Subject: Which master do you feel was over the top ?

Hello again this week my ? is which master do you feel was over the top? Anthony Ainley, Eric Roberts (1996 movie)or John Simms and why

Which master do you feel was over the top ?

Retrospectively it was probably Ainley, although he was "my" Master so the hamminess was just part of the character for me so it didn't bother me then, and still doesn't.

I think my least favourite (different to OTT, I know) has been John Simm's Master. I love the guy as an actor and he shines in Life On Mars but for me he was miscast as the Master. Too young and too normal looking. Delgado was the best imo and he had a face that would scare children stiff.

Which master do you feel was over the top ?

Can't help but notice that you only mention 3 of the 9 actors that have played the role.

Roger Delgado
Peter Pratt
Geoffrey Beevers
Anthony Ainley
Gordon Tipple
Eric Roberts
Derek Jacobi
John Simm
William Hughes (young Master)

But as to OTT it splits two ways for me. Ainley's portrayal was dictated by JNT and the directors to be more of the Melodrama villian than Delgado's Master, and Roberts was just miscast as he could not grasp the British aspects of the role and therefore took lines that should have been played straight and took them OTT.

Which master do you feel was over the top ?

Hey thanks Merlin for pointing that out.I knew there were more, but those were the three that stood out to me and maybe other people. Thanks again-Robert

Which master do you feel was over the top ?

The over-the-top award has to go to Eric Roberts but I feel little of that was his fault, I blame the writers.

With the exception of Eric Roberts I feel all the Masters have been written to coincide with the incarnation of the Doctor they're against. Look at Simm/Tennant. They are both manic, energetic and some would say extreme.

Davidson and Ainley, perhaps a little hammy but still I find they seem to play off each other. I find Davidson a little hammy sometimes too perhaps reflecting the writing at the time.

Comparing The Master's different actors is perhaps like comparing the Doctor's different actors. Tennant is more "over-the-top" than say Pertwee but both reflect their own "era."

Or maybe I'm just rambling.

Which master do you feel was over the top ?

The answer for me is Anthony Ainley's portrayal. Again, not the actor's fault and strangely in the wake of John Simm's Master and the revelation of the Master's origin - driven mad by a timelord ritual - I think his interpretation now makes more sense.
As an aside, I wrote to Anthony Ainley a number of times when I was a child and he was alwa kind enough to write back personally and amswer all of the questions that I asked so I have a very soft spot for this actor.

Which master do you feel was over the top ?

[QUOTE BY= Idiom] As an aside, I wrote to Anthony Ainley a number of times when I was a child and he was alwa kind enough to write back personally and amswer all of the questions that I asked so I have a very soft spot for this actor.[/QUOTE]

I never did this as a kid, I wish I would have. Do you still have the letters? If so, have you ever thought of scanning and posting them?

Now that I think of it, though, I was already 13 or 14 when I started watching on WTTW in Chicago. So I was old enough to understand we were getting somewhat out of date episodes. And I don't know if I would have written anyway at that age. It's not like I was 8-10.

Which master do you feel was over the top ?

[QUOTE BY= Linquel] I never did this as a kid, I wish I would have. Do you still have the letters? If so, have you ever thought of scanning and posting them?
[/QUOTE]
Yes, a nice idea. When I get time, I'll try. I've also got a nice letter from Ian Marter as well as sme great autographs. The signed picture of Liz Sladen is enough to make any fanboy's toes curl, she is that gorgeous.

Which master do you feel was over the top ?

Thanks to everybody who replyed. I will air them on my show this morning.Thanks agaqin -Robert

Which master do you feel was over the top ?

[QUOTE BY= torchkat] The over-the-top award has to go to Eric Roberts but I feel little of that was his fault, I blame the writers.

[/QUOTE]

I have to agree.

If fact - Roger Delgado was and still is the best for me - but I would have loved to have seen Derek Jacobi in the role for much longer.

John Simm - I'm still not sure about - although I love him as an actor.

Cheers, daveac

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