Dr. Lila Kreeg, the director of R&D for Drake Interplanetary, is working to create the world's first functioning transmat. Meanwhile, the Master, being trapped in the Time Vortex for years, has been manipulating Lila psychically to use her experiments to escape, all while grooming her into being his companion.
Tropes
- Computer Voice: Arial, the A.I. in charge of the transmat experiments.
- Dead Person Impersonation: After killing Magnus Drake, the Master impersonates him to take over his company.
- Evil Counterpart: The Master and Lila soon form a twisted relationship much The Doctor and his companions, with the Master even calling her his companion.
- MegaCorp: Earth has become a corporatocracy, with Drake Interplanetary being the one in charge.
- Outside-Context Problem: The Master is this to Earth in the 23rd century, which is still recovering from the Dalek invasion. They're used to clear threats and corporate espionage, but the Master's combination of knowledge, Time Lord powers, and ruthlessness quickly propels him to being the most powerful individual on the planet.
- Resurrection Teleportation: This tropes is played with, as Lila's experimental transmat, with a little help from Gallifreyan science, connects to the Master in the Time Vortex. He still needs a bit of extra juice to reform his body, and does so by draining and killing Lila's colleague Eddi.
- Satanic Archetype: The Master fills this role, manipulating Lila from behind the scenes to facilitate his escape from the vortex, tempting her with power. Lampshaded with the episode title, "Faustian".
- Shout-Out: The Master paraphrases Casablanca by saying "You know something Lila? I think this may be the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
- Shut Up, Hannibal!: When The Master first comes through Lila's portal, he tries his usual tricks on her, but finds she is too strong-minded for hypnosis. He then begins to flatter her, insist only he can help her, and suggests she has limited time. Lila sees through this and calls it "gaslighting, emotional blackmail, artificial time limits" mentioning her parents did the same. He then offers her a more straight-forward deal as Lila keeps him at arms-length.
