Reaction Post: The Sarah Jane Adventures Ep. 1

[jedi_of_urth]

I think I’m going to like this show. Maybe I just need a Doctor Who verse fix but I rather enjoyed that. They’ve got quite a little Scooby Gang going on here (let’s see if Sarah Jane is Giles and Luke is probably Willow...) which I like, and really makes me wish we got more of a team vibe from the other Who-verse shows.

However I am going to complain about a few things. Sarah Jane obviously has UNIT on speed dial so why can’t she call them up more frequently? I thought the Brig retired? And apparently Sarah is responsible in part for keeping humanity in the dark about aliens which feels totally wrong for her truth seeking and spreading character. In Old Doctor Who most everyone called her “Sarah” but now it seems completely “Sarah Jane.” She pretty well told the Doctor in School Reunion that that was goodbye so she really should be expecting to see him any time soon, or likely ever again.

I’m a bit syrprised there wasn’t more emphasis on the kids having to kill the Headmaster-Slitheen. But it is a kid’s show and they probably didn’t want to draw too much attention to how...bad that is causing kids to kill )when they had Sarah sort of address her own doings in the end). On the other hand RTD never lets companions, who aren’t gun toting 51st century conmen, kill. That they do on Torchwood is a lot of what separates it. They made a big deal about it when talking about The Satan Pit that Rose wouldn’t have just shot Toby. Sarah Jane has actually said on this show that it’s about non-violence. So having the kids kill on the kids’ show seems...out of place.

I’m still not sure it had to be a Slitheen family of folks from...that planet whose name I’m not bothering to look up the spelling of. But at least they had long since set up that the family was huge and certain mentalities entrenched. But why would the Slitheen family come back to Earth after what happened before? And I do think the Slitheen actually managed to get even more hammy this time even though the farting was maybe slightly turned down.

However, that it was the Slitheen led to my single favorite moment of the episode where Sarah Jane remembered Rose mentioning the Slitheen in Downing Street. It made me feel all squichy that Sarah probably thinks Rose is dead but does remember her as a friend. Although it did make me a bit angry that they remembered Rose’s existence on the SJA but not Torchwood and Jack was way closer to her (though “Utopia” made some ground on making up for that).

Like I said, I enjoyed it, I was entertained. I’ll keep watching, and hopefully continue enjoying.

Comments

they know me too well

[shaela]

However, that it was the Slitheen led to my single favorite moment of the episode where Sarah Jane remembered Rose mentioning the Slitheen in Downing Street.

Oh, wow. Sarah Jane remembers Rose? Explicitly? I’m downloading the episodes as we speak.

(Torchwood’s silence on the subject didn’t bother me, oddly enough. Granted, that was partly because I quit watching after episode four. But it was also because, after “Everything Changes,” I saw Jack himself as the biggest Rose-reference in the entire Whoniverse.)

Re: they know me too well

[jedi_of_urth]

Sarah Jane remembers Rose? Explicitly? I’m downloading the episodes as we speak.

Of course by now you've obviously seen it but, yeah, in everything but name. It was adorable I thought.

But it was also because, after “Everything Changes,” I saw Jack himself as the biggest Rose-reference in the entire Whoniverse.

He is, and I think that's why it bugged me so much. Jack is a big flashing neon sign on the universe saying "Rose was here," but as far as the show Torchwood was concerned it felt like she never existed. AT least that's how I felt about the matter.

Re: they know me too well

[shaela]

Of course by now you’ve obviously seen it but, yeah, in everything but name. It was adorable I thought.

I had to stop the tape for a second after that bit. I kid you not.

“‘Slitheen in Downing Street.’” “What?” “Something a friend said once.”

Oh, Sarah.

Re: they know me too well

[jedi_of_urth]

I had to stop the tape for a second after that bit. I kid you not.

I did it too. I was "awww"ing too much to focus on the show anymore so I just had to pause it until I came back to focus. It was so sweet, particularly since like I said, until I hear otherwise I assume Sarah thinks Rose is dead.

thanks for the rec

[shaela]

Do you know what I liked the best (apart from the obvious)? It’s the thought that someday Sarah Jane will have grandchildren to tell her stories to.

Re: thanks for the rec

[jedi_of_urth]

Glad you enjoyed the show too. It's mostly a light and fluffy filler course while we wait for more Doctor Who for me, but it seem to be good.

It’s the thought that someday Sarah Jane will have grandchildren to tell her stories to.

Ah, that's so true even if I hadn't thought of it. That is great for her.

Re: thanks for the rec

[shaela]

Ah, that’s so true even if I hadn’t thought of it. That is great for her.

Yes. And now I can rewatch the end of “School Reunion” and think of Jacob’s line from “All the Umbrellas in London” (his “Parting of the Ways” recap)—“You can be sad, but don’t be worried.” Second chances FTW.