Doctor Who review: The War Master: Anti-Genesis is a dark and epic listen

Now that we’ve looked at each episode of this month’s Doctor Who spin-off box set The War Master: Anti-Genesis, how well does it work as a whole? And how does it stand out compared to previous volumes?

Anti-Genesis is a rather unusual volume in the War Master’s own series. We’ve seen him be openly cruel and villainous before. But at the same time, in his own twisted way, he was also working for the Time Lords (as seen in The Master of Callous and Rage of the Time Lords), or even trying to make the universe a better place (as depicted in Only the Good).

Anti-Genesis is different. This is the War Master at his most ambitious and most villainous. The plan he unleashes during this box set isn’t to help anyone else. Instead, he aims to re-write history – in a big way. This is up there with the grandest and most evil schemes we’ve seen from the Master in Doctor Who itself. Of course, this time, the Doctor isn’t around to stop him.

What’s particularly satisfying about Anti-Genesis is that, for once, we get to find out what happens when the Master wins. When one of his many insane schemes actually works. This is especially true of the final episode, He Who Wins. But is it really what he wants?

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An epic listen

Needless to say, Derek Jacobi is as brilliant as ever in this box set. He gets to have a lot of fun as the Master, one who enjoys doing what he does best – being gloriously evil and villainous, thanks to four great scripts by Nicholas Briggs and Alan Barnes.

Speaking of which, it’s equally clear that Briggs and Barnes had just as much fun writing this series. Whether it’s reimagining a story as classic as Genesis of the Daleks, crossing over with other Doctor Who spin-offs, or just having fun with two Masters, it’s clear that there was a lot of fun when it came to writing this epic box set.

It was also a joy to hear Mark Gatiss return as the Unbound Master. An incarnation from another universe, Gatiss really throws himself into the role. It’s especially brilliant to hear him opposite a Master as brilliant as Jacobi, and it’s great to get a different take on the usual multi-Master banter.

On top of that, it’s also fantastic to have The War Master crossover with fellow spin-off series Gallifrey in a big way. Narvin and Livia are major characters from that series, so it’s nice to hear both of them have major roles in this four-part box set. (Especially Narvin, who might be one of the greatest original characters ever created for the expanded universe.)

Overall, Anti-Genesis is a really satisfying listen. It’s dark, ambitious and epic, and it’s great to explore what happens when the Master wins. On top of that, the ending is absolutely fantastic, and rounds off this arc of four volumes very nicely. Highly recommended for both Master and Dalek fans.

Have you listened to Anti-Genesis? Do you think Doctor Who should explore what happens when a villain wins more often? Are you a fan of Derek Jacobi’s Master? Let us know in the comments below.