The Sarah Jane Adventures 3.05+3.06

[selenak]

Back in Munich from Berlin, very worn out, will catch up with my emails when I can. I did, however, have the chance to watch the newest SJA in the train.



That was lovely, with the expected twists (Trickster involvment, Doctor showing up at the moment the "if someone knows of any reason..." question is asked) delivered in a way that didn't feel stale - no mean feat, considering this is the third Trickster episode this series presents, and that's not counting DW's Turn Left. Gareth Roberts' script also managed to strike a great balance between using the Doctor as a guest star in a way that didn't make this feel like a gratituous cameo and keeping the focus on the regulars, making sure they're the ones saving the day.

Most surprising "I should have seen this coming" element was that Peter wasn't the Trickster himself but a genuine person. Which was great continuity because the first Trickster story, Whatever happened to Sarah Jane?, which established his M.O., wouldn't have worked if Andrea hadn't been real (and hadn't been given just what the Trickster promised; also, Andrea ultimately being redeemable and agreeing to the original timeline which meant her death set the precedent for this one. (Come to think of it, both The Temptation of Sarah Jane Smith and Turn Left were solved by the agreement-to-death-by-timeline as well, and I still didn't realise until Sarah Jane did when the Doctor pointed it out.) Peter was ambiguous enough to agree to a Trickster deal (willing to use the ring on Sarah Jane, wilfully blind as long as he got to live and be happy with Sarah Jane) and likeable enough to make it clear why Sarah Jane initially fell for him and why she feels his loss. Best of all, Sarah Jane never was grossly out of character as she had been in last season's Trickster episode.

Gareth Roberts can be relied on giving good comedy. The kids' initiatial reaction to the whole "Sarah Jane is dating someone" was prefect for each and again funny without being over the top. The whole two parter was a continuity party for both SJA and DW, not just for the Trickster eps but for general development - Clyde's father brought up (and btw, this makes it so great that Clyde gets to do the most important saving-the-day-action among the kids and is the one most on the alert - Sarah Jane helped him through the situation with his father when he was so desperate to believe, now he's helping her), Maria's and the Brig's absence explained, the Doctor remembering Luke from The Stolen Earth/ Journey's End (incidentally, does the fact he knows the names of the others mean Sarah told him about them off screen?), and the in-jokes such as Sarah Jane's remark about Metabilis III (works on several levels, that one; both because the (Third) Doctor trying to go there was an ongoing gag back in the day, and because when he (and Sarah Jane) finally did go there it meant his death and regeneration, which is, as the audience knows, where Ten is currently headed towards.

(Speaking of in-jokes: Gareth Roberts gives a dialogue nod to the fact Sarah Jane never used to object to being called "Sarah" in ye olde days. Thanks, Gareth.)

David Tennant was in fine form, switching from serious and downright tender (with Luke, when Luke is waking up) to manic to authoritative to wistful and back; with praise and cheering on for Rani, Clyde and Luke that never feels patronizing, and concern and admiration for Sarah Jane. The last exchange made me somewhat misty-eyed for while I suppose Sarah Jane could guest star again on DW or Eleven could drop by at SJA, the odds are this won't happen so this is probably really the last time we've seen the Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith on screen together. *hearts them*

Mr. Smith versus K-9 reminds me of Zen and Orac of B7. How long before they are shipped together?

Comments

[andraste]

Agreed on all this - I was impressed that it managed to not feel like a re-run of Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane? at the end there, given the similarity of the situation. I felt genuinely bad for Peter, despite the ambiguity of his actions. Given that he's not encountered an evil alien from beyond our dimension before, I can see how a being that brought him back to life and found him true love might seem like someone worth listening to even when it gave him a mind control ring.

The kids' initiatial reaction to the whole "Sarah Jane is dating someone" was prefect for each and again funny without being over the top.

Indeed - loved the meta joke from Clyde about 'no-one over twenty-two' since that's how older the actor is *g*. I also liked that they avoided a cliché with Luke being supportive of the relationship and not wanting to investigate, rather than being jealous.

(Speaking of in-jokes: Gareth Roberts gives a dialogue nod to the fact Sarah Jane never used to object to being called "Sarah" in ye olde days. Thanks, Gareth.)

My personal fanon for this is that she dislikes it now because it's what the Doctor used to call her, and after he left it reminded her too much of the old days.

[selenak]

I also liked that they avoided a cliché with Luke being supportive of the relationship and not wanting to investigate, rather than being jealous.

Yes, that was very refreshing. Luke clearly has benefited from not being conditioned by gallons of fairy tales featuring evil stepparents. *g*

My personal fanon for this is that she dislikes it now because it's what the Doctor used to call her, and after he left it reminded her too much of the old days.

Makes sense to me. And hey, I just realized the "don't forget me" exchange is a homage to that moment with Four, too, in addition to foreshadowing! (Bet David Tennant is fanboy enough to recognize the quote way sooner and was pleased.)

[jesuswasbatman]

Also the mere fact that he isn't Sarah's blood son, so their relationship is partly that kind of effort of will as well.

[selenak]

Good point. Luke knows better than most that you can become a parent (and a son) through other ways than biology, so he's willing to let Peter in.