I’m back with another DOCTOR WHO META on another of the Great Houses of Gallifrey. This time the house that my favorite villain, the Master, is from.
Not much is known about this house, so PLEASE NOTE: This will mostly be my own headcanons and interpretations with this one.
______________________________________
The House of Oakdown was only mentioned in the BBC Past Doctor’s Novel: Divided Loyalties and indirectly in The End of Time episode when the Master speaks of his father’s estates.
Facts about House Oakdown:
This is the only time Oakdown is mentioned in the book, Divided Loyalties.
Other things I’m adding as facts to Oakdown as supported by the Master’s childhood mentioned in the show include:
In the Episode, The End of Time, The Master says growing up on Gallifrey was not something one could call childhood, but "more a life of duty". He even goes on to explain how the Doctor and himself would play in the fields near the Master's father's estates, with pastures of red grass near Mount Perdition.
The Master used to blame his mother and father for being discontented and angry. (Big Finish Audio: I Am The Master)
_____________________________________
Notable members of House Oakdown:
The Master’s Father/Marnal (BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures: The Gallifrey Chronicles & The End of Time)
The Master’s Daughter (The Witch’s Familiar)
_______________________________________
Media House Oakdown is mentioned in:
________________________________________
My Conclusion about House Oakdown:
Being the huge Master fan I am, it’s kinda sad that we don’t have more exploration on the subject of his childhood or family home. So, I’ve developed some headcanons of my own to match with the little bit of information we have to go on above.
The Master’s Parents & the Drums: Obviously it seems he didn’t get along well with them and blames them for always being discontent and angry, which probably doesn’t help with the battle of the drums sounding in his head. With this line alone, it seems the Master didn’t have much of a support system early on in his childhood. He even says that growing up on Gallifrey wasn’t a childhood, but a life of duty, meaning they expected a lot of their possibly only heir.
Lonely Semi-Rich Kid?: Now with the fact that the Master speaks of his “father’s estates”, implies that they might be a rich family, though not as rich and powerful as a house like Dvora or Tracolix. However, it’s never spoken of anything other than that. Obviously Oakdown follows the rules and scolds those who don’t as seen in Divided Loyalties. I also think that since the Master didn’t have such a great relationship with his parents that his only support system is in his life was his best friend, the Doctor aka Theta Sigma, hence why they became friends. I mean, they are practically a mirror to each other after all.
Oakdown & the Master’s Fate: Despite being the same as the Doctor, the Master obviously started to take a different path in life from his friend, leaving Gallifrey and becoming a renegade trying to take over the universe. I honestly think this stems from the fact he had no control in his life, so this is him trying to gain it back. Obviously it’s not the right way, but he feels it’s the ONLY way to make things right, so that’s why he is the way he is. He wants to get a sense of control over his life because he didn’t have it growing up, so he controls, manipulates, and hypnotises, trying to take over the universe to bring control and order. As for the fate of Oakdown, it probably was lost in the war, but we will never really know. However, at least he gets revenge back at Rassilon for causing the Drumming all his life and using him as a means to return Gallifrey. YEAH!
Anyone else have any headcanons or interpretations of their own about the Master’s childhood home or childhood? Please share.
