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...Forever
I don't know, I find myself wanting to say (or type) a few words, just to mark the ending of what was, for me, one of the genuine pleasures in television over the past few years. Yes, I'm referring to the Sarah Jane Adventures, which as you probably know, came to an end yesterday, almost certainly, like its star, before its time.
I find myself extremely sad to see the end of SJA, although, to keep a sense of perspective, obviously nowhere near as sad as I was when Lis Sladen passed away earlier this year. It was a black day for Doctor Who fandom, especially coming as it did mere weeks after the death of Nicholas Courtney as well, but I think it's always a black day when somebody dies so relatively young and with years of work and life still ahead of them. Of course there was no question of SJA carrying on without her, as might have been mooted here and there in the first hours and days after the sad news. As marvellous as the other actors and the show's whole spirit and concept were, there could be no SJA without its central figure. So, as sorry as I am to see the end of it, I have to say that I agree wholeheartedly with the decision to end the series after the last three stories Lis shot. It was the right thing to do, and the respectful thing, and I think speaks volumes for the esteem all of the cast and crew must have held Lis in that they felt they ought to, in effect, put themselves out of work rather than trying to carry on some sort of Sarah Jane-less charade that I'm sure the show's fans would not exactly have been welcoming towards either.
Still, while recognising that SJA ended at exactly the right time, and in exactly the right way, and bearing in mind that the end of a television series is nothing compared to the untimely ending of its star's life, I do admit to a certain sadness for the show itself. I thought it was great - forget that it was explicitly a "kids' programme", it was never less than entertaining, and when it was good it was very, very good. And let's be honest, it was clear from the outset that the people making it knew that the kids tuning into CBBC weren't its only audience.
How many continuity references to the classic series did this show manage to cram in, often entirely unexpectedly, and at times in a manner that must have had younger viewers scratching their heads in puzzlement? But then again, what could you expect when there were so many people involved who'd not only had an involvement with New Who in Cardiff, but also with various Who spinoff media during the long, dark night between Survival and Rose? There were times when SJA seemed to be truer heir to the classic series than NuWho itself. Certainly, it was a spinoff that remained much truer to the ethos of the parent show than Torchwood, which while entertaining in its disreputable way, is about as far away from classic Who as you can probably get while remaining within the same fictional universe (although maybe not any more, if RTD's witterings about cracks in time are "canon"). Not only did SJA have the gratuitous fanw*nk, of which I for one loved every second, but there was the whole approach and tone. Twenty-five minute episodes shot on tape in various suburban streets/areas of wasteground/factories/warehouses etc, with a pleasing thriftiness when it came to monsters and special effects? It was like watching Season 26 all over again (and if only we could have had an Ace guest shot!). It was the real deal, as far as I'm concerned anyway. Especially when it managed to throw in some unexpected "issues" or social commentary in among all of the men-in-suit monsters and running (especially noticeable in the last couple of stories, but present here and there before that).
And there were things in SJA that I, as a Who fan, had never dared hope to see outside of the realm of fan fiction. You even got a bit of K9 action at a few points! It remains a crying shame that the Brig never got a proper swansong in NuWho, but seeing Nicholas Courtney on screen, playing the character - telling off NuNIT! - that was magic in itself. Katy Manning! Katy Manning and Lis Sladen, together, interacting with Eleven! And on-screen references to what Jo had been doing since the Green Death, together with a verbal round-up of a good dozen (or so it seemed) other old series companions.
Those were magic moments too - the two stories featuring the Doctor of the day. The second episode of The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith might be somewhere in the top ten best David Tennant turns of them all. And Matt Smith was no slouch either in The Death of the Doctor.
And before I get carried away with this sort of thing, there was a lot to like about SJA that was inherent to the series itself, that, shockingly, wasn't a delight to me because of the who continuity w*nk or the guest stars (although what about the guest stars - quite apart from the Doctor Who-related actors involved, it was at times like a rollcall of people who were famous in the late 80s - only adding to the spooky late-period classic Who vibe. They never actually had Hale and Pace guest in SJA, but if they'd showed up it wouldn't have come as a surprise, at all. Not when you've got the likes of Russ Abbot and Nigel Havers about the place). No, SJA was good in its own right, let's never forget that.
You had a solid cast playing vivid, likeable characters. Lis Sladen herself was never less than reliable and sometimes brilliant in the central role, and on top of that you had you had the various young (and not-so-young) supporting actors. And you cared about them and their lives, showing that you don't need NuWho-style histrionics to create character development or emotional resonance, whatever some people would have you believe. And this in a "kids' show". On top of that, the scripts were never dull and once in a while (let's not gild lily), but quite often, were gold. I wish everybody involved, especially the younger cast members, the very best in their post-SJA careers, because I hate to think I'd never see any of them on my screen again.
By which I mean - Moffat, get Clyde and Rani into proper Who. Now! And don't mess them up with angst and stuff.
So yes, that was The Sarah Jane Adventures. I shall miss it, just as we'll all miss Lis Sladen, but I suppose it's a case of thanks for the memories, for I very much doubt we shall see its, or her, like again.
I find myself extremely sad to see the end of SJA, although, to keep a sense of perspective, obviously nowhere near as sad as I was when Lis Sladen passed away earlier this year. It was a black day for Doctor Who fandom, especially coming as it did mere weeks after the death of Nicholas Courtney as well, but I think it's always a black day when somebody dies so relatively young and with years of work and life still ahead of them. Of course there was no question of SJA carrying on without her, as might have been mooted here and there in the first hours and days after the sad news. As marvellous as the other actors and the show's whole spirit and concept were, there could be no SJA without its central figure. So, as sorry as I am to see the end of it, I have to say that I agree wholeheartedly with the decision to end the series after the last three stories Lis shot. It was the right thing to do, and the respectful thing, and I think speaks volumes for the esteem all of the cast and crew must have held Lis in that they felt they ought to, in effect, put themselves out of work rather than trying to carry on some sort of Sarah Jane-less charade that I'm sure the show's fans would not exactly have been welcoming towards either.
Still, while recognising that SJA ended at exactly the right time, and in exactly the right way, and bearing in mind that the end of a television series is nothing compared to the untimely ending of its star's life, I do admit to a certain sadness for the show itself. I thought it was great - forget that it was explicitly a "kids' programme", it was never less than entertaining, and when it was good it was very, very good. And let's be honest, it was clear from the outset that the people making it knew that the kids tuning into CBBC weren't its only audience.
How many continuity references to the classic series did this show manage to cram in, often entirely unexpectedly, and at times in a manner that must have had younger viewers scratching their heads in puzzlement? But then again, what could you expect when there were so many people involved who'd not only had an involvement with New Who in Cardiff, but also with various Who spinoff media during the long, dark night between Survival and Rose? There were times when SJA seemed to be truer heir to the classic series than NuWho itself. Certainly, it was a spinoff that remained much truer to the ethos of the parent show than Torchwood, which while entertaining in its disreputable way, is about as far away from classic Who as you can probably get while remaining within the same fictional universe (although maybe not any more, if RTD's witterings about cracks in time are "canon"). Not only did SJA have the gratuitous fanw*nk, of which I for one loved every second, but there was the whole approach and tone. Twenty-five minute episodes shot on tape in various suburban streets/areas of wasteground/factories/warehouses etc, with a pleasing thriftiness when it came to monsters and special effects? It was like watching Season 26 all over again (and if only we could have had an Ace guest shot!). It was the real deal, as far as I'm concerned anyway. Especially when it managed to throw in some unexpected "issues" or social commentary in among all of the men-in-suit monsters and running (especially noticeable in the last couple of stories, but present here and there before that).
And there were things in SJA that I, as a Who fan, had never dared hope to see outside of the realm of fan fiction. You even got a bit of K9 action at a few points! It remains a crying shame that the Brig never got a proper swansong in NuWho, but seeing Nicholas Courtney on screen, playing the character - telling off NuNIT! - that was magic in itself. Katy Manning! Katy Manning and Lis Sladen, together, interacting with Eleven! And on-screen references to what Jo had been doing since the Green Death, together with a verbal round-up of a good dozen (or so it seemed) other old series companions.
Those were magic moments too - the two stories featuring the Doctor of the day. The second episode of The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith might be somewhere in the top ten best David Tennant turns of them all. And Matt Smith was no slouch either in The Death of the Doctor.
And before I get carried away with this sort of thing, there was a lot to like about SJA that was inherent to the series itself, that, shockingly, wasn't a delight to me because of the who continuity w*nk or the guest stars (although what about the guest stars - quite apart from the Doctor Who-related actors involved, it was at times like a rollcall of people who were famous in the late 80s - only adding to the spooky late-period classic Who vibe. They never actually had Hale and Pace guest in SJA, but if they'd showed up it wouldn't have come as a surprise, at all. Not when you've got the likes of Russ Abbot and Nigel Havers about the place). No, SJA was good in its own right, let's never forget that.
You had a solid cast playing vivid, likeable characters. Lis Sladen herself was never less than reliable and sometimes brilliant in the central role, and on top of that you had you had the various young (and not-so-young) supporting actors. And you cared about them and their lives, showing that you don't need NuWho-style histrionics to create character development or emotional resonance, whatever some people would have you believe. And this in a "kids' show". On top of that, the scripts were never dull and once in a while (let's not gild lily), but quite often, were gold. I wish everybody involved, especially the younger cast members, the very best in their post-SJA careers, because I hate to think I'd never see any of them on my screen again.
By which I mean - Moffat, get Clyde and Rani into proper Who. Now! And don't mess them up with angst and stuff.
So yes, that was The Sarah Jane Adventures. I shall miss it, just as we'll all miss Lis Sladen, but I suppose it's a case of thanks for the memories, for I very much doubt we shall see its, or her, like again.
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It always rather amused me that the kids show, SJA, managed to be infinitely more mature and thoughtful than the 'adults' Torchwood.
They hit just the right note with the final send off too. Not too schmaltzy.
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A fitting tribute to an extra-ordinary actress.
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And a mighty HEAR HEAR to getting Clyde and Rani aboard the TARDIS with Eleven.
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And, yes, there seems to be a general feeling that we need to petition for Clyde and Rani to join the real TARDIS team.
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