No matter how many of these Time Lord Fairy Tales I read, I am still confused as to the thinking that was behind their creation. The idea of a book of fairy tales, sure. The pilfering from existing material, sure. Heck, that's practically a Doctor Who tradition. But I find myself wondering why no attempt is made to hide the roots, even in titling the stories.

So, yes, this is clearly based on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, folklore, yes, though I would not consider it a fairy tale. For whatever reason, this one works better for me than most, probably because the Ice Warrior works so darned well as the Green Knight character.

A really fun twist on a classic, and a perfect setting for the Ice Warriors.

Experiencing more of the Ice Warriors in expanded media, I'm starting to really get the appeal of them, and I think this story does a great job of showing why. The main Ice Warrior could very easily come in and kill people, then demand aid, instead he makes a challenge, asks for aid in response, and uses that challenge as a way to judge how worthy he feels the people here are.

And the fact that after he judges Sirgwain worthy due to him coming, despite knowing that in doing so he would be killed, he just sorta leaves, idk, it's just very funny, works great, and is very fairy tale to me.