Theory:Doctor Who television discontinuity and plot holes/The Power of Kroll

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This page is for discussing the ways in which The Power of Kroll doesn't fit well with other DWU narratives. You can also talk about the plot holes that render its own, internal narrative confusing.

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• In episode 1, the Doctor states that the refinery has a crew of six. Even allowing for the fact that he was counting Mensch, that only brings the total up to five.

A fifth human crew member appears to be employed to pilot the refinery's hovercraft.

• 'Constellation' is once again used to mean 'solar system'.

This is almost more of a "continuity". In the Whoniverse (particularly amongst the Time Lords), the term constellation seems to be frequently used to refer to a star system or group of star systems.

In one of the novels (Devil Goblins from Neptune?) we learn that most star-spanning races have a word that means a group of stars that are related in some complex sense, and that humans will eventually use the word 'constellation' to mean that, rather than what it means today, and presumably that's why the TARDIS and the Doctor have always translated the word as 'constellation'.

• The Swampies, primitive in other ways, have perfected the art of bookbinding, since their history comes complete with an inlaid leather cover. (And why keep it in a hole in the ground?)

It is possible that before their forced relocation, the Swampies had a more advanced technology or set of skills and crafts which have been lost due to dwindling numbers and other factors. Such cultural erosions have happened to many peoples throughout the the history of the Earth. Likewise, the tome may have been abandoned at the bottom of the well because they have forgotten its significance.

The book is one of the few artefacts that have been able to bring from Delta Magna (as is the window). As most of their possessions are made from materials that would be available in a marshland environment, their primitive state has been exacerbated by their exile.

• The rain pouring through the broken window doesn't make our heroes wet.

It falls straight downwards and onto the drying creepers, meaning only their feet get wet.

• Towards the end of episode 3, the Swampies pursue the Doctor, Romana and Rohm-Dutt. Unknown to the Swampies, Rohm-Dutt is killed by Kroll, however in episode 4 the Swampie leader references pursuing only two escapees, even though he by rights should not be aware that Rohm-Dutt is dead.

All it would have taken would have been one Swampie to notice the death and report it to their leader.

• Given the sheer size of Kroll, it doesn't really make any sense for the Doctor and Romana not to have noticed it when it first emerged before the Swampies.