PREVIOUS UNBOUND                                  

Masters of War

DECEMBER 2008

What if...
the Doctor had not been UNIT's scientific advisor?

Big Finish Audio Drama Review

by Daniel Tessier

Now, this is a release I’ve really been looking forward to. Five years ago, Big Finish released Doctor Who Unbound as part of its fortieth anniversary celebrations. Five years later, we finally get the long mooted sequel to my favourite instalment, “Sympathy for the Devil”.

“Masters of War” rejoins the alternative third Doctor as played with dignity and aplomb by David Warner, still accompanied by Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart, played, as always, by the incomparable Nicholas Courtney. He may be referred to as Alistair throughout, but he’ll always be the Brigadier to us. It’s something of a renaissance for the character, as this week also sees his return in The Sarah-Jane Adventures. Until the BBC finally see sense and put him back on telly with the Doctor, where he rightfully belongs, this release will have to keep us Brig-fans satisfied. In “Masters of War”, the Doctor and the Brig – I mean, Alistair – arrive on the planet Skaro. The Doctor hasn’t been back there for many years. This is a universe in which the events of “Genesis of the Daleks” never occurred – the consequences of which

are not as we may suspect. In the interconnected universe of space and time travel, the removal of even one of the Doctor’s adventures can have huge consequences.

The Doctor finds Skaro rather different to how he remembers it. The Daleks have returned from their wanderings in space, and have subjugated the Thal population. So far, so predictable. However, we learn some rather fascinating insights into the Daleks of this version of Skaro. It seems that here, the Daleks are still followers – worshippers, even – of Davros. Those who the Doctor has fought before, those who invaded the Earth and sought the human factor, were renegades, who believed themselves superior and followed their

own path. Those now on Skaro have searched for their lost creator, and, having not found him, returned to protect the Thals from alien aggressors (of whom, more later). It’s fascinating to learn that these Daleks were instilled with the ability to feel pity, the only way Davros could find to secure their loyalty. Of course, they’re still Daleks, still believing themselves superior to all other species. The only way they can think to protect the Thals is

to conquer them and put them to work building up Dalek defences.

Upon arriving, the Doctor soon meets a small Thal resistance group, led by Gillen and Nadel - two excellent performances by Sarah Douglas and Amy Pemberton respectively, giving the group a rational, female leadership instead of the usual gung-ho male one. In a wonderfully satisfying moment, the Doctor decrees that the Dalek occupation shall be over before the day is out. Alistair agrees – he’s had his own harrowing experiences of Dalek attacks (so “Day of the Daleks” occurred in some form in this timeline). Both Warner and Courtney give sterling performances. Warner continues to create a Doctor who is strong, forthright, confident and effortlessly classy. On the cover he strikes a powerful figure, dressed in third Doctor-style clothes; although, with his long white hair (and side-burns!) and his world-weary expression, he strikes me as more Hartnell-ish. Courtney brings all the charm that we expect to his role. He’s been playing this part for over forty years now, and he’s perfect. Alistair is also the perfect foil for the Doctor here. As a military man, he is far more qualified to make the tough decisions in battle than the Doctor. He is capable of coordinating the fight with the Daleks in ways the Doctor would simply never consider. He knows that losing a soldier is sometimes necessary if it saves fifty more – but he regrets every life lost. He’s just what Skaro needs right now.

But what, I hear you cry, of Davros? At first, it almost seems as though we’re in for a swiz. Davros has long since departed Skaro, and exists there now only as a CGI image, broadcasting semi-religious teachings to the Daleks. Even here, Terry Molloy is as good as ever as the Kaled scientist. Later, the Doctor takes advantage of the Daleks’ semi-robotic nature and reprogrammes one, making it believe that it IS Davros. This spreads dissention amongst the faithful Daleks for the first time, allowing the Thals the chance to take action. Nick Briggs gives one his best ever performances here, creating a gaggle of Dalek voices that remain, for the most part, characteristic and distinguishable. The Daleks develop as characters, particularly the poor delusional not-Davros and the anguished Black Dalek, terrified of losing his position in the new order.

It’s no real surprise when, at the end of the first half, the real Davros turns up, leading an

alien assault on Skaro. The aggressors the Daleks feared have come, and who else but Davros could be their Chief Technician? The Quatch are an interesting species (with a rather good, alienesque name). They originate in another dimension, and can only exist in ours through technological augmentation. Davros, disappointed with his Daleks, joined with them and advanced their technology. I’m less keen on their realisation, however. Their vague, wishy-washy voices sound less ethereal and more bloody irritating. Still, they’re an interesting threat, and the revelation that they started the Kaled-Thal war goes right back to

a mooted ending to the very first Dalek story, in which the two races would have made

peace to defeat an aggressive third party. This is precisely what happens here – to a given degree of peace. Questions are raised: Is war always necessary in order to create peace? When is a sacrifice too much? And are Daleks truly irredeemable?

As the plot progresses to its conclusion, events unfold fairly predictably, yet it’s a joy to hear them played out. Hearing the Doctor and the Brigadier leading Dalek assault squads is a strangely disquieting experience. And when the end comes, Alistair’s final decision is surprising but absolutely fitting.

Excellent stuff, and here’s hoping for a third volume for the fiftieth anniversary!

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