The Crusade [TV/1965.3.27 ~ 4.17]

★★★★☆

  My personal opinion on Doctor Who's pure historicals can be summed up in two words: not enough. Regardless of the medium, I've often found these adventures into settings and events of history to be rich with impressive dialogue, evocative scenery (even the typical BBC backlots of the 1960s had an unrivaled charm with their incredible sound design and handmade environments) and memorable characters. The First Doctor's era in particular boasts some of the best historicals ever made for the franchise, and The Crusade is a worthy addition to the oeuvre indeed.

  Starting with the cast to the characters they portray to the stellar direction by Douglas Camfield, this is one adventure not to overlook. With the only real nitpick to be had being that the Doctor and co. affect the proceedings in such an infinitessimal way (but then again, this isn't a downside to me at all, not when the interpersonal drama is this well-made), The Crusade revels in the sum of its parts. The big standout scene for me has to be when Princess Joanna confronts her brother, Richard the Lionheart, about the marriage to Saphadin arranged without her consent. Jean Marsh and Julian Glover (two incredible actors who would return to Doctor Who in the future) give their all in two powerhouse performances that bounce off each other splendidly, and David Whitaker's writing proves to be as sharp and colorful as ever. I would recommend this serial just for that scene alone, because this is as good as Doctor Who gets.

  Also, how incredible is the TARDIS team at this stage? Doctor Who's more than capable of being a lovely grandfather figure as well as a cunning warrior of words, and he displays that in droves in Season 2. Vicki's a terrific foil for his character, being the smart granddaughter figure that Susan perhaps never was (though to no fault of Carole Ann Ford), and Ian and Barbara are as dependable as always. With my recent reappraisal of the First Doctor (I think he's one of my favorite incarnations right now), this particular troupe is a joy to watch in any adventure.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

 If you're not averse to Loose Cannon reconstructions (which if you are, God help you on your journey through 60s Who), The Crusade is a treat to behold. Incredible sets, design and characters are provided in multitudes, and all of these elements are wrapped up nicely in a rich historical setting. Doctor Who as an educational programme can, and has constantly proven to be, one of its strongest forays.