26 Years Ago Today, Doctor Who Finally Revealed the Master’s Origin Story (& Why He Really Hates the Doctor)

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The Master consistently ranks among the most iconic villains in Doctor Who. First appearing during Jon Pertwee’s time as the Doctor, and memorably portrayed by Roger Delgado, the Master serves as the Doctor’s arch-nemesis – a brilliant, evil counterpart. At his core, the Master is driven by overwhelming pride; he feels entitled to control others and is deeply resentful of the Doctor, whom he perceives as a rival.

The revelation of the Timeless Child deeply affected the Master, ultimately leading to his devastating destruction of the Time Lords. He couldn’t bear the idea that the Doctor was the original source of his ability to regenerate, and this drove him to commit genocide while trying to control all of time and space. But the origins of the Master’s descent into madness actually date back 26 years, explored in the novel The Dark Path by David A. McIntee.

The Dark Path is the Master’s Origin Story

As a huge Doctor Who fan, I remember being devastated when the show was cancelled by the BBC in 1989. But honestly, it never really went away. We fans called the next few years the “Wilderness Years” – a strange period where the Doctor’s adventures continued in novels and other formats. Virgin Publishing really kept things alive, first with books featuring Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor – those were called the “New Adventures.” Then, they started publishing “Missing Adventures” that filled in gaps with earlier Doctors. They kept releasing these books even after the TV movie with Paul McGann, although eventually the BBC took back control of the book rights.

Virgin’s 32nd Doctor Who novel, The Dark Path, tells the story of how the Master became who he is. It starts with him – then known as Koschei – as a bit of a copy of the Doctor: a Time Lord who travels the universe and interferes in events. However, even then, Koschei is noticeably more arrogant. He’s accompanied by a human companion named Aila, who shares similarities with Zoe Heriot, a companion of the Second Doctor. Unlike the Doctor, Koschei has an agreement with the Time Lords, suggesting he works for their secret agency. Koschei’s personality is reminiscent of the Fourth Doctor as played by Tom Baker.

As the title suggests, The Dark Path explores what could drive a Doctor-like character to become a villain. The story centers around the Darkheart, a powerful neutron star capable of altering history, which attracts the attention of both Koschei and the Second Doctor (played by Patrick Troughton). Initially, the Doctor distrusts Koschei, believing he’s an enemy. They end up working against each other, and then tragedy strikes when Koschei’s companion, Aila, dies.

Koschei’s Betrayal Makes Grim Sense for the Master

McIntee is a talented writer who crafts a captivating story about a hero’s descent into villainy. The character of Koschei’s transformation and use of power feels similar to a classic Doctor Who scene featuring Tom Baker, where the Doctor briefly held the Key to Time and was tempted by its potential. Koschei initially seems motivated by a selfless goal – bringing Aila back to life – but it quickly becomes clear he can’t be trusted with the power over time and space he’s gained, and he begins to misuse it.

Then, in a surprising turn of events, The Dark Path reveals Aila isn’t human – she’s a Time Lord spy. She was sent to watch Koschei because the Time Lords didn’t trust him, a callback to the classic Doctor Who era with companions like Romana, though her mission was much more secretive. Feeling betrayed, Koschei tries to use the Darkheart to gain ultimate power, but it fails disastrously, leaving him trapped in a black hole.

This finally explains why the Master, a former classmate of the Doctor, had used all of his regenerative abilities by the time he appeared in “Terror of the Autons.” Severely damaged by time travel, the Master rapidly went through every one of his lives, which caused his mind to become distorted and unstable. It’s no surprise he became fixated on taking the Doctor’s lives, as seen in the McGann film; he has a legitimate reason to hold the Doctor responsible for abandoning him in a black hole.

Whether The Dark Path is officially part of Doctor Who’s story is uncertain—and honestly, the show doesn’t really have official stories, as writers often playfully ignore established continuity. Regardless, McIntee’s story is fantastic. It provides a compelling explanation for the Master’s origins, portraying him as a Time Lord who was once very similar to the Doctor, but was ultimately corrupted by personal weaknesses, a devastating betrayal, and a deeply painful experience.

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2026-03-20 19:40