|
Post by fenris on Sept 24, 2007 19:18:18 GMT
Episode #1: Revenge of the Slitheen (Part One).
The series premiere maintains the goodwill generated by the pilot episode, as Maria and Luke attend the local school for the first time and find a kindred spirit in another new kid, Clyde. I particularly liked the scene in which Sarah-Jane dropped Luke off at the school, trying not be concerned but not quite managing it. When Luke was introduced in 'Invasion of the Bane', I thought there was a strong risk that his naivety and tendency to take everything at face value could quickly become tiresome, but although still present, so far it's not been overplayed and actually works to the character's advantage. Luke also got the best line in the episode, when Clyde (who's portrayed as mildly cocky but not unlikeable) kept complaining about how strange Luke and Maria are. Luke's response: "Well, go find some normal people then." There was also some understated but welcome characterisation regarding Maria's father. The actor playing him has comfortable chemistry with Elizabeth Sladen, and I hope we see more scenes with the two of them throughout the series.
On the down side, the Slitheen are still annoying. The concept of farting aliens wasn't funny when they were introduced in New Who two years ago, and guess what - it still isn't. And the actors playing them overacted unnecessarily. Just because this series is intended for a younger audience, doesn't mean there have to be pantomime-level performances. The cliffhanger was slightly weak as well. But overall, I give this opening instalment the thumbs up.
|
|
|
Post by orokiah on Sept 25, 2007 14:48:34 GMT
I loved it. I think I'm slightly too old to appreciate the merits of the Slitheen but otherwise it was great entertainment. Clyde made a good addition but Luke was definitely the highlight. His naivety wasn't overplayed (although I hope they stick to Sarah Jane's line about 'not making the same mistakes again' and don't make Luke inadvertantly helping out the villains of the week a recurring plot point) and I loved his relationship with Sarah Jane. I'm glad they're giving Juliet Cowan a chance to shine as Maria's mother too. She's a great actress, and I loved her line about taking the double duvet since the husband she dumped for her judo instructor wouldn't be needing it anymore.
|
|
|
Post by fenris on Sept 27, 2007 12:04:53 GMT
Have just read that the first episode achieved a very impressive audience figure of 1.3 million!
|
|
|
Post by orokiah on Sept 27, 2007 15:44:50 GMT
The second part did pretty well on CBBC too - it was in the multichannel top ten for the day. Not bad for a kids show.
It's funny how a show that's aimed at a younger audience seems less patronising, and in some ways far more adult, than a show that is actually aimed at adults, ie. Torchwood. Obviously not because of the OTT Slitheen or because they slipped in any Torchwood-style quantities of sex and swearing, but in some of the themes. The way Sarah Jane and Luke were feeling their way around establishing a relationship and trying to work out what he ought to call her really was wonderfully played. Also in part two the dilemma over whether to kill the young Slitheen since he was still a child, even if he was an alien. More than worthy of any adult drama.
It's brilliant stuff so far. I hope it continues in the same vein for the rest of the series.
|
|
|
Post by fenris on Oct 2, 2007 18:55:13 GMT
Episode #2: Revenge of the Slitheen (Part Two)
An action-packed conclusion to the story, as brash and as colourful as the opening instalment. There was something immensely appealing about the sight of Sarah-Jane and chums running through streets filled with stationary vehicles, on their way to save the world armed with only spray-bottles of vinegar. The death of the Slitheen child added a surprisingly grim tone to the proceedings, and bodes well for the rest of the series. Also noticed that Mr. Smith has undergone a slight visual revamp since the pilot episode, with extra neon and dry ice heralding his emergence from the fireplace. And I loved Sarah-Jane cheerfully signing off her phone call to UNIT with “Love to the Brig!”
Already looking forward to the next episode, with Beth Goddard as a nasty nun. Not too sure about Clyde though. That boy’s doing to be trouble in the weeks to come, mark my words.
|
|
|
Post by fenris on Nov 5, 2007 20:30:13 GMT
Episode #7: Whatever Happened to Sarah-Jane? (Part One)
This show continues to entertain, in it's colourful and undemanding way, and this latest instalment is the most impressive so far.
In a storyline that probably messed up the minds of younger viewers, Maria awakes one morning to discover that Sarah-Jane no longer exists, and she's the only person who remembers her. Eventually Maria discovers that the journalist has been erased from history and replaced by a childhood friend who - in the original timeline - died in 1964. In an inspired bit of casting, this friend is played by Jane Asher, and (in another clever development) she's portrayed not as a villain, but simply as someone who's been given another chance at life, and perhaps doesn't appreciate the extremely serious implications of her resurrection.
By the end of the episode, Maria has also become unstuck in time - with only her father to remember her. This is a nice touch, and hopefully (as he's been one of the show's most engaging characters) it means he'll get the chance to do something world-savingly heroic in the concluding episode.
|
|
|
Post by fenris on Nov 13, 2007 20:36:40 GMT
Episode #8: Whatever Happened to Sarah-Jane? (Part Two)
Although it contained few surprises, with events unfolding pretty much as I expected they would, this instalment still managed to conclude the story in a highly satisfactory manner.
Maria's father bringing down the alien assassin while riding a skateboard was a particular crowd-pleasing moment, as was the confrontation between Sarah-Jane and her childhood friend, with the latter realising that her life - although brief - had in fact had tremendous value. Her replayed death in the repaired timeline, smiling at Sarah-Jane with foreknowledge and saying "Remember me" in order to ensure her friend's destiny, was very effective.
Best story in the series so far. And Maria's father learning the truth about what his daughter's been up to - battling highly dangerous aliens and saving the world on a regular basis - is a brave development.
|
|
|
Post by fenris on Dec 1, 2007 14:23:50 GMT
I'm not ashamed to confess that I felt like cheering during the climax of the final episode ('The Lost Boy', Part Two), when Sarah-Jane confronted the turncoat Mr. Smith and told him; "You think I'm alone? That I'm defenceless? Well, meet my dog!!"
This has been a cracking little series, it's greatest strength being that the producers and writers had a clear sense of the show's identity and what they were trying to achieve (compare to the confusion and unevenness that plagued Torchwood's first season). The Sarah-Jane Adventures successfully walked a fine line, being engaging and intelligent enough to entertain adults, while keeping it's storylines sufficiently straight-forward so not to confuse the younger viewers.
And while it's natural for any show to shed viewers during the course of a season, the audience figures have apparently stayed amazingly constant, averaging between 1.3 million to 1.5 million for the duration of the series when aired on BBC1, while it's screenings on the CBBC Channel have resulted in some of the highest ratings the channel has achieved. A second season seems assured.
|
|
|
Post by matsee on Dec 5, 2007 1:48:05 GMT
So far I have just seen Eye of the Gorgon Part 1: Having seen writer Phil Ford's work on the new Captain Scarlet I am glad he has been given something to do in the Whoniverse.
Although Ford's plotting of the story using the Gorgon legend as a central plot point is fine, it did however feel slow at times. Thankfully this has been made up by the very good cliffhanger. Also I laughed that due to one of the characters being called Maria, that the Sound of Music line of "How do you solve a problem like Maria?" was finally used. It was so worth waiting for.
Finally there is the reference to the Sontarans in this episode. Would have been surprised by it if I did not found out about it from Outpost Gallifrey at the time that it was reported that they will be in the parent Doctor Who series next year. Oh well.
|
|
|
Post by orokiah on Dec 19, 2007 16:14:16 GMT
A second season seems assured. Seems it's not a certainty just yet: 'Sarah Jane' future uncertain, says DaviesSurely it'll go to a second series with those kinds of ratings. It was one of the shows I've enjoyed most this year: top quality and thoroughly entertaining from start to finish. It started off as a guilty pleasure (couldn't not be with a CBBC logo in the top corner of the screen ) but in the end it was just a pleasure to sit down and watch something so well realised. High standards to keep up if there is a second series but I think it's more than worthy of one.
|
|
|
Post by fenris on Jan 25, 2008 23:59:13 GMT
An interview with Elizabeth Sladen has been posted today on the SFX website. She's confirmed that not only has a second season of The Sarah-Jane Adventures been greenlit, but it's going to be 24 episodes in length!! Filming apparently begins in March. Here's a link to the interview - but be warned that it also contains some spoilers regarding the fourth season of New Who, so if in doubt, DON'T VIEW; www.sfx.co.uk/page/sfx?entry=sarah_jane_the_return_again
|
|
|
Post by orokiah on Jan 26, 2008 13:05:59 GMT
An interview with Elizabeth Sladen has been posted today on the SFX website. She's confirmed that not only has a second season of The Sarah-Jane Adventures been greenlit, but it's going to be 24 episodes in length!! Excellent news, I'm very happy to hear that. A well-deserved recommission if ever there was one. I'd like to see them move it to a weekend slot this time around but I doubt that'll happen.
|
|
|
Post by fenris on Jan 30, 2008 16:05:28 GMT
Perhaps we shouldn't put up the bunting just yet. Despite Elizabeth Sladen confirming to SFX that an extended second season is going into production, the BBC have officially stated that a decision about the show's future has yet to be made. Here's a link; www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a88024/sarah-jane-future-undecided-claims-bbc.htmlRumours abound on other message boards that the second season is definitely going ahead, but the Beeb's publicity department want to keep it a secret for some bizarre reason.
|
|
|
Post by orokiah on Jan 30, 2008 17:34:39 GMT
Rumours abound on other message boards that the second season is definitely going ahead, but the Beeb's publicity department want to keep it a secret for some bizarre reason. Maybe they should have told Elisabeth Sladen to keep it buttoned then. Something else I'd like to see if/when it does come back is a three or four part story instead of the two parters that made up the first series.
|
|
|
Post by fenris on Feb 2, 2008 19:54:47 GMT
Maybe they should have told Elisabeth Sladen to keep it buttoned then. Indeed. My guess is that the Beeb wanted to keep news of the second season a secret because they were planning a big publicity announcement in the near-future, but they forgot to tell Sladen that it was all hush-hush. So when SFX contacted her, she cheerfully told all because nobody had told her not to. But now that she's (unwittingly) broken the story, for the BBC to deny it is just silly.
|
|