Power as a Self-Perpetuating Force

Power on Gallifrey is not merely about control—it is about the ritualized performance of authority and the terror of losing it. Goth seizes the ceremonial rod, a symbolic act that establishes dominance through spectacle rather than merit. Spandrell's shift from rigid adherence to institutional duty to a more probing, skeptical investigator reflects a negotiation with power’s corrupting influence. The Master’s orchestration of murder and sabotage reveals how power is wielded not to govern, but to dominate and destroy. Even minor players like Runcible crave visibility, conflating presence with relevance. The theme suggests that power resists accountability and evolves into tyranny when unchecked.