Hot damn this was a good one!
Barbara has been found by Haroun, a man who has vowed to destroy El Akir for the deaths of his wife, son and eldest daughter. Haroun quickly deals with the two men chasing Barbara before brings the escaping school teacher to his humble home in the northern section of town. It's a veritable hive of scum and villainy that he hopes will only get scant attention from El Akir's searchers.
Once there she is introduced to his younger daughter Safiya. He tells Barbara the reasons for his enmity with Akir in more detail than I did in the last paragraph away from Safiya. He has spared the young woman the knowledge of her family's fate. She only knows that they are "missing."
Haroun leaves the two while he goes out to see what progress the searchers are making. Before he goes, he gives Barbara his knife and instructs her to use it on Safiya and then herself, if the searchers get too close while he is gone.
Barbara insists that life is better than murder-suicide, but doesn't argue the point with a man who has saved her life.
Haroun is found by one of Akir's men. He goes for the knife that is no longer on his belt and that split second is enough for the soldier to take Haroun down. The soldier recognizes Haroun from the northern section of the city and Akir orders that the place be turned over.
When the searchers come to Haroun's house, Barbara has Safiya take them both to the hiding place that Haroun has set out for them. Barbara purposefully leaves the knife behind, but Safiya innocently brings it, in case they need to defend themselves.
Two soldiers search the place. They are about to give up when they find two cups, still warm.
They make a plan to burn the place down and smoke out whoever is inside. Barbara can't bring herself to kill Safiya or allow her to be captured by the brutal Akir. She does the Barbara thing and sacrifices her own safety to give Safiya a chance.
Barbara sneaks out of the hidden room and tiptoes around until she is caught. She tells the soldiers that she had merely been hiding in the shadows. They believe her and put off the torching of the house.
Back in Jaffa, the Doctor has been decked out with the finest cloak and garments that Ben can provide. He discusses similar garments for "the boy."
After Ben has left Victor asks the Doctor why she has to stay a boy. The Doctor begins to explain when they realize that Joanna has overheard them. The Doctor explains to both of them that he was concerned for his ward's safety in this strange land.
Joanna is a bit put out by the fact that the Doctor thought that this pretense was needed in Richard's court, but is soon put off by some sweet words from Vicki. Joanna offers to take Vicki into her protection and orders the very confused Chambelain to have dresses made for what he thinks is a boy.
Joanna does ask that the Doctor do some snooping for her. Lately she has been excluded from Richard's confidence. She is convinced that she has a role to play in his plans and wants to know what it is.
Vicki has a minor panic when he thinks that the Doctor is trying to leave her behind. She's quickly assured that the Doctor is only looking to shield her from the intrigues that he's going to be exposed to as a part of Richard's court.
Speaking of intrigues, the Doctor soon finds himself in the middle of the politics of Richard's court.
Leichester asks Richard what the new strategy is, the letter to Saladin. Richard explains his matchmaking plans to a less than thrilled audience. The Doctor takes up the cause of peace and champions this plan against the strong dissent of Leichester. There is a great exchange between the two that sets the stage for the Shakespearean fireworks to come.
Later, Vicki is informally introduced to the court. Maureen O'Brien looks absolutely adorable in her gown and wimple (or whatever the heck you call that medieval head covering thingamabob is called.) Joanna shares my opinion and thinks that Vicki is so sweet and innocent that all is forgiven.
Joanna asks the Doctor for the skinny about what is going on with her brother. The Doctor demurs and claims that the king told him in confidence and that he doesn't want to steal Richard's thunder.
Joanna goes off to speak with Leichester. We don't know what he says exactly, but we can be pretty sure that he spills the beans to the not-so blushing bride.
What happens next is fireworks. Marsh and Glover deliver one of the finest acted scenes in the history of the show. Shakespeare would be proud.
Joanna is pissed. Richard is pissed and thinks that the Doctor is the one who told Joanna. Neither one feels fond of the Doctor at the moment.
Meanwhile, Saladin reads the letter from Richard proposing the marriage. His take is cold and pragmatic; Richard is desperate and there will either be a wedding or a battle. Saladin hopes for the wedding, but will have his army ready for the alternative.
He keeps Sir William, but gives Ian leave to travel to Lydda in search of Barbara.
Ian's trip isn't that successful. He's sleeping on the road and gets knocked unconscious by bandits. I suspect that William Russel filmed a little insert and took a week off.
The episode ends with Barbara being brought before El Akir.
This was great.
Thank you, Doctor Who.
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| A little intrigue and possibly a wimple. |
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