Wow, what a lot of women's issues came up in today's viewing. I mean, it's not like Doctor Who is any great bastion of pro-feminist cheerleading (especially in the Classic era), but today it was just all over the place. It's not all bad, by any stretch. Certainly it is well-reflective of twelfth century mores and standards. Frankly, it's pretty well-reflective of many twentieth century mores as well. But holy cow it was a lot to take in.

Let's talk about that.

The Wheel of Fortune / The Warlords

The plot, as it is, really isn't much to break down. There are negotiations between King Richard and Saladin, and a vain hope for a peaceful solution that is dashed by the inevitable battle that history tells us must happen. There is the resolution of Barbara's perilous situation, and the eventual reunion of all of the companions back at the TARDIS. Much like The Reign of Terror and The Romans, there is no grand evil to defeat but rather a slice of pivotal human history to observe before sneaking out the back door. 

But what there is is great character moments.

In the yesterday's episodes, Vicki was mistaken to be a young boy, an error which the Doctor ran with in order to keep her safe. In today's episode she is found out by King Richard's sister Joanna. What follows is a short scene in which proper feminine attire is requested for Vicki, from a person who still believes her to be a boy (despite the fact that her masculine Page outfit has some moderately prominent protrusions in the chesticle area). There is also the rapid difference in which Vicki is treated at court once she is has put on a lovely dress and stands under the protection of the Lady Joanna.

But all of that is played more for humor than anything else. Less humorous is King Richard's plan to marry off Joanna to Saphadin, Saladin's brother. Where the King sees a hope for peace by uniting the kingdoms through a marriage of political convenience, Joanna sees an utter betrayal of everything she holds to be sacred. Richard first asks her to see things his way, and then ultimately issues a Royal Command that she must obey. Except that she resolutely refuses to bow to that command, citing the higher authority of the Pope. Ultimately Richard must relent, and resign himself to abandon peace and accept the inevitability of bloodshed.

Meanwhile, Barbara temporarily finds herself under the protection of Haroun ed-Din - a man who has lost most of his family to El Akir. His wife and son murdered, his eldest daughter stolen away to El Akir's harem, he is left with nothing but his younger daughter and a burning rage and resolute commitment to murdering El Akir in revenge. Unfortunately, after  her rescuer goes out into the night to scout an escape route, El Akir's men come patrolling into the home. In order to save the young girl, Barbara surrenders herself before the men before they even know the child is there. Taken back to El Akir's palace, she is threatened with a lifetime of torture.

She does briefly escape yet again, this time only getting far enough to hide amongst the harem. There she finds Haroun ed-Din's eldest daughter, telling her that Haroun ed-Din has sworn to kill El Akir and rescue her. The daughter is mystified, having thought that her father would have disowned her after she had become tainted by being El Akir's sexual slave. She doesn't say it in quite those words, it's a children's show after all, but that is clearly the subtext. Most of the harem are sympathetic to Barbara, but one turns out to be a fortune-hunting turncoat and reports Barbara's presence to El Akir in exchange for a reward.

As for Sir Ian, Knight of Jaffa, he arrives at El Akir's palace just in time to witness Haroun ed-Din take his revenge upon El Akir. Ian helps battle Akir's remaining soldiers, ultimately freeing all of the women from the prison of El Akir's harem. From there, Ian and Barbara make their way back to the woods just in time to find the Doctor and Vicki, all ready to beat a hasty retreat from the impending battle between the Britons and the Saracens. Off in the TARDIS they run, until it unexpectedly breaks down. Oddly, everyone is frozen in place while the TARDIS lights all go out, their immobile figures illuminated by the fading console lights. Roll credits!

STATS:

Doctor(s): First
Companion(s): Vicki, Ian Chesterton, Barbara Wright
Episode(s): The Wheel of Fortune, The Warlords
Steps Walked: 6,748 today, 231,814 total
Distance Walked: 3.20 miles today, 105.32 miles total
Weight: 295.80 lbs (five day moving average), net change -11.50 lbs