The Doctor Who Saved Me Reviews #022: The Massacre of St Bartholomew’s Eve(S3, Ep5)

Here's a link to my last post in case you didn't see it: [The Doctor Who Saved Me Reviews #021: The Daleks' Master Plan(S3, Ep4) : r/gallifrey](https://www.reddit.com/r/gallifrey/comments/1luf7g3/the_doctor_who_saved_me_reviews_021_the_daleks/)

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Season 3, Episode 5

The Massacre of St Bartholomew’s Eve(4 parts)

-Written by John Lucarotti and Donald Tosh

-Directed by Paddy Russell

-Air Dates: Febuary 5th-26th, 1966

-Runtime: 99 minutes

The one where an Abbot looks The Doctor for no reason 

We Begin!!! On a provincial street, the TARDIS arrives with The Doctor and Steven stepping out to get a look at the landscape around them. The Doctor manages to quickly deduce from a sign and overhear some conversations that they’ve landed in 16th Century France, with the two deciding to go to a tavern and get some drinks after finding some more period appropriate attire. There at the tavern we see a gang of Huguenots drinking and insulting the Catholic wine, to the offense of Simon Duval, who sees it as an affront to the newly married Catholic Queen Marguerite; an verbal argument begins which Duval loses. The Doctor and Steven are in the tavern, with The Doctor telling Steven of his plans to try and meet Charles Preslin, an apothecary who was crucial in the world of germonology and wants to have a word with him. After some back and forth, Steven decides not to come with and do some sight seeing on his own, letting The Doctor go on ahead, planning to meet up at the tavern that night. However as The Doctor leaves, Simon follows him, much to Steven’s suspicions; Steven tries to follow but is held back by the tavern owner asking for payment. Steven ends up encountering Nicholas, a Hugenaut, who recognizes him as a foreigner and offers to show Steven the way to the shop, even asking Steven to share a drink with him and the other huguenots, who fill him in a bit more about the . After sharing a drink, Steven goes to leave the tavern but ends up bumping into a runaway servant girl of the Abbot of Amboise, Anne Chaplet, who hides out in the Tavern. Steven worried about the girl heads back in to see if she’s alright and to question her motives for running away. Steven and the other Hugenots interrogate her, and learn that she overheard the guards of the Abbot mention an event called Wassy, saying it will happen again; this event was a Huguenot massacre perpetrated by the Catholics, with the implication being another one will occur. Now Steven is stuck in the middle of a conspiratorial plot and an increasingly deadly conflict between the Catholics and the Huguenots, trying to help out this Chaplet girl he just met, all the while The Doctor is nowhere in sight, with an Abbot that looks almost exactly like him roaming around as well; unbeknownst to Steven, he has gotten himself involved in the events that would lead up to a cruel and bloody day, the St Bartholomew's Day Massacre.

This is unfortunately another completely lost episode, with all 4 parts no longer existing; making this one the 4th episode in this season to be completely lost, 5th to be lost at all, Season 3 really was junked hard. For this watch though I saw the Loose Canon Reconstruction 40, and it did a serviceable job in reconstruction of the lost episode to a visual format. This episode is rather dialogue heavy and that lends well to the reconstruction as not much action can be shown so it’s just placing the stills of the characters on the right background, with the dialogue doing the rest, and it worked well for the most part. The recording used was a bit cluttered and it can be hard to understand who is talking at any given moment as there are a good many points where characters talk over one another or have chaotic conversations, which don’t lend as well to the reconstruction and can make the story a bit confusing to follow. Still the reconstruction by Loose Canon did its best to bring this lost story to life and for that I did get some solid enjoyment from this episode.

This is the last of John Lucarroti’s historicals, and while I enjoyed all of them, this one is definitely my least favorite of the bunch. I had a good time with most of it but I do have to admit there were a few times where I was starting to lose interest in the episode and starting to get kinda bored by it. This episode is a pure historical set during the French Wars of Religion, a period of history which I had no knowledge of going into and this episode really doesn’t do the best to gracefully entertain the audience into this point and time. It does fit the same situation that Steven is feeling as he too doesn’t have much of a clue about what’s going on with the conflict between the Huguenots and the Catholics, with this episode feeling very much like a history lesson at points as it tries to explain the context of what’s going on, which it does alright though I was still left confused at parts. I enjoyed the darker history though, and served as a nice change of pace after the last few were relatively light hearted for the most part. I feel this episode really succeeds in at least capturing the feel of this moment of history, the vitriol, the paranoia and fear permeated through both sides, fearful of what the other might do, whether they be for right or wrong reasons. It was a well done piece that captured the time period really well and though I didn’t fully understand what was going on historically, I could at least get what was going on emotionally for the characters, and that is a success; that final scene of the titular massacre is truly haunting with the use of that painting to excellently show the violence and carnage that occurred that day. 

I really enjoyed the whole conspiracy plot portion of the episode, with it being really fun and engaging watching the political power play at work and seeing Steven slowly peace together what's going on. It's told really well and though I was a bit confused with the characters at play I still found it all very intirguing as we see the religious and political tensions rise as the conspiracy moves forward, and it serves as a great set up to the events of the titular massacre as we see the plan unfold. This portion helped really engage me with the episode after the first chunck or so I was kind of zoning out, not caring much for the plot at hand, with the conspiracy portion helping to grab my attention and enjoy the episode which started off rather middlingly at first. There were some portions of the episode where I didn't really care as much as what was happening as others and this story failed to truly engage me until the conspiracy plot really started going underway, by which point i was throughly enjoying the episode; I jsut wished it could've picked up the pace a bit sooner. This episode started off slow for me but did manage to pick up as it went along with the second half being really engaging to watch, seeing the conspiracy unravel and the horrors of the massacre come to pass., alongside that final scene between The Doctor and Steven, it was all done really well after a slow start.

The characters in this episode were alright, they served their role in the story well and while I wouldn’t say any are all too memorable aside from the Abbot and Anne, they were still likable/engaging enough to follow throughout the episode, and thus served their purpose well. The one complaint I did have is that I had a hard time tracking who was who in the story, I couldn’t catch names as well and many of the characters in the King’s Court kinda looked the same to me, didn’t even know which one of them was meant to be the King until part 3; though that could be excused by me zoning out at parts. The majority of the case are servicable enough and are used well to tell the story that Lucarrotti was going for, they aren't anything too special or great but they are engaging enough to follow throughout this bloody tale.

Anne was a solid character who had a sweet dynamic with Steven, as he is the one to help her throughout the events of the episode. She is the person who really kicks off the plot as she's questioned by Steven for why she ran away and reveals that the nobles and the Abbot are cooking up some sort of plot to hurt the Hugenots, which leads to Steven getting involved in the whole plot. Anne almost sort of acts like a companion character to Steven as she accompanies him for a good chunck of the journey, with the two having a nice relationship with one another. Their dynamic is nice as Anne really likes Steven as he was the first person to truly be kind to her, and she really trusts his word and follows him after she left the Admiral's house. I love how much she trusts Steven, straight up saying she doesn't believe he'd be a Catholic spy because of how kind he was to her and knowing he's not that kind of person. Steven in turn grows to really care about her and her well being, with the dynamic between the two being rather sweet, which only leads ot Steven's devestation at her likely death during the St Bartholomew's Day Massacre; though thankfull with Dodo, we learn she survives. Anne was a solid character for the story that connected well with Steven and served well to show the innocent people in history that often get left between the cracks of big event; Annette Robertson gives a great preformance as her.

The Abbot of Aboise was a solid enough character who fulfills and interesting role in the conspiracy going on and it’s fun to see William Hartnell play a different role this time around, he does really well in this different role playing both the more meaner and fearful sides of the Abbot well. The only issue I have with the Abbot is how pointless it really was in the grand scheme of things that he looked like The Doctor, the most that was done with it was Steven mistaking him for The Doctor and trying to meet up with him. I feel there isn’t much done to justify this decision and the Abbot could've easily just looked like another person and little would change in the plot aside from Steven's mistaken identity; it feels more of a waste since The Doctor and the Abbot never even learn of each other so it just feels like an unneccessary inclusion in the episode even if I did like the Abbot as a character and Hartnell gives a good preformance as him. 

The atmosphere in this episode is really good, capturing the paranoia and fear of the time peirod, with the whole episode having this downtrodden mood that builds up well to the titular massacre. The gloomy atmoshpere really fits with the historical setting with it only ramping up with the murder and violence that occurred during this period, which are shown rather raw and help get the viewer to truly engage with the period and understand the fear that's going on during this time period even if they don't fully know the historical context. The sets like the other historicals are really good, with the sets this time being much smaller and not as elborate as previous historicals they still work rather well for the story they're telling a fit the old city feels that the episode is going for. The costumes are once again really good and fit the time eperiod excellently, I love The Doctor and Steven's outfits and the rest of the cosumtes fit rather well for the time period; this episode continues the trend of historical episodes having great costumes.

The Doctor is solid in this episode, even if he doesn't really appear in much of it. This story feels like the first true Doctor-lite story which would become a staple of the Revival, where The Doctor does appear in the story, it's just he only appears in the beginning and end of it, with most of the rest of the story's perspective following that of the companion or a side character, here being Steven; still for the parts he does appear in, he's pretty good. I really enjoy that opening scene with The Doctor figuring out the time period in a nice scene through clever observation and getting some nice diaglogue with Steven; their interactions indicate they've gotten a bit better since the end of the last episode. I like his excitment at going to see Charles Preslin, and being really happy to be able tot alk about some scientific ideas with him. Those scenes where he does meet him and the two chat are rather nice and show the lighter side of The Doctor and the more fun side to time travel which would be flipped by the last part. I also really liked that clever scene he had with Preslin where he quickly figures out the guy he's talking too who said Preslin has fled is actually Preslin himself trying to cover himself from arrest by Catholic guards, The Doctor flatters him well before pointing out he is Preslin, it was a really nice scene.

The Doctor then proceeds to disappear for the next two parts for no reason, leaving the house where Preslin was, and not giving any explanation as to were he went. It honestly felt kind of lazy and just there to keep Steven confused about the Abbot, I really wish they did write an actual explantion for why he was gone besdies not using him for 2 parts because it felt like the writer didn't know what to do with him aside from the last part of the episode. I think him having a sentace like he was helping Preslin escape Paris would've been sutable enough to explain his abscence, he even says Preslin left but never says that's why he's gone so it's just left up in the air why he decided to leave for that long. I love The Doctor in the last part however, how he manages to quickly figure out that they are in the events leading up to the massacre after chastising Steven for getting involved in historical events. He quickly wants to get out of there and urges Steven to leave while telling Anne to go to her Aunts after she tries to follow Steven along. The Doctor says Anne will be safe there, though really he has no idea but wants to leave as quick as possible, knowing the bloodshed that is to follow and rushing Steven out of there before it happened.

The scene that follows between The Doctor and Steven is one of the best for the two characters as Steven is furious at him for leaving Anne to die after Steven grew to care about her and is maddned by his seeming uncaring nature towards the whole situation, just visiting places and leaving people to die. Though Steven knows The Doctor can't change history, he understands that if this is what his aventures are like, just watching the horrors of history go by without a second thought, than he wants nothing to do with his travels anymore. It really feels like the culmination of all they've gone through starting from The Myth Makers into The Daleks' Master Plan and now this, the relationship between the two has been truly strained by these hardships and this was the point where it all came flooding out and it's done really well. The Doctor bitterly accepts Steven's departure, being increadibly saddned by the whole ordeal, and wishes Steven well when he departs, it's really sad to see these two friends now leaving on sad terms. That scene where The Doctor states everyone in his life is gone is so sad and is one of Hartnell's best moments as he thinks about all those memories of his travels and how that's stopped and it may be time for him to go back home to his people, befroe stating he can't; it such apowerful scene that really makes the episode. I like his confusion and immediate fondness for Dodo who's vibe really reminds him of Susan and Vicki, with the whole scene doing well to show why The Doctor likes having companions and company around to not make himself feel alone; though his reuinion with Steven is rushed, I am glad they'll be able to leave on better terms when his actual departure occurs. William Hartnell is fantastic in this episode with him getting some of his best scenes as The Doctor here, which helps to make up for the fact he disappears for half the story.

Steven is fantastic in this episode, being essentially the main character as he has to deal with this web of conspiracy he accidentally find himself in, all leading to a sad and bloody conclusion. Steven decides to stay behind and see the sights instead of going with The Doctor to see Preslin, and ends up meeting a couple of Hugenots, with Nicholas offering to show them the sights. However while exiting he runs into Anne Chaplet, whose escape from some guards after leaving the Abbot. He is worried about her and decides to find out what's troubling her, which leads him to into the historcial events that led up to the massacre. I enjoyed watching Steven slowly piece together pieces of the conspiracy and investigate for hismelf what's going on, trying to meet the Abbot of Amboise after believing him to be The Doctor in disguise and gaining crucial information that way, all while trying to warn people about the assassanation of a man known as the Sea Begger, it's all really thrilling stuff that was fun watching Steven doing all of this solo. I really enjoy seeing his struggles in trying to figure this out on his own, with Anne's help, as he ends up running afowl the Hugenots after they believe him to be a spy for the Abbot, it shows his struggles well along with how much he cares about helping the Hugenots as he tries to give this important warning to people he only met a few nights ago but feels he should help.

Steven fulfills the role of the main character well in this story and it's engaging watching him go through the events of the story and come up with quick and clever tricks like The Doctor when he finds himself ina corner; like in the scene where he realises the Abbot is not The Doctor so he pretends to be giving Anne back, which gives him time to listen in and escape the Abbot while stopping Anne from being captured again. He even gets to show of his fighting prowess when he's forced to fight that one Hugenot in a sword fight after he doesn't listen to his warning about assassination, it's a cool scene for him. I find it fun that while The Doctor told Steven to not get involved in historical events, Steven quickly winds up doing so by complete accident. Steven shows off his kindess and compassion well in this episode mainly with his interactions with Anne, which are rather sweet to see as he grows to care about her and her wellbeing over the course of the story, with the two sharing a nice dynamic with one another. He gets along well with Anne and truly comes to care about hwr during their time together, with the two working off well with each other and showing this nice dynamic the two share.

The ending is amazing and Steven's amazing character moments during it play a huge part into why. Steven is intially confused as to why The Doctor wants to rush him out of the time period all of a sudden, without Anne, until The Doctor comes to inform him of the massacre. His fury and anger at The Doctor combinded with the sadness he feels towards the likely death of all the Hugenots he befriended during his time in Paris, including Anne. It's a fantastic show for his character since, while he understands he can't interfeare with time, he's frustrated at the Doctor's travels through time and space and how they've lately seem to leave nothing but death in their wake; his sadness and anger likely being due to the death he has experienced over the last few episodes and the many friends he's lost along the way. It really shows the true strain that has developed between The Doctor and Steven, as they used to be so close, even in this episode they were crodial and had good banter, but now Steven has gotten tired of all the death and The Doctor's seemingly detached attitude to it all and wishes to stop traveling with him. That scene where he says goodbye to The Doctor and Steven says goodbye to him is honestly rather hearthbreaking, and shows the effect the travels with The Doctor can have on a person, while there is a lot of fun and Steven enjoyed his time, the death caught up to Steven and he's frustrated that he couldn't do more about it. Though I would've been really sad if this was the departure for the two, and I'm glad it isn't and they ended on better terms, this would've been a true gutpunch of a departure, with both Steven and The Doctor selling the emotions of it phenomenally; this scene is what truly makes this episode great even if the rest of it is just alright in my eyes. I'm glad Steven stayed on and it seems likely their relationship will be patched up, it was definetly way too quick and a bit contrvied why he came back on, there should've been more time, but still I'm glad he's still going because I really l do enjoy Steven, and his returning banter with The Doctor is nice. Peter Purves gives a phenomenal preformance as Steven, being the main character this time around and really selling the raw emotion of that ending scene, it's no wonder why this episode is consider the episode for Steven's character with Purves giving a fantastically fitting preformance.

Dodo is introduced in this episode, with her coming in the last few minutes after Steven left the TARDIS for a second, and I'm already endeared towards her. Dodo is the decedant of Anne Chaplet, which give The Doctor and Steven emmence happiness and relief that she managed to survive, and also just a cool thign to have for a companion that they've already met their ancestor of family before meeting them proper; I wonder if there is any stroy where her connection to Anne is brought up. I love how odd and quriky Dodo is from the offset, with her relatevly nonchalant reaction to finding out that the police box she entered is bigger on the inside and a time machine being great and a fun mood to show off her character; also it's hilarious that someone found out about the TARDIS by walking in thinking it was a phone booth, that's great. I really love the vibe I'm getting from Dodo, with her quirky, offbeat personality, and her complete nonchalance at the whole never coming back home after taking off in the TARDIS being a lot of fun, it's almost comical how she states she has no family. Jackie Lane does a geat job of endearing us to Dodo and I look forward to seeing her in the following episodes.

Overall I found this episode rather solid for the most part, enjoying this grim little historical after the grand epic that was the last episode. Though it tok a little bit for me to get truly engaged, I did enjoy the this episode with the conspiracy plot and the titular massacre being great and really well done. I liked the more grim historical of this episode with the atmosphere doing well to really sell this darker time period, with the paranoia and fear being well done and serving well to build up the true horror of the St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre; even if I didn't fully know the historical context. I loved Steven in this episode with him getting to be the main character this time around and just being really engaging throughout, I enjoyed his dynmaic with Anne, who was also a nice character. The Doctor was also great in this while he was on screen, and though there was little reason for it, I do think Hartnell did really well as the Abbot with it being a nice change of pace for him. That final scene between The Doctor and Steven is phenomenal and is what really made this episode special in the eyes of many who've seen it, and I can see why, even if the rest of the story I found just alright, the last half of part 4 is truly amazing; I also liked Dodo and look forward to seeing more of her. As a whole, I found this episode an arlight watch throughout the majority of it with a great leading time for Steven but is capped off with a phenomenal ending which really made the episode for me, with those wonderful scenes being some of the best moments for The Doctor and Steven; I had a good time overall.

Next time: The TARDIS takes off, now with new companion Dodo in tow. They eventually land in the middle of a strange jungle, filled with animals from Earth, however unbenowst to them a strange alien is watching them as they wander the ship. For this is no ordinary ship they've landed on, it contains the remenants of humanity and a alien speices known as the Monoids, who have escaped their planets desturction, with this ship the TARDIS crew are on being an Ark for the future of both their species, which is about to see a sudden change as they near their destination.

Final Rating: 6/10

“Now their all gone, all gone. None of them could understand, not even my little Susan. Or Vicki. As for Barbara and Chesterton. Chesterton, they were all to impatient to get back to their own time, and now still. Perhaps I should go home, back to my home planet. But I can't."

-The Doctor, reminiscesing on all the companions that he has now said goodbye too after Steven's departure, now being all along and coming to truly understand the importance of his companions, how much they really do mean to him