SJA: The Last Sontaran (both parts)

[selenay]

There be rampant spoilers behind the cut for both episodes, just to warn everyone.


First thing of importance: no more Maria??

Suddenly I regret my spoiler-phobic habits because at least I would have been prepared. I was expecting a fake out, or Alan to decide not to go, or something. And then I expected in the preview of the next story to see that they're bringing Maria back in some way.

But no. Waaah!

Moving right along...

I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. There were a couple of clunky moments ("Look behind you"? And then the same thing a few minutes later when Clyde escaped? Really?) but it was a fun episode and hung together surprisingly well. It also would have worked for people unfamiliar with any Who canon but knowing Who canon meant there were a few added touches.

Timeline-wise, I can see why everyone is confused. I really don't know how this fits into the SE/JE timeline and I'm not sure the writing staff do either. Huh. I shall handwave it in good fannish tradition.

The thing that really stood out for me was the various reactions to Maria's leaving. Luke's distress at losing the person he has know literally for his entire life was quite real. Sarah Jane's reaction was the most heartbreaking, the tears in her eyes when she's trying to be blas&eactute; about Maria leaving and then her apology and obvious upset at the end of the episode. I'm trying very hard not to see any Maria/SJ ship and slightly failing. No matter how you view their relationship, though, their parting and their closeness in this episode was just right.

I also adored Clyde in this episode because he is turning out to be awesome. He's not just funny guy, there is a lot more to him and I'm hoping that he'll have a bigger role in the show this season.

OK, I am slightly shipping an older Clyde/Luke and I feel much better about that pairing.

I also have to admit to a slight adoration for Chrissy in this episode. She is usually so annoying, she was still a little annoying and self-centred but we finally got to see just how deep her love for her daughter is. We even got to see how deeply she loves Alan even though they just don't work as husband and wife. For a moment I was disappointed that they were going wipe her memories and make her forget what she did. Not just because she saved the world, but she would also have forgotten how amazing her daughter is. So to here her say that she hadn't forgotten was great.

Whoever noted the Chrissy/Sarah Jane overtones, I can see it. Damn.

Anyway, this was a great episode and it promises a lot for how this season is going to be. It's great to have SJA back.

Comments

[sunlightdances.livejournal.com]

Sarah Jane/Maria. *nods* Hard not to see it, really.

[selenay]

I'm trying really, really hard not to. Fandom is not helping.

[lefaym.livejournal.com]

It is totally there.

I noted in my own response to this ep, on my LJ, that there is far less of an age gap between them than there is between Jack/Ianto or Doctor/Rose-- not that we should be advocating for a relationship between someone who is underage with someone who is very definitely an adult, but it does put it in context.

[shadowturquoise.livejournal.com]

Over here from a friend's friend's list. Hope you don't mind.
Whoever noted the Chrissy/Sarah Jane overtones, I can see it. Damn.

I was really hoping I was the only one who thought about that. And I'm still having a hard time with the fact that Chrissy saved the day! Although I have tons more respect for her now after that parting scene where we find our she remembered everything.

I really don't know how this fits into the SE/JE timeline
I assumed it was after JE because in JE Luke mentioned that Maria and her dad were in Cornwall. If this episode came first he would have said they were in Washington DC.

I had a hard time not shipping Maria/Luke. The way their talk outside the Sontaran ship was going, I almost expected a kiss (not that Luke would even know how)

It occurred to me too that Sarah Jane now knows how the Doctor feels when a companion leaves.

[selenay]

I read that post when soniclipstick linked to it and you raised some good points. I'd still argue that it's inappropriate to write anything textual until Maria is of-age, there is less of an age gap and it's very easy to see Maria having a huge crush on SJ even at this stage.

It's one of the facets that makes this an interesting relationship.

[selenay]

I don't mind at all! The more the merrier :-)

Although I have tons more respect for her now after that parting scene where we find our she remembered everything.

*nods* It's funny because I really enjoyed watching her save the day (while inwardly going "Buh??") but I didn't really start loving it until hat final scene. Knowing that she knows is great, but it was the idea that she'd finally worked out how to not be selfish by keeping it from Maria and Alan that I loved.

If this episode came first he would have said they were in Washington DC.

The other argument I've seen is that SE/JE happened during the six weeks between the Sontaran attack and Maria and her dad leaving. Part of that is because nobody mentioned any of the things that happened during SE/JE and that stuff really should have persuaded people that aliens exist.

Time-lines in Doctor Who can get so complicated.

I had a hard time not shipping Maria/Luke

I know what you mean! It was a very shippy scene and, although Luke would have been clueless, I wouldn't have been surprised by a kiss in that scene.

It occurred to me too that Sarah Jane now knows how the Doctor feels when a companion leaves.

I hadn't thought about it that way, but you're right. Perhaps she'll have more sympathy for him about that now?

[lefaym.livejournal.com]

Oh, I absolutely agree that no one should actually write any Sarah Jane/Maria while Maria is underage (unless it's one-sided on Maria's part, which is a totally normal thing), and to tell you the truth, I personally wouldn't write anything then. But that doesn't change the fact that it's a hugely compelling ship.