Scourge of the galaxy and destroyer of countless worlds, there hasn’t been a corner of the universe safe from the Master’s evil machinations since he escaped from Gallifrey. Over the Master’s numerous regenerations, many have tried and failed to reform his character. But what if his own conscience gave it a go?

Reformation is the final act in the Call Me Master Monsters saga. Written by Lisa McMullin, the story finds the Master trapped in a prison made from his own moral conscience, where his only options are to reform or be lost to eternity.

The Master is incarcerated in a reformation chamber where only his own moral conscience can free him. He’s in big trouble.

Big Finish Synopsis

Known for his master plans and relishing in the power of control, the last adventure in the Monsters boxset gets off to a strong start by putting The Master on the back foot. Locked in a box, little more than the size of a coffin, he has no idea what’s going on except that there is a shadowy voice trying to communicate with him. A rare occurrence, it is immediately obvious that this newfound sense of powerlessness affects The Master. There is a palpable fear in his voice, despite his constant use of questioning and talking to regain control.  

As he learns a little more about his ordeal, things for The Master don’t get any easier. At the mercy of his own moral conscience, he’s guided through a very personal version of prisoner rehabilitation. Forced to feel every raw emotion caused by his Rolodex of evil misdeeds, The Master is (quite literally) put into the shoes of his many victims, powerless to do anything but witness the horror and pain he inflicts on others.

These moments all show how dulled the Master’s feelings are to the simple pleasures in life. Sunsets, sand and beautiful views only elicit a sense of revulsion, offering great insight into The Master’s character and how staring into the Eternity forever changed him. Despite these great character moments, the great tragedy of this story lies in its second half, where it fails to achieve any meaningful payoffs for them.

By the second half, the Master’s cell has been turned into a labyrinth where only fixing his past mistakes will set him free. While this is an interesting concept, the scenarios he’s given fail to resonate with the same strong emotional pull that the story provided in its first half. Instead of using worlds personal to him or those from earlier in the story, the worlds that The Master attempts to save bare little connection with him beyond his wanton destruction. It leaves the story on a hollow note, which is a shame because it started so well.