Saxon Master Plan Unveiled

Lore & Background

At the heart of the scheme lay the paradox machine, primarily constructed by Miss Foster's team in a secret facility on Earth before being transported to the Valiant. This device defied temporal laws, allowing the Toclafane—future humans twisted into child-like soldiers—to exist in their own past without collapsing reality. Crucially, the Doctor identified Harold Saxon as the Master and understood the full scope of the invasion plan during 'The Sound of Drums' (2007), before being exiled back to the 19th century. He returned on New Year's Eve 2008/Day 2009 to exploit the machine's instability. The ultimate goal was a brutal efficiency: kill ten percent of Earth's population within the first year of occupation, leaving the remaining ninety percent alive as slaves for galactic conquest.

In Their Own Story

Downing Street stood cold and sterile as Harold Saxon surveyed a world already lost to him. While the rain lashed against the windows, the Valiant orbited silently above, its hull bristling with spheres of metal and malice ready to descend. The paradox machine hummed in the shadows, a heartbeat that defied time itself, binding the Toclafane to this moment. 'They think it is peace,' Saxon whispered to the empty room, knowing their children were already dead. Tonight, the world would end; tomorrow, it would belong to him.

Reader's Guide

The aftermath leaves humanity scarred but free, though most memories of the invasion are wiped from existence by the Toclafane's temporal paradox. The Master is defeated and captured, only to escape later in his own timeline. This event marks a pivotal turning point in the Doctor's relationship with Earth, exposing both human vulnerability against cosmic tyranny and their profound resilience when faced with extinction.

Did You Know?

• The Toclafane were actually humans from the end of time, twisted by a paradox to serve as child-like soldiers.
• Harold Saxon was the first incarnation of the Master to openly hold political office on Earth.
• Lucy Saxon shot and killed the Master before the Doctor used the paradox machine to reverse time; her action ended his life but could not stop the invasion on its own.
• The plan specifically targeted a 10% population reduction, not 90%, with the survivors intended for enslavement.

Origins and Creative Conception

The character known as the Master was originally conceived by producer Barry Letts and script editor Terrance Dicks as a recurring antagonist designed to rival the Doctor in status. Their title, derived from an academic degree, mirrored the Doctor's own honorific, signaling an equal or perhaps superior rank within the Time Lord hierarchy. The creative team envisioned a unique dynamic where the Master would not necessarily seek the Doctor's elimination but rather viewed him as a singular peer and partner in crime among renegade Time Lords. Roger Delgado was the sole choice for this role due to his extensive history portraying villains and his existing friendship with Jon Pertwee. Although an unrelated character sharing the name appeared briefly in 1968, this iteration established the Master as a central figure starting with 'Terror of the Autons' in 1971. The character was intended from the outset to be a complex foil, driven by a peculiar relationship that balanced mutual respect with deep-seated rivalry.

Ambitions and Psychological Profile

As a would-be universal conqueror, the Master's primary objective is absolute dominion over all matter in existence. This grand ambition is frequently accompanied by a deeply personal vendetta: inflicting suffering upon the Doctor. The character derives genuine pleasure from orchestrating destruction, particularly when it targets humanity or civilizations the Doctor holds dear, viewing such devastation as a reward in itself. In 'The Deadly Assassin,' his desire to control the universe is explicitly articulated, highlighting his megalomania. This psychological profile reveals a villain who is not merely seeking power for its own sake but is driven by a sadistic need to torment his oldest friend. The Master's actions often involve manipulating others and exploiting cosmic threats, such as the Sea Devils or the Nestene Consciousness, to achieve these ends. His motivation blends political conquest with intimate malice, making him a uniquely personal threat compared to other adversaries who simply wish to destroy the Doctor.

Roger Delgado's Era and Early Storylines

Roger Delgado originated the role in 1971, defining the character through a series of high-stakes encounters with the Third Doctor. His debut in 'Terror of the Autons' saw him ally with alien forces to invade Earth, only to be thwarted when his TARDIS was disabled by the Doctor. Subsequent stories like 'The Mind of Evil' and 'The Claws of Axos' featured elaborate schemes involving nerve gas and galactic ransoms, all of which ultimately failed due to the Doctor's intervention. In 'The Sea Devils,' Delgado portrayed a version of the Master who was once a close friend of the Doctor, highlighting their shared history while attempting to awaken ancient reptilian rulers. His final television appearance occurred in 'Frontier in Space,' where he collaborated with Daleks and Ogrons to instigate interstellar war before escaping after shooting at his nemesis. Tragically, Delgado's run ended abruptly following his death in a car crash in 1973, leaving the planned finale 'The Final Game' unproduced.

Regeneration Cycles and Portrayals

Following Roger Delgado's passing, the narrative explained the character's changing appearance through regeneration or body possession, allowing multiple actors to inhabit the role. Peter Pratt first appeared in a corpse-like state during his final regeneration cycle in 'The Deadly Assassin,' attempting to steal a new life from Gallifrey's energy source. Geoffrey Beevers briefly took over before Anthony Ainley permanently assumed the role by transferring his consciousness into the body of Tremas, a Traken scientist. This incarnation dominated the 1980s until the series' cancellation in 1989. The character returned for the 1996 TV film with Eric Roberts and was revived in 2005 with Derek Jacobi, John Simm, Michelle Gomez, and Sacha Dhawan portraying various incarnations. Beyond television, many of these actors have reprised their roles in Big Finish audio dramas, alongside unique portrayals by other performers, ensuring the Master remains a versatile and enduring antagonist across different media formats.