SJA - no uncut spoilers
Sep. 27th, 2007 06:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
neadodsI don't know whether getting ready for Italy has distracted me from the Sarah Jane Adventures or vice versa, but neither one seems to be getting quite the hypersonic squeeing love that they both deserve.
Have finally seen the first episode of the SJA, and it is just as magnificent as I hoped. The over-the-top villains work better in the kiddie milieu, but there are bits - you'll know them when you get there - that show that they aren't going to pull their punches just because it's the kid's show. Nice nod to origins too.
Sarah Jane herself rocks like a geology class in a quarry (and someone, I forget where, has pointed out how really incredible it is that a character who was a cross between cliche and eyecandy in the 70s has become Doctor Mark III - The Doctor being Mark I and Jack being Mark II.) I've already enthused about how incredible I think it is that the "old lady" isn't just handing out cookies, advice, and a moral at the end but is instead driving much of the action, so we'll take that part as read. Another thing I really deeply appreciated was that they've retconned the whole "she pined over the Doctor" thing away. Yes, she misses him and the life, but she's quite obviously NOT pining; when asked if she never married she didn't go wobbly, she basically shrugged and said "Eh, never worth it." And she's obviously starting to check out Maria's dad, who is equally scoping her out. Points to my theory that the reason she was so emotional in School Reunion was that the bandaid had been ripped off an old disappointment and she was able to purge all the bottled-up emotions on the person who had caused them, and then go her merry way.
Maria, SJ-in-training, is fabulous. Luke is adorable in a fuzzy puppy way, and I like that they've managed to hit the exact blend of smarts and "social mistakes" that he would naturally have. The only thing that will disappoint me is if they go through the entire run of the show avoiding both the obvious "A" words - aspergers or autism. They probably will, but it would be an excellent in-show way of explaining his oddities... and would it hurt to have an aspergers hero? Works for Bones.
The new character is less of a stereotype than the old one (and follow my fic recs for the last few days, because I linked a couple days ago to a great Kelsey and Four fic that wrote her out in a very characteristic way.) Me, I don't mind that Kelsey's gone - she struck me as being a very one-note character and considering that all she wanted out of Maria was a tagger-on and to mooch off whatever was in the house, I can't imagine her sticking around for long anyway. The new kid has better prospects of being well-rounded. I don't mind that he's male either; it gives them the potential to do some really good stuff with Maria, who will inevitably be torn between normal Clyde and abnormal Luke at some point in the show. (And if not, there's fanfiction.)
And since he's black, I'm watching with great curiosity to see how he's handled across the entire arc. It would (not) be hilarious if the best-treated black character was in the kiddie show!
To steal a tagline from someone else (and now I can't remember who): In short, sonic lipstick.
Or in shorter: SQUEEE!
PS: I REALLY want this belt!.
Have finally seen the first episode of the SJA, and it is just as magnificent as I hoped. The over-the-top villains work better in the kiddie milieu, but there are bits - you'll know them when you get there - that show that they aren't going to pull their punches just because it's the kid's show. Nice nod to origins too.
Sarah Jane herself rocks like a geology class in a quarry (and someone, I forget where, has pointed out how really incredible it is that a character who was a cross between cliche and eyecandy in the 70s has become Doctor Mark III - The Doctor being Mark I and Jack being Mark II.) I've already enthused about how incredible I think it is that the "old lady" isn't just handing out cookies, advice, and a moral at the end but is instead driving much of the action, so we'll take that part as read. Another thing I really deeply appreciated was that they've retconned the whole "she pined over the Doctor" thing away. Yes, she misses him and the life, but she's quite obviously NOT pining; when asked if she never married she didn't go wobbly, she basically shrugged and said "Eh, never worth it." And she's obviously starting to check out Maria's dad, who is equally scoping her out. Points to my theory that the reason she was so emotional in School Reunion was that the bandaid had been ripped off an old disappointment and she was able to purge all the bottled-up emotions on the person who had caused them, and then go her merry way.
Maria, SJ-in-training, is fabulous. Luke is adorable in a fuzzy puppy way, and I like that they've managed to hit the exact blend of smarts and "social mistakes" that he would naturally have. The only thing that will disappoint me is if they go through the entire run of the show avoiding both the obvious "A" words - aspergers or autism. They probably will, but it would be an excellent in-show way of explaining his oddities... and would it hurt to have an aspergers hero? Works for Bones.
The new character is less of a stereotype than the old one (and follow my fic recs for the last few days, because I linked a couple days ago to a great Kelsey and Four fic that wrote her out in a very characteristic way.) Me, I don't mind that Kelsey's gone - she struck me as being a very one-note character and considering that all she wanted out of Maria was a tagger-on and to mooch off whatever was in the house, I can't imagine her sticking around for long anyway. The new kid has better prospects of being well-rounded. I don't mind that he's male either; it gives them the potential to do some really good stuff with Maria, who will inevitably be torn between normal Clyde and abnormal Luke at some point in the show. (And if not, there's fanfiction.)
And since he's black, I'm watching with great curiosity to see how he's handled across the entire arc. It would (not) be hilarious if the best-treated black character was in the kiddie show!
To steal a tagline from someone else (and now I can't remember who): In short, sonic lipstick.
Or in shorter: SQUEEE!
PS: I REALLY want this belt!.
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no subject
Date: 2007-09-27 10:44 am (UTC)(Sorry, I'll calm down now !)
no subject
Date: 2007-09-27 11:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-27 11:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-27 11:05 am (UTC)I've never bought into the idea of Sarah Jane pining that others picked up in "School Days". I don't think she pined for the Doctor. It's more that, when measuring up partners for potential mates, they didn't seem to give her the same deal that this really tough act to follow did. I think the years have given her a lot of perspective... plus she has her own adventures now!
I love Maria and Luke! I think I'll need another episode to warm up to Clyde, but I'm sure that'll come in time. I do agree that he's far more interesting than Kelsey. And funny. And less mean.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-27 11:17 am (UTC)I think that his basically leaving her and not coming back probably hurt her too much to consider a love life for a while, and then, yeah, he's a tough act to follow. But I don't think that she spent all her time mooning around doing nothing until he showed up again.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-27 11:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-27 04:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-27 01:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-27 04:00 pm (UTC)It is awesome. A little light and silly but not utterly frivolous.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-27 04:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-27 05:19 pm (UTC)Why is it that all of the mothers on Dr. Who, etc. are kind of weird?
Rusty has issues?