The Krotons (TV story)

''This is about the serial. For the race, see Kroton''.

The Krotons was the fourth story of Season 6 of Doctor Who. Future script editor Robert Holmes penned this story, his first for the series.

Synopsis
The Doctor visits a planet where the native Gonds are being controlled by The Krotons. Can the doctor free them?

Plot
On an unnamed planet, a race called the Gonds are subject to the mysterious Krotons, unseen beings to whom they provide their brightest intelligences as “companions”. Thara, son of the Gond leader Selris, is the only one of his race to object to this practice. The Second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe arrive in time to witness the death of one of the chosen companions and intervene to save Vana, the other selected for this fate, using her survival as a means to convince Selris and the Gonds of the malign influence of the Krotons on their society. The Doctor calls it "self-perpetuating slavery” by which the brightest in Gond society have been removed. Similarly, there are large gaps in their knowledge, especially relating to chemistry. This situation has been in existence for many years since the Krotons arrived in their spaceship, polluting the lands beyond the Gond city and killing much of the Gond population.

Thara uses the disquiet of the situation to lead a rebellion and attack the Teaching Machines of the Krotons in the Hall of Learning. This prompts a crystalline probe to appear and defend the Machines, and warned the Gonds to cease their rebellion. Zoe now tries the Teaching Machines and is selected to be a “companion” of the Krotons. The Doctor elects the same fate and both are summoned into the Dynotrope where they are subjected to a mental attack. . Zoe deduces that the Krotons have found a way to transfer mental power into pure energy, while the Doctor busies himself with taking chemical samples of the Kroton environment. Circumstances now trigger the creation of two Krotons from chemical vats with the Dynatrope (the Kroton spaceship). The newly created Krotons capture Jamie but are really seeking the Doctor and Zoe, the “High Brains”, who have now left the Dynatrope. It takes Jamie quite some time before he is able to make an effective escape.

Eelek and Axus, two councillors previously loyal to the Krotons, who begin to rally for all-out war with the Krotons, have now seized the initiative in Gond society. The more level headed Selris is deposed, but warns that an all-out attack will not benefit his people. Instead he has decided to attack the machine from underneath by destabilising its very foundation in the underhall. Eelek has Selris arrested and also reasserts control by negotiating with the Krotons that they will leave the planet if provided with the two “High Brains” who can help them power and pilot their ship. Zoe and the Doctor are forced into the Dynatrope and Selris dies providing them with a phial of acid which the Doctor adds to the Kroton vats. Outside, Jamie and the scientist Beta launch an attack on the structure of the ship using sulphuric acid. This two pronged assault destroys the tellurium-based Krotons and their craft. The Dynatrope dissolves away and the Gonds are free at last - choosing Thara rather than the cowardly and ambitious Eelek to lead them.

Cast

 * The Doctor - Patrick Troughton
 * Jamie McCrimmon - Frazer Hines
 * Zoe Heriot - Wendy Padbury
 * Abu - Terence Brown
 * Axus - Richard Ireson
 * Beta - James Cairncross
 * Custodian - Maurice Selwyn
 * Eelek - Philip Madoc
 * Kroton - Robert La'Bassiere
 * Kroton - Miles Northover
 * Kroton Voice - Roy Skelton
 * Kroton Voice - Patrick Tull
 * Selris - James Copeland
 * Student - Bronson Shaw
 * Thara - Gilbert Wynne
 * Vana - Madeleine Mills

Crew

 * Assistant Floor Manager - David Tilley
 * Costumes - Bobi Bartlett
 * Designer - Raymond London
 * Film Cameraman - Alan Jonas
 * Film Editor - Martyn Day
 * Make-Up - Sylvia James
 * Producer - Peter Bryant
 * Production Assistant - Edwina Verner
 * Script Editor - Terrance Dicks
 * Special Sounds - Brian Hodgson
 * Studio Lighting - Howard King
 * Studio Sound - John Holmes
 * Theme Arrangement - Delia Derbyshire
 * Title Music - Ron Grainer
 * Visual Effects - Bill King

Story Notes

 * All episodes of this serial exist in 35 mm telerecording negative
 * This was repeted as part of The Five Faces of Doctor Who..

Ratings

 * Episode 1 - 9.0m viewers
 * Episode 2 - 8.4m viewers
 * Episode 3 - 7.5m viewers
 * Episode 4 - 7.1m viewers

Myths

 * The Krotons were the winning entry in a Blue Peter 'design a monster' competition. (One of the winning entries in a Blue Peter 'design a monster competition, the 'Aqua-Man', resembled a cardboard box with legs and arms - similar to the Krotons' appearance.)

Location Filming
to be added

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

 * The first shot is of a sliding door refusing to open.
 * Vana's cloak falls off when she raises her arms in episode one.
 * Zoe's jacket is badly torn at one shoulder in episode four.
 * Selris is Scottish.
 * Beta is magically transported from place to place.

Continuity

 * The Krotons appear in Alien Bodies which explores in further detail of the Kroton's origins.

DVD and Video Releases

 * Released on video as "The Krotons" in episodic format in 1991.

Target Novelisations

 * A novelisation of this serial, written by Terrance Dicks, was published by Target Books in June 1985.