"The tapestry of time is a fragile thing. Apply the slightest pressure, and the threads of history can unravel. But you understand that, don't you, Sarah Jane?"
Episode #23: Lost in Time.
Companions: Sarah Jane Smith, Rani Chandra and Clyde Langer.
Air Date: 8th to 9th November 2010.
A harmless investigation turns into an epic quest across time and space. Sarah Jane and the gang are separated by the enigmatic Shopkeeper to find themselves in three different time-zones throughout history – doing battle against ghost hunters, Nazis, Tudors and a mysterious parrot called Captain!
Along comes another Sarah Jane Adventures episode that I thoroughly enjoyed. Recruited my a mysterious shopkeeper and his parent, the adventurers are split up and sent into different time zones to recover pieces of a temporal artifact, the chronosteel. Clyde arrives during the second world war, and helps thwart a Nazi invasion. Rani finds herself in service to Lady Jane Gray in her last hours and Sarah Jane helps a 19th century ghost hunter save the lives of two children in the 21st century.
I like this story because it brings home the time traveling historical stories of the early days of Doctor Who. Although I wasn't a fan of them the modern stories can be done so much better even in just a brief hours worth of television. In particular the life and death of Lady Jane Gray, an historical figure I had never heard of prior to watching this episode when televised. Having watched it, I was moved to read up on the actual events.
As for the mysterious shopkeeper we never learn who he or his parrot companion are but according to The Brilliant Book 2012, and a blog post from Neil Gaiman, Gaiman and Russell T Davies were both of the personal opinion that the Shopkeeper was in fact the Corsair, a swashbuckling Time Lord friend of the Doctor's mentioned in the television story The Doctor's Wife.
I do like this particular adventure a lot and it shows what the show could do when the writers put their minds to it. More like this would have been preferable to the overly basic children's stories.
"Weird alien noise, terrified kid and what do we do? Run to the window and start talking all Star Trek. We must have looked really normal."
Episode #22: The Empty Planet.
Companions: Sarah Jane Smith, Rani Chandra, Clyde Langer, and Mr Smith.
Air Date: 1st to 2nd November 2010.
Clyde and Rani are apparently the only survivors of the human race. The whole of Earth is empty – even Sarah Jane has vanished. A deserted London holds terrors of its own, mainly in the form of two mysterious and menacing robots.
The Empty Planet is a Sarah Jane lite story. In fact she only appears at the start and the very end. The story instead focuses upon Rani and Clyde stuck in a world where everyone else has vanished, except for a young school boy. They find themselves pursued by two robots with a mysterious mission. The story itself is nothing special and is simply a hunt for a missing individual. The same sort of story we have seen before in the Sarah Jane Adventures.
For an episode where really, nothing actually happens, this is still a rather good story. Rani and Clyde by themselves make for an excellent pair of adventurers, and it is a refreshing change to have the show focus on just two characters rather than the whole gang. A bigger threat than what is presented might have made it a better story though.
"Because your memories are more powerful than anything else on this planet. Just think of it. Remember it. But properly. Properly. Give the Memory Weave everything. Every planet, every face, every madman, every loss, every sunset, every scent, every terror, every joy, every Doctor. Every me."
Episode #21: Death of the Doctor.
Companions: Sarah Jane Smith, Rani Chandra, Clyde Langer, Mr Smith, the 11th Doctor and Jo Grant.
Air Date: 25th to 26th October 2010.
When the Doctor is declared dead, old companions Sarah Jane and Jo Grant meet for the first time and join forces to discover the truth. As an interstellar conspiracy gathers around UNIT HQ, Clyde finds he holds the fate of the Time Lord in his hand – quite literally!
They are not many adventures among the Sarah Jane Adventures that get me as excited as many Doctor Who ones do, but Death of the Doctor hits nearly all my buttons. Any story that brings in so many references, and a former companion, from the classic show is bound to do it. Throw in the Doctor and we're away! This story unites Sarah Jane with the 11th Doctor and her predecessor Jo Grant, and together this adventure works so well for both younger fans and us grognards who remember the good old days.
The story itself revolves around a group of renegade aliens, the Shansheeth, a sort of space vultures who also serve as the galaxy's undertakers (I guess Necros puts them out of business one day?) who come up with a plan to stop death all together and for that they need the TARDIS. Stealing the time machine and trying to use his former companions to create a psychic version of the key kicks things off. The bannerman road gang are joined by Jo Grant and the 11th Doctor to stop them and recover the TARDIS. It is a simple enough plot hook but as I have mentioned it is the frequent references both in dialogue and in screen snippets to the classic show that really make it so enjoyable.
However, it isn't all just fun and games. Although used perhaps as a throwaway filler section of dialogue there is some wonderful exposition between Clyde, Rani and Rani's father about how people handle the death of a loved one which is really quite moving.
CLYDE: Luke says Sarah Jane's gone mad. HARESH: Don't be so rude. He wouldn't say mad about his own mother. CLYDE: No. He said, nutty, fruity, loop the loop, tonto, barmy, bonkers. Be fair, though, sir, he's worried. HARESH: It's like your mum. Remember when Grandad died? RANI: She washed everything. Curtains, furniture, me. She even washed the walls. Who washes walls? It went on for days, and then she just started crying. HARESH: It takes time, because when someone dies it's so massive, it's like you can't fit it all inside your head. That's what Sarah Jane's doing. She's denying it. CLYDE: So, what do we do? HARESH: Wait. That's all you can do. Friends just wait.
Death of the Doctor was written by Russel T Davis and oddly I find that he does a better job in this episode of writing the 11th Doctor than was done for the 10th Doctor in The Wedding of Sarah Jane. Maybe that's just me though but it certainly sounded a lot better.
This adventure is one I certainly would consider watching if you want the best of the Doctor's adventures.
"But we're going to save your mum now, so if it's the Universe against Clyde Langer, then the Universe had better bring some mates!"
Episode #20: The Vault of Secrets.
Companions: Sarah Jane Smith, Rani Chandra and Clyde Langer.
Air Date: 18th to 19th October 2010.
When an old enemy, Androvax the Veil, returns to Earth asking for help, the gang face a dilemma — should they trust him? Or does the legendary Vault hold an even greater terror? A second threat arises, when android guardians threaten to destroy anyone who uncovers their secrets. As the battle between Sarah Jane, Androvax and the androids reaches its climax, Rani has to save her mother from being caught in the crossfire. The Vault opens and the destiny of the entire Veil species is at stake. Is it too late to save them?
A rather typical Sarah Jane adventure but one that fits squarely where I expect the show's target stories should go. Androvax returns but not necessarily as the villain. Sometimes while being the bad guy a recurring character can have a bit more depth and this time Androvax feels more like an individual who has a goal and reasons for doing what he does. SJA doesn't always accomplish this very well but this time they do. We also have the return of the mysterious Men in Black who we last saw in the animated adventure Dreamland, including the lead MiB Dr Dread although different actor unfortunately. Nice to see some cross jumping between shows here.
In this story we get more background on the mysterious Men in Black. It turns out that they are androids tasked in the 20th century (up until the early 70's) with preventing the human race from learning about aliens and their technology. They served something called the Alliance of Shades, an alien organisation that wanted to either protect humanity from alien influence or keep them clueless. Since the Men in Black were retired in 1972 does that mean the Alliance of Shades decided to leave things in the hands of UNIT and/or Torchwood? We may never know although I'd like to see them make an appearance in Doctor Who some time.
Like many Sarah Jane adventures this one suffers from being directed too much at a child audience but also at being dragged out over two episodes when one might have sufficed. The more SJA that I watch the more I come to that latter conclusion. Some work just fine but others not so much and in this story that shows all too well in the later half.
"Our world has always been full of nightmares. Creatures and aliens who want to destroy us. But we've always been protected. The Doctor. His friends. My mum. But tonight... Tonight I don't think anyone can save us. The world's going to end, and it's my fault, because he's coming for me, you see? He's been waiting for me for years."
Episode #19: The Nightmare Man.
Companions: Sarah Jane Smith, K9, Luke Smith, Rani Chandra and Clyde Langer.
Air Date: 11th to 12th October 2010.
Luke faces life-changing events, and Bannerman Road will never be the same again. But when Sarah Jane's son has his first nightmare, he's haunted by a dark figure from his dreams: the Nightmare Man. A strange entity is reaching out to our world through Luke, with terrible consequences for the whole human race. With Luke, Clyde and Rani trapped in a bizarre dreamscape, Sarah Jane must fight alone. As the Nightmare Man grows stronger, only K9 might hold the key. But can Luke summon the courage to face his adult life before the whole world is trapped in an endless nightmare?
The new season of the Sarah Jane Adventures starts with a fairly bland adventure. It exists simply to serve as a vehicle for Tommy Knight (Luke Smith) to depart the series while he focuses on his real life school studies. The story itself, like so many under the SJA banner it seems, is just uninspired and doesn't really go anywhere. It is a story where nothing really happens, the villain is two dimensional (barely) and the whole thing feels like a bore to watch.
At the culmination Luke leaves to go to Oxford and takes K9 with him. He makes occasional webcam appearances throughout the rest of the season but for now isn't a major character. Shame about K9 about his creator was (as I understand it) more interested in an unofficial K9 spin off made in Australia and didn't want to continue with the Sarah Jane Adventures.
Frankly this adventure could have been so much better with a more interesting villain and less time wasted on the angst of Luke Smith and the others.
"The universe is big, it's vast and complicated, and ridiculous. And sometimes, very rarely, impossible things just happen and we call them miracles. And that's the theory. Nine hundred years, never seen one yet, but this would do me."
Episode #219: The Pandorica Opens / The Big Bang.
Companions: The 11th Doctor, Amy Pond and Rory Williams.
Air Date: 19th to 26th June 2010.
A Van Gogh painting ferried across thousands of years offering a terrifying prophecy, a message on the oldest cliff-face in the universe and a love that lasts a thousand years: in 102 AD England, Romans receive a surprise visit from Cleopatra. Nearby, Stonehenge hides a legendary prison-box. As it slowly unlocks from the inside, terrible forces gather in the heavens. The fates are closing around the TARDIS. The Pandorica, which contains the most dangerous threat in the Universe, is opening. Only one thing is certain: "The Pandorica will open... Silence will fall".
The season ends with a fantastic culmination. We learn that everything we have experienced since the start of this season has been orchestrated by an alien coalition who fear the Doctor and blame him for the destruction of the universe. The full explanation won't become apparent for some time though. This two parter is a complete edge of your seat type entertainment with surprises and enough cool moments to be hugely memorable.
We have the unexpected return of Rory William although at this stage as a plastic Auton facsimile of a Roman soldier. He somehow manages to retain his personality even as the other Auton's revert to their "evil" selves. Rory always struck me as a bit of an odd character but has grown on me as his time on the show went along. Strange how that happens.
The first half of the story focuses on the Doctor's discovery and investigation of Stonehenge and the Pandorica. Once entrapped and the universe changes we have our companions struggling in a shrinking universe to reset things, hence the title The Big Bang. Now is this new big bang the thing that alters history to erase events such as the giant Cyber King?
The end of the adventure is rather cool as well. The Doctor slides back along his own timeline through his adventures with Amy before he ceases to exist, and we see certain scenes from previous stories this season which now make more sense. A well written and ingenuous plot element. The final scene of Amy and Rory's wedding where Amy restores the Doctor's existence sends a chill up my spin.
All in all a fantastic piece of Doctor Who in the modern era.
Craig: Has anyone ever told you that you're a bit weird? The Doctor: They never really stop.
Episode #218: The Lodger.
Companions: The 11th Doctor and Amy Pond.
Air Date: 12th June 2010.
A mysterious force blocks the TARDIS — with Amy inside it — from landing, keeping it stuck in a materialisation loop. It's up to the Eleventh Doctor to work out what that force is, lest Amy be lost forever along with his home. As he investigates, he learns of a house on Aickman Road, with a staircase which people walk up but never come back down. To solve this mystery, the Doctor must pass himself off as a normal human and share a flat with Craig Owens.
The Lodger is a fantastic story, not because of some cool science fiction or big battles, but because it is just funny. This adventure is companion lite as Amy is trapped aboard the TARDIS and the Doctor does all the hard work. The Doctor having to live as a normal everyday human just makes for some classic laugh out loud moments. Sometimes it just has to be as simple as that to make a good episode.
Ultimately though this is just another filler episode before the big end of season story. The only real element of this one that fits the rest of the story arc is that the source of the mystery appears to have a dead body that resembles a Silence from the next season. Coincidence or setting up? Who knows.
There isn't much more to this one so just enjoy this story for the comedy value and for James Corden in the role of Craig Owens.
"The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don’t always soften the bad things, but vice versa the bad things don’t always spoil the good things or make them unimportant."
Episode #217: Vincent and the Doctor.
Companions: The 11th Doctor and Amy Pond.
Air Date: 5th June 2010.
While taking Amy to several peaceful locations, the Eleventh Doctor's trip to a museum takes turn for the worse: his interest is caught by a painting of a church by Vincent van Gogh. What troubles the Doctor is that there's a face in the church's window; it's not a nice face, it's a curious, shadowed, creepy face with a beak and nasty eyes. The Doctor knows evil when he sees it and this face is definitely evil; it may pose a threat to the one who painted this face into the church. Only one thing will calm the Doctor's nerves: a trip in the TARDIS to 1890 so the Doctor can find out from the artist himself.
Vincent and the Doctor is a very unusual story. At first glance it is both science fiction and a good historical story. In that regard is reminds me of the old historical adventures designed to teach the younger viewers. Although some elements of this story are slightly different than the real world truth we have an episode that gives us some insight into one of history's more loved classical artists. However, the science fiction story of an invisible space alien monster running around doesn't actually do much to further the story.
The true strength of this story to me comes at the very end when the Doctor takes Vincent to the modern day and shows him his works on display for all to enjoy. The curator speaks volumes about Vincent's impact and how he will always be remembered. I'm no art expert or fan but this speech does tend to bring a tear to the eye.
"Bringing things to order, the first meeting of the representatives of the human race and homo reptilia is now in session. Never said that before. That's fab."
Episode #216: The Hungry Earth / Cold Blood. Companions: The 11th Doctor, Amy Pond and Rory Williams. Air Date: 22nd to 29th May 2010. It’s 2020, and the most ambitious drilling project in history has reached deeper beneath the Earth's crust than man has ever gone before — but now the ground itself is fighting back. The Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory arrive in a tiny mining village, and find themselves plunged into a battle against a deadly danger from a bygone age. Yay! At last we have the long awaited return of the Silurians and they have had a 21st century make over. The episode explains it as a different species of Silurian (or Homo Reptilia as the Doctor annoyingly keeps referring to them). The re-imagining has them much more human looking and without the strange third eye in the foreheads. No reference to the Sea Devils unfortunately. Still, it is good to see them back. The story itself is a little too similar to the original Silurian story from the time of the 3rd Doctor for my tastes. I'd have liked something more original but I guess this is a good way to introduce the Silurians to a new audience without having to do a lot of backwards explaining. The problem is that the story deals with human drilling awakening the Silurians and then a group being aggressive towards mankind for being intruding apes. A peace is started only to fall apart because of that self same aggression. All in all it is too much like the original story. The Silurians for their anti-human stance are portrayed as highly civilized and yet mankind is once again shown to be uncompromising and aggressive in return. We humans have our issues but I don't think we are quite as bad as we are shown to be in the Doctor's eyes. Recent incarnations seem to see us in a negative light and it is a bit much. This episode features the first proper death of Rory Williams. A running joke throughout the show now is how many times can Rory die? In this instance Rory is killed by a Silurian and his body and history erased by the mysterious crack in the skin of the universe. As part of that incident the Doctor discovers a shard of the TARDIS inside the crack indicating that at some point the TARDIS will be destroyed. All together it plays nicely into the overarching story for this season. The Hungry Earth and the Cold Blood together make a good Doctor Who adventure if a little long and drawn out even for a two parter. The return of the Silurians is really good to see as is some expansion on their culture that we didn't have before. More classic monsters are definitely needed. Well worth a watch as a refresher or as an introduction to the Silurians.
The Dream Lord: If you die in the dream, you wake up in reality. Healthy recovery in next to no time. Ask me what happens if you die in reality. Rory: What happens? The Dream Lord: You die, stupid. That's why it's called reality.
Episode #215: Amy's Choice.
Companions: The 11th Doctor, Amy Pond and Rory Williams.
Air Date: 15th May 2010.
It has been five years since Amy Pond last travelled with the Eleventh Doctor. However, when he arrives by accident and they have a reunion, Amy is left questioning what is real. Is she actually living with her husband Rory in Leadworth, 2015, or is she still travelling with Rory and the Doctor in the TARDIS? Which is real and which is fake? Dream or reality? Only one thing is clear: it's Amy's choice.
Amy's Choice is a filler episode that does nothing to further the season plot. There is no reference to the Silence nor is there a crack in the universe this time. The entire episode is totally self contained. Instead we have a confusing story about dream and reality which is somewhat mediocre.
The villain of this story is an entity calling itself the Dream Lord. The first time I watched this episode I was really hoping that he would be a previous villain, the Valeyard or the Celestial Toymaker. Instead we have a one use villain playing the role of the Doctor's darker side (hence the thought that he may be the Valeyard). Played by the wonderful Toby Jones, the Dream Lord is a fun villain with the perfect sarcastic responses to the Doctor.
I don't have much to really review this episode. It's fun if you take it the right way but I dislike filler episodes intensely.
Vampires of Venice is a story that feels very much like the classic stories of old. I could imagine Tom Baker running around Venice investigating and hunting these alien vampires. As it is this isn't a bad story for the 11th Doctor. It fits what I expect from modern Doctor Who in both style and appearance, although some elements are a bit silly.
Rory joins the TRADIS crew as the Doctor tried to curtail Amy's amorous advances. Rory is a sort of anti-companion as he doesn't take to time travel the same way as everyone else. He's very unadventurous and it is a nice character trait. In this story he raises some good points that aren't normally covered and that we ignore when watching.
"You know what's dangerous about you? It's not that you make people take risks, it's that you make them want to impress you. You make it so they don't want to let you down. You have no idea how dangerous you make people to themselves when you're around."
That is a great quote and so very very true when you think about it. Companions always trust the Doctor and assume that he knows what he is doing and go that extra mile. We see it all the time and we just go along with it. A good example of script writing. We never saw anything like this in the old days and it is good to have an insight into our hero.
The vampires themselves are a little bit of a let down but only because with modern BBC special effects I feel they could have looked a lot better than just strange alien fish with big teeth. The premise behind them and their plans ties into the crack in the universe plot, complete with reference to "silence". I'd have preferred something closer to the Great Vampires myself but then the more classic references the better in my opinion.
Vampires of Venice is a fun story but it is the character interaction and Rory's reveal of who the Doctor is is what makes the episode.
"Didn't anyone ever tell you? There's one thing you never put in a trap. If you're smart, if you value your continued existence, if you have any plans about seeing tomorrow, there's one thing you never, ever put in a trap."
Episode #213: The Time of the Angels / Flesh and Stone.
Companions: The 11th Doctor and Amy Pond.
Air Date: 14th April to 1st May 2010.
The enigmatic River Song hurtles back into the Eleventh Doctor's life, but she's not the only familiar face returning — the Weeping Angels are back! Following River's calling card, the Doctor is recruited to help track down the last of the Angels, which has escaped from the Byzantium starliner and into the terrifying Maze of the Dead.
The Weeping Angels and River Song return in a rather good story that continues the lore of the Angels. Most of the time the episodes that feature the Angels are rather naff but this one adds something to it. We learn a little more about them and what they are capable off. Blink barely touched the surface. As for River she is a very different person than when we last saw her. We are going backwards though as the Doctor and River do keep meeting in the wrong order.
This is also a major revelation episode where the crack in the universe is concerned. At the end of Victory of the Daleks the Doctor points out that Amy should remember the Dalek invasion that recently moved the Earth but she doesn't. In this adventure the Doctor realises that something is changing or rewriting history as, and I pointed this out a while back, no one remembers the giant Cyberking marching across Victorian London. Something is a foot and the Doctor is on the case.
The best bit about this adventure is that pretty much from the get go we have a suspense filled romp through an ancient maze and a crashed space ship. Most adventures are quite exciting but few are truly suspenseful. This is one of the few and it's worth it.
"YOU! ARE! MY! ENEMY! And I am yours! You are everything I despise. The worst thing in all creation. I've defeated you. Time and time again, I've defeated you. I sent you back into the Void. I saved the whole of reality from you. I AM THE DOCTOR AND YOU ARE THE DALEKS!"
Episode #212: Victory of the Daleks.
Companions: The 11th Doctor and Amy Pond.
Air Date: 17th April 2010.
Receiving a call for help from his old friend Winston Churchill, the Eleventh Doctor and Amy Pond head for World War II to assist the Prime Minister. Once there, though, the Doctor reunites with his greatest enemies, the scum of the universe — the Daleks. But why are these survivors passing themselves off as man-made weapons? And why don't they recognise the Doctor? What could these "Ironsides" have planned?
Victory of the Daleks is a pseudo-historical story with a science fiction twist. It doesn't use the second world war to teach like the old historical adventures but more as just a setting, in which to tell this story. Into it we find the Daleks working for the British armed forces to take down incoming German aircraft. The Doctor recognises them for what they are this triggers the actual story, that the Daleks are seeking to rebuild their forces and their creation needs proof that they are pure Daleks. The name of the episode is very apt as in this story the evil Daleks do indeed win. Yay!
Despite some rather witty dialogue this episode unfortunately is really just another filler. The entire point of this episode is simply to set up the return of the Daleks later on. I really hate it when shows do that as it feels like a waste of an episode. I like plot stories but I like them to be mostly self contained and workable.
I hate to be negative yet again, but there is one thing in this adventure which really irks me. The Daleks' plans are slightly defeated by space flying Spitfire aircraft. It just bugs me as once again we have an element of silly. It's meant to be a good sci-fi story and then they through that in there.
Episode #211: The Beast Below. Companions: The 11th Doctor and Amy Pond. Air Date: 10th April 2010. For Amy Pond's first trip in the TARDIS, the Eleventh Doctor brings his new companion to the 29th century, where all of the United Kingdom's citizens (apart from the Scottish) live on board Starship UK, searching for a new home among the stars as the Earth is being roasted by solar flares. However, the Doctor soon finds something amiss on board the vessel. The citizens appear to fear "the smiling fellows in the booths" and ignore crying children. What is going on? What secrets does Starship UK hold at its depths, and who is hiding them? Soon, the Doctor is forced to make an impossible choice. No matter what he chooses, death is the only outcome. After the great start to the new series we hit this story and we're dropped into what I call science-fairy tale. Basically this resembles nothing like what we have seen previously and it just feels wrong. We can assume from the century given (and you may disagree) that these country starships are the people of Earth fleeing the solar flares that led to the events from The Ark in Space. So, why does the Nerva Beacon have proper technology and here we have most of the UK crammed into a city flying through space? A city sized space ship I could get but that isn't what we have here. Amy gets some better dialogue and more of a character in this story. I'd already warmed to her in the previous story but here is where we start to see the real her. She has her tough side but she is still as sympathetic as the rest of us. The Doctor on the other hand, for me anyway, turns into a rather unlikable character towards the end. To start with he's all in for the wonder and the adventure but once the realisation of what is happening hits him suddenly he is all "nobody human has anything to say to me today!" despite their actions being what saved them. They weren't to know what they were doing. His reaction just seems beyond the extreme. Anger I can get because of what has happened but blaming humanity for survival seems just over the top. The "Beast" resembles the poor creature in the Torchwood story Meat. Could that have been an immature space whale? I like the idea of the space whale and it does fit into the Whoniverse quite nicely I think. You could certainly imagine something like it in a classic Who story. The Beast Below is not a bad story I suppose but the weird fairy tale feel to it spoils it for me somewhat. It works for some stories such as the horror genre ones, but not for something set in the distant future on board a large impressive star ship.
"I'm the Doctor; I'm worse than everybody's aunt!"
Episode #210: The Eleventh Hour.
Companions: The 11th Doctor and Amy Pond.
Air Date: 3rd April 2010.
After a literally explosive regeneration, the brand new Eleventh Doctor survives a crash-landing to Earth. However, he has little time to recover. With a mysterious crack in a little girl's wall and a missing alien prisoner, the Doctor is in for an adventure. However, with the TARDIS damaged and the sonic screwdriver destroyed, can the Doctor capture the rogue alien before its jailers burn Earth to a crisp?
It's all change as Matt Smith takes over the role of the Doctor. There's more humour and a rather strange surreal tone to the show now. In later episodes the show feels less science fiction and more science fairy-tale. But it is certainly in keeping with the new Doctor. When Matt Smith was first announced as the Doctor I was not convinced. He looked too young to be the Doctor and I doubted that he would have the force of personality. Within minutes of his appearance I was convinced that he was the right choice. Of the newer actors, Matt Smith has become my favourite.
The Eleventh Hour is a great start to the new series. The Doctor's new persona is just fun and immediately you like him. He is a proper eccentric personality again and much more in the style of the classic Doctors. We are also introduced to the newest companion, Amy Pond. She is another feisty female companion and one who stands up to the Doctor. She's not a screamer. We also meet her boyfriend Rory, a bit of a wet fish really but he'll have a part to play later on.
The main point of this story is not the escaped Prisoner Zero or the alien Atraxi. At the start young Amy Pond shows the Doctor a strange crack in her wall which is revealed to be a crack in the fabric of the universe. This is the main plot point for the season and for the run of the 11th Doctor.
For an episode that is there just to set up the new Doctor and his companions, this is a really good fun story. The humour is actually just right and while I sometimes grumble at the fairy tale nature of some of the future stories, this one gets a good thumbs up from me.
"It's not that I'm an innocent. I've taken lives. I got worse, I got clever. Manipulated people into taking their own. Sometimes, I think a Time Lord lives too long..."
Episode #209: The End of Time.
Companions: The 10th Doctor.
Air Date: 25th December 2009 to 1st January 2010.
It is the Tenth Doctor's final journey — but his psychotic nemesis, the Master, has been resurrected on Christmas Eve! Each determined to cheat death, the battle rages from the abandoned wastelands of London to the mysterious Immortality Gate, whilst the alien Ood warn of an even greater danger approaching, as a terrible shadow falls across the entire universe. With the sound of the drums growing louder in the Master's head and an ancient trap closing around the Earth, the Doctor and Wilfred Mott must fight alone. Sacrifices must be made, and the deadly prophecy warns: "He will knock four times."
David Tennant's final adventure as the Doctor has arrived. Split into two parts shown on Christmas Day and New Years Day, The End of Time is a great example of what the show can be when done properly. In other words with a decent budget to go along with some good script writing. As well as being good entertainment with action, humour and a touch of apocalypse, we also have some well written interaction that causes the viewer to take a better look at the man we know as the Doctor.
To start with there is a scene where the Doctor and Wildfred are talking about the Doctor's immanent death. He talks about regeneration and how it's like dying. Everything that you are and everything that you were is swept away and for all intents and purposes a new man walks away. I have never really thought about it but really that must be terrifying for a Time Lord regardless of age and number of times that he has regenerated. I would say that it goes someway to explain the darker persona of the Doctor since the Time War. Secondly, we have the above quote which makes me think specifically about the 7th Doctor and how he manipulated people, including his companion Ace, into doing what he wanted. I could do with more scenes like this which expand upon the character.
The Master returns in this story but his resurrection is interrupted and things have gone a little wrong. Burning energy at an accelerated rate he is forced to consume food, and people (at least two if not four!) to survive. When things fluctuate we see a rather CGI skeletal figure of the master which looks a tad cheap. The modern equivalent of overlapping effects from the old day I guess. He also seems to have developed amazing jumping capabilities and the power to throw energy bolts from his hands, although they don't really seem to do very much.
The Master is not the only returning figure however. Rassilon, founder of Time Lord society appears to have been resurrected as well to lead the war effort in the Time War. He's not the same individual we meet as a spiritual presence in The Five Doctors however. He appears to have been driven mad by the events of the Time War and is quite the despot now. You can see why the Doctor now fears his fellow Time Lords. This time around Rassilon is played by veteran James Bond actor, Timothy Dalton. I imagine getting such a well known actor was quite a cue for the BBC.
We are also introduced in this story to a new figure. Appearing at times to Wilfred and standing, face covered, in Rassilon's presence is a Time Lady. She seems to be something to the Doctor although we never learn in the show who she is. There are rumours that she may be Romana or even more interesting, the Doctor's own mother. We may never truly know.
At the end of this episode we finally have the reveal of the "four knocks" plot line which leads to the eventual regeneration. As the Doctor slowly dies he goes and pays a quick visit to some of his former companions: Martha Jones and Mickey Smith, Sarah Jane and Luke Smith, Captain Jack and Rose Tyler. It's a nice ending and an appropriate goodbye from the 10th Doctor.
I liked David Tennant and his portrayal of the Doctor but I never quite saw what the fuss about him was from some fans. He was good but not that good. I guess it's more fan girls adoring his good looks rather than his character, but hey, who knows.
"Ha, I love 1958. No one's seen Die Hard. Or Alien. Nor Die Hard 2. Or Aliens. Or Die Hard 3."
Episode #208: Dreamland.
Companions: The 10th Doctor.
Air Date: 21st to 27th November 2009.
During a visit to a local diner, the Tenth Doctor stumbles upon a mysterious alien artefact that leads him on a mission to rescue Rivesh Mantilax from the threat of the Viperox and the clutches of the American military.
Dreamland is the second animated feature for Doctor Who, the other being the Infinite Quest. In this adventure the Doctor lands in Roswell New Mexico a short time after a certain UFO crashed in the desert. Drawn into the mystery the Doctor discovers captured alien Grey's, mysterious Men in Black, and a whole race of war-like insectoid aliens waiting to conquer the Earth.
Basically Dreamland is the Whoniverse explanation for the events surrounding the Roswell crash of 1947. I've often wondered what those events might have been like in Doctor Who and it seems someone had the same idea. I like that the Gray aliens, despite the ominous way the media treats their "appearances" in the real world, are shown to be a friendly species in the Whoniverse. Off course the mysterious Men in Black and the alien Viperox are easily recognizable as the villains, in typical science fiction fashion. In other words, they don't look like the good guys.
As Dreamland is basically a children's animated episode it is lacking in general plot. It flows nicely along with enough cool moments to keep the kids happy. For the adult viewers there are a few moments. The quote above is in reference to air ducts running throughout the US army base. Also, the monstrous Viperox queen looks an awful lot like the queen from the Alien movies, complete with nest of alien eggs. Intentional? Who knows but it gave me a chuckle.
Dreamland isn't considered part of the overall canon of the show though much like The Infinite Quest I choose to include it as it is a televised adventure and fits in nicely as an escape for the Doctor before everything goes pear shaped for him in the next story.
Companions: Sarah Jane Smith, K9, Luke Smith, Rani Chandra and Clyde Langer.
Air Date: 19th to 20th November 2009.
When the Slitheen's latest scheme to destroy Earth for profit is foiled, another family from the Slitheen's planet arrive, the Blathereen. Though they seem helpful, can they be trusted? As a generous gesture of peace, the Blathereen gift the gang with a plant called Rakweed, which could end world hunger. However, the Rakweed goes wild, spreading spores about London and infecting people, including Luke. Sarah Jane must fight alone, not only to save the Earth, but also her son. Meanwhile, Clyde smuggles K9 into school to help him cheat at a test, and he, Rani and the metal dog find themselves trapped in the school — surronded by Rakweed. Can the team work together across Ealing — and Antarctica — to prevent Rakweed from devouring the entire planet?
The end of this season of the Sarah Jane Adventures starts off well but fails to ultimately deliver anything interesting. It starts off with a bait and switch where you believe that the gang are going up against two members of the Slitheen but instead they are tricked by two members of the Blathereen, a rival branch of the family who are actually quite nice. These two however aren't. Rather than fighting the aliens the story ends up being a save the world from plants and if the gang happen to deal with the Blathereen then all's good. Not impressed really.
The only nice element to this story is one of trust. Sarah Jane and Clyde initially distrust the new arrivals but Rani is more about accepting the aliens and not treating them like every invader that they come across. In this case Sarah Jane was correct but normally she is all about don't judge by appearances and expectations but here she outright doesn't trust them just because they come from the same world as the Slitheen.
"But there are laws. There are laws of time. Once upon a time there were people in charge of those laws, but they died. They all died. Do you know who that leaves? Me! It's taken me all these years to realise the laws of time are mine, and they will obey me!" Episode #207: Waters of Mars. Companions: The 10th Doctor. Air Date: 15th November 2009. Mars, 2059, Bowie Base One. Last recorded message: "Don't drink the water. Don't even touch it. Not one drop." The Doctor arrives on Mars and discovers the first human colony. A colony which according to history was destroyed with the loss of all hands. When an alien force takes control of the colonists the Doctor finds himself torn between wanting to help and letting this fixed point in time take it's natural course. For once he chooses poorly and things don't work out quite as he had hoped. The villains of this story are a water-borne virus of sorts which has been frozen in a glacier for thousands of years. The Doctor theories that it may have been trapped there by the Ice Warriors, which is the only reference to them in the entire episode. The Flood, as they are called, take over the colonists and seek to escape to Earth where there is more water than on Mars. Waters of Mars is a very good adventure which covers the science fiction and horror genres. You could even say that it borders on zombie horror once the Flood begin to possess the colonists. It adds a nice sense of urgency to the adventure which is sometimes lacking recently in Doctor Who. In this story the Doctor returns to the lonely god aspect that we saw before in The Runaway Bride. Once he starts to think that he can change things he reverts to that aspect. This time he is successful up to a point but time has it's means of fixing the situation and when it does so the Doctor is shown that he isn't as all powerful a lord of time as he sometimes thinks he is. We all like the Doctor to win at the end of the day but it is nice again to see the Doctor humbled at times. I know that I do focus on some negative elements some times but I can say the only downer for me here is simply that as the story is set on Mars I would have liked more than a passing reference to the Ice Warriors. The red planet was their home and until recently (really) it was also the prison for an Osirian. Just the Whovian in me wanting more connectivity between old and new Who. Waters of Mars continues the "he will knock four times" plot which leads up to the final episode. Only briefly but its enough to set the Doctor fleeing from his eventual fate.
"The Mona Lisa has existed for five centuries. There has to be a reason she's come to life and it has to be about this gallery."
Episode #17: Mona Lisa's Revenge.
Companions: Sarah Jane Smith, Luke Smith, Rani Chandra and Clyde Langer.
Air Date: 12th to 13th November 2009.
Strange forces bring the Mona Lisa, on exhibit at an art gallery in London, to life. Clyde, Rani and Luke are at the gallery on a school trip as the Mona Lisa rampages with a Sontaran blaster, taken from another painting. Sarah Jane comes to the rescue, but ends up trapped in a painting. It's all down to Clyde, Rani and Luke to save the day as the Mona Lisa searches for her brother, the Abomination, hidden in another place in the art gallery.
Mona Lisa's Revenge is a very strange story. It doesn't really make much sense. Somehow the Mona Lisa painting comes to life and seeks to continue existing outside of the canvas. The Mona Lisa talks in a bad East End/Essex accent with chav mannerisms which is just weird. It doesn't sounds right. She then animates a highwayman painting to assist her in restoring her "brother in paint" the Abomination to life. None of them can leave the building so what is the point? It's another silly story that doesn't feel like it is going anywhere. A filler episode if you will.
The Mona Lisa seems to have been conscious in her painting since she was created. This means she must have memories of the events from City of Death and it would have been nice to have some reference from that story but nothing. I'd have had a reference to the painting having FAKE drawn on the back. Oh well.
I'm afraid this one gets a low rating from me because it is, as I mentioned earlier, a filler episode with no real reason. There are much better SJA adventures that are stand alone than this one. The only character development in the story is Luke's growing into a real teenager and the disruption it causes at home. There are plot elements for this as the next season goes along but all the same a disappointing story really.
"No-one really knows just when Ashen Hill Manor was first built, but through history there has always been a house here. And so they say, just as long as there's been stone and oak, there has always been evil. They say it was the reputation of the house that attracted the magician Erasmus Darkening. He entered the service of the young lord of the manor, the widower, Lord Marchwood. Darkening promised that in return for his protection, he would replenish the family's fortunes with the secret of making gold from base metal. But after two years working in a secret chamber far beneath the house, Darkening's alchemy had failed to bear one ounce of gold. And the people on Marchwood's land were uneasy. There were stories of how Darkening came among them at night, of how he took away people that never returned and that he was not human."
Episode #16: The Eternity Trap.
Companions: Sarah Jane Smith, Rani Chandra and Clyde Langer.
Air Date: 5th to 6th November 2009.
A haunted house, mysterious whispers and secrets in the shadows attract Sarah Jane's attention. When Professor Rivers and the gang investigate an old legend, a monstrous creature appears in the night. The terrifying grasp of Erasmus Darkening reaches out from centuries past. Sarah Jane and the gang discover the secrets of Erasmus Darkening, but are they too late? Ghosts from the past rise up and the quest to find the missing children reaches a climax. It seems that nothing can stop the ancient alchemist's rise to victory.
A haunted house story has been long overdue in the Sarah Jane Adventures. This is the sort of show where such a story makes so much sense and in this instance it is a really fun episode with some nice spooky elements. Ultimately the ghostly villain is revealed to be an alien of some sort and the tone of the story changes to one of rescuing the poor souls trapped in the house. Just my sort of story really. I just wish it had a slightly darker tone but being a SJA adventure it's a children's show it's not going to happen.
There does seem to be some fan speculation that due to references that Erasmus makes that he could be another Time Lord. Not sure of that myself but I can see where that theory comes from. Erasmus certain does sound like it and his style of dress isn't too dissimilar to that of the classic Time Lords. But following his defeat we will never know.
Luke, K9 and Mister Smith do not make an appearance in this story. Mostly because this is the only SJA story not to feature the house on Bannerman Road but also because Tommy Knight who plays Luke Smith was busy with his GCSE's at the time.
"And I know the legends of the Doctor! The man of ice and fire, who walked among gods. Once held the key to time in his hands! Now, he is surrounded by children!" Episode #15: The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith. Companions: Sarah Jane Smith, the 9th Doctor, K9, Luke Smith, Rani Chandra and Clyde Langer. Air Date: 29th to 30th October 2009. After Sarah Jane starts acting suspiciously, Luke, Clyde, Rani and K9 investigate. They discover she has a boyfriend, Peter Dalton, and they are going to get married. Clyde suspects Peter may be an alien. At the wedding, an old enemy returns. As the gang find themselves trapped in a time loop in Limbo, can a very special friend from the past save Sarah Jane, her friends and the entire planet Earth from the wrath of the Trickster?
It has taken three seasons but we finally get the much anticipated appearance of the Doctor in an episode of the Sarah Jane Adventures. It isn't his best as even once he turns up it is still a show about Sarah Jane and her friends, and they solve the adventure with him as the effective companion. Still, it's about time that he showed up in the show. The story itself is okay. The Trickster has tricked Sarah Jane and her chums into becoming trapped within a second in time unless she agrees to be married and have her memory of saving the Earth erased. The Doctor tries to rescue her but first must use the TARDIS to break through that second barrier. Clyde becomes charged with Artron energy (temporal energy basically) and uses it to defeat the Trickster. As plots go it is fairly basic but worth a watch just for the Doctor. This episode features another well known British actor, Nigel Havers. Havers was a household name in the 1970's and 80's. The first time I saw this adventure I was quite impressed as he's another actor who I wouldn't have pegged as the sort to appear in a show like the Sarah Jane Adventures. However, sitting here writing this I am finding it difficult to write anything interesting about this story. It is fun to have the Doctor on the show but the story is otherwise average with little to really talk about or get excited about. It's him that makes it. Without the Doctor it would have been a fairly bland SJA story. Watch it just for the appearance of the Doctor.
"There were these two races, and they had a war. My people weren't involved, but because we could read the timelines, they attacked us. So many were exterminated. My parents put me in a ship and sent me out into space."
Episode #14: The Mad Woman in the Attic.
Companions: Sarah Jane Smith, Luke Smith, Rani Chandra and Clyde Langer.
Air Date: 22nd to 23rd October 2009.
The year is 2059. In the derelict attic of 13 Bannerman Road, an elderly Rani Chandra tells the story of the day she met the alien Eve and her life went wrong.
In this story we see a future that will never come to pass where the heroes of Bannerman road no longer exist, except for an elderly Rani living in the attic of Sarah Jane's old house. In the modern day the companions have a falling out and come to investigate stories of a red demon in an abandoned theme park. Here they meet the alien named Eve, a survivour of the Time War between the Daleks and the Time Lords, who has the power to control people and read the time lines.
Eve however is not a villain in the traditional sense of the Whoniverse. She doesn't want to destroy or rule the Earth. She just wants friends and to not be alone. Unfortunately she is only a teenager in theory and she doesn't know how to control her powers. As in typical science fiction tales she needs the guidance of another to control her gift and it is this sort of growing and coming of age tale that we have. It makes a nice change from the usual faire of the Doctor Who universe even if it is an overdone science fiction trope.
Part of the future reading shows us that the Doctor is "coming back" which is a reference to the next episode. At the culmination of the adventure we get K9 back and I hope he's going to be a regular character.
While I watched this episode I had an odd thought considering the events of Children of Earth and major stories like it, how do those aliens on Earth handle the strange events that plague the Earth in the early 21st century? Maybe we will never know.
The Mad Woman in the Attic is an entertaining episode but for me I felt that it needed something more. The plot is slow and it is another SJA adventure were really nothing happens.
"The Judoon's only interest is in stopping that creature getting away. Humans don't matter. Under the Articles of the Shadow Proclamation we barely exist. Too primitive."
Episode #13: Prisoner of the Judoon.
Companions: Sarah Jane Smith, Luke Smith, Rani Chandra and Clyde Langer.
Air Date: 15th to 16th October 2009.
Sarah Jane and the gang face the most dangerous day of their lives as the rhino-like Judoon return. When prisoner Androvax the Annihilator crash-lands on Earth, the Veil is set free to turn Earth's technology against itself. His next intended victim is Sarah Jane. As the Judoon fleet approaches Earth, it's a race against time to stop Androvax. With Genetec Systems' technology on the rampage and Rani's parents taken prisoner, can anything stop the Army of the Infinitesimal?
The third season the Sarah Jane Adventures opens with a rather good story. The writers have come up with a quite a good idea in Prisoner of the Judoon which works on a number of levels. Children will enjoy the adventure but teens and adults will pick up on a deeper story surrounding the reasons for the villains actions.
As you can guess from the title we see the return of the Judoon, last seen in The Stolen Earth. Another proper Doctor Who is nice to see. There are also references to the upcoming animated episode Dreamland, where we learn the true account of the Roswell UFO crash. I'm going to be interested to see if it links up correctly.
The episode deals primarily with the plot involving the Judoon but also has Androvax' attempt to destroy the Earth via nanites (microscopic machines). Even with this the episode also features a heavy humorous element which detracts a little from the adventure. The Judoon, never the brightest creatures as far as we could see, appear even more dumber than normal in this episode and the writers cover it up with uncharacteristic humour.
A good start to the season but we'll see if it holds.
"There's one thing I always wanted to ask Jack. Back in the old days. I wanted to know about that Doctor of his. The man who appears out of nowhere and saves the world; except sometimes he doesn't. All those times in history where there was no sign of him … I wanted to know why not. But I don't need to ask anymore. I know the answer now: Sometimes the Doctor must look at this planet and turn away in shame. I'm recording this in case anyone ever finds it, so you can see. You can see how the world ended."
Episode 26 : Children of Earth.
Companions: Jack Harkness, Gwen Cooper, and Ianto Jones.
Air Date: 6th July to 10th July 2009.
When all children on Earth stop and start chanting "We Are Coming", the Torchwood team investigates. Could this be the start of a global crisis?
Children of Earth was a five part series which took on a much darker tone than any previous Torchwood story had done. Specifically it dealt with an alien visitation who wanted to take 10% of the world's children to be used as an addictive narcotic. The story deals with how people handle this and the potential loss of their children. In that regard elements of the story are rather disturbing.
There is a lot to this story. The alien 456, the British government being corrupt in the light of these events - willing to do anything and screw over anyone who may get in the way, the destruction of Torchwood, Jack having a daughter and grandson, and the death of another main character, Ianto. In some instances it has too much going on but the story is compelling enough to keep you watching.
One thing I like a lot about Children of Earth is that it is the first Torchwood story to truely embrace that fact that it is set in the same universe as Doctor Who. The above quote from Gwen in the final part is especially true in my mind as I often wonder why when Torchwood deals with some pretty major events that the Doctor doesn't appear.
One character, Rupesh, states that due to recent events (not specifically referenced but likely to include things like the Webstar attack and the relocation of Earth, half the world now knows of or believes in the existence of alien life, while the other half is in denial. Suicide rates have risen, which Rupesh ascribes to crises of faith. This may also be reflected by the insanity and suicide of Alex Hopkins, who learnt about upcoming events in 1999.
The aliens known as 456 are suitably alien, as you can see from the photo above. At last we get an alien species which isn't a man in a suit. These are not the typical Whoniverse alien whose motives are simply evil. These creatures want to use human children as drugs. I don't think there is anything quite so evil previously in the Whoniverse. As such I love that they brought us such a species even just once.
One element that isn't covered is with the destruction of the Torchwood facility what becomes of everything that was in there? Weevils, the pet pterodactyl, and even Jack's brother are all unaccounted for.
Children of Earth features Peter Capaldi (the future 12th Doctor) in the role of a rather screwed over civil servant. This is the second appearance for Capaldi in the Whoniverse as he also appeared in Fires of Pompeii with David Tennant
I enjoy dark stories in TV and literature. I find them the most intriguing and fascinating stories in fiction. As such, I should have a good rating for this story. However it is one episode too long for me in being a single continuous story. It is four hours stretched out into five and it feels like it. But it is still entertaining to watch.
