Doctor Who "The Sea Devils - Episode One" (1972)

This serial gets off to a solid start with the introduction of the characters and plot lines that will make up the remainder of it. The Doctor and Jo decide to pay a visit to the Master who is incarcerated after being caught in the previous season finale. Little do they know the Master has struck a bargain with the head prison official while some type of sea creatures are responsible for missing ships in the surrounding waters that both the Navy and the Master have an interest in. Watching the original series' serials out of order through the DVD releases, this is actually only the second I have seen to feature the Master. The first was "The Claws of Axos" were the Master was secondary to the title monsters and not really given much to do. Here however he is right from the start more involved in the proceedings than the Doctor knows and the scenes between the Doctor and the Master play with a friendly disposition while lying just beneath the surface is intense distrust. All three leads are played with the usual professionalism and Pertwee is brilliant in the scenes where his pass must be continually checked before he is granted an audience with the Master.

UNIT for the most part is missing from this serial, aside from the Doctor and Jo, as the Royal Navy steps into its place for a practical purpose as the alien menace is coming from the seas. Captain Hart (Edwin Richfield) in this episode comes off a bit distrusting of the Doctor as he has trespassed onto a secret military base but it aware enough of his reputation to provide reasonable support when requested. He seems frustrated that his investigation is going nowhere and it looks as if he is willing to grant the Doctor some leeway into helping him. Of course in the end the Doctor and Jo have to sneak out to the sea fort which the missing ship attacks have centered around where some of the creatures are roaming the corridors.

At the prison the Master has convinced Colonel Trenchard (Clive Morton) to work with him, rather than hypnotize him as is his usual method. Trenchard appears to be a reasonable man and it shows how charming and convincing the Master must be if he can get the Colonel to go along with his plans willingly. We don't know yet what the Master is up to but he makes a welcome return as he remains civil and courteous when the Doctor and Jo first come to visit him. The Doctor smartly doesn't believe his changed man routine as well as him being thankful for being imprisoned but I think the Doctor wants to give him the benefit of the doubt as he looks concerned for the Master's well being. There is a lovely scene when the Doctor departs where the two almost shake hands and at the last second the Doctor just gives a wave. The Doctor is still very much aware of how dangerous the Master can be and if the Doctor can forget that fact, even for a second, it's reasonable that other characters who do not know him personally could also dare to trust him.

Favorite moment: The Master is viewing a television show, The Clangers, predominantly for children which feature puppet aliens that inhabit asteroids. He seems quite taken with the show and enjoys it immensely. Upon his discovery that it a show for children he seems to grow a bit disappointed and turns off the screen. This little bit shows the softer side of the Master as he is not just the personification of evil as we would all like to believe and he can find amusement in the simple pleasures much like the Doctor.