The Toclafane were killer flying balls from the far future. In the year 100 trillion, the universe is coming to an end! However, the last survivors of the human race cannibalise themselves and turn into Toclafane. The Master has stolen the Doctor’s TARDIS and he turns it into a paradox machine. This enables billions of Toclafane to fly back in time to present day Earth so that they can murder and enslave their ancestors. The Tenth Doctor is incapacitated by the Master and Jack is captured, which leaves everything down to Martha to save the day! This was one of the darkest season finales in Doctor Who‘s history. The Master is the Doctor’s ultimate frenemy!
Utopia/The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords
★★★★★
TX: 16-30/06/2007
Written by Russell T Davies Directed by Colin Teague
The Tenth Doctor, Martha and Captain Jack pursue the Master from the year 100 trillion to present day Earth (Utopia). However, they discover that the Master has now become the UK Prime Minister, under the disguise of Harold Saxon. The Master murders his cabinet and prepares the world for first contact with an alien race called the Toclafane (which resemble spheres). The Master has hypnotised the population of Earth using the Arkangel network of satellites in orbit. Using the same technology, the Doctor, Martha and Jack create perception filters for themselves using the TARDIS keys. Martha’s family are kidnapped by the Master and the Doctor, Jack and Martha become fugitives. The trio eventually make it aboard the Valiant, a U.N.I.T ship where the US President is about to make first contact with the Toclafane. This episode is partly an allegory for the special relationship between war criminals President George W Bush and multi-millionaire Prime Minister Tony Blair. However, just after the Toclafane arrive, the Master reveals himself and orders the Toclafane to assassinate the President, mirroring the events of The Deadly Assassin. Unfortunately, Donald Trump survived three assassination attempts last year. The Master has turned the Doctor’s stolen TARDIS into a paradox machine which allows billions of Toclafane through a crack in time to the far future. The Master orders the Toclafane to kill one tenth of the world’s population. Series 3 has arguably the darkest finale in New Who! The Master is married to Lucy Saxon. Unfortunately for nice guys, some women prefer nasty guys instead of us because they think that they can save them or because they are nasty too. Lucy Saxon stands by the Master’s side while he conquers the Earth. The Master ages the Doctor by 100 years using his laser screwdriver, which contains a genetic manipulation device (The Lazarus Experiment). Martha escapes using Jack’s vortex manipulator.
Martha spends a year travelling the world, talking to survivors. The Earth is enslaved by the Master and humans are forced to build rockets to begin a war with the rest of the universe. Martha later discovers the horrifying truth that the Toclafane are in fact humans from the year 100 trillion that cannibalised themselves as the universe collapsed around them. The Toclafane have come back in time to murder and enslave their ancestors, thanks to the Master’s paradox machine. Martha and another survivor called Tom Milligan make their way to London. Women should be allowed to walk the streets at night and feel safe. Martha is captured and the Master kills Tom Milligan. Martha is taken to the Valiant to be executed by the Master in front of her family and the Doctor. The Master and the Toclafane plan to rule a vast empire lasting 100 trillion years. However, Martha’s plan was to tell everyone on Earth about the Doctor so that they all think about him at the same time and using the Arkangel network, the Doctor is restored to normal through psychic means. The Doctor confronts the Master and the two fight down on Earth. The Master threatens to detonate all of the missiles that he has created, but the Doctor knows that the Master could never kill himself. The two teleport back aboard the Valiant moments before billions of Toclafane attack. Jack destroys the paradox machine and time reverts back to the moment after the US President was killed by the Toclafane. The Master’s year of terror never happened! The Master’s wife Lucy Saxon shoots the Master and he refuses to regenerate. The Doctor later cremates the Master’s body. When I was a kid, I always believed that the Doctor was a god who could choose who lives and who dies. Jack returns to Torchwood in Cardiff Bay. But Martha, weary from her travels and the Doctor’s unreciprocated love for her, decides to stay on Earth with her traumatised family. The Tenth Doctor leaves to have further adventures on his own (Time Crash). But suddenly, the Titanic crashes into the TARDIS (Voyage of the Damned)!
Chris Olsen's TARDIS 