Should the Sarah Jane Adventures continue?
- Thread starter EJA
- Start date
Following Guy's general train of thought: Unless Moffat has a better use for her...
The Doctor's daughter Jenny, while on Earth searching for her mysterious father, with the aid of a TARDIS tracking device, unexpectedly locates the Lodger's TARDIS instead, instinctively knows how to use it, and promptly swipes it. (Her first course of action: reset the "desktop theme" of course). As her search for "Dad" continues, she tracks down a number of her father's ex-companions, and eventually finds herself at a house on Bannerman Road, where she learns that the companion she hoped to question has passed on, and discovers, in her place, a group of kids who are already well primed to be the companions of a Timelord.
It damn near writes itself.
The only thing that'll take some thought is what appearance to program into the Chameleon Circuit. (I'm gonna say a colorful "Mystery Machine" type custom van to keep it extra kid-friendly.)
The Doctor's daughter Jenny, while on Earth searching for her mysterious father, with the aid of a TARDIS tracking device, unexpectedly locates the Lodger's TARDIS instead, instinctively knows how to use it, and promptly swipes it. (Her first course of action: reset the "desktop theme" of course). As her search for "Dad" continues, she tracks down a number of her father's ex-companions, and eventually finds herself at a house on Bannerman Road, where she learns that the companion she hoped to question has passed on, and discovers, in her place, a group of kids who are already well primed to be the companions of a Timelord.
It damn near writes itself.
The only thing that'll take some thought is what appearance to program into the Chameleon Circuit. (I'm gonna say a colorful "Mystery Machine" type custom van to keep it extra kid-friendly.)
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I dont know if this is to be taken seriously or not
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/3561606/The-Sarah-Jane-show-must-go-on.html
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/3561606/The-Sarah-Jane-show-must-go-on.html
Didn't RTD rule out the idea of ending Sarah Jane's story in the My Sarah Jane tribute that was aired on CBBC? Did I just imagine it when he said that she would always be out their adventuring? Continuing the series without Lis Sladen would have to deal with her absence at some point.
Maybe they're just completing the new season? If a number of episodes have already been filmed, they might be able to fill in the rest, which is supposedly between the filmed episodes.
Sounds to me like they may want to film another 6 or 7 episodes in between with Sarah Jane being off somewhere off camera, and somehow just leave it at her being off camera. Actress has been tributized, character lives on forever
One way for RTD to not end Sarah Jane's story, like it or not, is to simply continue the series with a new actor in the role of Sarah Jane. Face it, while Lis was a big part of what made the show popular, she wasn't the only reason for its success. It's a sure bet that CBBC doesn't want to see this popular offering come to an end, if there's even the slightest chance that it might prove to remain popular, with a different actress playing Sarah Jane, or (preferably) replacing Sarah Jane herself with a somewhat analogous character.
I bet CBBC is really putting the pressure on RTD and Company to find some way to keep this popular show on the air in one form or another.
So like it or not, the show might well go on with a different actress playing the same role, or, in a wholly new but comparable character.
And while no one can "replace" Lis, there are plenty of talented women who could nevertheless do justice to the character Lis played, or a comparable replacement character. And in a genre, as well as a "verse", where even death can and has been fairly regularly retconned as is needed, the means of doing this would be child's play.
Within and without the Whoverse, replacing actors, or adapting a new character to take the place of another, is fairly commonplace.
Wayne Rodger's opts to leave "M*A*S*H", so "Trapper John" is written out, and Mike Farrell's "B.J.Hunnicutt" is written in. Likewise when Harry Morgan's "Col Potter" replaces McLean Stevenson's "Col Henry Blake", and when David Ogden Stiers' erudite "Chas. E Winchester III" takes the place of Larry Lindville's bumbling "Maj Frank Burns". All of these characters were beloved (including Frank) and yet all were not only replaced, but successfully replaced, to the point where many believe that the replacements were superior to the characters they replaced.
Mandy Patinkin wants out of "Criminal Minds" so "Jason Gideon" is written out, and Joe Mantegna's "David Rossi" is written in. And again, while Patinkin's character was much beloved and incredibly popular, so much so that most felt the show wouldn't survive his departure, the show actually (and unexpectedly) increased in popularity after a very brief period of adjustment.
"Bewitched" never even acknowledged the fact that they recast several roles, both major and minor, (Husband Darrin, Nosy Neighbor Gladys Kravitz, & Larry Tate's wife) for a variety of reasons (including death) during the series' 8-year run.
"Roseanne" not only replaced a couple of actors and characters in it's 9-year run, but always did it in a way that was both funny, and totally in character with the series.
Nearly a dozen actors have played The Doctor. Likewise, at least half a dozen have portrayed James Bond, most within the same continuity, and without any the benefit of a plot device like "Regeneration" to "explain" the character's sudden change in appearance and manner. (As far as I'm concerned, if Desmond Llewelyn is "Q", it's the same damn continuity.)
Replacing an actor/character can be done, and done respectfully.
Heck, when Heath Ledger unexpectedly died right in the middle of filming "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" director Terry Gilliam found a way to rewrite the story so that other actors could take over Ledger's character, mid-film, and still allowed Ledger's performance to be used/seen, and did this in a way that not only worked within the confines of the story's subject matter, but which (arguably) enhanced and improved the story.
John Thaw passed on before all of Colin Dexter's "Inspector Morse" books had been brought to the screen, and rather than let the remaining stories go un-produced, or recasting the role that had become so associated with Thaw, they instead rewrote the stories, adapting them to allow Morse's faithful sidekick, "Lewis" (Kevin Whately) to respectfully continue in his mentor's footsteps.
Replace Lis Sladen as Sarah Jane? I hope not, though I have no doubt that it could be done. Replace the character of Sarah Jane? That's a different story altogether. As to whether or not it should be done... that's kind of up to the CBBC. And apparently they don't want to lose a popular show if there's a way it can be saved. And, for the sake of those who earn their living making the show, I hope it continues in some form or another.
They can't recast Sarah Jane, that would be disrespectful, illogical, and downright creepy.
I'm still in two minds about whether the show could go on, not only because of Lis' death, but also because Rani and Clyde aren't getting any younger, so the school schtick definitely needs to end.
If they did carry on, frankly I wouldn't cast a new adult character, I'd make Mr Chandra aware of the true nature of Bannerman Road, the guy who plays him is a good actor, and it'd be a neat reversal to see the Father/Headmaster suddenly have to become the subservient one when an alien emergency occurs...
I'm still in two minds about whether the show could go on, not only because of Lis' death, but also because Rani and Clyde aren't getting any younger, so the school schtick definitely needs to end.
If they did carry on, frankly I wouldn't cast a new adult character, I'd make Mr Chandra aware of the true nature of Bannerman Road, the guy who plays him is a good actor, and it'd be a neat reversal to see the Father/Headmaster suddenly have to become the subservient one when an alien emergency occurs...
In almost all of your examples, chardman, the show wasn't called the character that was replaced. Not Trapper John, Frank Burns, or Henry Blake, but M*A*S*H. Not Jason Gideon, but Criminal Minds. And so on. With Roseanne, Roseanne herself wasn't replaced and with Doctor Who, there's a built-in construct to replace the actor after a given time. Sarah Jane is a human being, and not only is she the lead, she's the show's namesake.
I highly doubt CBBC is giving RTD and company such pressure to recast and I would be shocked if that actually happened.
I highly doubt CBBC is giving RTD and company such pressure to recast and I would be shocked if that actually happened.
I really Enjoyed Avon's Seven, but after the climax of season 4, I was looking forward to Villa's Seven if not for the unfortunate cancellation.
If Xander Harris can clock enough mission time to be viscerally comparable to Sergeant Fury, then there's nothing as emboldening as surviving when everyone stronger, quicker, tougher and smarter is a bloody smear behind you.
And besides, whosoever was the head of that crew of criminals was always welcome to bounce up and down, up and down on the Supreme Commander bed spread.
If Xander Harris can clock enough mission time to be viscerally comparable to Sergeant Fury, then there's nothing as emboldening as surviving when everyone stronger, quicker, tougher and smarter is a bloody smear behind you.
And besides, whosoever was the head of that crew of criminals was always welcome to bounce up and down, up and down on the Supreme Commander bed spread.
Hm, I've heard of it but don't know anything about it.
BBC Statement on the show
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/news/bulletin_110504_03/The_Sarah_Jane_Adventures
It's over.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/news/bulletin_110504_03/The_Sarah_Jane_Adventures
It's over.
