The latest Doctor Who episode, “The Devil’s Chord,” has introduced a villain unlike any the Doctor has faced before: Maestro, portrayed with flamboyant brilliance by Jinkx Monsoon. This god-like entity, with a penchant for pianos and a terrifying thirst for silence, is not just another monster of the week; Maestro is poised to redefine the stakes for the Doctor and the entire universe. Let’s delve into the discordant chaos Maestro brings and why Jinkx Monsoon’s portrayal is striking a chord with audiences.
Jinkx Monsoon as the Maestro villain on Doctor Who holding a baton at a piano, exuding theatrical menace.
Maestro: More Than Just a Bum Note
Set against the iconic backdrop of Abbey Road Studios in 1963, “The Devil’s Chord” initially seems like a fun historical romp with the Beatles. However, something is terribly wrong. The Fab Four’s music lacks its usual spark, their performance flat and uninspired. The culprit? Maestro, a being who is systematically draining music from the world, leaving behind a tuneless void. This isn’t just about bad tunes; it’s a cosmic threat that could unravel reality itself.
Maestro’s introduction is far from subtle. Materializing from a piano, Jinkx Monsoon embodies the character with a theatrical flair that is both captivating and chilling. Described by showrunner Russell T. Davies as the “Doctor’s most powerful enemy yet,” Maestro’s abilities extend beyond mere musical manipulation. They can control and consume music, warp reality, and even exert influence over the TARDIS, the Doctor’s time-traveling vessel. This level of power immediately establishes Maestro as a significant threat, far exceeding many previous Doctor Who antagonists.
The Silence of Music: Maestro’s Sinister Symphony
Maestro’s motivation is not simple world domination; it’s a hunger for musical energy. “Every song that goes unsung feeds me,” Maestro declares, revealing a chillingly poetic source of power. By absorbing music, Maestro grows stronger, with the ultimate goal of stealing “the music of the spheres,” a concept suggesting the fundamental harmony of the universe. Should Maestro succeed, the universe itself would cease to function, plunging into silent chaos.
The episode vividly portrays the devastating consequences of Maestro’s actions. By 1963, the Beatles are musically neutered, and history itself is distorted, indicated by a headline about a more aggressive Soviet Union. The episode jumps to a grim 2024 London, depicted as a post-apocalyptic wasteland, a world where music has been utterly extinguished. Maestro chillingly describes the silence as “The sound of a nuclear winter. The purest music of all,” highlighting the villain’s warped perception of harmony and destruction.
A Lineage of Chaos: Maestro and The Toymaker
For long-time Doctor Who fans, Maestro’s maniacal laughter and reality-bending powers might sound familiar. Maestro is revealed to be the offspring of the Toymaker, a classic villain from the 1960s who made a spectacular return in the 60th-anniversary special, “The Giggle,” played by Neil Patrick Harris. This familial connection establishes Maestro within a lineage of god-like beings who represent existential threats to the Doctor.
Jinkx Monsoon as Maestro in Doctor Who, showcasing a dramatic and powerful stage presence as a villain.
While the Toymaker’s domain was games, Maestro’s is music, but both share a capacity to terrify and challenge the Doctor on a fundamental level. The Doctor’s previous encounter with the Toymaker was so traumatic it resulted in a “bigeneration,” splitting the Doctor into two. This history underscores the gravity of the threat posed by Maestro and the wider family of “gods of chaos.” However, even these powerful beings have weaknesses. The Toymaker was defeated by a simple game, and Maestro, surprisingly, is vanquished by the collaborative musical genius of Lennon and McCartney, suggesting that creativity and human connection can be potent weapons against even cosmic threats.
Encore or Fade Out? Maestro’s Future in Doctor Who
While seemingly defeated at the end of “The Devil’s Chord,” the episode subtly hints at Maestro’s potential return. The appearance of their son, Henry Arbinger, during the episode’s musical finale suggests unfinished business and a possible continuation of Maestro’s chaotic symphony.
Furthermore, Maestro’s cryptic questions about Ruby Sunday, the Doctor’s new companion, raise intriguing mysteries for the season. Maestro senses a powerful song, “Carol of the Bells,” hidden within Ruby, and questions its power and connection to “the Oldest One,” hinting at deeper storylines linked to Ruby’s enigmatic past and the overarching narrative of the season.
A Pantheon of Villains: Gods and Monsters to Come
Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday in Doctor Who episode "The Devil's Chord", facing an unknown musical threat.
“The Devil’s Chord” is not just about Maestro; it’s an introduction to a larger concept: a pantheon of gods threatening the Doctor’s universe. The Toymaker warned of “legions” approaching, and showrunner Russell T. Davies has confirmed that at least three more god-like entities are set to appear. These “gods of chaos,” as they are sometimes called, represent a significant escalation in the scale of threats the Doctor will face.
The most prominent of these upcoming threats is “the One Who Waits,” mentioned by both the Toymaker and Maestro as an even more formidable adversary. This shadowy figure looms as a potential ultimate villain for the season or beyond, creating a sense of suspense and anticipation for future episodes. The episode even playfully suggests that characters breaking the fourth wall, like Maestro and potentially Mrs. Flood, Ruby’s neighbor, might be clues to their god-like nature, adding layers of intrigue and prompting fan theories.
For now, the future of Maestro and the unfolding saga of the gods of chaos remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: Jinkx Monsoon’s Maestro has made a powerful debut, injecting a unique blend of musical menace and theatricality into Doctor Who. As “The Devil’s Chord” reminds us, in the world of Doctor Who, there’s always a twist at the end, and the music, or the silence, is far from over.
Doctor Who continues to stream on BBC iPlayer in the UK and Disney Plus internationally. Don’t miss the next movement in this epic saga.
