Story: The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Empty Planet
Written By: Gareth Roberts
Length: 2 Episodes
Year: 2010
This is another solid episode in this fourth season. This time, Clyde and Rani wake up to find that they are the only two people left on Earth. They soon meet another young boy still stranded on Earth with them, Gavin. Then they find the two robots. The robot designs are really good. They look kind of real and unique, and don't have the usual cheap and cheesy SJA-look (the Shansheeth were totally unique but looked fake as hell).
So at first it is a mystery of where everyone went, how to get them back, what the robots want, why they are the only ones left stranded, and what the strange writing on their cell phones and TV screens actually is.
I think everything is well-paced and it is good entertainment. It soon becomes clear that the grounding on Earth by the Judoon was meant for Clyde and Rani...not Luke or Sarah Jane. That explains their being left on Earth, but why Gavin? Eventually Clyde and Rani tell Gavin to run and hide while they try and fight the robots, and they discover the robots are not their to kill them, have all humans in suspended animation of some kind, the strange writing is actually a countdown, and unless they give the robots the Sun and air...they will not return all humans. I like that Rani figures out that they don't mean the actual sun and air, but are saying SON and HEIR...Gavin is their Prince. It is a decent conclusion.
The episode does a lot in furthering the subtle storyline that some kind of relationship is budding between Clyde and Rani. All season long they have sort of hinted that Clyde seems to like her, and the she may actually have similar feelings. It has never hindered a story or felt shoe-horned in...it would just have a minor moment or two in every episode (or every story, it depends). I think this episode did a good job of bringing it closer to the surface, without actually pursuing it that much further. It still isn't out there, but it is certainly clearer because of it.
If there is a weakness in this episode, I would say it is most likely the actor playing Gavin, he just wasn't that strong, and his performance seemed forced. Not as natural as Daniel Anthony or Anjli Mohindra.
It is kind of sad that quite often the best episodes of Sarah Jane Adventures often use Sarah Jane herself very little. I don't think she is a bad character, but more than once I have noticed that when she isn't around the episode is usually pretty strong. Could be a coincidence though. Oh this is a minor point but this is the first episode of SJA in which Luke doesn't appear at all, I think it is the first time since the pilot. He is mentioned though. Just thought I'd throw that out there.
Anyhow, very solid episode, good entertainment.
NEXT TIME: Time Zones
Written By: Gareth Roberts
Length: 2 Episodes
Year: 2010
This is another solid episode in this fourth season. This time, Clyde and Rani wake up to find that they are the only two people left on Earth. They soon meet another young boy still stranded on Earth with them, Gavin. Then they find the two robots. The robot designs are really good. They look kind of real and unique, and don't have the usual cheap and cheesy SJA-look (the Shansheeth were totally unique but looked fake as hell).
I think everything is well-paced and it is good entertainment. It soon becomes clear that the grounding on Earth by the Judoon was meant for Clyde and Rani...not Luke or Sarah Jane. That explains their being left on Earth, but why Gavin? Eventually Clyde and Rani tell Gavin to run and hide while they try and fight the robots, and they discover the robots are not their to kill them, have all humans in suspended animation of some kind, the strange writing is actually a countdown, and unless they give the robots the Sun and air...they will not return all humans. I like that Rani figures out that they don't mean the actual sun and air, but are saying SON and HEIR...Gavin is their Prince. It is a decent conclusion.
The episode does a lot in furthering the subtle storyline that some kind of relationship is budding between Clyde and Rani. All season long they have sort of hinted that Clyde seems to like her, and the she may actually have similar feelings. It has never hindered a story or felt shoe-horned in...it would just have a minor moment or two in every episode (or every story, it depends). I think this episode did a good job of bringing it closer to the surface, without actually pursuing it that much further. It still isn't out there, but it is certainly clearer because of it.
If there is a weakness in this episode, I would say it is most likely the actor playing Gavin, he just wasn't that strong, and his performance seemed forced. Not as natural as Daniel Anthony or Anjli Mohindra.
It is kind of sad that quite often the best episodes of Sarah Jane Adventures often use Sarah Jane herself very little. I don't think she is a bad character, but more than once I have noticed that when she isn't around the episode is usually pretty strong. Could be a coincidence though. Oh this is a minor point but this is the first episode of SJA in which Luke doesn't appear at all, I think it is the first time since the pilot. He is mentioned though. Just thought I'd throw that out there.
Anyhow, very solid episode, good entertainment.
NEXT TIME: Time Zones
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