Rate ‘The Crusade’

This story seems rather ignored by fandom, or at least rarely gets discussed. I personally think it’s an outright classic, and possibly the best historical story, with some superlative direction from Douglas Camfield, superb performances and a genuine grittiness appropriate for the period setting and zeitgeist. Or at least, that’s what I think based on episodes 1 and 3.

Average.
But then I'm not much of a fan the historicals. The obvious exception being The Aztecs. (Oh and The Massacre is reasonable)
There are a couple of good performances from Glover and Marsh, but I struggle to maintain interest in it. Although it is one of the slightly better historicals compared to the pure tedium of The Highlanders or the Myth Makers, or The Smugglers, which is why I elevated it all the way up to average. ;-)

Ronnie wrote:Average.
But then I'm not much of a fan the historicals. The obvious exception being The Aztecs. (Oh and The Massacre is reasonable)
There are a couple of good performances from Glover and Marsh, but I struggle to maintain interest in it. Although it is one of the slightly better historicals compared to the pure tedium of The Highlanders or the Myth Makers, or The Smugglers, which is why I elevated it all the way up to average. ;-)

Here’s the bizzare thing- I’m typically a fan of the historicals, but have always found The Aztecs quite staid and overrated myself, barring the occasional very good scene. I guess I’m insane.

No not at all.
It would be boring if everyone agreed on everything.

Ronnie wrote:it is one of the slightly better historicals compared to the pure tedium of The Highlanders or the Myth Makers, or The Smugglers

What is actually wrong with you? The Myth Makers shits all over your precious Seventies drivel

Commander Maxil wrote:

Ronnie wrote:it is one of the slightly better historicals compared to the pure tedium of The Highlanders or the Myth Makers, or The Smugglers

What is actually wrong with you? The Myth Makers OWNS your precious Seventies drivel

Agreed about The Myth Makers being great, but what’s up with the 70s hate?

Bernard Marx wrote:

Commander Maxil wrote:

Ronnie wrote:it is one of the slightly better historicals compared to the pure tedium of The Highlanders or the Myth Makers, or The Smugglers

What is actually wrong with you? The Myth Makers OWNS your precious Seventies drivel

Agreed about The Myth Makers being great, but what’s up with the 70s hate?

I don't hate the 70s as a decade. I love ABBA, the Moore Bond films, Blake's 7, Rocky, Donner's Superman, Jaws and the wonderful Willy Wonka film starring Gene Wilder. 70s Who itself has never done a thing for me except the later Williams stuff. I just find a lot of it to be rather crap.

Commander Maxil wrote:

Bernard Marx wrote:

Commander Maxil wrote:

Ronnie wrote:it is one of the slightly better historicals compared to the pure tedium of The Highlanders or the Myth Makers, or The Smugglers

What is actually wrong with you? The Myth Makers OWNS your precious Seventies drivel

Agreed about The Myth Makers being great, but what’s up with the 70s hate?

I don't hate the 70s as a decade. I love ABBA, the Moore Bond films, Blake's 7, Rocky, Donner's Superman, Jaws and the wonderful Willy Wonka film starring Gene Wilder. 70s Who itself has never done a thing for me except the later Williams stuff.

Ah- that makes a little more sense. Because I really love the 70s as a decade, but rate 70s Who below 60s Who. Though we differ in that I like 70s Who as well.

It was a fairly decent decade. I like the 60s, 80s and 90s a lot more, though.

Pretty damn good.

Brilliant performances and interesting story line.

The David Whitaker novelisation is very good too.

Excellent from what's left.

Commander Maxil wrote:

Ronnie wrote:it is one of the slightly better historicals compared to the pure tedium of The Highlanders or the Myth Makers, or The Smugglers

What is actually wrong with you? The Myth Makers shits all over your precious Seventies drivel

Seventies drivel? You must be referring to S17 which is not very precious to me at all.
But what's with saying 'actually' like that? You'll be telling me you watch 'Friends' next. (with your cock out to Jennifer Aniston's nose, probably).
Talking of tedious lightweight historicals, let's add The Romans to the list.  

Ronnie wrote:
Talking of tedious lightweight historicals, let's add The Romans to the list.  

Oh no you didn't!

Commander Maxil wrote:

Ronnie wrote:
Talking of tedious lightweight historicals, let's add The Romans to the list.  

Oh no you didn't!

Yeah, I like The Romans too, though I guess it is an acquired taste (as with basically all the historical stories). Hartnell is wonderful in it, and the parodic nature of the story makes it all the more unique and endearing amongst the historical Who genre.

Well it's not quite as tedious as Reign of Terror, I'll give you that much.

Ronnie wrote:
It would be boring if everyone agreed on everything.

Oh no, it wouldn't!

Bernard Marx wrote:

Commander Maxil wrote:

Ronnie wrote:it is one of the slightly better historicals compared to the pure tedium of The Highlanders or the Myth Makers, or The Smugglers

What is actually wrong with you? The Myth Makers OWNS your precious Seventies drivel

Agreed about The Myth Makers being great.

It really is fab. I'd argue The Myth Makers is the absolute pinnacle of the Hartnell era. The script by Donald Cotton is utterly delightful and incredibly witty. It saddens me that I'll probably never see it. At least we've got the novel, audio and production stills.