Doctor Who — The Crusade Episode 2 — The Knight of Jaffa — A Review

27th January, 2023: The Knight of Jaffa.

Right … it’s almost dinner time.

In theory, anyway.

Dinner is being cooked.

Chips, hideously grilled, fish, baked … and vegetables boiled.

By the time it’s all eaten … ?

I’ll be ready to watch The Knight of Jaffa: the next episode of classic Dr Who story, The Crusade.

This post will be up tomorrow: which is when you’ll find out what I thought … 

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28th January, 2023.

Episode 2 — The Knight of Jaffa — picks up from episode one: reminding us that Barbara (Jacqueline Hill) has been kidnapped, and that King Richard (Julian Glover) refuses to trade with Saladin, in order to free her.

However, the injured de Tornebu (Bruce Wightman) and the Doctor, point out that Saladin had had to send a whole troop of soldiers to kidnap Barbara and William des Preaux (John Flint.)

Sending an emissary — and not just any old emissary — to the Egyptian Sultan, threatening to publicise this and make his troops look incompetent?

Could work in their favour.

While they’re discussing exactly who to send?

Princess Joanna (Jean Marsh) comes to see her brother: and introduces herself to Richard’s new courtiers.

And to insist they get new clothes: and that de Tornebu be given better care than the main hall can offer.

A job that’s handed over to the Chamberlain (Robert Lankesheer).

And, although the Doctor doesn’t realise it?

The Chamberlain’s convinced he’s seen Vicki’s outfit, before … !

Seen it … and is deeply suspicious about it … 

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Now … what did I make of The Knight of Jaffa?   And — in case you’re curious — who IS that knight?

Let’s answer that second question first, shall I?

The knight in question is simply Ian (William Russell).

He’s knighted by Richard: in order to serve as an emissary, one who can free Barbara and des Preaux … and request a diplomatic marriage to Princess Joanna.

It’s possibly not something William Russell* would be totally unfamiliar with: he’d played Sir Lancelot in the 1956 ITV series, The Adventures of Sir Lancelot.

Let’s move on to the episode, shall we?

The episode, itself is pretty good: it carries on the story, introduces us to two new characters — willy merchant, Luigi Ferrigo, and the noble Joanna — moves the plot along at a nice pace … and sees Barbara being chased, and almost captured.

About my only concern with The Knight of Jaffa?

Did I tell you I bought the DVD version of the Patrick Troughton story, The Web of Fear, back in 2013?

Not long after it was recovered from Nigeria, and released to DVD, iTunes and Amazon Prime.

Episode three of the story — the episode that introduced Nicolas Courtney’s Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart — was missing: so, for that original DVD release, it was replaced by a telesnaps reconstruction, a reconstruction built from the publicity shots taken at recording.

It’s been a while since I’ve watch the Troughton story: but I felt the telesnaps version of Episode 3 was far superior to the animated reconstruction in the 2021, blu–ray version of the story.

I mention that … because I also feel that telesnaps episode of The Web of Fear seems superior to this telesnaps version of The Knight of Jaffa.

I’m not entirely sure: but this latter episode seemed to have a far smaller variety of shots used, than the former.

I’m assuming The Knight of Jaffa’s age doesn’t help: it means there’s less material to be found, than for the comparatively newer Troughton shows.

But?

That lack is something that doesn’t help The Knight of Jaffa.

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Overall?

The Knight of Jaffa is a good episode: but one with an unfortunate flaw.

Does that mean I’m going to stop watching?

Absolutely not!

Merely that I’ve seen an episode of a story that — flawed as it is — was still a good watch, moves The Crusade forward.

Frankly?

I’ll be watching the next episode, The Wheel of Fortune, on Friday, 3rd February: and have my written and video reviews up by the 4th.

Hopefully?

I’ll see you then!

The Knight of Jaffa.

★★☆☆

*         As a possibly sad bit of news?   Wikipedia’s entry on William Russell tells us that — in a cast interview for The Power of the Doctor — Janet Fielding said she’d been told Russell had been diagnosed with a form of dementia.   I’ve not been able to verify that: the relevant article Wikipedia cites, has been taken down.   But it’s sad, if true.