Best moment in Utopia was when Derek Jacobi opened the watch and you heard Anthony Ainley's laugh.

One of my favorite scenes from Roger Delgado: There's a moment in "The Sea Devils" where the Master mistakes clay figures in a children's show for actual aliens. When somebody points out what they really are, he chuckles good-naturedly, as if he knew that all along. The moment the other character can't see his face any more, his expression turns to annoyance. It's very subtle, but Delgado nails it perfectly.

I felt John Simm and David Tennant had quite good chemistry.

I went to doctor who experience today and met capaldi 😀😀😀😀

Missy killed OsGOOD not OsWIN. Oswin was a Dalek.

Here's my list from worst to best and everything here is deliberate. The Master is my favourite character ever. I don't count that little child, the movie Master, both without a dialogue nor the audio one. 1. Peter Pratt 1. Geoffrey Beevers 1. Eric Roberts 1. Anthony Ainley 1. John Simm 1. Derek Jacobi 1. Michelle Gomez 1. Roger Delgado

Well, good for you, because Derek Jacobi is starring in a series of audio dramas about the Master in the Time War!

I liked Missy. I just hated the fact they called her Missy. They stated that a Time-Lords name is super important so changing it didnt sit well with me.

Finally a Missy fan! She's my favourite incarnation of the Master! Her personality, story arc, chemistry with Capaldi and her playfulness! She was just amazing!

I agree it's a pity Derek Jacobi did not have more time as the Master because he made a very scary Master for the time he was in the roll. I also think Michelle Gomez has been brilliant as her 'Mistress' comes over as a genuine high functioning psychopath and her portrayal of the roll had been a country mile better than anyone other than the real Master, Roger Delgado, the man who scared the shit out of me as a kid! (No surprise as Jon Pertwee is my Doctor.)

In several of the stories Ainley tried to be menancing. I hear he did a real good job. There was one very large problem. That was Jon Nathan Turner. He refused to let Ainley be menacing . So blame the producer. He was the one who refused to let it happen. The producer had Gary-who was the floor manager and happened to be jnt partner on the floor, reporting anything or anyone who stepped out of line!

Aw I loved Ainley he gave a great performance in Survival and his earlier stories, it's interesting that some people think he isn't very threatening I mean he kidnapped the doctors companion Adric. The Master tortured him and forced Adric to kill The Doctor and then watch him die, Adric was 15 years old imagine if that was you. That's some scary crap, not to mention that The Master is walking around in Nyssa's fathers corpse. But I do love most of the Master's and Missy :D

Delgado number one! the rest take your pick. Agree on the Pertwee-Delgado chemistry and the Holmes-Moriarty analogy.

1:40 - Eric was aware who the Master was, because he spent his childhood in the U.K. However, he thought Delgado was quite campy and he himself wanted to give a much more "realistic" preformance. Personally, I think Roberts was a very scary Master and I'd love to see him again. He himself has already stated that he'd love to come back. "All they have to do, is ask."

Delgado was a true thespian. Great actor. Greatest actor on doctor who. tragic loss.

Big Finish are planning a "War Master" series with Derek Jacobi, what's your thoughts on that?

John Simm used to be lower on my ranking but after Series 10 he climbed up

Is there a correlation between particularly deft performances of the Master and Iberian surnames? I must away and consult the Black Scrolls of Rassilon

You're saying "who The Master is" but his regenerations work the same as The Doctors. When he regenerates he is basically a different person so I think that John Simm did a really good job.

"Say something nice!"

The only thing about Missy killing Osgood that still puzzles me is: Was it the human or the Zygon version? We still have yet to find that out

For me, John Simms appearance in Season 10 was the best of the Master in New Who. Roger Delgado good choice for #1

This is the first video I watched from you, and loved it. I'm not a Classic Who fan, I've only seen bits and pieces. This totally put the Master's appearances in perspective. And yes, I LOVE Missy too. What you said about how her version of good is more like a change in alignment from chaotic evil to lawful evil is the perfect way to describe it. I'm now slowly working through all the other reviews and lists available.

8. Eric Roberts 7. Peter Pratt 6. Geoffrey Beevers 5. John Simm 4. Anthony Ainley 3. Derek Jacobi 2. Michelle Gomez 1. Roger Delgado I would say that Ainley does come across as actually menacing in Survival; definitely his best performance in the role. I really liked John Simm in Season 10; I felt he was channeling Delgado a bit there, combined with the insanity of his own performance. If we had gotten this version of Simm's master throughout, he may very well have topped the list I wish we had more Jacobi; he was fantastic. I think he appears in some audios? I have to check on that.

My favourite is john simm

Actually Erik Roberts did know who the Master was, having actually seen some of the classical episodes, during their original broadcast. He actually rang his agent to get him the role when he first got wind of the movie.

when you said "missy killed oswin", I said "NOT OSWIN!! OSGOOD!"

2018 UPDATE: Now Big Finish is doing a box set where River Song meets The Beevers Master, the Roberts master, the Jacobi Master, and the Gomez Missy/Master. Should be interesting! (Esp to see how much of an improvement there will be to Robert's characterization with better direction.)

I've never seen anyone rank miss so high on a list before, I'm so glad I'm not the only one that love love loveeeed her

Here's my list: 7. Eric Roberts 6. Peter Pratt/ Geoffrey Beevers 5. Derek Jacobi 4. Anthony Ainley 3. John Simm 2. Michelle Gomez 1. Roger Delgado

In regards to the bouncy wacky Master...surely that's within reason for the character. He can be as different as the Doctor is after all?

They've overdone Missy a bit at times, but Gomez (especially with Capaldi) has been one of the best things about the show in the recent years.

I wish we had gotten SO MUCH MORE of Missy she is one of my favourite New Who villains

A bit controversial, perhaps, but: 8) Eric Roberts, 7) John Simm; 6) Geoffrey Beevers, 5) Derek Jacobi, 4) Peter Pratt, 3) Anthony Ainley, 2) Michelle Gomez "I'm Doctor Whooooo!" and 1) Roger Delgado. Never really connected with John Simm and certainly not Eric Roberts. The Master works when there is a mixture of charisma, menace and plotting. I love the fact that Delgado's Master and Jon Pertwee's Doctor always tried to "outdo" each other, something that's lost in the new series, although the possible redemption of Missy was an interesting twist in Series 10. Always Roger Delgado for me. :)

8) Eric Roberts 7) Geoffrey Beevers 6) Derek Jacobi 5) Anthony Ainley 4) Peter Pratt 3) John Simm 2) Roger Delgado 1) Michelle Gomez

9:18 I got that menace because he could leap over buildings and shoot electricity out of his hands...

I love your list! Virtually identical to mine except it's a toss up between Delgado and Missy for me. I think Missy takes so much from Delgado's more serious moments and incorporates so much of his "old friends" dynamic and they're both incarnations who only attempt to kill the Doctor when necessary or as a bit of "texting" :) That being said, Delgado set the perfect precedent for all those who came after, and I think Moffat really picked that back up with Missy, even with her final death.

I wish they would do more with the idea of the master chasing immortality but being decayed. Sure they did the same with John Simm chasing immortality but as himself. The idea of the master being on the brink of death where he has nothing to lose and looking how he does in his decayed form is just amazingly cool to me. Would love to see it return

the problem I find with John Simm was there were times when his version the master comes off like a Comic Book villain like the joker. Eric Roberts dressing like doctor strange at last 20 minutes of the movie made his version the master a bit lame.

There aren't many people on KZfaq who can do a video this long with very little editing, while remaining very concise. Very well thought out opinions on the show, that I can say I relate to quite a bit.

I’ve been a super fan of Doctor Who since 1984. I’ve never really thought through ranking the Masters. I did that after seeing the title for this video but before hitting play. Our lists were identical. Thank you for a great video, and the validation that all is internet commenters are looking for.

I would love to rank them, but I've never seen any of the classic series (besides a few short videos and snippets), sadly :(

Where can I get ahold of the classic doctor who's (pre-Christopher eccleston) because I have never seen any before and I'm dying to know where I can find a few seasons

It's interesting you mention about the chemistry between Delgado and Pertwee and how Delgado's death had an influence on Pertwee deciding to leave the series, feeling that elusive chemistry had been lost. Because a similar situation happened with Capaldi and Gomez - when Capaldi announced he was leaving Doctor Who (along with Steven Moffatt), Gomez announced she was leaving shortly afterwards too because she felt Missy wouldn't work properly with any other Doctor. She has though acted with David Tennant since then on Big Finish.

Best to worst: 1) John Simm Master and Missy (like both to a similar level and they shift places between first and second, Simm is the first master as well and I sort of like his overdramatic feel and he's awesome in World Enough and Time/The Doctor Falls) 2) Roger Delgado Master 3) Derek Jacobi master 4) Crispy Master (I'm counting both of them since I can't really tell the difference) 5) Anthony Ainley Master 6) Eric Roberts/TV Movie Master *Note* I'm a new who fan and have seen a fair amount of the older episodes (a majority of which I like) and I've seen all the Masters in some form on screen but since I haven't seen all the episodes each appear in don't have a go at me as, due to a lack of time and ability to find them, I haven't seen all their episodes and it's been a while since I've seen the episodes I have

Curious to see where you’d put the latest one Sachs Dhawan? Also did you not get a Stockholm syndrome vibe from the Missy story?

You nailed it!

Council Of Geeks one question, what makes the master look damaged in his second body, deadly assassin

Unlike every other ranking video I've ever seen, I absolutely agree with every one of your picks...and with your reasons for picking them.

Technically, We've Only Seen Four Versions of The Master. Rodger Delgado's Master Was on The Brink of Death and Became The Two Crispy Masters, That Same Master Stole a New Face From Someone Else, That Same Master Died in The Movie, but Possessed Someone Else to Keep Living, He Then Died (for real) at The End When he Fell into The Eye of Harmony. He was Then Resurrected With his Second Version in Season Three with Dr. Yana, he Then Died to Become his Third Version with John Simm's Master, Who Then Died to Become Missy, The Fourth Incarnation. Mind - Blown.......

i do think it is a shame that we won't get to see missy interact with the new dr as i would have loved to have seen it at least once

Derek Jacobi has two big finish box sets called the war master.

do you guys do twitch streaming or live stuff, I really enjoy this channel

Council of geeks -BTW, if you're going to be checking out the Big Finish Master stories, The 40th Anniversary Master story from 2003 entitled "Master" is really great. (Dust Breeding and Mastermind are great fun too.) Also since you are a fan of the Derek Jacobi Master, as I am, you will be happy to hear that Big Finish is bringing him back to do a Box set of Master stories with his Master adventuring on his own not encountering the Doctor. Should be fun! Also, they've now done it on the show, but Big Finish beat them to the punch and gave us "The Two Masters" in 2016! With the Geoffrey Beevers Master meeting the Alex Maqueen Master and the Seventh Doctor.

They just announced who the next doctor who will be at 6.30 pm in England!!

Totally agree with your 1st place. I have to say, I never really took to the whole drumming thing personally. It just seemed like too simplistic an explanation. Mind you, I had just recently listened to the big finish story "master" that gave a way more interesting and compelling character study for the master so maybe I was just hug up from that XD

Can’t wait for your review of Utopia where you can just talk about that one bit where he turns to the camera all evil for an entire video

So does the scientist from Utopia count? Because remember he was also the Master, even if he'd forgotten.

Actually Erik Roberts did know of Doctor Who and of the Master, having seen episodes of the 70s era during their original run. Apparently he pushed his agent to get him the role of the Master when he learnt of the American TV Movie's production.

I get what you're saying about Roberts and you're right. However, I just chalked up his performance to a combination of insanity, desperation, getting settled into a new body, and trauma from being killed again.

You're in for a treat when you find "The Face" from the Stateside TV series One Step Beyond, for there Mr Delgado looks most Masterly. Then seek the series episode "Sorcerer" and you'll see the Stateside TV premiere of Christopher Lee.

My list (I’m including big finish & comics) 1. The War Master 2. Delgado 3. Alex McQueen 4. Geffory Beavers (sorry if I spelt that wrong) 5. Malignant Truth Master 6. Missy 7. TV movie Master 8. John Simm 9. Anthony Ainley 10. Peter Pratt

My top three are #3 john simm, his chemistry with Tennant was incredible imo and his mania and desperation made him seem truly dangerous and unpredictable. #2 Michelle Gomez, the shock the kill and the edge of danger she then kept for the rest of her appearances was amazing, again we had a master who felt truly dangerous. #1 -peter pratt- Roger Delgado, simply the best master in every way, he effectively became the base for all other portrayals of the master after him. His chemistry with Pertwee really made you feel like they were once freinds, causing quite a tense and sad atmosphere, whilst never losing the sense of danger and threat the master should bring

Derek Jacobi whooo-hooo! Looking forward to December for his War Master stories!

John Simms master for would have been in the last three on my list if it werent for 'World Enough And Time' and 'The Doctor Falls'. Thankyou Steven

I am not a Slipnot fan or Stone Sour fan, however I like Corey's books. Obviously he is a massive Whovian as is Ian Scott from Anthrax. What surprised me is, Corey did an interview and he ran down each Doc, and he loves them all. His knowledge of the show is amazing. I only found out recently that Steve Martin is a massive fan of the show, at least the classic series. The guys from Mars Volta are too.

Totally agree with your list!

Very good, hadn't thought about it but I'd agree with your list, although I might have put the masked Master below even the Roberts version (not the actor's fault). And I too prefered Jacobi as the Master until Simm's second appearance, which was much, much better than his first.

I definitely enjoy seeing The Master/Mistress whenever he/she appears, even in Big Finish, but my favorites are Delgado (the original who set the tone of what the he character is) and Gomez (because she's fun but threatening and so unpredictable)

John Simm is my favorite Master, I loved how energetic and crazy he was, there's a sense of menace in a madman. His chemistry with David Tennant was brilliant, you can feel these two have history and were friends at one point. I felt that especially during End of Time.

Again, awesome video! I think I can agree with your list and reasons 100%ly. I'd rank them in the same order, though I'm not entirely sure how Ifeel about each Simm Incarnation cause I they're all a bit love/hate-ish for me. I feel like the early S3 version (while not working ass good as the other 2 overall) had better chemistry with the doctor (DT being the whole wibbly wobbly maniac in sand shoes incarnation we all love) but his later more broody desperate extremes and scheming ways are so much more true to the original... Anyways happy to see another Whovian loving Missy & the original as much as I do! :D

Could you rank all the Regeneration stories from worst to best

I'm sure Eric Roberts had a bloody video recorder! He could of done some research !Or was he above doing it?

Any thoughts on how the Master got his regenerations back? Because when we first saw him in the Classic series, he was in his 12th and final form, that's why he didn't just regenerate. He had to transfer his mind into stolen bodies in order to survive for the entire run of the Classic. Yet in the new one, he regenerates within minutes of realizing who he really is, with just a throwaway line: "If the Doctor can be younger, well, then so can I!"

I didn't like Missy at all before series ten. I don't know if she changed or if I just didn't 'get it' before. I guess I'll have to rewatch her past appearances to be sure.

I'll always go with Delgado but wonder how he would have worked with other Doctors if it had been possible. The Sea Devils swordfight was great, it's been re-done with light-sabres! There was quite a good book called 'The Face of the Enemy' in which the Doctor was off-world so in order to solve a time-puzzle the Brigadier had to temporarily release The Master to help UNIT. Not entirely to be trusted, he was partnered with Ian and Barbara.

Geoffrey Beever is the only actor to reprise their version of the Master in Big Finish as far as I know, but from what I heard Alex Macqueen's Master in Dark Eyes is very good.

I'm in complete agreement.

When I watched the Master confronting the Seventh Doctor in Survival once he'd mastered (heheh see what I did there) the cheetah virus at the age of 9 I was terrified, there's just something kind of uncanny valley about it all and he seems the most unpredictable.

The Deadly Assassin mask still scares the crap out of me and Pratt acting with it sounds horrifically injured. He is Mason Verger. That voice projected through the mask sounds like a flayed man.

what if Missy's death somehow affects time and causes the events of the christmas special and they end up finding out they have to save her to restore the time line?

You should definitely review the doctors again. Companions would be very tricky, from what I last heard there are over 60!

Jacobi was also the master in the scream of the shalka, he was more like the Delgado/ainsley versions

Listen to Big Finish No.50 - Master To hear how good Geoffrey Bevers is

Fun Fact: Derek Jacobi did properly play the Master in the 'Doctor Who: Scream of the Shalka' animated series.

We got twice as much of the 1st Master, played by William Hughes, as with Derek Jacobi, but you didn't put him on the list? I think for the short performance he gave, even without saying a single word, he managed to get that entire chain of emotions spot on. Starting out a bit scared about what is going on as Rasillon leads him to the Untempered Schism, then curious about what is going on, then a bit happy about what he sees, just to gradually turn to sheer horror and later insanity. It's just a few moments, but all the emotions are there in his face and it really illustrates what the Untempered Schism does to a person. At least you could've given him an honourable mention :P

You forgot Gordon tipple, he was the old master in the movie and William Hughes the child master

Thank you for another brilliant video. I certainly will not be resorting to personal insults over any of your rankings (that would be rather hypocritical coming from me, as well as more than a little obnoxious, given how bad I am at ranking or comparison of any kind, though in this case I could readily agree with you in placing Eric Roberts at the bottom, though weirdly I can understand other Whovians loathing a number of incarnations for essentially the same reasons that I do that interpretation - finding it somewhat over the top, though personally somehow neither Ainley at his most "pantomime villain like" or as you say, "Saturday morning cartoon" villain like, nor Simm or more recently and indeed since the creation of this video Dhawan at their most manic, ever reach the point of grating on me - to be clear I really enjoy all three named performances, nor for Masters is one televised appearance and therefore an unfairness in the comparison really a defence for Roberts, who may well be brilliant in whatever else he has been in and may redeem himself in Big Finish for all I know, given that Peter Pratt, Geoffrey Beavers and Derek Jacobi all excel in their respective onscreen appearances). My profuse apologies, I really need to get better at self editing. Anyway, as one last note, I could never insult anyone for placing the inimitable Roger Delgado first! Nor do I disagree with your admiration of Michelle Gomez, I just couldn't begin to know where I would place most of the actors here (sorry, that one last note thing dud not last long).

I agree with your ranking, although I may have ranked Simm higher based on his performance in World Enough and Time/The Doctor Falls. I would have loved to see Anthony Stewart Head play the Master.

I had the same problem with Anthony Ainley but I could not pin-point why and you did in a few words. He was smart and slightly off balance but I never felt he was as dangerous as Roger Delgado. He never really seemed to come across as a effective villain. I like the Master and I liked Anthony but he was just never very high on my list of the Masters.

Missy killed Osgood not oswin 😂👍

Funny, your impression of Simms in Season 3 was how I viewed Missy for all but her final season. *shrugs*

I heavily agree with your placement of Delgado, but I honestly haven't really given enough thought into a full ranking yet. So who knows! (I know Delgado would be at the top tho)

I haven't really watched any of the classic Masters, and since I only really started watching Doctor Who with Matt Smith's debut (though I had seen a handful of episodes of Doctors 9 and 10 before that) Missy was my first Master. I had only seen a few clips of John Simm as the Master previous to that but Missy was my first real exposure to the character so she would be my #1 with Simm as #2.

Delgado and Simm where the best masters

This list was spot on x

you put crispy over simm i'm creasing asadjksjjsj

Wow wow wow! What a ranking! I listened to your arguments with sincere interest. I am so glad you've mentioned the common point between Roger Delgado and Michelle Gomez's Masters, because it is something I saw straight away when we learnt she is the Master. Not to mention the fact that the Doctor and her were friends once, and that the Doctor is a bit compassionate about her (as Third was with Delgado's incarnation, most notably in The Sea Devils) I often disagree with people in regard of Missy, as lot of my friends think she could as well have been another character,for they think she's not the Master at all. As a matter of fact, I think she is. When I first saw her as Missy, I thought: "a return to Delagado's version of the Master"; plus, that funny note: I really think she has some physical similarities with Delgado; which makes a real feminine version of him. Thanks for that :D

I'm currently watching the Classics for the first time (thanks to Twitch) and I also have to say that Roger is my favorite Master - followed by Missy.

I wish that Anthony Ainley got to have more stories like Survival, I felt he was really 'Mastery' then