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The Sarah Jane Adventures 3.11 + 3.12 The Gift
You know, I wasn't that crazy about The Claws of Axos the first time around, when it came without farting jokes and with Delgado!Master. This finale didn't live up to the two previous SJA finales; it was okay but not splendid, especially compared with Enemy of the Bane last season. (Same goes for s3 in general - it was pleasant enough but there was just one outstanding story, The Wedding of Sarah Jane, whereas season 2 had several great stories, notably Mark of the Beserker and Enemy of the Bane.) This being said, there was enough in The Gift to make me feel fuzzy about the entire gang to keep me a generally happy viewer, with only the slight disappointment this didn't live up to previous show efforts.
Like I said, the parallels to the Third Doctor story The Claws of Axos are rather pointed, with the aliens bringing parasitic gifts supposedly to feed Earth, but what surprised me was that we had also a Children-of-Earth-for-children moment, when Sarah Jane said "you're addicted! you're using Earth to feed your addiction!" to the Slitheen-Blathereen. Of course, this being the bright side of the Whoverse, there were no politicians making trades around, and as opposed to Jack, Sarah Jane could make the aliens in question explode without having to sacrifice her nearest and dearest. Usually I dig inter show parallels, but in this case they contributed to my slight sense of disappointment. Plus I really could live with never ever getting another Slitheen story again. They're among the least interesting villains New Who came up with, Margaret/Blon in Boomtown always excepted. And again I say, look at previous SJA seasons. All season finales so far put Luke in direct danger and through that struck at Sarah Jane's bond with him. The Lost Boy in s1 did this via presenting him with his "real" (not so much) parents and the attempt to use him to doom Earth, with the biggest shock being the mastermind behind this turned out to be beloved, trusted Mr. Smith. Enemy of the Bane did it by bringing back the best nemesis Sarah Jane has had so far (well, okay, her and the Trickster) and pulling off a "Luke, I am your mother" riff on Star Wars, with the alternate mother genuine this time. The Gift? Does it with evil Slitheen whose betrayal didn't surprise anyone, and who while being a physical danger were no emotional danger at all.
On to praise, though, as I did like things about this two parter. The Clyde-Rani interaction; their scenes together increased this season, and they're sparkling (in the none-Twilight sense). More K9/Mr. Smith snark. Sarah Jane figuring out both how to get to the Slitheen-Blathereen ship and how to kill them (and that they would show up again). (Note that like the Doctor, she gave them a chance to withdraw.) The school bell saving Earth. And a cute homage to DW companions, if I'm not mistaken: when the BBC news reported the spreading of the Rackweed, the places they named were all home to Companions - Ealing (Sarah Jane), Powell (Rose), Perivale (Ace) and Chiswick (Donna). (I can't recall who was from Acton right now, which was also named, but I'm sure someone was.)
In conclusion: keep up the good ensemble, show, though giving Luke more to do next season would not be amiss; no more Slitheen, please; cheers!
Like I said, the parallels to the Third Doctor story The Claws of Axos are rather pointed, with the aliens bringing parasitic gifts supposedly to feed Earth, but what surprised me was that we had also a Children-of-Earth-for-children moment, when Sarah Jane said "you're addicted! you're using Earth to feed your addiction!" to the Slitheen-Blathereen. Of course, this being the bright side of the Whoverse, there were no politicians making trades around, and as opposed to Jack, Sarah Jane could make the aliens in question explode without having to sacrifice her nearest and dearest. Usually I dig inter show parallels, but in this case they contributed to my slight sense of disappointment. Plus I really could live with never ever getting another Slitheen story again. They're among the least interesting villains New Who came up with, Margaret/Blon in Boomtown always excepted. And again I say, look at previous SJA seasons. All season finales so far put Luke in direct danger and through that struck at Sarah Jane's bond with him. The Lost Boy in s1 did this via presenting him with his "real" (not so much) parents and the attempt to use him to doom Earth, with the biggest shock being the mastermind behind this turned out to be beloved, trusted Mr. Smith. Enemy of the Bane did it by bringing back the best nemesis Sarah Jane has had so far (well, okay, her and the Trickster) and pulling off a "Luke, I am your mother" riff on Star Wars, with the alternate mother genuine this time. The Gift? Does it with evil Slitheen whose betrayal didn't surprise anyone, and who while being a physical danger were no emotional danger at all.
On to praise, though, as I did like things about this two parter. The Clyde-Rani interaction; their scenes together increased this season, and they're sparkling (in the none-Twilight sense). More K9/Mr. Smith snark. Sarah Jane figuring out both how to get to the Slitheen-Blathereen ship and how to kill them (and that they would show up again). (Note that like the Doctor, she gave them a chance to withdraw.) The school bell saving Earth. And a cute homage to DW companions, if I'm not mistaken: when the BBC news reported the spreading of the Rackweed, the places they named were all home to Companions - Ealing (Sarah Jane), Powell (Rose), Perivale (Ace) and Chiswick (Donna). (I can't recall who was from Acton right now, which was also named, but I'm sure someone was.)
In conclusion: keep up the good ensemble, show, though giving Luke more to do next season would not be amiss; no more Slitheen, please; cheers!