A RANT!

So, if you are the BBC, and you have a show that is your number 1 export, you will do all you can to sycronize overseas release dates with original air dates. That way you can cut down on illegial downloading and minimize spoiler-caused arguments between foriegn and native fans.*
If you have spinoffs of said show, attempt to market them under the same principles: "You like show X? Well, Y and Z are set in the same world, with some of the same characters." In this case, show Y (a more 'mature' spinoff) ended up being a cross-pond production and released on this side of the Atlantic first. But show Z, a children's show(as in, the main cast are teens) is not broadcast here, and the gap between British and American DVD releases so far has been -1 month (ie, one month before), one day, two months, and one month. However, the first three series were put on iTunes, while the latter two were not.
All this to say...

I WANNA WATCH Curse of Clyde Langer part 2! AND I CAN'T YET! gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar!

*Which, in general, they did well with this year.

The Curse of Clyde Langer Part 1

One of the reasons I adore the Sarah Jane Adventures is because it doesn't talk down to kids. Much like the classic series, it doesn't have flashy special effects but focuses on character development. And "The Curse of Clyde Langer," we get to see some amazing stuff from Clyde. When an unfortunate encounter with a strange totem pole, he suddenly becomes despised by all his friends. As he is turned out by Sarah Jane, Rani, and even his own mother, I just wanted to go *SQEE* and hug him closely.
Amidst the heavy subject matter, Sky provides great comic relief, breaking lightbulbs in Haresh's office and giggling at a storm of fish. A brief mention to "the greatest medicine man" suggested the Doctor to me, but I'll have to wait and see.

SJA: Sky

It's hard to watch the newest episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures without remembering Elisabeth Sladen's death, but the season premier "Sky" provides plenty of delightful moments to entertian viewers. The title character is a baby dropped off on Sarah Jane's doorstop in the middle of the night. The resulting scenes are thankfully hilarious (I couldn't take another series opener that, say kills the Doctor in the first ten minutes!), as Sarah fumbles with an alien baby named Sky whose screams shatter lightbulbs. And you thought it's hard to keep a normal baby quiet! Surprsingly, Clyde is good with babies--much to his own chagrin, as he is left with the baby while Rani and Sarah Jane go off to investigate.

It turns out that Miss Meyers, the villianess of the week, has taken a page from Madame Kovarian's book--Sky is a weapon designed to destroy the Metalkind--but takes it one step further by making her a literal bomb. The first part of Miss Meyer's plan creates the part one cliffhanger, as Sky transforms into a twelve-year-old girl.
The second half of the story focuses on disabling Sky as a weapon. While the concept of a child weapon is rather dark for the show, Sky's naive keeps the episode from becoming too heavy. She (deliberately, I think) reminds viewers of Luke's early days, trying to figure out words like "dangerous" and "weapon." Not to mention her zinger of a question when Clyde and Rani are watching her outside the nuclear power station: "Do you always do what Sarah Jane tells you?" I'm looking forward to seeing more of her, especially in "The Man Who Wasn't there" with Luke.
I was also surprised to see the Captain and Shopkeeper reappear. I noticed them in the opening credits, but I thought they had just reused season four clips. I hope that we learn more about them in the remaing episodes.

School Reunion

"Some things are worth getting your heart broken for."
--Sarah Jane Smith

In light of tomorrow's Sarah Jane Adventures' season five premiere (which is not availible *cough* legally*cough* outside of Britain), I decided to post a review of "School Reunion," which marked the return of Elisabeth Sladen to the show for the first time since the charity special "Dimensions in Time" in 1993.
The plotline is fairly simple--an alien race uses schoolchildren to break the code of divinity--which allows a greater focus on the characters. Instead of frantic running or ducking Dalek blasts (although they run too!), viewers are treated to such beautiful scenes as Sarah Jane recognizing the TARDIS, the Doctor and Sarah talking, and Sarah's spat with Rose.
The climax of the plot is beautiful too--Mr. Finch offers the Doctor the power to rewrite reality. Not only is this tempting because of the Time Lords, but because he could have his companions with him "throughout eternity. Never age, never wither, never die."
But Sarah Jane--the one with the most to lose--pulls him back.

The universe has to move forward. Pain and loss, they define us as much as happiness or love. Everything has its time, and everything ends.

Originally intended as a one-time story, this episode sparked the spin-off Sarah Jane Adventures, as well as return appearances in the season four finale and the End of Time farewell tour.
I've watched this episode many times since April--and it makes me cry a little more every time. It also inspired me to go back and watch the classic series, beginning with Sarah Jane's first adventure "The Time Warrior." I have since seen every episode featuring Sarah Jane (except Dimensions in Time). She is undoubtedly my favorite companion.

The Wedding of River Song

It's not the Sun, it's you. The sky is full of a million million voices saying, "Yes, of course we'll help." You've touched so many lives, saved so many people, did you think when your time came you'd really have to do more than just ask? You've decided that the universe is better off without you. But the universe doesn't agree...I can't let you die — without knowing you are loved — by so many and so much — and no one more than me.

--River Song, speaking for every Whovian

Well, "The Wedding of River Song" is one of those love-it-or-hate it episodes. And despite the titular event, it has very little in common with the series five finale. Last season time was being erased, starting with the stars; this time, everything is happening at once. The delightful use of the timey-whimy ball has Holy Roman Emperor Winston Churchill riding into Buckingham Senate on a mammoth, while TV personalities interview Charles Dickens about his latest best-seller.
But the wonderful time stew is tainted by its origins. River refused to kill the Doctor by Lake Silenco, and now time is falling apart. In a wonderful action sequence involving pyramids, eyepatches,huge guns, and more, the Doctor's bowtie is finally used for something more than "cool." All through River's speech on the pyramid, I was absolutely tearing up inside. Several parts of this season leaned on the fourth wall, but River's speech here was so in-character, and at the same time so what every fan would say if he or she had the chance.
And the ending was good. Not quite as good as season five's, but happy at least. Not to mention Amy's face as it sunk in that she's the Doctor's mother-in-law! Some people may disagree with the use of the Tesselecta, but it had me fooled. The Flesh clone would have been too obvious anyway.

Ascent from Darkness: A True Story

Note to self: do not read the biography of a former Satanist just before your professor assigns Marlowe's Doctor Faustus for class. It adds an entirely new layor of creepiness to the story.
Ascent from Darkness is the autobiography of Michael Leehan, who became a Satanist at age thirty-three. For twenty years, he was in bondage to Satan, until he accepted the mighty power of Christ over darkness.
This book exposed an area of spiritual warfare I have no experiance or awareness of whatsoever. I suspect many American believers would say the same thing. But although the descriptions were dark and graphic, I would still recommend this book for solid believers wanting more information about the spiritual reality we often forget.
Four stars

* I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Closing Time

Well, the Cybermmen are back as primary vilians for the first time since The Next Doctor (only the fourth story of the revived series). Viewers also see Cybermats for the first time in 36 years. It works very well for the storyline, especially since Cybermen have a history with the Doctor that has not been overworked.
The return of Craig (but not Sophie) also worked well, especially since Craig and Sophie have a baby boy named Alfie, who prefers to be called "Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All." Craig is genre savvy enough by this point to realize that a visit from the Doctor means trouble, and decides the safest thing to do is to follow him.
My favorite part of this episode was all the scenes between the Doctor and Alfie. This Doctor, the baby-face Doctor, is the one who can't stand to watch children cry, and his conversation in Alfie's nursery is absolutely heartbreaking.

But I am old, Stormy. I am so old. So near the end. But you, Alfie Owens. You are so young, aren’t you? And you know, right now, everything’s ahead of you. You could be anything. Yes, I know. You could walk among the stars. They don’t actually look like that, you know — they are rather more impressive. [uses his sonic to make a starry sky appear on the ceiling] Yeah! You know, when I was little like you, I dreamt of the stars. I think it’s fair to say, in the language of your age, that I lived my dream. I owned the stage. Gave it a hundred and ten percent. I hope you have as much fun as I did, Alfie.

But the most surprising bit was the last five minutes. I was not expecting to see River, and the Silents...It was bad enough when I thought young River shot the Doctor, but for it to be the River we know and love, forced into the suit and unable to stop herself(as it heavily suggests)---oh man!