The Last Sontaran

Doctorwhobox
number=07
serial_name=The Last Sontaran


caption=As Kaagh, the last Sontaran of the Tenth Sontaran Battle Fleet, attempts to take Luke, Clyde, Maria and Sarah Jane captive, Maria creates a distraction by pointing to UNIT troops supposedly coming up behind Kaagh.
show=TSJA
type=story
cast=
*Elisabeth Sladen – Sarah Jane Smith
*Yasmin Paige – Maria Jackson
*Tommy Knight – Luke Smith
*Daniel Anthony – Clyde Langer
*Alexander Armstrong – Mr Smith
guests=
*Joseph Millson – Alan Jackson
*Juliet Cowan – Chrissie Jackson
*Anthony O'Donnell – Kaagh
*Ronan Vibert – Professor Skinner
*Clare Thomas – Lucy Skinner
writer=Phil Ford
director=Joss Agnew
script_editor=Gary Russell
producer=Nikki Smith
executive_producer=Russell T Davies Julie Gardner
production_code=2.1
series=Series 2
length=2 episodes, 27:49 minutes (Part One), 28:02 minutes (Part Two)
date=29 September 2008
preceding="The Lost Boy"
following="The Day of the Clown"
imdb_id=1285089

"The Last Sontaran" is the first story of Series 2 of "The Sarah Jane Adventures" and is a continuation of events from "Doctor Who" two-part story "The Sontaran Strategem" and "The Poison Sky". The two-part story, "The Last Sontaran", was broadcast on 29 September 2008; "Part One" as part of the CBBC slot on BBC One at 4.35 p.m.; "Part Two" on the CBBC Channel at 5.15 p.m..

Plot

ynopsis

Part One

Alan Jackson (Joseph Millson) is offered a job in Washington, D.C. in the United States of America, but seeks daughter Maria's (Yasmin Paige) and ex-wife Chrissie's (Juliet Cowan) approval before he relocates himself and Maria there.

After strange lights are sighted around the Tycho Radio Tower, Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen), Luke Smith (Tommy Knight), Clyde Langer (Daniel Anthony) and Maria investigate. As shown in the picture, they discover Sontaran Commander Kaagh (Anthony O'Donnell), the only survivor of the Tenth Sontaran Battle Fleet which was otherwise seen to be destroyed in "Doctor Who" episode "The Poison Sky".cite episode | title = The Poison Sky | series = Doctor Who | credits = Writer Helen Raynor, Director Douglas Mackinnon, Producer Susie Liggat | network = BBC | station = BBC One | city = Cardiff | airdate = 2008-05-03] Kaagh plans to avenge his fleet by bringing Earth's satellites down on nuclear power plants across the world thereby wiping out all of humanity with the resultant explosions.cite serial | title = The Last Sontaran | episode = Part One | series = The Sarah Jane Adventures | credits = Writer Phil Ford, Director Joss Agnew, Producer Nikki Smith | network = BBC | station = BBC One | city = Cardiff | airdate = 2008-09-29]

Part Two

Failing to overpower Kaagh as he implements his plan, Sarah Jane, Luke, Clyde and Maria are saved by the arrival of Alan and Chrissie, the latter discovering the truth about Sarah Jane's alien investigations. Chrissie knocks Kaagh unconscious by jamming the high-heel of her shoe into the probic vent on the back of his neck, but an electrical charge also knocks her out and Alan and Maria think they can pass the day's events off to her as a dream. Luke is able to deactivate the computer Kaagh has rigged to ground the satellites and with his ship's weapons deactivated, Kaagh is sent back to his home planet, Sontar.

Six weeks later, Alan and Maria leave for America. Chrissie reveals to Sarah Jane that she remembers everything about the Sontaran incident.cite serial | title = The Last Sontaran | episode = Part Two | series = The Sarah Jane Adventures | credits = Writer Phil Ford, Director Joss Agnew, Producer Nikki Smith | network = BBC | station = CBBC Channel | city = Cardiff | airdate = 2008-09-29]

Continuity

Reference is made to the Bane seen in "Invasion of the Bane"cite episode | title = Invasion of the Bane | series = The Sarah Jane Adventures | credits = Writers Gareth Roberts, Russell T Davies, Director Colin Teague, Producer Susie Liggat | network = BBC | station = BBC One | city = Cardiff | airdate = 2007-01-01] ; the Slitheen seen in "Revenge of the Slitheen"cite serial | title = Revenge of the Slitheen | series = The Sarah Jane Adventures | credits = Writer Gareth Roberts, Director Alice Troughton, Producer Matthew Bouch | network = BBC | station = BBC One, CBBC Channel | city = Cardiff | airdate = 2007-09-24] and "The Lost Boy"cite serial | title = The Lost Boy | series = The Sarah Jane Adventures | credits = Writer Phil Ford, Director Charles Martin, Producer Matthew Bouch | network = BBC | station = CBBC Channel | city = Cardiff | began = 2007-11-12 | ended = 2007-11-19] ; the Gorgon and Alan's being turned to stone seen in "Eye of the Gorgon"cite serial | title = Eye of the Gorgon | series = The Sarah Jane Adventures | credits = Writer Phil Ford, Director Alice Troughton, Producer Matthew Bouch | network = BBC | station = CBBC Channel | city = Cardiff | began = 2007-10-01 | ended = 2007-10-08] ; the Trickster and the alternate reality seen in "Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane?"cite serial | title = Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane? | series = The Sarah Jane Adventures | credits = Writer Gareth Roberts, Director Graeme Harper, Producer Matthew Bouch | network = BBC | station = CBBC Channel | city = Cardiff | began = 2007-10-29 | ended = 2007-11-05] ; and the Xylok, the Moon coming towards Earth and the rebooting of Mr Smith (Alexander Armstrong) as seen in "The Lost Boy". Kaagh refers to the Doctor's victory over the Sontarans in "Doctor Who" two-part story "The Sontaran Strategem"/"The Poison Sky"cite episode | title = The Sontaran Stratagem | series = Doctor Who | credits = Writer Helen Raynor, Director Douglas Mackinnon, Producer Susie Liggat | network = BBC | station = BBC One | city = Cardiff | airdate = 2008-04-26] cite episode | title = The Poison Sky | series = Doctor Who | credits = Writer Helen Raynor, Director Douglas Mackinnon, Producer Susie Liggat | network = BBC | station = BBC One | city = Cardiff | airdate = 2008-05-03] and footage of the Sontaran mothership exploding is re-used from "The Poison Sky", marking the first time footage from "Doctor Who" has been used in "The Sarah Jane Adventures". Kaagh is shown to bleed green blood as other Sontarans have been shown to in "Doctor Who".cite serial | title = The Two Doctors | series = Doctor Who | credits = Writer Robert Holmes, Director Peter Moffatt, Producer John Nathan-Turner | network = BBC | station = BBC1 | city = London | began = 1985-02-16 | ended = 1985-03-02] Sarah Jane refers to her past encounters with Sontarans, alongside the Third Doctor in Earth's relative past in "Doctor Who" serial "The Time Warrior"cite serial | title = The Time Warrior | series = Doctor Who | credits = Writer Robert Holmes, Director Alan Bromly, Producer Barry Letts | network = BBC | station = BBC1 | station = BBC1 | city = London | began = 1973-12-15 | ended = 1974-01-05] and alongside the Fourth Doctor and Harry Sullivan in Earth's relative future in "Doctor Who" serial "The Sontaran Experiment".cite serial | title = The Sontaran Experiment | series = Doctor Who | credits = Writers Bob Baker, Dave Martin, Director Rodney Bennett, Producer Philip Hinchcliffe | network = BBC | station = BBC1 | city = London | began = 1975-02-22 | ended = 1975-03-01] Clyde observes that Sontarans resemble baked potatoes, an observation also made by Sarah Jane and Bea Nelson-Stanley in "Eye of the Gorgon". Sarah Jane plans to call in military organisation UNIT to defeat Kaagh, but ultimately does not. UNIT battled the Tenth Sontaran Battle Fleet in "The Sontaran Strategem" and "The Poison Sky". Sarah Jane refers to the Sontarans' ongoing war with the Rutans. Stating "Some people never learn", Chrissie breaks into Sarah Jane's house through the same window she did in "Eye of the Gorgon". As Maria enters the attic to take one last look around and to say goodbye to Mr Smith, she looks to her left and sees numerous alien objects Sarah Jane has collected, including; a bottle of Bubble Shock! seen in "Invasion of the Bane"; Mr Smith's Portable Scanner; a Sontaran gas canister and Kaagh's gun taken from Kaagh in this story; the MITRE headset seen in "The Lost Boy"; a puzzle box seen in "Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane?"; and entanglement shells seen in "Warriors of Kudlak".cite serial | title = Warriors of Kudlak | series = The Sarah Jane Adventures | credits = Writer Phil Gladwin, Director Charles Martin, Producer Matthew Bouch | network = BBC | station = CBBC Channel | city = Cardiff | began = 2007-10-15 | ended = 2007-10-22] cite website
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/sja/sites/alienobjects/
title = Alien Objects
date = 2008-10-06
accessdate = 2008-10-07
publisher = BBC]

Outside references

Clyde and Luke refer to the Battle of Waterloo and the Battle of Hoth, the latter seen in "" (1980 and 1997).cite serial | title = | credits = Writers Leigh Brackett, Lawrence Kasdan (screenplay), George Lucas (story), Director Irvin Kershner, Producers Gary Kurtz, George Lucas, Rick McCallum (Special Edition) | airdate = 1980-05-21] Sarah Jane likens the empty observatory to deserted ship the "Mary Celeste". Clyde likens Kaagh to Conan the Barbarian, calls him "Bilbo" and accuses him of having a "little man complex". When Sarah Jane asks Mr Smith if he has acquired a sense of humor since his reboot, he replies, "I will run a diagnostics check immediately" whilst playing the sound effect associated with the Book from the television adaptation of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".Fact|date=October 2008 Chrissie refers to Sarah Jane as "Mary Jane" and "Calamity Jane".

Production

Writing

Speaking to "Doctor Who Magazine", writer Phil Ford claims "we haven't seen a Sontaran like this before" and states the character "was just fantastic to write for". Ford thinks Kaagh is "the best Sontaran that we've ever seen in the "Doctor Who" world" and describes Anthony O'Donnell's performance as "fantastic... [making] an amazing Sontaran".cite website
url = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a131498/sarah-jane-writer-hails-best-sontaran.html
last = Rawson-Jones
first = Ben
title = 'Sarah Jane' writer hails "best" Sontaran
date = 2008-09-30
accessdate = 2008-10-01
publisher = Digital Spy] The Jacksons were written out as regulars in "The Sarah Jane Adventures" because Yasmin Paige left the series in order to focus on her GCSEs.cite website
url = http://www.sfx.co.uk/page/sfx?entry=new_rani_interviewed
title = New Rani interviewed!
date = 2008-08-29
accessdate = 2008-09-04
last = Berriman
first = Ian
publisher = "SFX"]

Broadcast and reception

Broadcast

"Part One" was first broadcast on BBC One at 4.35 p.m. on Monday 29th September 2008cite website
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00dw1zl
title = The Last Sontaran - Part 1
date = 2008-09-29
accessdate = 2008-09-29
publisher = BBC] cite website
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/09_september/09/sarahjane4.shtml
title = The Sarah Jane Adventures series two: Broadcast details
date = 2008-09-09
accessdate = 2008-10-06
publisher = BBC] and was repeated on the CBBC Channel at 5.00 p.m. on Saturday 4th October 2008.cite website
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00dw1zl
title = The Last Sontaran - Part 1
date = 2008-09-29
accessdate = 2008-09-29
publisher = BBC] "Part Two" was first broadcast on the CBBC Channel at 5.15 p.m. on Monday 29th September 2008 and was repeated on BBC One at 4.35 p.m. on Monday 6th October 2008.cite website
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00dvc19
title = The Last Sontaran - Part 2
date = 2008-09-29
accessdate = 2008-09-29
publisher = BBC] cite website
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/09_september/09/sarahjane4.shtml
title = The Sarah Jane Adventures series two: Broadcast details
date = 2008-09-09
accessdate = 2008-10-06
publisher = BBC] Both episodes were made available for 21 days after first broadcast on the BBC iPlayer.cite website
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qgb3
title = The Sarah Jane Adventures
date = 2008-10-06
accessdate = 2008-10-06
publisher = BBC]

Ratings

Overnight ratings for "Part One" of "The Last Sontaran" indicate that 0.7 million people (0.3 million above the average 0.4 million viewers for that time slot) watched the episode on BBC One on Monday 29th September 2008, earning it a 6.3 per cent share of the television audience. The Appreciation Index for the episode was 84 - the joint highest figure on BBC One on Monday 29th September 2008.cite website
url = http://www.gallifreyone.com/news.php
title = The Last Sontaran Part One - Overnight Ratings
date = 2008-09-30
accessdate = 2008-10-07
publisher = The Doctor Who News Page]

Critical reception

Ben Rawson-Jones, Cult Editor for Digital Spy, praises "The Last Sontaran" for its "emotional content", but notes that "Part Two" "disappoints in the action stakes" following "Part One".cite website
url = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a131344/sarah-jane-the-lost-sontaran-part-two.html
last = Rawson-Jones
first = Ben
title = 'Sarah Jane': The Lost Sontaran - Part Two
date = 2008-09-29
accessdate = 2008-09-29
publisher = Digital Spy] He argues that the title "The Last Sontaran" nullifies any potential suspense prior to the revelation of the Sontaran as the force behind the mysterious lights, but praises O'Donnell's performance as Kaagh as being largely responsible for making the Sontaran plot a success.cite website
url = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a131343/sarah-jane-the-lost-sontaran-part-one.html
last = Rawson-Jones
first = Ben
title = 'Sarah Jane': The Lost Sontaran - Part One
date = 2008-09-29
accessdate = 2008-09-29
publisher = Digital Spy] He views Sarah Jane's reaction to Maria's news that she is leaving as "a fascinating departure from her usual maternal role to the children" and suggests this is a result of Sarah Jane having been abandoned by the Fourth Doctor at the end of "Doctor Who" serial "The Hand of Fear".cite serial | title = The Hand of Fear | episode = Part Four | series = Doctor Who | credits = Writers Bob Baker, Dave Martin, Director Lennie Mayne, Producer Philip Hinchcliffe | network = BBC | station = BBC1 | city = London | airdate = 1976-10-23] He claims Part Two has " [p] lenty of tension-free chase sequences function [ing] as meaningless padding and lessen [ing] the threat posed by Commander Kaagh", attributing the lack of tension to "inadequate direction." He brands Clyde and Luke as "dependable as ever" and the Jacksons as "endearing", the latter compensating "for [Part Two's] action failings" with Maria and Alan's departure being "well handled" and "touching" and Chrissie being "a revelation... [as] her seemingly vacuous nature has been replaced by an air of mystery." Although Rawson-Jones notes "the subplot featuring the Sontaran-controlled Professor stalking his own daughter Lucy is rather disturbing for a CBBC show that airs at 4.35pm", he describes the adventure as " [f] ittingly...death-free and surprisingly heartwarming." However, he laments "that this wonderful show is not being shown in a timeslot when the whole family could sit down to enjoy it together."

Writing for "Dreamwatch", Patrick Holm describes "Part One" as " [o] verall, a good start"cite website
url = http://www.dwscifi.com/reviews/2524-the-sarah-jane-adventures-the-last-sontaran-part-1-series-2-episode-1
last = Holm
first = Patrick
title = The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Last Sontaran Part 1 (series 2, episode 1)
date = 2008-09-30
accessdate = 2008-10-07
publisher = "Dreamwatch"] but argues that " [s] ome odd gaps in logic and excess runarounds make... ["Part Two"] not as effective as it could have been."cite website
url = http://www.dwscifi.com/reviews/2525-the-sarah-jane-adventures-the-last-sontaran-part-2-series-2-episode-2
last = Holm
first = Patrick
title = The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Last Sontaran Part 2 (series 2, episode 2)
date = 2008-09-30
accessdate = 2008-10-07
publisher = "Dreamwatch"] Holm expresses surprise at the lack of references to the "literally world-shaking events" of "Doctor Who" episode "Journey's End" which precedes this story chronologically and which saw a Dalek invasion of Earth and Sarah Jane, Luke and Mr Smith helping to defeat them and return Earth to its rightful place in space.cite episode | title = Journey's End | series = Doctor Who | credits = Writer Russell T Davies, Director Graeme Harper, Producer Phil Collinson | network = BBC | station = BBC One | city = Cardiff | airdate = 2008-07-05] However, he states Ford's script for "Part One" is "enjoyable" and praises its mixing of "old and new Who mythologies" with its many "other references back to the parent series ["Doctor Who"] ". He also praises Ford for "giving the Sontarans a few new tricks" and notes that the effects in "Part One" indicate that the budget for "The Sarah Jane Adventures" has been increased. Whilst praising Knight and Langer for being "much more fluid in their movements", Holm does not share Rawson-Jones's appreciation for the emotional scenes in "Part One" regarding Maria's departure and claims they lack "the resonance you might expect." Holm does state, however, that " [t] he scenes regarding Maria’s departure are handled better... [in "Part Two"] , even if some of the closing scene platitudes are a little vomit-inducing." He cites as examples of weaknesses in "Part Two"; the ease with which Kaagh is fooled by the children; and the incredible luck Clyde has when Sarah Jane and Luke happen to be on the other side of a locked door in order to let him in thus saving him from Kaagh. He is also critical of the reuse of the threat of "something being brought crashing down to Earth...an overused plot last season" and observes that an "end of season rematch with Kaarg is unsubtly telegraphed". However, he does states that " [t] here are some good moments [in "Part Two"] , particularly as Chrissie Jackson gets more character development in one 30-second scene than she had in most of [Series One] ".

Holm likens Sarah Jane's gang to Mystery, Inc. from "Scooby-Doo" and sees Kaagh as "a character somewhere between the sadistic Styre from "The Sontaran Experiment" and General Staal in "The Sonataran Stratagem"." Both Rawson-Jones and Holm view Kaagh's cloaking abilities as a "homage" to "'80s action classic" "Predator" (1987).cite serial | title = Predator | credits = Writers Jim Thomas, John Thomas, Director John McTiernan, Producers Joel Silver, Lawrence Gordon, John Davis | airdate = 1987-06-12]

References

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/sja The official BBC "The Sarah Jane Adventures" website]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/09_september/09/sarahjane3.shtml Press Pack information regarding "The Last Sontaran"] at the [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/ BBC Press Office website]
* [http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/sarahjane/2008ab.html "The Last Sontaran"] at [http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/ Doctor Who: A Brief History Of Time (Travel)]