kingandy | Panic Over

The Ma-ster sting in Donna's theme is indeed present when it plays in The Runaway Bride; it strikes when they flash back to Donna proposing to Lance. I suspect it appeared here first, as a simple counterpoint to the chirpy main theme, and Gold built on the sinister undertones later (consciously or otherwise) to create the Master's theme. Potentially the staccato triplets are even what inspired RTD's Sound of Drums.

Yes, I did watch the Runaway Bride specifically to determine this. And while I did it, I built a model Tardis console room. This took a little longer than the episode itself, plus all the special features and "Blink" with the commentary, which is why I was awake at half past five this morning.

HALF! PAST! FIVE!

I AM SO VERY AWAKE