Appreciation Society chief, Jan Vincent-Rudski declared - rather like a modern disgruntled RUclipsr - 'WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE MAGIC OF DOCTOR WHO?'
A foundational story (as far as how Gallifrey is represented to this very day). It also answers this: Tell me why The Doctor left Gallifrey without telling me why he left.
The first story without a companion after Elisabeth Sladen left and having a good chemistry with Tom he didn't want another new companion and thought The Doctor could manage without one and wanted to go solo and said the next one should be a talking cabbage but the producer said no. Yes that was The Master some refer to him as gooie or crispy Master i call him decayed Master.
This is when they call you up to say "Hey, we just found out all our allergen-dispensing thingummies were messed up, and none of those tests were valid. Good news, though: You're *DEFINITELY* not allergic to pure water!" =:o}
For one terrible moment I thought you were going to say you were allergic to Classic Who! My experience of patch testing is that it is pretty common not to find a cause. Not finding a cause is not 100% proof you’re not allergic to something just we haven’t found it yet. As a doctor I’d agree worse case scenario is it being the dog, and then not finding anything. To be honest I often dread the whole doing tests and not finding anything bit, it’s really hard to explain stuff, and sometimes people think you’re saying it’s all in their head which isn’t usually the case. Anyway love the reaction, see if you can spot the character later in the season you’re on that in one draft was going to be The Master - it was dropped and they weren’t, and a different back story was given, so it’s not a spoiler to tell you that. Also I love the outline on the floor too. Tom was upset so he didn’t want another companion after Lis left, this story was created as a compromise to show why it couldn’t work. It was hated by the fans when it was shown, but rapidly was reevaluated and is considered a classic. Watching your reactions is a highlight of my week, I hope you enjoy making them as much as I love seeing your thoughts and feelings on them.
Very dry air can of course mess with our sinuses, leading to sinus infections. But if you've been living in warm, wet places -- you used to live in the SE US, right? Hurricane paths I remember -- that's not as likely a thing.
I share your pain about the allergies except my tests showed I am allergic at low level to many things including dog and cat hair, pollen of all varieties, moulds, dust and dust mites. I take three 180g anti histamine a day and still get the sneezes and congestion after 60 years. Hopefully they can do something for you. ❤
I think some Timelords (like the Celestial Intervention Agency) probably know who he is, but most Time Lords don't. The Master has been out in the universe, so the Timelords who monitor the rest of space (and occasionally secretly interfere) know what he's been up to. But they probably don't share any of it with wider Gallifreyan society. Spandrell, for example, deals with threats on Gallifrey, and doesn't know much about other worlds.
The reason the Master looks the way he does, doesn't ever get properly explained on screen, instead the explanation(s) are done in the expanded universe set after Frontier In Space for Delgado Master Originally the explanation was that it's the same incarnation as the Delgado Master (being the 13th out of 13 bodies) & got Horrifically burnt by Susan using a faulty TCE on him The newer reasoning being that the Delgado Master was the 12th, and in expanded universe, regenerates at the end of a comic called Doorway To Hell, then he becomes the 13th Master. After a period of time, the 13th Master gets burnt by a post Eric Roberts/TV movie Master, but Pre Derek Jacobi/Prof Yana Master, becoming the walking corpse, he is here. Though based on real events with Delgado in real life. Do wonder if having a Master who looked like a rotting corpse, was the best choice or if it was just an unfortunate coincidence between real life events & wanting to bring more horror into Doctor Who.
Some people think it was bad taste since Delgado died in a car crash. There's another possible explanation for the Master's burnt condition and stranding on Tersurus, on screen in the Comic Relief special "Doctor Who and the Curse of Fatal Death" from 1999.
Hey Sess, as an actor I tend to get dryed out in my sinuses from speaking a ton. Especially from performing all day. I would drink water and not any diuretic like coffee during your reactions. See if it works.
Whew! For a minute there I was afraid you were going to say that you're allergic to reacting to Doctor Who! Hope the Doctor being threatened with the giant needle didn't give you flashbacks. Actor Bernard Horsfall, who plays Chancellor Goth in this story, previously played one of the Time Lord judges at the Second Doctor's trial in The War Games (presumably also Goth)
I'm sure people have told you already, but Roger Delgado, who played the original Master, died during the Third Doctor era, which is why we never see him after the Frontier in Space. The original plan for the end of the Third Doctor era, was for the Master to sacrifice himself to save the Doctor, but the Doctor still regenerating. They ended up using the same concept for The End of Time and the end of the Tenth Doctor.
The Deadly Assassin is the apex of dark Who, a thrilling and savage rollercoaster that broke the show's formula in ways that sent shockwaves through the fandom for years. It's the first time that:
- The Doctor spends an entire adventure without a companion.
- A story is set entirely on Gallifrey and shifts the Time Lords from near-omnipotent beings into conniving politicians.
- Introduced the twelve regeneration limit into lore.
- Rassilon is mentioned.
- The Time Lord high collar design.
- Not only recast a major recurring villain in The Master but turned him into an emaciated horror, lovingly dubbed 'The Crispy Master' by fans.
- Used the show's title sequence within the story itself which hadn't been done since the pilot.
- and even for this era, it pushed the limits of how adult Dr Who could be with its assassinations, politics, violence, horror imagery, mentions of suicide and excessive needles.
It's Doctor Who meets The Manchurian Candidate meets The Matrix (23 years before the film) with an opening scroll a year before Star Wars made it iconic. It might not be to everyone's tastes but it's undeniably bleeding edge (with emphasis on the bleeding).
Jon Pertwee's title sequence had been used within the story Day Of The Daleks when the Doctor had been captured by the Daleks.
I consider the darkest who story being horror of fang rock
Although The Doctor doesn’t have an actual companion The Castellan sort of fills that role in this story.
Dr.Who was the first to used the concept of The Matrix. Long before The Matrix came along!!!
@@rnw2739 ...whilst making it a central point of the 11th Doctor's swansong *and* directly referencing it and making the limit a key part of the Timeless Child mythos.
The story that forever changed how Gallifreyan/Time Lord society is depicted, from omnipotent immaculate beings into apathetic, static museum pieces obsessed with politicking & tradition. Also I will never get tired of the way Tom Baker says "Gallifrey", it's music to my ears.
The Doctor's first solo story, The Deadly Assassin is still a truly stunning piece of storytelling. The Matrix sequences are compellingly nasty and savage, and Gallifrey's rotten core has never been more cynically portrayed. One of the absolute best Fourth Doctor outings.
Well Goth had it in it for the Doctor since The war games
The "Never had allgeries" is the biggest plot twist I've ever witnessed.
Quite possibly the single most influential story in the Classic Series. A stunning piece of work, years ahead of its time in many ways.
You may recognise Chancellor Goth. The same actor, Bernard Horsfall, played one of the Timelords in the trial at the end of The War Games.
He was also in two other story arcs, The Mind Robber in which he played Gulliver and Planet of the Daleks playing Taron, the leader of the Thals!
Another fun fact: This was the first story with no human characters at all.
Oh how I love when Doctor Who dabbles in surrealism. Mind Robber vibes for sure.
Yes! Deadly Assassin is my second favourite story after Genesis of the Daleks. Again this was another story I borrowed from my local library and became hooked to the story, so I have very fond memories and im really excited for this reaction. Also it’s great to see the return of the master, this time played by Peter Pratt, since Roger’s passing in 1973. This version Master is very scary.
The first appearance of the Decayed Master (who is my favourite version of him from the Classic series). I love how Deadly Assassin shows us our first look at Time Lord society and to have 4 by himself without a companion. Great reaction 👍
This is the Master on his 13th (and final) life, refusing to die and trying to steal more life. Basically, this is what would've become of your honey if he'd stayed even longer on Trenzalore.
My favourite Who story of all time (and Pertwee is my favourite Doctor!) The whole thing is just so ingenious, dark and compelling! Using the Master as the story’s main villain was sublime and much of Who lore was created in this story. Writer and script editor Robert Holmes (for me still the greatest Who writer of them all), along with producer Philip Hinchcliffe were certainly at the apex of their respective careers with this story. Episode 3 brings everything I’ve just mentioned to the fore, in terms of budget, ideas and execution, and is my single favourite Who episode of all time!
If I had one tiny complaint regarding this story, it was showing the Doctor having the image of himself picking up the gun and firing it at the President, because it tips the audience off as to what is going to happen, therefore the surprise at the end of the first episode is spoiled somewhat! Taking those few short seconds out would have made the ending so much more powerful, as the audience would have been seeing the Doctor suddenly picking up the stager rifle for the first time and shooting the President! A bit nit picking I know, but I still rate this story an 11/10!
If memory serves, there was an episode of The Brady Bunch that had one of the girls sneezing whenever the dog was around. Turns out it wasn't the dog after all, but the brand of flea powder they were using on him.
So we have the first appearance of the decayed master it’s an interesting choice to bring the master back as animated corpse when the previous actor to play the role died. Goth was the time lord who ordered Jamie and Zoe’s memories wiped and sentenced the 2nd Doctor to regeneration and exile to earth back in the war games.
I always thought the rotting corpse look was in poor taste considering delgado although i love the look
@@CardiffOneOne Yeah he was never given a name on War Games but perhaps we could just imagine it is
@@bletheringfool i agree. Can i also imagine the war chief was the master too? 😋
@@bananasaregood8655 what about the meddling monk
@@bletheringfool Yeah but he also might have taken his face like Romana did with Princess Astra, and the 6th and 12th Doctors did too
I actually like this story. I even like the weirdness of it.
So chancellor goth is played by the same actor who played the main time lord just known as "timelord 1" in part 10 of the war games leading to the theory that chancellor goth was the time lord who sentenced the 2nd doctor to regenerate and banished to earth
Not a theory. They are the same.
@@danniemadsen1996 I mean it's not confirmed in the TV series itself right?
@@josephmiddleton-welling8248 nope. But I personally don’t think it needs to be said on-screen to be true.
@@danniemadsen1996 So why does the Doctor not recognise him?
@@papalaz4444244 do you recognize someone you only met once for a short while several years ago? And in the Doctor’s case, that’s two lifetimes prior (in the literal sense) spanning possibly thousands of years.
Thank you for the story at the end 😂 although I'm not sure I can accept your apology after being lied to for years 😔
a brilliant story courtesy of the ever great Robert Holmes, certainly one of Doctor Who's darkest stories
No apology needed Jess… at least your "allergies" are no longer a mystery! (I know you weren't allergic to Doctor Who, as you once speculated long ago!) Best wishes on working out an effective treatment.
BTW, this story is a favorite by many fans nowadays, but it was definitely divisive when it came out. Many fans preferred the Time Lords being cloaked in mystery. However, Robert Holmes laid a huge foundation of lore that has persisted to the present day. The scenes in the Matrix are definitely up there in the trippiness factor!
Wasn't it the President of the Dr Who Appreciation Society who moaned in print, "what has happened to the magic of Doctor Who?" in reaction to this story?
@@frankshailes3205 This is the only complaint people ever mention. Nobody I knew had any issue they loved this story. DWAS only had their first meetup about 2 months before this was on tv.
Deadly Assassin, brilliant story, paved the way for all future episodes involving the Time lords and Gallifrey. Also really love the fancy robes the Time lords wear.
it's Time Lords, two words
I'm sure you've been told before. But I'll say, sadly Roger Delgado died in an accident, which is why the master just stops appearing in the third doctors era. After many years they bought back the master in a now decayed body
This is my favorite story of Tom Baker's run. For the longest time, when I first started getting into Doctor Who, Peter Pratt here was my favorite Master.
My childhood introduction to Doctor Who was VHS taped reruns and this was one of the three stories I remember, along with the Android Invasion. It was my first introduction to the Master.
Edit: thank you for sharing about the allergies, I've had issues myself, and testing showed nothing.
It's widely accepted that this story is where the term "The Matrix" was first used to describe a computer network/simulated or virtual reality.
This is one thing about Classic Who I love vs New Who because of the Time War there is almost a reverence for the Doctor while in Classic who he is basically a nobody a man you would say "Doctor Who?" to even on Gallifrey.
One of my all time favourite stories. I love the doctor just going solo. No baggage.
I personally like to headcanon that the surgeon is a memory of Tecteun bleeding through because they are in the Matrix.
Please form your mob of torches and pitchforks into an orderly queue
Goes to find pitchforks but can’t find necessary emojis.
I honestly kind of love this in a "fuck you" sort of way
The first detailed depiction of Time Lord society and gone are the omnipotent godlike beings of the early 70s. A turning point in Who lore brought to us with a great script, performances and atmosphere.
Always thought too it gives us the first look at the difference between Time Lords and regular Gallifreyans, even if it doesn't dwell on it. A belter of a story!
Never really saw omnipotent beings in scenes with guys in a bowler hat floating about or the near destruction of Gallifrey in The Three Doctors, to be honest. I always think that is exagerrated.
It's interesting Runcible doesn't regenerate when stabbed. I guess he never ascended to Time Lord or got the Rassilon Imprimatur. Hence he wound up on Capitol TV lol
WE LOVE THE STORY TIMES!
I’ve been looking forward to this one, a standalone story for all the right reasons
The Master been mutilated and decayed looked scary and frightening
There are many classic who series where I am not sold on the first couple of episodes but by the end I’m completely bought in and love. This one I assure you, you will be 100% here for by the end.
Simply one of Who’s greatest ever moment (Classic or new). It’s sublime in every respect. Possibly Robert Holmes’ greatest script (certainly in his best 2 or 3) and the definitive text on Time Lord society and culture.
This is one of those stories - like The War Games, The Time Meddler etc - that changes Who profoundly.
And in addition it’s so far ahead of its time in presenting the virtual reality world of the Matrix - before the term virtual reality had been even thought of. Great 10/10
Tom Baker's first episode Robot part one is the very first episode of Doctor Who that I ever saw the end of August 1980 on my local PBS station WCMU channel 6 out of Mount Pleasant MI. I was instantly intrigued and at that point I had no idea what I had gotten myself into and certainly kept watching. By the time they showed the Deadly Assassin I had become a huge fan, but it was this story that made me the RABID fan that i am now, LOL. Still drooling for another morsel of the Doctor's story never to stop wanting more 30 plus years later. blush... Full transparency, you look up Whovian in the dictionary and there is a picture of me...lol
Great story, good to see more of Gallifreyan society and how the Doctor deals with an adventure without a companion. Really love how The Master is just trying to survive at this point.
The Wachowskis clearly ripped off this episode and they know it!
About the Masters condition... It wouldn't be until the Missy regeneration that the Master learns the importance of moisturizers.
OMG! That last bit made me laugh. sorry that you suffered through that. you did have a reaction to a tree. minor one, but still. this was another story i've been waiting to see your reaction too. especially to see your reaction to the reveal of the Master. exactly what i thought. can't wait for the rest of this story.
I know how you feel: the first time I saw this I had a serious case of WTF? I had never heard of the Master (Tom Baker being my first Doctor) but I was truly intrigued. I loved the backstory on the Time Lords and the Doctor's relationship with them. Can't wait for more from you, sweetie. Take care.
Don't worry - you're totally meant to find the "chalk outline" of the President (complete with ceremonial collar) hilarious. All part of Hinchcliffe and Holmes's mordant sense of humour!
I have Perennial Rhinitus, which is my reason for being sniffly in the winter. I get heyfeaver from grass pollen in the Summer but not effected by tree pollen. Its all a bit random.
Dear Jess I'm glad it's not your Dog that makes you poorly 😊 I hope you get better soon and the hospital gets to the bottom of it. Great reaction I love this story and it was great to see my old friend the late Harry Fielder playing one of the guards, he pops up alot in the Tom Baker era. Take care and role on the next reaction x
I adore this story so much! And your reaction made it even better 😂
Hey they could have said, “We think we could cure you completely by you handling this snake.” 🐍🙈🤣
One of the scenes that was edited was the Gallifreyian CIA mention (Celestial Intervention Agency). Apparently, they have been secretly behind some of the unexpected aspects of Gallifreyian life. It was at their insistence that the Third Doctor was restored fully as a Time Lord in 1973...Yes, that is supposed to be the Roger Delgado Master who was burnt. (Roger Delgado died in real life in an automobile accident in 1973)...
I really love this story and this version of the master is certainly interesting. Where I live we get things on prescription and it doesn't cost anything. Glad to hear you got to the bottom of your 'allergies'
This story FINALLY gave us a real look at Time Lord Society. All the Pomp and ceremony. all the Pompousness too Yeahm, we saw some of it in "War games", and "Three Doctors" but this was finally a REAL gallifrey story!!! Last two parts are good!
This adventure is interesting, as it simultaneously establishes the "12 regenerations" limit but also hints that this rule can be bypassed. We see this explored in later adventures in Classic and Nu-Who, but it long seemed to be that a Timelord's regeneration cycle can be extended under exception circumstances.
I've suffered horrendous allergies for years (at least, I thought I did!) Thanks so much for just being you and best of luck with treatment!
It's good to know there's nothing seriously wrong. I often get out of breath these days and it hasn't been related to weight or anything like that, so maybe it's worth getting checked out. I know my father used to wake up in the night and end up staggering around the bedroom, gasping for breath. And he only had three children.
On paper, bringing back the Master feels like an unwelcome throwback, in an era that seems to pride itself on ignoring the foes of the past. Desperate and shorn of his earlier charisma, the character now claws at survival and lives for revenge. And it's a nice performance by Peter Pratt, even if we never see him!
An interesting fact about this story is that it was suggested by the Producer and was supposed to prove to Tom Baker that the Doctor needs a companion to bounce off of. Unfortunately, it was written by Robert Holmes, who produced what is generally considered to be one of the all-time classic stories.
Yes, the first appearance of the Crispy Master.
respect the master's regeneration choices, jess. He's a little lithe, why not? I think the wide eyes give him an innocent ingenue appearance.
14:06 "Predictable as ever, Doctor..."
This story was The Biggest Deal! From the pre-story scroll{?) to the Doctor being on his own (first time) to our first extended stay on Gallifrey, so much! We see the Gallifreyan Timelord formal robes in detail, and the design is so strong it's lasted to today. This is also the first time we learn about possible corruption in Gallifrey's politics, see the different classes of people (not everyone is a timelord), on and on and on!
Congratulations on being allergy free! You never lied, but don't try being a diagnostician! LOL!! I had that allergy test the first time when I as 5, so I appreciate how uncomfortable that was! I think you should still try saline solutions to clear your sinuses.
Bernard Horsfall is again a Time Lord (and has also been a Thal IIRC) , and the posh Time Lord from Three Doctors makes a re-appearance? They aren't regenerating a fast as the good Doctor, but it's fun to spot them.
The Action Man figurine in the camera. 😅 Top level special effects back in the day.
Hope the new treatment will help your non-allergies, Jess!
Often I find that what is causing medical symptoms is half the battle, although a bit like yourself, I have frequently defied and confounded medical convention, which can be frustrating.
Congratulations to you for persevering through two rounds of allergy tests!! I only managed to get part way through the test, then I was 6 or 7 years old. Even though I chickened out, I still showed positive to a range of things, including cat fur (or more specifically, cat saliva) and budgie feathers, at the time we had a cat and two budgies, which I will note, my parents didn’t get rid of (and after moving to Australia, ended up with even more cats - at one stage three at the same time!). 🤔🤨
There's a condition called induced laryngeal obstruction that gives the sensation of respiratory problems. Took many years for me to be diagnosed correctly.
Back in 1976 the reworking of the Time Lords tore fandom apart in the same way the timeless child has done in recent years, This story was voted the worst story of the season in the Doctor Who Appreciation Society poll in 1977. However Robert Holmes and the production team basically set up everything we know about the Time Lords to this day (except the Chibnall stuff) we get the robes, the chapters, Rassilon, the seal of Rassilon, the Matrix, chancellery guards, the Panopticon, type 40 TARDIS, and yes Bernard Horsfall who plays Chancellor Goth is the same actor who played the first Time Lord at the second doctors trial (malfeasance tribunal) so could also have been Goth.
A great story, as one would expect from Bob Holmes, but I've always wondered whether the mythos of Gallifrey and the Time Lords really should ever have been explored. Letting them remain enigmatic and impenetrable concepts always seemed eminently more sensible to me. Once the top layer is scratched away, the mystique is gone and all that can be perceived is mundane and bathetic
Hi Jess, I`m glad to hear that your long time mystery health problem, will now be moving toward a better result for you. :)
yeah I had allergy skin tests as a kid cos I got asthma and excema and they all reacted (apart from the base liquid the reactants were in), so I'm allergic to pretty much everything. But as life went on I got gradually less allergic to stuff, I'm now 55 and nothing really affects me anymore, even my asthma is normally under control. Really funny that you're not actually not allergic to anything you just have non-specific rhinitis, but is there any treatment for that? cos it still must be very annoying.
You could have a allergy to those Moths, they look ferocious!
So this is Doctor Who featuring the matrix and a Star Wars style scrolling text intro... before any of the Matrix or Star Wars movies.
You may remember the time lord Goth, from the War Games, one of those who ordered Zoe and Jamie's memories wiped.
This story lays out much Doctor Who lore that's picked up right into the present series.
This story marked the first reappearance of The Master after Frontier in Space (1973) where sadly Roger Delgado died in a car accident and he would have had a proper ending with The Third Doctor
Dear Sesskasays, you've seen the skeletal face before! The End of Time Part 1 'I am nefarious; I am the funniest thing in the whole wide world!'
Hiya. Yeah, myself, I've had permanent catarrh for decades. One just learns to live with it. Stay safe. All the best to you.
Gotta love the crispy master
This may be my favorite episode of Who.
The Wachowskis have stated that the concept of The Matrix in their films was inspired by this story.
Really??
I don't remember them ever stating anything. Got a source for that?
This story itself is pretty clearly 'inspired by' some other things...
@Caitlin I'd have to find the article. It was in a Doctor Who fan magazine, and from a Q&A they did years ago at a con (possibly SDCC). They said the concept was inspired by a lot of old sci-fi they were exposed to growing up, and included this episode. But it wasn't the ONLY thing that planted the seed to The Matrix. But it is easy to see the influences.
@@ooklathemokfan Yeah, it's impossible to find anything about it online.
@@caitlin329 I was at a con when it was brought up. So it might be bad information I got. I know they said they had seen the episode growing up (who hadn't? lol), so it could be just an anecdote.
The cliffhanger to Part 1 is so unsettling and creepy to me
You may refer to the Master as Crispy!Master (or Barbecue, like Missy does in audio dramas) - the rest of us do.
Also acceptable terms are
The Evil One
Oh, *him.*
Charbroiled
Bob the Crunchy
Cloak and Dagger
Want Some Moisturiser, Crunchy?
And
Dayum, you ugleh.
These days we are so used to fandom blowing up every time the Doctor's background undergoes some slight shift that it's occasionally instructive to recall that this has always been the case. Just because the Time Lords engage in office politics and are no more impressive, outside of their customs, as the higher echelons of the British academic system - or even the comical idiosyncrasies of the British parliament - doesn't mean to say they are not powerful or sinister. And yet then Dr Who Appreciation Society chief, Jan Vincent-Rudski declared - rather like a modern disgruntled RUclipsr - 'WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE MAGIC OF DOCTOR WHO?'
A foundational story (as far as how Gallifrey is represented to this very day). It also answers this: Tell me why The Doctor left Gallifrey without telling me why he left.
I am a bit surprised as I have never met anyone who doesn't have this in their Top stories of all time. THis is peak Robert Holmes.
The first story without a companion after Elisabeth Sladen left and having a good chemistry with Tom he didn't want another new companion and thought The Doctor could manage without one and wanted to go solo and said the next one should be a talking cabbage but the producer said no.
Yes that was The Master some refer to him as gooie or crispy Master i call him decayed Master.
This blew my mind at 9! I followed it but didn't understand it but weird;y enjoyed it!
This is when they call you up to say "Hey, we just found out all our allergen-dispensing thingummies were messed up, and none of those tests were valid. Good news, though: You're *DEFINITELY* not allergic to pure water!" =:o}
For one terrible moment I thought you were going to say you were allergic to Classic Who! My experience of patch testing is that it is pretty common not to find a cause. Not finding a cause is not 100% proof you’re not allergic to something just we haven’t found it yet. As a doctor I’d agree worse case scenario is it being the dog, and then not finding anything. To be honest I often dread the whole doing tests and not finding anything bit, it’s really hard to explain stuff, and sometimes people think you’re saying it’s all in their head which isn’t usually the case. Anyway love the reaction, see if you can spot the character later in the season you’re on that in one draft was going to be The Master - it was dropped and they weren’t, and a different back story was given, so it’s not a spoiler to tell you that. Also I love the outline on the floor too. Tom was upset so he didn’t want another companion after Lis left, this story was created as a compromise to show why it couldn’t work. It was hated by the fans when it was shown, but rapidly was reevaluated and is considered a classic. Watching your reactions is a highlight of my week, I hope you enjoy making them as much as I love seeing your thoughts and feelings on them.
Relieved you're not allergic to 🐶! Keep watching this one - the weirdness has only just begun!
My bf had the same rhinitis too. He had to have a nose job to fix the nasal canal.
I feel robbed, Runcible the Fatuous should have regenerated and become a companion
Sarah Jane was right to go before this because she'd be peeing her dungarees in this story.
Very dry air can of course mess with our sinuses, leading to sinus infections. But if you've been living in warm, wet places -- you used to live in the SE US, right? Hurricane paths I remember -- that's not as likely a thing.
I really enjoyed allergy storytime at the end. :D
Say hello… to the Crispy Master.
I share your pain about the allergies except my tests showed I am allergic at low level to many things including dog and cat hair, pollen of all varieties, moulds, dust and dust mites. I take three 180g anti histamine a day and still get the sneezes and congestion after 60 years. Hopefully they can do something for you. ❤
I always found it odd, the Time Lords don’t know who The Master is, in this specific story. But have previously and in future stories.
I think some Timelords (like the Celestial Intervention Agency) probably know who he is, but most Time Lords don't. The Master has been out in the universe, so the Timelords who monitor the rest of space (and occasionally secretly interfere) know what he's been up to. But they probably don't share any of it with wider Gallifreyan society. Spandrell, for example, deals with threats on Gallifrey, and doesn't know much about other worlds.
First solo doctor story without an assistant since the start of the show plus last one of 1976 here to the new year and what 77 brings
The reason the Master looks the way he does, doesn't ever get properly explained on screen, instead the explanation(s) are done in the expanded universe set after Frontier In Space for Delgado Master
Originally the explanation was that it's the same incarnation as the Delgado Master (being the 13th out of 13 bodies) & got Horrifically burnt by Susan using a faulty TCE on him
The newer reasoning being that the Delgado Master was the 12th, and in expanded universe, regenerates at the end of a comic called Doorway To Hell, then he becomes the 13th Master. After a period of time, the 13th Master gets burnt by a post Eric Roberts/TV movie Master, but Pre Derek Jacobi/Prof Yana Master, becoming the walking corpse, he is here.
Though based on real events with Delgado in real life. Do wonder if having a Master who looked like a rotting corpse, was the best choice or if it was just an unfortunate coincidence between real life events & wanting to bring more horror into Doctor Who.
Some people think it was bad taste since Delgado died in a car crash. There's another possible explanation for the Master's burnt condition and stranding on Tersurus, on screen in the Comic Relief special "Doctor Who and the Curse of Fatal Death" from 1999.
Old Mary Whitehouse's Fave Doctor Who story! LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is my all time favourite story the Doctor is right up against it no companion and introduces the Matrix way before a certain film franchise.
Hey Sess, as an actor I tend to get dryed out in my sinuses from speaking a ton. Especially from performing all day. I would drink water and not any diuretic like coffee during your reactions. See if it works.
Whew! For a minute there I was afraid you were going to say that you're allergic to reacting to Doctor Who! Hope the Doctor being threatened with the giant needle didn't give you flashbacks. Actor Bernard Horsfall, who plays Chancellor Goth in this story, previously played one of the Time Lord judges at the Second Doctor's trial in The War Games (presumably also Goth)
Turns out, you're allergic to all the allergy meds you've been taking...Bootstrap Paradox.
...sorry, couldn't resist.
Got some master peace story's coming up
The title of this story amuses me. What other sort of assassin are you going to have?