Sarah Jane Adventures: Series 4

[Bob The Skutter]

As someone who watches the show all the time I don't quite see the Clyde = Awesome. Its a front, he really isn't that sure of himself. This isn't like Ten's aura of "Aren't I brilliant!" which hit a soft centre of "Aren't I brilliant!"

Yeah, Clyde basically over compensates because he doesn't actually think he's very good at all.

 

[Mark_Nguyen]

Well, take the opening montage. Clyde describes Sarah, Luke, and Rani. Nothing about himself! He's the equivalent of the male lead, and more than anything else this is why he's the most "everyman" of the whole cast. They've dabbled with his artist thing on occasion but haven't made it part of his character arc as yet.

If the fifth series is indeed the last, I'd like them to spend time with everyone to make sure their storylines are tied up properly. RTD tends to be okay in this respect (granted, way over the top from his last couple finales) but I'm sure he'll give his characters the right sendoffs before he's done with them.

Mark

 

[HappyDayRiot]

I haven't really watched this series - Death of the Doctor aside- but I did catch today's episode. Is this where the BBC cuts start taking effect? It's just I swear everything in this, aside from the frankly dreadful time-teleporter-sage-man (I didn't catch his name), was taken straight from Horrible Histories. It was practically a crossover!

And parts of the set-up are heavily flawed - Rani clearly knows about Lady Jane Grey, yet expresses shock and horror at the possibility of her impending execution. This, despite the fact she heard quite clearly LJG has already had her nine days at this point. I know they were being best friends and whatever, but it made no sense.

I did like the suggestion though that Sarah Jane has been put in the right place but many years too early to accomplish her mission. That was a little different.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Not bad so far - I wonder who or what the shopkeeper is really supposed to be... Especially given that, basically, the plot is the kids'-portion version of the Key To Time (The search for three segments rather than six)

Rani's story is the most interesting historically, and Sarah's the most intriguing for her doing her investigating thing. Clyde's story needs to have more Wolfenstein...

Oh, while I'm here, I've realised what it was that bugged me about Jo's protesting career a couple of weeks ago: It's that it puts her in the realm of the moaning-faced naysayers who whinge "don't do this, stop that, ban these..." The negatives, in other words. Whereas Prof Jones and his Wholeweal community at the Nuthutch (i.e. the guy Jo married and the community he was in) were all *positives* - "try this instead, use these, change to this..." all working to discover new alternatives. So, RTD's version at best says they gave up on that, and generally suggests that naysaying is the best.

 

[Lonemagpie]

And parts of the set-up are heavily flawed - Rani clearly knows about Lady Jane Grey, yet expresses shock and horror at the possibility of her impending execution.

There's a big difference between a name on a history book's page, and a living breathing person you now know...

 

[wamdue]

SJAs has always been a cheap show, but 3 characters in differnt time zones, is a challange for any budget.

 

[Starkers]

Wow, I'm surprised at the underwheldedness over this episode. I thought it was brilliant! Ok the set up was a bit hurried, and as Lonemagpie says it does feel a bit like the key to time, but its still a great conceit and I thought three very strong stories.

Sarah Jane's was probably the weakest, but I like the notion of a house in the 1800s being haunted from the future.

Clyde vs Nazis rocks, and though I was surprised, I was impressed that they didn't gloss over his ehtnicity (and the same with Rani) and I think it was brave of the show to have the German use the word negro. There is a definite Wolfenstein feel to it.

Rani with Lady Jane Grey was interesting too, she's probably not as well known a historical figure as some, and its good to put into context how young she was, yet already married and Queen!

anyway, I really enjoyed it, and I'm intrigued as to the nature of the shopkeeper (more than a nod to Mr Ben there!)

 

[Lonemagpie]

Sarah Jane's was probably the weakest, but I like the notion of a house in the 1800s being haunted from the future.

I liked this strand, giving Sarah all the Doctor-ish stuff to do.

There is a definite Wolfenstein feel to it.

Yeah, Nazis using weird alien/occult technology - Clyde needs to get tooled up...

]anyway, I really enjoyed it, and I'm intrigued as to the nature of the shopkeeper (more than a nod to Mr Ben there!)

Having immediately thought of the Key To Time, I can't help thinking he's meant to be the Guardian Of Light In Time - whom we obviously can't really call the White Guardian this week... (which I think is a lovely ironic touch)

 

[Lonemagpie]

I haven't really watched this series - Death of the Doctor aside- but I did catch today's episode. Is this where the BBC cuts start taking effect?

Um, I'd be willing to bet this is the most expensive story of the season - three different eras to reproduce? More distant location shooting than the streets of Cardiff...

 

[Starkers]

I haven't really watched this series - Death of the Doctor aside- but I did catch today's episode. Is this where the BBC cuts start taking effect?

Um, I'd be willing to bet this is the most expensive story of the season - three different eras to reproduce? More distant location shooting than the streets of Cardiff...

Not to mention a cast of dozens. I'd be willing to bet last week's was the cheapest one of the season. Clyde, Rani and some empty streets!

Sarah Jane's was probably the weakest, but I like the notion of a house in the 1800s being haunted from the future.

I liked this strand, giving Sarah all the Doctor-ish stuff to do.

There is a definite Wolfenstein feel to it.

Yeah, Nazis using weird alien/occult technology - Clyde needs to get tooled up...

]anyway, I really enjoyed it, and I'm intrigued as to the nature of the shopkeeper (more than a nod to Mr Ben there!)

Having immediately thought of the Key To Time, I can't help thinking he's meant to be the Guardian Of Light In Time - whom we obviously can't really call the White Guardian this week... (which I think is a lovely ironic touch)

Be interesting if he's actually a bad guy. The notion of a man with a parrot named Captain seems familiar, but I can't place where I know the refernece from!

Clyde definitely needs a minigun...

 

[Cutter John]

I don't know quite what to think yet, as we just sort of rushed into things.

Hopefully there'll be answers tomorrow.

Does it seem a bit odd for German troops to be wearing their uniforms when tryign to infiltrate an enemy country? Not terribly conspicuous even under the coats.

 

[Starkers]

Stops them being shot as spies, plus makes it more obviousl that they're Germans given the time contraints of splitting a 25 minute episode between three different stories

 

[Cutter John]

Stops them being shot as spies, plus makes it more obviousl that they're Germans given the time contraints of splitting a 25 minute episode between three different stories

Ah good point I suppose. And lucky for Clyde these weren't historically accurate nazi's.

 

[Lonemagpie]

The second half was good as well - clever resolution. I think I'd go so far as to say it's been the best story of the season. 9/10

Next week's looks fun, but i suspect also misleading- we know it has "Sarah Jane" in the title and that means it's the inevitable Trickster episode...

 

[OmahaStar]

Next week's looks fun, but i suspect also misleading- we know it has "Sarah Jane" in the title and that means it's the inevitable Trickster episode...

And whoever the bad guy was from the first story of the season will be back. That's been their pattern so far, it seems.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Next week's looks fun, but i suspect also misleading- we know it has "Sarah Jane" in the title and that means it's the inevitable Trickster episode...

And whoever the bad guy was from the first story of the season will be back. That's been their pattern so far, it seems.

Not necessarily - they didn't do that last season. But OTOH I wouldn't be too surprised if next week turns out as a Trickster/Nightmare Man team-up.

 

[HappyDayRiot]

I agree, that was a very good story. Very enjoyable.

Who is that woman in next week's episode? I definitely know her from something else.

 

[wamdue]

Who is that woman in next week's episode? I definitely know her from something else.

its Julie Graham, the show is doomed

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I agree, that was a very good story. Very enjoyable.

Who is that woman in next week's episode? I definitely know her from something else.

She was in Survivors and Bonekickers.

 

[wamdue]

I agree, that was a very good story. Very enjoyable.

Who is that woman in next week's episode? I definitely know her from something else.

She was in Survivors and Bonekickers.

she also did her part in killing off The Bill.