Product Details

• Actors: William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison
• Writers: Sydney Newman
• Producers: Peter Bryant
• Format: Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: BBC Warner
• VHS Release Date: July 19, 2000
• Run Time: 91 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004WG7X
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #47,397 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)

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  Video > Television > BBC > Genres > Science Fiction

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Power of Kroll is the fifth part of the "Key to Time" story arc, which comprised the whole of Doctor Who's 16th season. Like its five fellow serials in the arc, it's engaging pulp science fiction laced with offbeat humor courtesy of Tom Baker's eccentric performance as the Doctor. The search for the fifth segment of the Key to Time leads the Doctor and Romana (Mary Tamm) to the bayoulike moon of Delta Magna, where the "swampies"--the planet's green-skinned original inhabitants--are on the brink of rebellion against a colony of hostile humans that have set up a refinery on their land. The swampies call upon their god, a monstrous octopoid known as Kroll, to avenge them, which presents a considerable obstacle in the Doctor's search for the segment. Hampered by technical and behind-the-scenes setbacks (and the swampies' ludicrous appearance), The Power of Kroll is a lesser but still satisfying entry in both the "Key to Time" story arc and the Baker episodes. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars poor ole Kroll, Nimon, and Meglos., June 8, 2002

By	Black Cat de La Bear "see that dark shape o'r... (those dark halls) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Doctor Who - The Power of Kroll (Story 102) (The Key to Time Series, Part 5) (DVD)

Power of Kroll, Horns of Nimon, and Meglos... The most underrated shows in Dr. Who. I am reviewing the three of them here as Meglos and Nimon aren't on DVD -or!!- VHS. Sure, the special effects are paper mashe' monsters that stand still for five minutes doing nothing, but if one had half an imagination one could suspend thier disbelief. Dr. Who is not to be watched as a Box Office movie or a deep emotional TV series with heavy serious issues. No, these stories are simply fun to watch. And the stories interesting because they are unique and sometimes surreal. And the enjoyment they bring is the bottom line, isn't it...
Think of the sets as a play. That is how this is done. The opratic costume designs of Nimon and Meglos. Ignor the fact that Kroll looks like a paper mashe'. If you see a play the sets aren't there to be 'realistic' they are there as a simbol of what they represent. I think the monster is quiet good in Kroll if you ignor the fact that special effects are better now than then. People are too spoiled by special effects in shows that I find pale in comparison to Dr. Who as far a story and characters. Star Trek Next Gen, Farscape, Lexx, all a bunch of over-glorified soap opra filler with mush and sex and special FX.
Dr. Who, an entertaining story with beautiful sets, even if they aren't 'realistic' or 'believable'. Surreal is what outer space is all about.

And on a final note: PLEASE RELEASE MEGLOS AND HORNS OF NIMON ON DVD(or at the very least VHS.) Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, and K-9(John Leason) are in both of them. Thank you!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forget The Other Reviews And Read Mine!, January 29, 2000

By	Jim Kolner (Wilmington, Deleware) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Doctor Who - The Power of Kroll [VHS] (VHS Tape)

What are you guys talking about? This was the greatest episode ever! Tom Baker's wit powers this episode from beginig to end. If you say that you didn't know that the squid was the fifth segment until the end, then you are a liar! And what do you mean that wasn't a real oil offshore rig (no models here)? Anyway, I recomend this video to everyone--it is essential for any Who collection! GRAHAM WILLIAMS WAS THE BEST PRODUCER THE SHOW EVER HAD!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Underrated, May 11, 2002

By	Illumination "G.Smith" (Beds, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Doctor Who - The Power of Kroll [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This story is from the age when the Tom Baker era was going downhill, but I'd say it's the best I've seen of the Key to Time season. Okay, so the special effects aren't all that awe-inspiring, but who watches Dr Who for the special effects? The story, involving tribal worshipping of a god who turns out to be an outsized squid-like beast and the invasion of a primative culture, is well-written and entertaining. Tom Baker is at his best, and the final episode is a blast.