The Dynatrope’s Deadly Function Revealed
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Jamie leads the Doctor and Zoe to a large metal structure with a hexagonal door. They note the ramp and door, and Jamie points out a strong smell in the area, prompting the Doctor's interest.
The Doctor identifies the structure as a machine. As the door begins to open, he urges Jamie and Zoe to hide behind rocks for safety.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Alarmed and deeply unsettled by the machine's lethal function, his emotional state is a mix of confusion, concern for Abu, and readiness to defend the group. His trust in the Doctor is evident, but his instincts urge him to confront the threat directly.
Jamie reacts with alarm as the Dynatrope's door opens, his Highland instincts kicking in. He questions the Doctor about Abu's condition, his voice laced with concern and confusion. When Abu is dissolved, Jamie's shock is palpable, and he looks to the Doctor for guidance, ready to act on his command to retreat. His physical presence is tense, his body coiled as if prepared for a fight, though he follows the Doctor's lead.
- • Understanding what is happening to Abu and why, driven by his protective nature.
- • Following the Doctor's lead to ensure the crew's safety, even if it means retreating.
- • That the Krotons' system is unnatural and dangerous, requiring immediate action.
- • That the Doctor's judgment in these situations is reliable, even if his methods are sometimes mysterious.
Horror and empathy dominate her emotional state, tempered by her logical mind's need to understand the mechanics of the machine. She is deeply affected by Abu's fate, her sympathy underscoring the human cost of the Krotons' system.
Zoe watches the events unfold with a mix of scientific curiosity and horror. She questions the nature of the Dynatrope initially, her logical mind seeking answers. When Abu is dissolved, her empathy is immediate and visceral, her exclamation 'Oh, that poor man' reflecting her deep sympathy for his fate. She remains hidden with the others, her body language tense but controlled, her mind likely racing to process the implications of what she has witnessed.
- • Understanding the scientific and moral implications of the Dynatrope's function.
- • Supporting the Doctor and Jamie in ensuring their safety and continuing their mission to expose the Krotons.
- • That the Krotons' system is built on lies and exploitation, not education or progress.
- • That the crew's mission to free the Gond people is both necessary and urgent.
Dazed and passive, exhibiting no resistance or fear—his emotional state is numbed, likely due to Kroton conditioning, making his dissolution all the more tragic and revealing of the system's horror.
Abu emerges from the Dynatrope in a dazed and disoriented state, still wearing his ceremonial silver cape. He stumbles forward, his movements sluggish and uncoordinated, as if under the influence of a sedative or hypnosis. Moments later, he is enveloped in a thick, opaque gas emitted by the machine's nozzles. His body dissolves entirely, leaving only his metal breastplate and wire necklace behind, which clatter to the ground. His fate serves as a brutal revelation of the Krotons' true intentions.
- • Unknowingly fulfilling his role as a Kroton 'companion' (even in death).
- • Serving as a living sacrifice to the Krotons, reinforcing their oppressive control over the Gond people.
- • That his selection as a Kroton companion is an honor and a privilege, worth any cost.
- • That the Krotons are benevolent teachers and that their 'law' must be obeyed without question.
Horror-stricken yet analytically focused, balancing revulsion at the Krotons' cruelty with the need to understand and counteract their system. His urgency masks a deep moral outrage.
The Doctor quickly identifies the Dynatrope as a machine, not a natural structure, and immediately senses danger. He urges the crew to hide behind a boulder as the machine's door opens, revealing Abu. When the gas dissolves Abu, the Doctor remains hidden but observes intently, his expression a mix of horror and analytical focus. He silences Jamie and Zoe with a sharp 'Shush!' and later commands the crew to retreat, prioritizing their safety over further investigation at that moment.
- • Protecting Jamie and Zoe from immediate harm by ensuring they stay hidden and retreat.
- • Gathering critical evidence of the Krotons' true nature and their lethal control over the Gond people.
- • That the Krotons' system is built on deception and oppression, not benevolence.
- • That exposing the truth is the first step to freeing the Gond people from their tyranny.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Abu’s metal breastplate is the sole physical remnant of his body after the Dynatrope's gas dissolves him. It clatters to the ground alongside his wire necklace, a chilling testament to the machine's lethal function. The breastplate, once a symbol of honor and prestige in Gond society, now serves as a grim memento of the Krotons' deception. Its survival amid the total destruction of Abu's body underscores the selective and horrifying nature of the Krotons' process, leaving only inorganic materials behind.
Abu’s wire necklace, a simple yet symbolic piece of jewelry, is the second remnant left behind after his dissolution. It curls on the ground beside his metal breastplate, a fragile contrast to the heavy metal. The necklace, once a personal adornment, now becomes a poignant symbol of the Krotons' indiscriminate destruction—sparing only inorganic materials while erasing all traces of life. Its survival highlights the dehumanizing nature of the Krotons' process, reducing Abu to mere artifacts.
The Dynatrope Nozzles are the mechanism through which the machine's lethal gas is emitted. They emerge from either side of the hexagonal door, releasing a thick, opaque gas that envelops Abu. The gas dissolves his body entirely, leaving only his metal breastplate and wire necklace behind. The nozzles function as the Dynatrope's 'weapon,' executing the Krotons' true purpose: the harvesting of brain fluid from the selected Gond students. Their precise, mechanical action contrasts with the organic horror of Abu's dissolution, emphasizing the cold, calculated nature of the Krotons' system.
The Dynatrope Ramp serves as the pathway leading up to the machine's hexagonal door, framing Abu's emergence and subsequent dissolution. While the ramp itself plays no direct role in the lethal process, its presence underscores the ritualistic nature of the Krotons' selections. The ramp is a physical manifestation of the Gond people's forced march toward their fate, symbolizing their compliance and the Krotons' control. Jamie notes its existence, drawing attention to the machine's artificial design and the deliberate process by which the 'companions' are led to their doom.
The hexagonal door of the Dynatrope serves as the primary mechanism through which the Krotons' lethal process is revealed. It grinds open to release Abu, who stumbles out in a dazed state, still wearing his ceremonial cape. The door frames the horror of the event, symbolizing the Krotons' control over life and death. After Abu's dissolution, the door remains open, a silent witness to the machine's deadly function, and a stark reminder of the Gond people's sacrifices.
The Dynatrope Shelter Boulder provides critical cover for the TARDIS crew as they witness Abu's dissolution. The Doctor, Jamie, and Zoe duck behind its bulk, using it to conceal their presence from the machine and any potential Kroton observers. The boulder's size and positioning shield them from the lethal gas emitted by the Dynatrope, allowing them to observe the horror unfold while remaining safe. Its rough, weathered surface and solidity contrast with the sleek, artificial nature of the Dynatrope, grounding the scene in the natural world even as the machine's unnatural function is revealed.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Dynatrope Cliff Face is the rugged, imposing backdrop against which the machine is embedded. It frames the horror of Abu's dissolution, its jagged surface contrasting with the sleek, artificial design of the Dynatrope. The cliff face serves as a silent witness to the Krotons' oppression, its natural form a stark counterpoint to the machine's unnatural function. The crew's hiding place behind a boulder is part of this landscape, and the cliff face itself becomes a symbol of the Gond people's trapped existence—bound by the Krotons' control and the unyielding nature of their society.
Outside the Dynatrope is a rugged, exposed cliff face where the colossal hexagonal machine is embedded. This location serves as the stage for the revelation of the Krotons' true nature, as Abu emerges from the Dynatrope and is dissolved by its lethal gas. The TARDIS crew hides behind a nearby boulder, observing the horror unfold. The acrid smell in the air foreshadows the machine's deadly function, and the exposed rock amplifies the tension and isolation of the moment. The location is both a battleground—where the Krotons' oppression is exposed—and a sanctuary for the crew, who retreat to safety after witnessing the event.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Krotons' involvement in this event is indirect but devastating. Their true nature as oppressive rulers is revealed through the Dynatrope's lethal function, as Abu is dissolved before the TARDIS crew's eyes. The machine serves as their instrument of control, harvesting the brain fluid of the Gond's top students under the guise of 'companionship.' The event exposes the Krotons' deception, their system of indoctrination, and their willingness to sacrifice the Gond people to maintain their power. The crew's witnessing of Abu's fate accelerates their mission to dismantle the Krotons' control and free the Gond people.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"The Doctor urging caution and ordering the companions to hide (beat_b5667bd627c04939) precedes and sets up the reveal of Abu emerging and dissolving (beat_27dd82eb2640f0c4); the hiding is directly caused by his fear of the machine."
Abu’s Dissolution in the Dynatrope"Jamie calling out to the Doctor and Zoe (beat_b3ab09b2ce50de68) naturally leads to them finding the large metal structure, the Dynatrope (beat_a3ac88adc2ec63d8)."
Doctor identifies unnatural erosion patterns"Jamie calling out to the Doctor and Zoe (beat_b3ab09b2ce50de68) naturally leads to them finding the large metal structure, the Dynatrope (beat_a3ac88adc2ec63d8)."
Jamie spots the anomaly below"The Doctor urging caution and ordering the companions to hide (beat_b5667bd627c04939) precedes and sets up the reveal of Abu emerging and dissolving (beat_27dd82eb2640f0c4); the hiding is directly caused by his fear of the machine."
Abu’s Dissolution in the Dynatrope"The Doctor urging retreat from the Dynatrope (beat_7356c3aa07d7f811) leads them back to the Learning Hall, where they encounter Thara attempting to stop Vana (beat_d78e836c4ab15515), resulting in a conflcit."
Jamie’s trial of strength with Axus"The Doctor urging retreat from the Dynatrope (beat_7356c3aa07d7f811) leads them back to the Learning Hall, where they encounter Thara attempting to stop Vana (beat_d78e836c4ab15515), resulting in a conflcit."
Doctor exposes Kroton lies in Learning HallThemes This Exemplifies
Thematic resonance and meaning
Key Dialogue
"ZOE: What is it?"
"DOCTOR: This isn’t a building, this is a machine. Come along."
"JAMIE: Machine? Doctor, it's opening!"
"DOCTOR: Shush!"
"ZOE: Oh, that poor man."
"JAMIE: What happened to him?"
"DOCTOR: I don’t know, Jamie. Come on, let’s get away from here."