lazy sunday
Today, I finally sat down to watch the pilot of 'The Sarah Jane Adventures'
I really quite like it. :)
I said in my response to 'The Time of Angels' that my favorite moment of storytelling is when we get to find out what happened AFTER, and my GOD, I loved seeing more of Sarah Jane here. We got a taste of her life in 'School Reunion,' but here, we get the fuller picture. It's a little heartbreaking to see the reality of a former Companion's life. I mean, look at it:
Sarah Jane: I met this man, a very special man, called the Doctor. And years ago, we traveled together.
Maria: In space?
Sarah Jane: Space, and time. Then it came to an end. Suddenly, I was back to a normal life. Electric bills, burst pipes, bus tickets... and rain.
Kelsey: She's gone completely loop the loop!
Sarah Jane: There, y'see? Who could I talk to about it? For years I tried to forget! And then I met him again, the Doctor... but we had both changed, but it was funny because we were still both the same. I learned that I could carry on here on Earth, doing what we always did.
I love this exchange- SJ's incredible isolation and the shock of reentering the mundanity of everyday life, where it rains. Her attic space is so wonderful- filled with bits and bobs of alien technology and her former life. I loved the photo of the Brigadier tacked to the wall, along with ancient drawings of the TARDIS, the photo of her, a dog, and K-9, even the Dalek (although, REALLY, Sarah Jane? WHY WOULD YOU KEEP THAT?). There's even a photo of darling Harry Sullivan there. But her insistence that the kids stay out is also heartbreaking- she's given up on sharing her life with anyone, and from the way she assumes that no one will understand, I'd bet she'd been burned in the past.
While I'm quoting, there's also this, of course:
When I was your age, I used to think "Oh, when I'm grown up, I'll know what I want, I'll be sorted." But you never really know what you want. You never feel grown up, not really. You never sort it all out... so I thought, I could handle life on my own. But after today... I don't want to!
How lonely she's been. Kelsey tells us that she's regarded as something of the local madwoman, and from the way we see her when Maria first meets her, it's not surprising. SJ learned the first lesson of the Doctor- he opened her eyes to the greater world out there and she's done her best to help it along- but she forgot the second part- you can't do it alone. Hers would be a sadder life if she'd kept going along that path but luckily, she's been pulled elsewhere, anchored to Maria and Luke despite her best efforts.
As for the show, what fun. :) I really like the dynamic between Maria and her father (I have a penchant for stories about fathers and daughters) and Luke is genuinely endearing- I just can't help but root for him.
It's lovely that they've gone two separate directions in spin-offs: Torchwood for sex and swearing and darkness and The Sarah Jane Adventures for the kids. I like the balance, and I think the richness of the Whoniverse can absolutely sustain it. I'm looking forward to watching more.
I really quite like it. :)
I said in my response to 'The Time of Angels' that my favorite moment of storytelling is when we get to find out what happened AFTER, and my GOD, I loved seeing more of Sarah Jane here. We got a taste of her life in 'School Reunion,' but here, we get the fuller picture. It's a little heartbreaking to see the reality of a former Companion's life. I mean, look at it:
Sarah Jane: I met this man, a very special man, called the Doctor. And years ago, we traveled together.
Maria: In space?
Sarah Jane: Space, and time. Then it came to an end. Suddenly, I was back to a normal life. Electric bills, burst pipes, bus tickets... and rain.
Kelsey: She's gone completely loop the loop!
Sarah Jane: There, y'see? Who could I talk to about it? For years I tried to forget! And then I met him again, the Doctor... but we had both changed, but it was funny because we were still both the same. I learned that I could carry on here on Earth, doing what we always did.
I love this exchange- SJ's incredible isolation and the shock of reentering the mundanity of everyday life, where it rains. Her attic space is so wonderful- filled with bits and bobs of alien technology and her former life. I loved the photo of the Brigadier tacked to the wall, along with ancient drawings of the TARDIS, the photo of her, a dog, and K-9, even the Dalek (although, REALLY, Sarah Jane? WHY WOULD YOU KEEP THAT?). There's even a photo of darling Harry Sullivan there. But her insistence that the kids stay out is also heartbreaking- she's given up on sharing her life with anyone, and from the way she assumes that no one will understand, I'd bet she'd been burned in the past.
While I'm quoting, there's also this, of course:
When I was your age, I used to think "Oh, when I'm grown up, I'll know what I want, I'll be sorted." But you never really know what you want. You never feel grown up, not really. You never sort it all out... so I thought, I could handle life on my own. But after today... I don't want to!
How lonely she's been. Kelsey tells us that she's regarded as something of the local madwoman, and from the way we see her when Maria first meets her, it's not surprising. SJ learned the first lesson of the Doctor- he opened her eyes to the greater world out there and she's done her best to help it along- but she forgot the second part- you can't do it alone. Hers would be a sadder life if she'd kept going along that path but luckily, she's been pulled elsewhere, anchored to Maria and Luke despite her best efforts.
As for the show, what fun. :) I really like the dynamic between Maria and her father (I have a penchant for stories about fathers and daughters) and Luke is genuinely endearing- I just can't help but root for him.
It's lovely that they've gone two separate directions in spin-offs: Torchwood for sex and swearing and darkness and The Sarah Jane Adventures for the kids. I like the balance, and I think the richness of the Whoniverse can absolutely sustain it. I'm looking forward to watching more.