Could the season 12 incarnation of the Master actually be a past version of the iconic Who villain? Doctor Who started season 12 with the shocking revelation that Sacha Dhawan’s new character, initially believed to be a member of MI6 named “O,” was actually the Master in disguise. Such a significant plot twist seems to have been necessary for the show — season 12 is already reeling in lower ratings than the season that preceded it. Bringing Dhawan into the fold was a ballsy move for Chris Chibnall, whose stories thus far have (for the most part) steered clear of revisiting more common Who villains like the Cybermen and the Weeping Angels, and have instead opted for creating new, original foes for the Doctor to confront.
However, for whatever reason, Chibnall seems to be shifting gears for season 12 and welcoming a return to form — the Daleks made their return in the season 11 finale, and upcoming villains slated to return include the Judoon, Racnoss, and yes, the Cybermen. In addition to all of those classic foes, the big takeaway from the season-opening two-parter was the return of the Master.
The incarnation of the manic time lord featured in season 12 is played by Sacha Dhawan, making him the first actor of color to play the Master, which marked a milestone of its own — something Chibnall is no stranger to, given his decision to cast Jodie Whittaker as the first female Doctor. With the stage set for an explosive season twelve, there will be quite a bit of explaining to do to straighten out the recent confusion surrounding the show’s time-travel rules, the Gallifrey situation, and, of course, the Master’s return. The other two may not be so easily explained, but one possibility for how the Master returned would have audiences revisiting a friendly face from the past.
Doctor Who Season 12’s Master Could Be From The 11th Doctor’s Era
Although Sacha Dhawan’s portrayal as the Master has been met thus far with mostly praise, some fans did question a certain aspect of the character’s return: that it negates the send-off that Michelle Gomez’s incarnation of the Master received in the season 10 finale. After doing battle with a former version of herself, Gomez’s Master (known as Missy) heroically sacrifices herself to save the Doctor and shows no signs of regenerating. Although it was a tragic end, it drew the Master’s arc full circle — they were finally able to be at peace with themselves and resolve tensions with the Doctor. Fans were sad to see her go, but it felt like a fitting end for a beloved character.
Flash forward two seasons, however, and suddenly the Master is back, and he hates the Doctor again. For audiences who last remembered the Master sacrificing herself with no regeneration, the sudden re-appearance of the character feels like a slap in the face because the episode seems to have undone the story told in season 10. However, this is Doctor Who, so nothing should be taken at face value — there’s always a significant possibility that a big reveal is tied to some “wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff”. In the case of the Master, some fans have begun to speculate that the version that the Doctor and her companions meet in “Spyfall” is not a new regeneration, but an incarnation of the Master who preceded Missy.
If the Dhawan Master were to be a Master that came before Missy’s regeneration, it would explain his hatred for the Doctor, since the two wouldn’t have resolved their issues at that point in his personal timeline. In fact, the Doctor meeting up with a version of the Master that has yet to meet her would be reminiscent of the Doctor’s first meeting with River Song — another aspect of the Russel T. Davies era of Who that Chibnall seems to be emulating more this season.
The 11th Doctor Never Faced Off With The Master
One key aspect of this theory hinges on where this current version of the Master comes from in the Doctor’s timeline, and although there haven’t been many clues thus far, one significant possibility is that he’s the version of the Master that existed at the same time as the eleventh doctor. The Master was one of the few classic Who villains completely absent from Matt Smith’s tenure as the Doctor, but that doesn’t mean that the Master wasn’t around at the time. Timeline details are always a little fuzzy, but it currently seems as if the Dhawan version of the Master comes after the Simm version but before Gomez, placing him squarely in the eleventh doctor’s territory.
Where Doctor Who’s New Master’s Story Could Go
As far as where the Master’s story will go from here, there is very little indication as to where he’ll appear next. Sacha Dhawan is confirmed to be appearing in at least four episodes, meaning that he’ll appear twice more this season. He was last seen being locked away in the light beings’ dimension by the Doctor at the end of “Spyfall: Part 2” — the kind of open-ended resolution that keeps him temporarily dealt with while still conveniently able to escape when the time comes for him to face off against Team TARDIS again. As it stands, he seems to have plenty of unfinished business with the Doctor — and given how much chemistry the two had during their scenes together in the season opener, he’ll square off with the Doctor again before the season is through.
Whether it’s through time-travel antics or plot-holes, the Master’s return to Doctor Who is a welcome one, and Sacha Dhawan seems to have nailed the perfect balance between insanity and menace that makes the Master such a magnetic presence to watch. Hopefully, fans will get to see more of Dhawan as the Master before Whittaker’s tenure as the Doctor is up — he could prove to be the greatest incarnation of the Master yet.
Read More: Doctor Who: Every Confirmed & Rumored Villain For Season 12
