Has even the Master gone too far?

This is the closest that this series has got to a “traditional” Doctor Who story – ie one where the Master’s evil machinations are stopped by the Doctor, but both live to fight another day. Of course we know that will be the case – and we know that something has to happen to ensure that the 10th Doctor has no idea that Professor Yana is none other than his old friend/foe – but because this is the Master’s own series, he has to be the centre of attention.

David Llewelyn’s script walks this tightrope carefully throughout, and manages to ensure that the Doctor still feels like a guest star while simultaneously not undermining him as the focal point for the show as a whole. The friendship between the two Time Lords underlies much of their dealings – in whatever incarnations they are – and this is used effectively here, with Derek Jacobi and Paul McGann both rising to the challenges of the script. In a funny way, it almost feels like a New Adventures turn to the story, which works, ironically, because of its novelty.

Rage of the Time Lords has been an interesting set of adventures and help make this incarnation one of the longest lived yet. Roll on his self-encounters!

Verdict: A suitably epic finale. 9/10

Paul Simpson

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