Behind the scenes, producer Graham William and story editor Anthony Read asked long-time series 'safe pair of hands' writer Robert Holmes for a story featuring a very large central monster that could be affordably achieved on screen, and that's exactly what they got within the penultimate tale of the Key to Time adventure search: The Power of Kroll, as the mighty titular beast emerges from the swamps of Delta Magna in all its mucky glory to satisfy its need for human and swampie inhabitants. But, as we and our heroes soon discover, there's much more to this unusual and immense creature than meets the eye...
It was an interesting four-parter idea, featuring an intriguing sci-fi spin by Holmes on British Colonialism that would be explored again later by the author with his next work, and the rather better The Caves of Androzani. There's some great filmed location work and a solid cast, but the overall cheapness of the studio filming rather spoils things, and such cheapness would also be noticed by the 1979 powers-that-be on the upper levels of BBC TV centre...
 |
| Cover art by Andrew Skilleter. |
Terrance Dicks' workmanlike Target novel adaptation is now available on audiobook, from BBC BOOKS. Get it here:
No comments:
Post a Comment