2.18: The Krotons

In which probably the most important Who writer of the 20th century makes his debut.

Broadcast: December 1968-January 1969

Watched: November 2019

The Krotons, Episode One

Rather enjoyed that. Another one that looks better in context because thank f*** it’s not a story we’ve seen thirty times already.

The model of the city is not remotely realistic. The set up, with unseen aliens taking the best and brightest, is quite intriguing. The Doctor mourning his umbrella is good.

One weird thing about this period - people refer to “enormous scientific power” as if that makes sense, as if science is a source of power in itself. Sort of means technology, I guess, but sounds odd now.

“Keep away from it,” the Doctor says of an alien, immediately after acknowledging the existence of energy weapons.

“You can’t defeat them with an axe! Now, a laser,” is very funny.

The Krotons, Episode Two

Zoe’s obnoxious smirk when told how clever she is is quite funny. So is the Doctor being rubbish at maths. Jamie being left behind when the other two are taken into the machine is weirdly sad. Though not as sad as the dramatic irony of the krotons kidnapping him for his brains. Poor Jamie.

Some genuinely really interesting direction in the bit where the Doctor & Zoe are inside the machine - distorted lenses and so on.

The thought occurs that the krotons themselves are probably the most alien species we’ve seen yet. I think they’d be held in higher esteem if they didn’t have identical monotone voices. Admittedly, the design is also very silly, but this is Doctor Who, so.

The Krotons, Episode Three

“You have no value.” Poor worthless Jamie.

More unusual direction with the Krotons’ eye-view stuff.

There’s a lot going on in this story - the slightly Trek-y sci fi plot, the Gond rebellion and debates about strategy, decent material for all the regulars. I’m not sure I’d say it’s good, or even thematically coherent… but it’s creatively ambitious in a way a lot of the previous season wasn’t. [This is almost certainly, I will realise later, because its writer, Robert Holmes, thinks it’s his job to throw in something new every episode. He will go on to write another 17 stories, invent the Sontarans, introduction the Master and script edit three and a half seasons between 1974 and 1977.]

Oh, this is where the HADS come from. [A TARDIS defence system, later seen in action in an annoying bit of a Matt Smith episode.]

“The good guys bring the roof down on themselves through sheer stupidity” is a bold cliffhanger. Also, I can’t parse the thematic logic of the Doctor telling the Gonds “You’re meddling with things you don’t understand!” at all. Soooo they do need the Krotons, or-?

How are there two Kroton voice actors when they only have one voice?

The Krotons, Episode Four

There’s probably a Marxist reading here if you want it. The Gonds don’t realise the Krotons’ power comes from them, some want gradual change, others want revolution, and are willing to sell the intellectuals out to get it. But that might give its makers too much credit. [Also, let’s be honest, Holmes, a former cop, was really not a Marxist, was he.]

Zoe trying to steal the Doctor’s braces is cheeky as f***.  They’re both really mean about Jamie having an “untrained mind”.

Bit weird how we’re meant to be pleased at the end of this that the hereditary succession principle has reasserted itself. [Told you.]

Something that’s dawned on me during this... Holmes is good at escalating his stories as they go on. There’s always a lot going on, there are multiple plots in this and character stuff and even glances at themes. But I also don’t find his stuff terribly compelling, and when I do it’s direction and performance rather than writing.

Just me?