Episode II, Season I, Released August 2002
There sure seem to be a lot of the usual Dr. Who people in this one, such as Maggie Stables, Stephen Wickham, and Toby Longworth. Wow, this is sure a tense adventure. It’s keeping me on the edge of my seat. Josh is in serious trouble and Sarah saves him, naturally. Maggie Stables’s character sure has a vicious streak. To great comedic affect! Will Sarah Jane solve this without getting herself killed or anyone else hurt? Can she save the kids who are being drained of their essence? Security sure seems lax on this highly secure compound. Weird that.
Will Butley is a really old dude. And very cunning. He loves the men in his life but he can’t stand them, too. The ending is rather amusing yet pathetic in tone. It does go out with kind of a whimper as there isn’t a big bang but there are people dying. Sarah Jane does decide Butley’s fate in the end, based on giving the chance to youth. Is she right? Is she becoming like the Doctor with her penchant for doing good but people die during the process? Mind you, she hasn’t directly or indirectly killed anyone yet but we shall see…
This story is totally tense – will they all be this way? I can’t wait to find out! This is definitely the best of the lot so far, making it easy to ignore the little holes in the plot. If it’s so hard to get into the compound, how does she do it so easily? And why have a potting shed up against the very tall wall? But it’s well worth the listen! phew. I’m tired out from the tension!
Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith), Jeremy James (Josh Townsend), and Sadie Miller (Natalie Redfern)
writer: Barry Letts
director: Gary Russell