Big Finish: The War Master: Solitary Confinement Review

In June this year the ninth box set of The War Master series – Solitary Confinement was released where the Master is in an institution for the criminally insane. Being confined away from the Time War it’s an interesting prospect to explore the War Master’s character and why he seems content to be there through a set of beguiling stories he shares with the institution staff.

9.1 The Walls of Absence by James Goss

As the first story in the set, I found myself quietly charmed and also unexpectedly set off balance by the relationship of the War Master and code purge Mendrix. The War Master needs the help of Mendrix to restore his memory. I enjoyed how Goss uses the medium of art and the landscape of the stars as measures for Mendrix to test the War Masters’s mental and physical responses as she works in her code to diagnose his ailment. Art is appreciative, implies beauty, something precious created from the imagination so what progresses is so intriguing as the War Master and Mendrix slowly explore and learn about each other.

Sian Phillips is fantastic as a retired Mendrix. There is a great dynamic between them. Intelligent, a realist, she gathers information using her analytic skills but she and the War Master are equally matched. She is attracted to his own intelligence but recognises his ruthless air. Mendrix understands that in some respects The War Master isn’t a contemplative type to understand art. He plays at understanding it really and being a normal human being. I loved the development of their relationship where falling in love felt a tangible possibility. This is however the War Master who seems to want to get back to the war in the stars who Mendrix nicknames the General.

The contradiction within the gentler moments where the War Master reflects or wants to apologise but doesn’t know why or then later does to Mendrix played very much with my own emotions and allows the listener to almost forget who he is. Mendrix grows to fear the War Master isn’t the “hero” of the battle of the hill and so when the betrayal occurs in a larger plan I felt it was genuinely heartbreaking for her. As the War Master says to his institution therapist the purpose of art is to capture a perfect moment but what this means to him is something terrible for the planet.

9.2 The Long Despair by Tim Foley

I’m definitely a landlubber but there is a poetic dark edge to this story. Derek Jacobi is enjoying himself enormously cackling away within his cell recalling the story of trying to get to the light on the horizon of the ocean world of Mehr Kee. It’s a haunting story where you can feel the dripping murky atmosphere. Since the light appears it has caused all sorts of disasters., I like how the Captain played where the depth of broodiness, by Jason Flemyng, is only matched by the sea undercurrents he travels.

There is a hint of a past relationship with the innkeeper, played with concern by Neve McIntosh (she played Madame Vastra) in a small role who begs the Captain not to go. She has a bad feeling about the trip and the Master who I’m sure she describes as a fiend. However, the Captain is driven as is the Master so heeds no warnings. Choosing to accept to escort the Master to the light he has his own reasons for going but the Master doesn’t know them straight away. It puts both of them on an equal footing in forging a relationship where they have to rely on each other.

The journey to the light is a long one and I like how early on the device of mythical creatures, a sea witch, a thirst and a beast add a bit of peril for our travellers. The Master’s offence at being told where to go and not go speaks to the unwillingness I’ve realised within the Master to ever be out of control. He however has to relinquish control when he is ill and the Captain has to nurse him better. It’s such an interesting area to explore when the Master has these uncomfortable feelings.

The revelation of what the sea beast is made of is nasty and as the Captain’s reason for travelling to the light is made clear I did feel pity for him when he cradles a body he thinks is his father. Unlike the Doctor, the War Master doesn’t really have moral scruples and when he realises or does he reveals the light is a beacon pushed back through time leaving the planet to its fate I suppose isn’t that surprising.

9.3 The Life and Loves of Mr Alexander Bennett by Alfie Shaw

The third story from The War Master in the boxset moves to the near future but starts with the death of a fellow prisoner at  The Drane Institute which the War Master is accused of killing. The reason was he said he was a timelord and specifically the Master.  I was quite amused to imagine all the prisoners who in their insane state purport to be the Doctor and the Master. The War Master tells the story of Alexander Bennett. He is an ordinary man, downtrodden by his boss Glenn unable to have the confidence to leave his position to set up independently much to the anger of his girlfriend Mia Chan who is possibly the love of his life.

Their lives are organised by Maisu the electronic home assistant and when I noticed that Derek Jacobi was voicing the home assistant Maisu I didn’t instantly make the initial connection that the War Master could be somehow manipulating Alex. I know they have become much more commonplace but I honestly find them creepy. A gadget that can do everything for you at a command. No thanks! Slowly and surely the slow disintegration of Alex’s life piece by piece occurs until he is a broken man. I really enjoyed the performances from Jacob Dudman as Alexander Bennett and Kae Alexander ( as Mia Chan) together.

The great mystery is why the War Master is doing it but he is a master schemer for his own megalomanic ends. As he says to his therapist when you are with the enemy you don’t reveal everything.   The grand plan is of course revealed to Alex as the War Master takes delight in his scheme where he again is the winner.

9.4 The Kicker by Trevor Baxendale

I really liked the introduction to this story with moving events in the present day as the War Master is trying to teach chess to another prisoner Shilling played really well by Jack Forsyth-Noble). Shilling is in awe of the Master, almost childlike in his enthusiasm and definitely a character worth exploring more.

The arrival of Madame Sendaya at the Crane Institute from the Temporal Inquisition to confirm he is the Master sets up what should be a grand battle of wits. Unfortunately, the character of Madame Sendaya isn’t really a match for the War Master who plays the old man persona to perfection to deflect from her questioning. I did feel although it’s entertaining to listen to Derek Jacobi’s Master constantly twisting people around his finger I did want someone to really stand up to him. There is an explanation referring to the history of the place as an asylum which explains some of why he is there There’s also a twist which feels like it comes out of nowhere which I’m not convinced ties in with the themes of the first three stories.

This is the second War Master set I’ve listened to and judging it in isolation I like the curiosity of the Master telling stories his way. It does open up his character a bit. The first story feels the closest in terms of exploring the questions regarding his identity which is a running theme of the boxset and well as impacting within the politics of the Time War as the planet Chift loses its neutrality.  The second and third stories I think highlight more the War Masters’s cunning as a character without pity or conscience and use quite a bit of licence to push his character’s wickedness. As the last story is set in the present day, I would have quite liked to see characters such as Shilling and the governor Drane introduced earlier much like Bartholom sprinkled within the other stories a bit. It would have created a more cohesive feel to the whole box set.

It’s not a bad boxset at all with some haunting elements as the War Master manipulates individuals. I always had the sense the War Master could leave if he wanted to and we just needed to know why he stayed. I missed some of the humour I’d heard previously although it returns slightly in the last story. The War Master probably personally worked better for me in Hearts of Darkness. He was more on the fringes of the Time War rather than away from the main action and meddling on a backwater planet although that is probably more his usual modus operandi.

This box set is available to buy now 9. The War Master: Solitary Confinement – The War Master – Big Finish

Sir Derek Jacobi plays so well the wickedness of his Master. A solid 7/10