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Doctor Who


The Companion Chronicles


8.1 Mastermind


This is set in the Vault, with Ruth Matheson and Charlie Sato, played by Daphne Ashbrook and Yee Tee Tso, better known for their roles in the TV Movie as Grace and Chang Lee. This audio is slightly unusual for a companion chronicle as it also stars Geoffrey Beevers as the Master. The Vault, if you’re not aware, is a UNIT  facility holding alien artefacts; its Ruth’s and Charlies job to guard it.


It is a follow up to the Tales of the Vault, the earlier Companion Chronicle. I say that but they have featured in another audios. The Master is a resident of the Vault, only waking an hour every five years, and precautions have to be taken. They take the opportunity of his waking to find out how he ended up I the Vault. The Master narrates his life existing on Earth in his decayed form.


With the cast doing different voices for the people the Master talks about, its easy to forget this is a companion chronicle and not a full cast audio. Especially as, though the Master is telling the events that led up to him being kept in the vault, its comes across as an ordinary audio.


Geoffrey Beevers is a terrific Master, and he has that evil quality to his delivery which is a pleasure to listen to. Ruth and Charlie are nice characters and I enjoyed them last time so its great to have more of them.


I wasn’t a fan of the CC’s when they first came out, the narrated style wasn’t something I enjoyed. This came recommended and I can see why. It is the ending which makes this story and is quite stuffing for the listener.

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