goodbye, Sarah Jane Adventures

[dbskyler]

So, it's over. No more new SJA, and no more new Sarah Jane Smith on my television, ever, ever again. But at least we got a great episode to go out on.



First off, let me get out of the way the one thing that I didn't like so much: that "he's American" bit, followed by all those stupid American stereotypes that Luke and Sky threw into the hologram. Is that really how the UK sees us? Ugh. Well, at least I can be thankful that they didn't have the hologram pull out a gun and start shooting people, as that seems to be an even more prevalent American stereotype.

But other than that, I thought the episode was wonderful. Here are the things that I loved:

-- It turned out the aliens were slaves, and the real bad guy was the human. Also, you just know that Sarah is going to go after the alien slave trade now.

-- Great moments for everyone. Sarah being a journalist, and playing interview games with the hologram and the villain! Rani and Clyde investigating the laptop with safety goggles and sticks! Rani and Clyde to the rescue! Luke sending a message on the dog whistle in Morse code! Luke and Sky operating the hologram together!

-- That compilation of clips at the end. What a nice goodbye. Also, I am so happy that they included a clip of Sarah and the Doctor hugging, even though they had to go to Doctor Who to get it. I'm still upset at RTD for not showing us the Eleven/Sarah hug that obviously happened during "Death of the Doctor," but this made up for it.

Comments

[boro-girl.livejournal.com]

I don't think the stereotype was put in there for anything other than to make the kids laugh. Sky was the one doing the "voice" and she's still learning; all she knows of American culture she's learned from Toy Story and the stereotypical presentation of them. She was very early!Luke literal about toad in the hole, so why not about how Americans talk?

But yeah. Beautiful swan song.

[jjpor.livejournal.com]

Indeed - as sad as I am that that's it, at least it went out on a high note. I thought that was a great story in its own right, but the bit at the end - that was the kicker, that was.

To be fair regarding the American stereotypes, I think the joke there was that they were ridiculous, mainly because they were being put into his mouth by somebody whose main experience of Americans was watching Toy Story. ;)

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

I must remember to pick up the new DWM today since it features the Lis/SJS tribute.

And American shows aren't full of stereotypes about Brits or other cultures?

[thisbluespirit]

It was good, wasn't it? And the end bit v sad.

I think the American stereotypes were to be so bad that the kids would get the joke, if you follow me. It would be v unusual to see an American represented by a cowboy stereotype in any serious way these days. There's so much US TV/film, books & news around here, that the point is that even the youngest watchers are going to see how silly Sky's ideas are immediately. We're so aware of a lot of US stuff, that even though there (of course!) are stereotypes, there are at least a range of them about.

Having said that, there's an awful lot of UK Tv I don't watch, so maybe I'm wrong & they all have occasional visiting cowboys. But I doubt it. :-)

[thisbluespirit]

PS. I scanned this in from DWM for you, being as I remembered how much you liked having Sarah hugging Doctors:


(It was in the tribute edition that arrived yesterday; must be originally from some late 80s/early 90s comic strip. But anyway, Sarah hugs Seven for you!)