Doctor Who: The Crusade.

Richard the Lionhart is a hero, I quit!!!

WOOHOO!

Another historical serial! And it's only four episodes long! Are you excited? I'm excited!

This serial aired between March 27 and April 17, 1965. It takes place during the Third Crusade, which is also known as the King's Crusade. Yes, we've got King Richard the Lionhart (who was possibly a gay red-head) and King Phillip II of France (who is French and therefore hopefully gay as well) trying to reclaim Jerusalem from Saladin. If I'm right, this is the Crusade that ended in King Richard being held ransom. You know, he never did get back to England, not that he cared about his homeland. He didn't even speak the language! Though, he was still better than John of England (his brother), but not by much.

If we meet Sir Robin of Locksley, I'm going to be very sad.

Two Hours Later...

Well, I forgot to mention that half of these episodes were missing bits so I got to watch a serial that was half-reconstruction and half actual footage. On the bright side, Ian Chesterton introduced the thing acting like he's reminiscing about his days in the TARDIS, complete with remarking upon his status as Sir Ian of Jaffa.

Well, as can be expected, the TARDIS materializes in the midst of the Third Crusade.

More importantly, in the middle of a Saracen ambush. In the fight, Barbara is seized by a Saracen along with a knight of King Richard I, William des Preaux. The two conceive a plot where they pretend to be King Richard I and his beloved sister, Joanna. As Saladin's brother, Saphadin, is in love with Joanna, this charade doesn't last long. Once it's unmasked, William is treated as a guest and a hostage while Barbara must tell stories to save her life (like Scheherazade in 1,001 Arabian Nights). However, the Saracen who initially captured Barbara is very upset with being made a fool of so he kidnaps Barbara with plans to make her life hell. She escapes, finds refuge with someone else who hates this particular Saracen, and then gives herself up only to run away again and hide out in the harem until Ian comes to save her.

That's Barbara's story and it's kind of weak.

Meanwhile, the Doctor, Ian, and Vicki (disguised as Victor, a page boy) go to Jaffa and meet King Richard the Lion-Heart who is neither gay nor indifferent about England. Instead he loves England and speaks English. Funny how art changes things. He also wants the fighting to be over so he conceives a plan to marry Joanna to Saphadin and pays for the release of Barbara and William des Preaux. He sends Ian Chesterton, dubbed Sir Ian of Jaffa with a mission to arrange the marriage and return with Barbara and William des Preaux. On his way to Saladin's court, Ian is attacked by bandits and tied down with stakes after being stripped of his clothing. The thieves daub him with honey in the hot sun and leave him for the ants until Ian tells them where he has hidden his gold. Ian tricks the thief into untying his legs and then wrestles the thief to the ground. Somehow defeat makes allies and Ian and the thief, Ibrahim, go to the Saracen's place to rescue Barbara. Having succeeded, the two head back to Jaffa to get the Doctor and Vicki and get out of there.

Meanwhile, the Doctor and Vicki engage in court intrigue and nearly get killed as spies until Ian again comes to rescue them and then the troop makes for the TARDIS and vanishes, leaving some very disturbed knights.

I liked the episodes, but I wish (like always) that they had been full episodes and not reconstructions. I'm rather getting tired of that part.

Next time: The Space Museum.