REVIEW: The Man Who Never Was

With the next issue of Whotopia soon to be published, we thought we’d share a little something from the forthcoming issue with you. Issue 23 features our review panelists casting their eyes over the most recent season of Doctor Who as well as the final season of The Sarah Jane Adventures.  And with that in mind, we’d like to share Gary Phillips review of the final story of Season 5 of the Sarah Jane Adventures, “The Man Who Never Was”…

The final Sarah Jane Adventure is a light, yet exciting tale of business corruption, slavery, family ties and romance. Gareth Roberts combines a hitherto unseen penchant for high adventure (I’ve said before that The Shakespeare Code, 2007, and The Unicorn and the Wasp, 2008, were lost opportunities), with his undisputed talent for gentle comedy as so brilliantly witnessed in The Lodger (2010) and Closing Time (2011). The story is also helped by the fact that director Joss Agnew is, for once, on top form and eschews his usual penchant for banality to take the Sarah Jane Adventures out with a bang!

There is on Bannerman Road a certain amount of underlying family tension as Luke returns from university to meet his new ‘sister’ Sky. The fact that Luke went off to university is, to this reviewer, no great loss. As I have said in past reviews, Tommy Knight is more interested in medicine than acting, as is often shown by his bland and lacklustre performances. Yet, it is nice to have him return to Bannerman Road rather than be shipped off to university and be forgotten about.

Luke returns to the fold just as Sarah Jane has received an invitation to witness the rehearsal of the launch of the SerfBoard, a new laptop computer developed by the reclusive Joseph Serf (Mark Aiken). One wonders if Roberts ‘borrowed’ the name from the pseudonym used by Patrick McGoohan in directing The Prisoner episodes A Change of Mind and Many Happy Returns?

It goes without saying that Luke, Clyde, Rani and Sky tag along to the launch and meet Sarah Jane’s first editor, an elderly charmer called Lionel Carson played by veteran actor Peter Bowles. Bowles gives us a wonderful performance and the most likeable and endearing guest character to grace Sarah Jane Adventures since Phylidia Law’s wonderful Bea Nelson Stanley in Eye of the Gorgon.

I was deeply concerned by the casting of comedy actor James Dreyfus as Serf’s so-called Head of Publicity John Harrison, but Dreyfus makes a superb villain and Agnew keeps a tight reign upon his acting so that he gives us a memorable performance, coming over as both avaricious and cruel.

Harrison is a thoughtful manipulator and has constructed a full biography for Serf. It is a shame that at this juncture the story briefly drifts into cliché as, having gained an interview with Serf, Sarah Jane learns that Serf won’t shake hands “Because he has a peanut allergy” coos Harrison. “You might have been in a nutty environment” he continues. If Sarah Jane hasn’t been in a nutty environment previously then she certainly is now!!!!

The fact that Harrison is up to something is confirmed when, back in the attic at Bannerman Road, Clyde and Rani discover that the Serfboard is no more than an ordinary low-specification laptop. Rani doubts Clyde’s opinion, recalling the rackweed from the story The Gift. An endearing touch here is that Clyde briefly recalls Ellie from the previous story, The Curse of Clyde Langer.

The next scene is both surprising and puzzling. Snooping around Serf HQ, Sky and Luke discover a race of Jawa-like aliens pulling and pushing levers which operate Serf’s every facial and bodily movement. Okay, so Harrison is only human but you would think that he could have come up with something more sophisticated and push-button to operate his Serf hologram than a load of levers which look as though they died out in the early days of the Industrial Revolution. Then again, the levers and their operation are a far better indication that the aliens are slaves than any console or computer could have done.

An amusing moment in Serf’s Office follows as Serf intones: “I am the most amazing man you have ever seen!” Sarah Jane’s reply is blunt and loaded with innuendo: “I prefer something I can get hold of!”

At this point Harrison threatens Sarah Jane with an alien gun, but the real cliffhanger comes when Sky and Luke are discovered and the aliens are revealed to be one-eyed creatures. Rather like the Rills in Galaxy 4 (1965) despite their appearance the aliens are gentle enough creatures and Harrison controls them by activating a collar around their leader Plank’s (Dan Starkey) neck in much the same way as The Melkur/Master controlled Kassia in The Keeper of Traken (1981).

Harrison now admits that the SerfBoard is rubbish and is little more than profit making for him, a sly nod methinks to the bankers and businessmen who have ruined the European economy – good on you Gareth Roberts!!!! It’s a great pity, therefore, that this journey into hedonism is spoilt by the clichéd line Roberts affords Sarah Jane: “I am going to stop you.” Isn’t that what she has done with every villain in every story? Thankfully, in retort Harrison is awarded a line worthy of Dreyfus’ more camp characters: “What are you going to do? Hit me with your handbag?”

After this encounter Sarah Jane meets a Serf employee called Adrianna (Edyta Budnik) who initially accuses her of “hurting the little people”. This is soon sorted out and Adrianna and Sarah Jane agree to join forces to help the aliens, which we learn Harrison bought after their ship crashed in Asia, as there is (apparently) a black market in alien life forms – one notes here the manner in which Henry van Statten acquired his collection of aliens and alien artefacts in the 2005 Doctor Who story Dalek.

An insight into the growing relationship between Clyde and Rani comes from their infiltration of the premier of the SerfBoard as husband and wife journalists; and Clyde’s talent for comedy as he intones: “Do I look like a Trevor?!”

As this is the prematurely final story of the Sarah Jane Adventures it is nice to have a link to K9 as Mr Smith sets up a high-frequency signal with the instruction to grab Harrison’s pen. At this point Harrison’s cruelty reveals itself in much the same manner as that of Halpen (Tim McInnerny) in the Doctor Who story Planet of the Ood (2008) as he informs the aliens that they are working for their lives.

Excellent though it is, the story’s and the series’ climax comes over as a bit of a jumble. Whilst the aliens are on the roof with Sarah Jane and Adrianna, Clyde and Rani are operating Serf who gives the instruction, “Grab the pen!” which is, in turn, destroyed by Lionel Carson whom we haven’t seen since the SerfBoard press rehearsal at the start of the story. With a bit of help from Clyde and Rani, Serf admits that the board is rubbish and tells everyone to go home.

Sadly here Joss Agnew returns to mediocre form as the alien ship appears. As the aliens depart Harrison screams “No! I paid billions!” in such a manner that one is reminded of Anthony Ainley’s classic over-the-top lines “He dies!!!!! The Keeper Dies!!!! (The Keeper of Traken, 1981) and “My web!!! My Web!!!” (Castrovalva, 1982). Here, having had a splendid 45 minutes, Dreyfus and Agnew between them really let the side down.

The fact that Sarah Jane gives Adrianna a UNIT card and says that she is just what they need is a lovely touch and after two episodes of emotional uncertainty Luke gives Sky his room, making one wonder – if the series had continued – if he would have returned to Bannerman Road again.

The series ends with clips from past stories and a reminder that: “Life on Earth can be an adventure too.” And that: “The story goes on… forever”.

Following the intense The Curse of Clyde Langer, The Man Who Never Was is lighter in tone but still has a lot to say about business corruption and slavery, making it a pertinent, if sadly premature end to a series made in a way that kids TV hasn’t been made for years – the number of big name guest stars it attracted is proof of that. The story was exciting and colourful, and a fitting send-off to both an actress and a series that will be much missed.  9/10

Reviewed by Gary Phillips

Image copyright 2012 by Thomas Evans

c 2012 Whotopia – May not be reproduced in any format without the prior permission of the publisher

ARTICLES & ART WANTED for ISSUE 23!

Hi all. It’s beg, borrow, or steal time.

Alright; listen up all of you Matt Smith/11th Doctor era fans!

Whotopia needs your support and we need you to pen to paper, or fingers to keyboards. We’re in need of material related to Matt Smith’s era of Doctor Who for the next issue of the zine. In the words of Jez, our illustrious editor…

Quote:
At this stage, Bob and I are hoping to get #23 released very early in the New Year. So far we have Series Six reviews, an interview, another instalment of ‘Dalek’s Advocate’ and the usual columns. So, what we’re still looking for is stand-alone articles and hopefully a lead feature of around 3000 words.

If you have any thoughts on Moffat, Matt Smith’s Doctor, new-style Daleks and the now well-used time-wimey plotline, plus a host of other Eleventh Doctor topics, do let us know by December 15th.

While we’re primarily looking for 11th Doctor topics, I’ll mention we’re also looking for someone to review episodes 6-10 of Torchwood: Miracle Day, and if anyone’s so inclined, now that the series has come to an end, an overview of the Sarah Jane Adventures.

So if you’re interested in penning something for this issue, please drop us a email.

Issue 21 Update

Work on the layout for issue 21 has begun and will continue over the next couple of works.  The issue will once again be featuring a cover by Jack Drewell with material covering the most recent series of The Sarah Jane Adventures, tributes to both Nicholas Courtney and Lis Sladen, as well as a whole host of material covering Doctor Who, Sarah Jane Adventures, Torchwood and K-9.

Sarah Jane Smith: First Among Companions

Sarah Jane Smith. Three words. One companion. One icon. No question. 

In 1973 (just think Life On Mars and you’ll get the picture), an investigative journalist by the name of Sarah Jane Smith joined the avuncular Third Doctor on his travels through time and space. Which meant another girl companion and another clutch of ‘what’s happening, Doctor?’ and ‘help, save me Doctor!’ alternately issued from scene to scene. 

Or did it? Well, in a word, no. In fact, Sarah Jane was a colossal departure from her predecessor, the hugely popular Jo Grant. Dear Jo was very much the maiden in distress, a role which Terrance Dicks, the then script editor, was more than happy to see continue. But the advent of feminism as more than a fringe movement helped to trigger something of a sea change in the assistant department. So it was then that, on the 15 December 1973, Elisabeth Sladen made her début as Sarah Jane Smith in Robert Holmes’ Season Eleven opener, The Time Warrior. Complete with a smart jacket and slacks, plus all the pluck of an up-and-coming freelance journo, Sarah Jane was the face of feminism for Doctor Who. 

Yet, if she’d simply been a bland, women’s rights mouthpiece I don’t imagine she’d have lasted for more than a season. Instead, Sarah Jane became the perfect all-round assistant, able to strike out on her own when needs must, and equally at home being rescued by the Doctor. 

It was Barry Letts who hit the nail squarely on the head when he observed that, whilst casting for a new girl assistant, the various contenders could either act frightened or brave – but not both at the same time. At least not until a pretty young brunette by the name of Elisabeth Sladen arrived on the scene, and showed that she could portray these conflicting emotions in the same moment (see The Hand of Fear DVD special feature ‘Changing Time: Living and Leaving Doctor Who’). That’s when Letts realised he had a potential candidate. For he’d cut the Gordian knot of casting an actress who could simultaneously please the feminists and appeal to the traditionalists – the perfect combination. 

Sladen’s acting dexterity came to fore right from the word go. For a start, she could hold her own in a more crowded TARDIS, confidently sharing scenes with Tom Baker’s newly-regenerated Fourth Doctor and Ian Marter’s newly-arrived Harry Sullivan. More, she dealt with all manner of character challenges. Robot (1974/75) is a case point. In the space of just four episodes she infiltrates Thinktank and the Scientific Reform Society; befriends Kettlewell’s robot; faces up to the cruel and calculating Hilda Winters; and even keeps her dignity intact during a King Kong-style capture. In short, Sladen’s performance is awesome. 

Further examples come thick and fast. The Ark in Space (1975) sees her bravely crawling through the narrowest of service tunnels to produce one of the best ever Doctor-companion exchanges; whilst an episode later she’s standing up to the torturous schemes of the sadistic Sontaran Field-Major Styre in The Sontaran Experiment (1975). Next up she develops the most touching rapport with the mutant Sevrin, in Genesis of the Daleks (1975). Which is to say nothing of her superb performance in The Brain of Morbius (1976). Just check out how she portrays the temporarily-blinded Sarah Jane – brilliant doesn’t cover it. Frightened and brave at the same time? Absolutely. 

Sladen was also a dab hand at raising up the characters around her. Her chemistry with Ian Marter, for example, was crucial in making Harry Sullivan a more rounded character, and not just a straight man to Tom Baker’s Harpo Marx. In fact, I’d venture to say that if Sarah Jane had been in TARDIS when Adric slipped aboard – as opposed to Lalla Ward’s rather aloof Romana – the young stowaway might have got off to a better start. 

And let’s not forget about the jelly babies. She was – if my watching of Robot serves me aright – the very first person to be offered a jelly baby by the Fourth Doctor. What a moment. I mean, the Fourth Doctor and his jelly baby-giving antics are iconic, and Sarah Jane was the first recipient. She almost deserves the title of icon for this alone. 

When she left the series after almost three years – making her the longest-standing companion until Tegan Jovanka – she was given an exit which has become one of the moments in Doctor Who. Dumped off unceremoniously by a Doctor doing his level best to avoid saying goodbye, Sarah Jane’s leaving is one of the most poignant in the series’ history. The emotional undertones in her final scene are unmissable; and the way in which the Doctor and Sarah Jane are quite clearly fighting back their feelings resoundingly demonstrates that Doctor Who pre-2005 did indeed see strong, emotional Doctor-companion relationships. 

Of course, that’s only half of her story. Fast-forward almost five years and Sarah Jane made an all-too brief comeback. It all came about when the idea of putting a certain robot dog out to grass became too much for the BBC merchandisers to stomach, or at least that’s my take on K9 and Company: A Girl’s Best Friend. The intrepid K9 needed an equally-iconic mistress or master with whom to team up, and that’s where Sarah Jane came in. Sadly, the idea wasn’t pursued beyond the pilot episode and Sarah Jane once more vanished from our screens until the 1983 anniversary special The Five Doctors, in which she was time scooped into the Death Zone to assist the Third Doctor, her ‘first’ Doctor. 

It was quite a wait after that for further news of the plucky reporter. And who didn’t cheer when the news was released that Series Two (2006) would see Sarah Jane make another cameo appearance, once more alongside K9, in School Reunion. It was at this point, I presume, that the cogs began to turn at the BBC for having another shot at a Sarah Jane-based spin-off series. Sure enough, a new serial aimed at the younger end of the Who audience, Sarah Jane Adventures, was launched on New Year’s Day 2007. Once more Sarah Jane was back on our screens and rapidly becoming a household name for a new generation of Whovians – or should that be ‘Sarah Janeans’? 

So, let’s tally up. First, she was the best gutsy girl/damsel in distress around – and arguably still is. Second, her chemistry with the Fourth Doctor was second to none. And last, but by no means least, some twenty years after the character was written out Sarah Jane is now the undisputed queen of the spin-off.

What a companion, what an actress, what an icon!

This article originally appeared in Whotopia Issue 19

Farewell Lis Sladen

It is with much sadness that we can announce Elisabeth Sladen, the much-loved actress best known for her role as Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures, passed away the morning of April 19th. She was 63. 

Lis first appeared as Sarah Jane in Doctor Who in 1973 alongside the Third Doctor Jon Pertwee and stayed for three and half seasons working alongside Jon and the Fourth Doctor Tom Baker. She returned to the role on numerous occasions over the years and, in 2007, was given her own spin-off series on CBBC – The Sarah Jane Adventures – where she would appear alongside new Doctors David Tennant and Matt Smith. 

The Sarah Jane Adventures brought Lis a whole new generation of fans who grew up to love her alien-busting adventures. The series was hugely popular with fans young and old and won this year’s RTS Award for best children’s drama. 

Controller of CBBC Damian Kavanagh said tonight: “I’m deeply saddened and shocked by the news of Lis’ untimely death. Lis brought joy, excitement and a sense of wonder to her many fans in her role as Sarah Jane Smith. She was adored by our young audience and I know all of them will miss her as much as I will.” 

The creator of The Sarah Jane Adventures Russell T Davies said: “I absolutely loved Lis. She was funny and cheeky and clever and just simply wonderful. The universe was lucky to have Sarah Jane Smith; the world was lucky to have Lis.” 

Steven Moffat, Doctor Who’s Lead Writer and Executive Producer said: “‘Never meet your heroes’ wise people say. They weren’t thinking of Lis Sladen.  Sarah Jane Smith was everybody’s hero when I was younger, and as brave and funny and brilliant as people only ever are in stories. But many years later, when I met the real Sarah Jane – Lis Sladen herself – she was exactly as any child ever have wanted her to be. Kind and gentle and clever; and a ferociously talented actress, of course, but in that perfectly English unassuming way. 

“There are a blessed few who can carry a whole television show on their talent and charisma – but I can’t think of one other who’s done it quite so politely. I once showed my son Joshua an old episode of Doctor Who, in which Lis appeared. “But that’s Sarah Jane,” he said, confused “In old Doctor Who. From years ago. How come she always look exactly the same?” It’s not a comfort today, of course, but children will still be saying that fifty years from now.” 

Keith Jones, Director, BBC Cymru Wales, said: “The Sarah Jane Adventures has been one of the most successful children’s programmes on television in recent years – and without Elisabeth Sladen it would not have happened. A brilliant presence on screen and on set, she brought the excitement and energy of the Doctor Who family of programmes, of which we are very proud at BBC Wales, to a whole new generation. She will be missed by all at BBC Wales who worked with her.” 

Roger Carey, who represented Lis for many years, said. “She was not just a client, but a dear friend. She was so positive about life and her natural energy was intoxicating. She couldn’t believe her luck when her career was resurrected in her own series.” 

Lis had been suffering from cancer. She leaves behind a husband, actor Brian Miller, and her daughter, Sadie.

SJA Reviewers Needed

Unfortunately the reviewers chosen to review the last two stories of Sarah Jane Adventures season four have backed out which now leaves WHOTOPIA in need of two reviewers who would be interested reviewing these stories.

If you would be interested in reviewing either parts 1 and 2 of The Empty Planet or Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith - which will be published in issue 20 – please contact us at our main email address whotopia[@]whotopia.ca.

**UPDATE: Thanks to those of you who responded to our request.  The two review slots have now been filled.

ISSUE 19 HERE AT LAST!

ISSUE 19 IS HERE AND IT’S ABOUT TIME!

Exciting news Whotopia readers.  The highly anticipated issue 19 has finally been published and is now available to download in PDF format.  This issue concentrates on the Doctor Who spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures, Torchwood, K-9 and Company and the recent K-9 series plus our usual assortment of columns, features, fiction and more.

Whotopia Issue 19 Coming Soon! *Updated*

Here at last are some early details on the forthcoming issue 19 which will be released any day now…

WHOTOPIA

ISSUE 19 – NOVEMBER 2010
 
COMING SOON
 
WHOTOPIA steps outside the TARDIS to take a look at some of the characters and concepts that have spun-off from the good Doctor’s adventures

Including…

THE MICHAEL E. BRIANT INTERVIEW
Jez Strickley sits down and interviews the man who directed six classic adventures including The Sea Devils and Robots of Death.
 
FAN FILMS: WHOTOPIA INTERVIEWS THE PRODUCERS OF DOCTOR WHO: VICTIMSIGHT
Bob Furnell talks with Eldon Letkeman and Robert Westendorp, the producers of the Canadian Doctor Who fan film “Victimsight”
 
THE NEW-ISH ADVENTURES
A look back at the era of the Virgin New Adventures by A J Gulyas.  
 
DREAMLAND AND BEYOND: DOCTOR WHO GETS ANIMATED
Nancy Gross takes a look at the specially made animated episodes of Doctor Who
 
DALEK’S ADVOCATE: K9 AND COMPANY
Grant Bull takes a serious in-depth look at this 1981 pilot starring Elisabeth Sladen and John Leeson
 
QUIT SLAMMING THE 1996 TV MOVIE
Bob Furnell asks fans to quit being so harsh in their assessments of the TV movie
 
THE DEATH OF FICTIONAL CHARACTERS IN DOCTOR WHO: JACK AND IANTO
Emily Jones delves into the complex relationship between two of Torchwood’s most popular characters.
 
REASONS TO LOVE THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES
What makes the Sarah Jane Adventures so great? Grant Bull examines why.
 
TORCHWOOD OVERVIEW
Joe Ford takes and in-depth look at all three series of Torchwood
 
TORCHWOOD: IMPRESSIONS OF AN OUTSIDER
Bob Furnell discusses why Torchwood has failed to make an impression on him

K9′S NEW ADVENTURES
K9′s back in his own series and Bob Furnell examines the very first episode
 
FICTION: THE MEMORY OF DARKNESS PART III
Original fiction by Julio Angel Ortiz 
 
THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES: SERIES THREE EPISODE REVIEWS
Our panel of experts reviews each episode of series three
 
TORCHWOOD: CHILDREN OF EARTH REVIEWS
What did our reviewers think of the most recent season of Torchwood
 
THE WATERS OF MARS REVIEWS

PLUS OUR REGULAR COLUMNS – Screwdrivers, Scaries & Scarves/Target Trawl/Parallel Lines, FEATURES AND MORE

Sarah Jane Adventures Series 4 Reviewers Wanted

Whotopia is looking for volunteers who would be interested in watching and reviewing the Sarah Jane Adventures Season 4 episodes.

Series 4 looks like it will debut on October 11th and we’re in need 6 people who would be interested in writing reviews of each story for publication in Whotopia.

Reviewers will review both parts 1 and 2 of each story.

The list of stories up for review are:

1. The Nightmare Man – Eps 1/2
2. The Vault of Secrets – Eps 1/2
3. Death of the Doctor – Eps 1/2
4. The Empty Planet – Eps 1/2
5. Lost In Time – Eps 1/2
6. Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith – Eps 1/2

Written reviews are asked to be submitted roughly 2 weeks after broadcast of part 2 of the story.

If you’re interested in reviewing one of these stories, reply to our usual email address.

UPDATE:  Thank you to everyone who replied to our request for reviewers.  All review slots have now been filled.

Reviewers Wanted for Sarah Jane Adventures Series 3

Whotopia is looking for fan writers who’d be interested in reviewering the Season 3 episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures which started October 15th on CBBC. Stories up for review include:

• Prisoner of the Judoon 1/2
• The Mad Woman In The Attic 1/2
• The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith 1/2 (features the 10th Doctor)
• The Eternity Trap 1/2
• Mona Lisa’s Revenger 1/2
• The Gift 1/2

We’d like reviewers to review part one and two of each story – we’ll need 6 reviewers in total – and each review should be no more than 750-800 words for each part. If you’d like to review one of this years SJA stories, please let us know by emailing Bob or Jez directly at whotopia[at]whotopia.ca. Thanks.

UPDATE NOV 3/09: Please note that we now have now filled all the review spots.  Thanks to all of you who responded to our plea.