TV Series: The Sarah Jane Adventures

Today I watched a few episodes from the third season of "The Sarah Jane Adventures". I have to admit feeling some sadness, because I can't look at the leading actress, Elisabeth Sladen, without remembering her untimely death. Just look at the photo of Elisabeth with David Tennant in the photo above. She may have been 63, but she looked much younger. And yet two years later she was dead. She was diagnosed with cancer in February 2011 and died in April. The only thing she could be thankful for was that it wasn't a long lingering death.

For the few people who don't know the series, the premise is that after being "abandoned" by the Doctor ex-companion Sarah Jane Smith has devoted her life to protecting the Earth from aliens. Sarah Jane is aided by her adopted son Luke and his schoolfriends Clive and Rani. In many ways "The Sarah Jane Adventures" was a series out of time. Though made in the the 21st Century (2007-2011) it was in the style of the 1970's Doctor Who episodes. How can anyone be scared of the monsters? It's too difficult to take them seriously. And yet the stories are thrilling adventures that keep viewers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.

The series was cut short by Elisabeth Sladen's death. Only the first two episodes of the fifth season were completed. The time she spent on television, as short as it was, will keep her memory alive for generations to come.

Yet another scene from the series: the Doctor with Clive, Luke and the incredibly beautiful Rani, as played by Anjli Mohindra. Of all of the SJA cast Rani is the one I would most like to see return, maybe as a future companion. Click the picture above to see a good reason for her return.