10 Historicals That Show What Modern Doctor Who Is Missing

This is another First Doctor Big Finish story, but instead of being narrated, it is a full-cast audio drama. It’s part of a range of releases where the Doctor, Ian, Barbara, and Susan have been recast with the actors that starred in the William Hartnell biopic An Adventure in Space and Time.

Here, the TARDIS gang unknowingly arrives in 19th century Japan, an era where westerners are forbidden. They get spotted by a band of samurai led by a man wearing red armor and a mask and try to flee, but get split up as the Doctor and Barbara are captured and brought to the daimyo of the land, Lord Mamoru.

The Doctor and Barbara are brought before the daimyo believing they are about to be killed, but soon find out that Lord Mamoru is not surprised to find a couple of westerners where there should be none. In fact, he believes that they are his allies in some unknown affair. Could it be that this daimyo is not as loyal to the shogun as it would appear?

The Barbarians and the Samurai is somewhat of an oddity among historicals, as it doesn’t revolve around a specific historical event or person. Instead, it is more interested in the vibes of the era and place it is set in.