Doctor Who fandom question - Season 3

[timepiececlock]

Is there a general consensus in DW fandom (or fanon) about how The Master/Harold Saxon felt about his wife, Lucy? Regarding whether she was only a device for his persona, or if he had any affection for her? On the one hand we know he included her in his plans, but on the other hand she was probably a victim of domestic violence--at the least, lived in constant domestic fear for a year (and possibly was on drugs? or very depressed.)

I don't know much about the Master's previous incarnations or how he might have felt toward sex with humans, if he was basically implied to be sexless for 800 years like the previous Doctors, or not. I remember he said something like "Always the women, eh Doctor?" to Ten, as if the Doctor had also lost significant battles because of Blame Teh Vagina, which frankly I doubt, since it looks like he only discovered the v-word when he picked up Rose Tyler. Does this mean that the Master has had relationships before? Is the Doctor the only Time Lord who is forbidden because of his job to have romantic relationships with lesser moral races, or do most of them abstain?

Your thoughts and curiosities are welcome!

Comments

[celestinenox]

I know very little about previous incarnations myself, having only seen New Who.

Nor do I know anything about the general consensus.

Personally, my opinion is that he might have cared for her in the way someone cares for a pet. Something pretty, and cuddly to hold on to, and depending on his past, something novel. He couldn't have cared too much for her, because I agree she was a victim of domestic abuse, and I don't think someone who beats their spouse can really love that person.

I think Lucy was representative of what could have been; perhaps he had the capacity to love her, but couldn't truly bring himself to do so.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

I think Lucy was a toy for him, someone who was already emotional unstable and who he enjoyed destroying. She was also part of his "mirroring the Doctor" thing--regenerating to be young and strong, acting manic and goofy, "saving" humanity, and having a romance with a cute blond companion. She's kind of the dark version of Rose, even down to having some of the same dialogue: "I've made my choice." It's arguable how much (if at all) the Master actually cares for her--I think you could interpret this any number of ways based on the text.

Is the Doctor the only Time Lord who is forbidden because of his job to have romantic relationships with lesser moral races

I don't think there's any textual evidence of the Doctor being forbidden anything. He doesn't have a job or a boss; he rebelled against the Time Lords, stole a TARDIS, and is out for adventure (and, y'know, helping, because he's a good-hearted guy, but he's definitely not one for rules).

I don't think we saw the Master having romance in the past (though I could be wrong). I suppose if you prefer Time Lords to be asexual, you could take this as further evidence, but I'd mostly blame it on the style of the genre and the norms of television at the time the original series was made. Plus, the Master is single-mindedly obsessed with the Doctor--basically everything he does is to create an effect on the Doctor. Most of their interactions are dripping with (debatably intentional) homo-erotic subtext, which I'd take as the defining aspect of the Master's sexuality. Whether he's attracted to the Doctor or not, he doesn't seem to have time for much of anything aside from gaining power and getting the Doctor's attention.

BTW, I think "Always the women" was a reference to Chantho, who had just shot the Master in his Derek Jacobi form two episodes before.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I think "Always the women" was a reference to Chantho, who had just shot the Master in his Derek Jacobi form two episodes before.

You know, that makes SO much sense. Thank you! That line has bugged me ever since I heard it because I did not know WTF he was talking about there.

I hadn't looked at Lucy as a mirror of Rose, but I definitely see it now that you pointed to it. I had assumed he used her as a political tool and partner to get Harold Saxon into office, but I can see how he'd want to mimic the Doctor that way too. Thanks for your thoughts!

[goldy-dollar.livejournal.com]

Ooh! [Bad username or site: intrikate88 / @ livejournal.com] wrote a good Lucy/Master story a while back. I think I have it in my memories...

http://intrikate88.livejournal.com/98565.html