 The story is most distinguished for being Robert Holmes’ first contribution to show. He would become one of Doctor Who’s most prolific and influential writer and script editor in the shows history.
"The Krotons" was a quick replacement for another story (Dick Sharples' "The Prison in Space"). "The Krotons" was actually submitted, by Robert Holmes, three years before to the Doctor Who offices as "The Trap". Despite not being rejected Robert Holmes’ script went no further at the time. It was not until Terrance Dicks (at the time an Assistant Script Editor) found the story, in the production office files, that he decided to develop the story, with Robert Holmes, as a personal project in case other scripts fell through. When it was decided not to continue with Dick Sharples script, "Prison in Space", Terrance Dicks was able to present Robert Holmes’ story to his superiors as a ready production.
This story features a guest appearance by popular Welsh actor Philip Madoc as Eelek. In 1966 he appeared in the Amicus Doctor Who film Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150 AD, staring Peter Cushing as Doctor Who. As well as "The Krotons" he appeared in another Second Doctor story "The War Games" and then again in two Fourth Doctor stories: the 1976 "The Brain of Morbius" and the 1979 "The Power of Kroll".
Frazer Hines (who plays the part of companion Jamie McCrimmon) was originally planning to leave the show at this point, and would have departed in "The Prison in Space" being replaced by a new companion. However, upon learning that Patrick Troughton was intending to leave at the end of the year Frazer Hines opted to stay on; this was one of the reasons why "The Prison in Space" was dropped.
Unusually episode one was captured directly on 35mm film rather than videotape.
One of Robert Holmes's final contributions to the show, "The Mysterious Planet", bears a strong resemblance to the plot of this story. In both stories, an alien machine subjugates a humanoid civilisation and forces its brightest young people into its service.
It is revealed that the Krotons have been on the planet for 'thousands of years'. Gond history talks of 'silver men' coming from the sky and bringing 'poisonous rain'. They are crystalline, as is their ship, the Dynatrope. They cannot die, but 'exhaust' if their structure is destroyed.
The TARDIS' Hostile Action Displacement System (HADS) is seen in action, for the first time, when a Kroton attempts to destroy it. It is a version of the relocation device mentioned in "The Mind Robber". The TARDIS moves back to its original location by the end of this story. The assumption seems to be that the TARDIS is not indestructible.
A Kroton warship and its crew later feature prominently in the BBC The Eighth Doctor Stories novel "Alien Bodies" which expands upon the hive mind of the crystalline creatures.
This story was repeated on BBC2 in November 1981 as part of "The Five Faces of Doctor Who" - a series of repeats to bridge the long gap between Season Eighteen and Season Nineteen. At the time it was the only 4 part Patrick Troughton story still held in the BBC archives.
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The Firsts:
The first Doctor Who story to be written by Robert Holmes.
The first time the TARDIS' Hostile Action Displacement System (HADS) is seen in action
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(Position = 141 out of 159)
(Position = 166 out of 200)
