The Sarah Jane Adventures, Season 1 - Episode 7
Let's cut to the chase: I loved this Sarah Jane-light episode. I can't wait for next week. There are so many bits of it that made me squee.
- The skateboarding in the park. I love how Clyde is patient with Luke in trying to get the latter to relax and have fun and open himself up to new experiences. That's cool. Luke is all theory and no practice. Clyde is all experience and follows his gut. They should totally open up a detective agency when they get older. I'd watch that show.
- Sarah Jane and Maria at the park. The chemistry between the two of them is fantastic. You can tell that they are great friends. I wish I could be as beautiful as Liz Sladen when I'm her age. I wish I could've had a cool neighbor like Sarah Jane when I was Maria's age. And I think Alan does have a thing for Sarah Jane and they'd be really cute together.
- Alan skateboarding! Go after him, SJ! He's young, fit, and can do tricks! He seems to be so much fun and you can tell he loves Maria.
- I'm a knitter but I typically don't notice knitwear in my fandoms (unless it is Harry Potter). However, I really noticed Sarah Jane's very cute cardigan coat. I'm not sure if I would wear something like that, but it looked fabulous and warm.
- UNIT: Fighting For Humankind by Sarah Jane Smith! I would so read that. Yay for all the Classic Who references in the program. I love these little Easter Eggs. They feel like they're put in there Just For Me. I also noticed the Dan Dare Terra Nova Trilogy collection, the French Cooking book, and a Photoshop manual. Hee hee!
- I love the little puzzle box. I love puzzle boxes in general. Yes, seeing the box reminded me of Hellraiser (what a coincidence, since today I saw a demo of the new Clive Barker computer game, Jericho). It added a level of fear for Maria solving the box that I'm sure was unintended.
- I definitely connected with Maria's increased concern and worry about how the world has changed around her. I wanted to reach out and comfort her. The scene between her and her dad when they were searching for references was so touching. From Alan's perspective, you can see how concerned he was over Maria's delusion. From Maria's perspective, you can see her mind working, trying to put it together. She stopped panicing and started using her brain. Awesome!
- "I'm going to sort things out. I'm going to work out how time got changed, I'm going to find Sarah Jane, and then I'm going to bring her back. And nothing is going to stop me!" YAY! *cheers*
- Ohhh, creepy hooded guy. "You forgot me, Andrea Yates, but I never forgot you." That gave me shivers. Who is he? What is he? Why isn't it next week yet?
- The whole stealing memories/making one forget/agreeing to forget bits seem awfully familiar, like I've seen it on another programme, but I can't put my finger on where I've seen it before. Definitely creepy.
- When the alien apparated, my first thought was "Oh no, the Time Bandits guys!" and not "Graske!" Does that make me a bad fangirl?
- When the world changed and Maria was wiped with Alan still remembering, that was dead brilliant. And UGH it's Maria's horrid mum again. I can't stand her. I wonder if this is the episode where Alan will be brought into the "team". There's a part of me that enjoys how in the dark he is about Maria's activities, but I also long for him to be part of the adventures too.
- Maria and YOUNG SARAH JANE! OMG. That just is too freaking awesome. Is it next week yet? Please? Young Sarah Jane reminds me of Melanie Lynskey. I can't wait to see Maria and Sarah Jane fightin' the good fight! Woo hoo!
The definite Sarah Jane/Maria = Doctor/companion relationship comes out in this episode. Maria steps up to the plate as one of the mouthier, stronger and more can-do type companions with a huge amount of loyalty and a big heart. The theme of "___ saves the world and the world doesn't even know" was stong in this one, reflecting its parent program. I actually don't mind the theme, although I can imagine others disliking the "do good things, but don't tell anyone/don't take credit" perspective.
Like other episodes this season, I have no idea how this is going to work out, but I'm looking forward to it. I'm so pleased with this series so far... far more pleased and excited for it than I was last year with Torchwood.
In a bit of unrelated news, I found a torrent for Nightmare Cafe and hopefully over the next week (not many seeders or peers) I'll be able to watch the show for the first time in over 15 years. I can't wait.