3 out of 5

Directed by: Christopher Barry

Primarily notable as the first full Patrick Troughton serial, ‘Power’ suffers from extension boredom, which the unfortunately-named symptom I’ve decided to name the effect of Who serials that prattle on for too many parts.

In summary: Doctor regenerates, plays a recorder, hops off the ship into mystery, stumbles across a dead body, impersonates ‘The Advisor’ – preusmably the dead body – because he’s the Doctor and forever invested in his foibles, and ends up getting wrapped up in a local people vs. the government rebellion.  Also: there are Daleks, de-powered and stored in a crashed space capsule which this ‘advisor’ was tasked to come forth and examine.  Lucky the replacement has history with the contents; unluckily no one really believes his rantings about the dangers, as the local scientists power up the machines and believe they can task them to and fro.  Thus ensues that early sci-fi logic of “we can use these robots for anything!” – which ignores the practicality of actually doing so – but regardless, it’s a ruse, innit?  The D’s are just storing up energy and time for their own revolt, and both rebellions come to a head at the same time, with The Daleks flipping back and forth to each side as it suits them.

…Which is the main failing of the serial.  The inclusion of the Daleks feels like bait just to get people to stay on board with the new Doc (even though he’s a breath of fresh air); tossing in the series’ most popular foe would certainly do the trick, but it never fully gels with the rebellion plot, despite the parallels.  Perhaps slimming the serial down by some episodes and focusing on one half of the story or the other would’ve been fine.  But perhaps not, as the “why would we believe this dude’s rantings about the dangers?” device has been used several times by this point.  So it’s really just an average tale, almost playing it safe.  This isn’t a horrible thing, as it does allow Troughton to shine as the more light-hearted version of Hartnell’s wayward giddiness.  Whereas the First Doctor came across as forgetful and curmudgeonly, Second D is eccentric, which definitely would became a thing for doctors of the future.  Hartnell: solutions to problems that generally seem only due to their being in the script.  Troughton: makes it seem like he actually knows what he’s doing.  Just, y’know, while childishly playing a recorder.  (Pardon my random capitalization there.  I don’t know no English rules.)

Ben and Polly’s response to the Doctor is also fun.  It bypasses a lot of “what ifs…?” by having them suss out the regeneration process, and the script (David Whitaker, Dennis Spooner) doesn’t milk the same-person-in-a-new-body comedy thing for longer than necessary.  They’re good, capable companions, neither one annoying.  Which may mean they’ll exit the picture soon, who knows.  (Answer: People who have viewed the show before.)

Power of the Daleks is a successful transition and introduction to Patrick Troughton.  As a Who story, it’s pretty average, but definitely sets the stage for promising adventures.