I think the difference is mainly the roles the two characters had on the show at that point. The Brig was still a relevant presence in the whoniverse, but Sarah Jane was a major recurring character spearheading her own spin-off. Additionally, the Brig was an old man, whereas Sarah Jane was still very active and vital as a middle aged woman with teenagers.
Having the Brigadier die peacefully off-screen was sad and touching, and I think very well handled in an understated way. That kind of ending made sense for him at that point in the story.
Killing Sarah Jane, however, would have been rough, traumatic, and a Very Big Deal. With the Brig, it was okay to be understated, but with Sarah Jane they would have had to Go There, especially as she was by all accounts perfectly healthy. She could have been given a hero's death saving the world off-screen, but I don't think that would have made much sense. I believe, as was intended, that Sarah Jane lived into at least her eighties and never stopped having adventures. It's a better conclusion to her story than killing her off suddenly would have been, especially in light of the fact that her spin-off was for children.
So, in essence, I agree entirely with the BBC's decisions in both cases.
Having the Brigadier die peacefully off-screen was sad and touching, and I think very well handled in an understated way. That kind of ending made sense for him at that point in the story.
Killing Sarah Jane, however, would have been rough, traumatic, and a Very Big Deal. With the Brig, it was okay to be understated, but with Sarah Jane they would have had to Go There, especially as she was by all accounts perfectly healthy. She could have been given a hero's death saving the world off-screen, but I don't think that would have made much sense. I believe, as was intended, that Sarah Jane lived into at least her eighties and never stopped having adventures. It's a better conclusion to her story than killing her off suddenly would have been, especially in light of the fact that her spin-off was for children.
So, in essence, I agree entirely with the BBC's decisions in both cases.
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