Doctor Who: The Massacre

The Massacre is the twenty-second serial of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, originally broadcast in four weekly parts from February to March 1966. The story follows the First Doctor and his companion Steven Taylor as they arrive in Paris in 1572, shortly before the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre. The Doctor is forced to leave the TARDIS behind, while Steven becomes embroiled in the religious and political tensions between the Catholic and Huguenot factions. As the date of the massacre approaches, Steven attempts to save the lives of the innocent Huguenots, while the Doctor remains detached, insisting that history must take its course. The serial is notable for being one of the few historical stories in the series to feature no science fiction elements, focusing entirely on the human drama and the moral dilemma of interfering with established historical events. It concludes with the departure of companion Katarina and the introduction of Dodo Chaplet.