Crowds of people walking through London under alien influence: Semi-check; the slaves in the parallel universe are technically under alien influence, though I'll agree it's pushing the definition.
Tie-in with Doctor Who story: Check; see last week.
Girl protagonist's mum is annoying: Check. She's more or less OK in the parallel universe, but it's business as usual when we get back home.
Mobile phone as plot device: Non-check-- well, it is the 1950s after all. Though, give the mobile addiction most of the characters in SJA seem to have, I'm surprised Rani and/or Clyde didn't whip theirs out right after arriving in the parallel universe to check if they've got a signal.
Luke says something so daft that you have to wonder how he gets through life without being mercilessly bullied: Non-check, though his mother gets in some daft lines about how wonderfully special it is to be in her gang.
Sonic lipstick: Check.
Wristwatch scanner: Check.
One or more of Sarah's companions falling under alien influence: Non-check-- in fact, it's a plot point that they're protected from it.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
SJA Checklist: The Temptation of Sarah Jane
Crowds of people walking through London under alien influence: Non-check.
Tie-in with Doctor Who story: Check. Apart from being basically "Father's Day" for over-fifties, "The Monster of Peladon" gets a name-check and the Graske returns. Apparently there's also supposed to be a subtextual connection between the Trickster and the events of "Turn Left" as well, so that also counts (perhaps, having been thwarted on Donna, he's trying again with a less bolshy companion?)
Girl protagonist's mum is annoying: And a hat-trick for non-checks. Though Sarah Jane's mum keeps reminding me irresistably of Drusilla from Buffy.
Mobile phone as plot device: Non-check.
Luke says something so daft that you have to wonder how he gets through life without being mercilessly bullied: His guess-the-gobstoppers-in-the-jar routine; Sarah Jane's mum briefly looks like she'd like to give him a clip round the ear for that one.
Sonic lipstick: Check.
Wristwatch scanner: Non-check.
One or more of Sarah's companions falling under alien influence: Non-check, for a change.
Tie-in with Doctor Who story: Check. Apart from being basically "Father's Day" for over-fifties, "The Monster of Peladon" gets a name-check and the Graske returns. Apparently there's also supposed to be a subtextual connection between the Trickster and the events of "Turn Left" as well, so that also counts (perhaps, having been thwarted on Donna, he's trying again with a less bolshy companion?)
Girl protagonist's mum is annoying: And a hat-trick for non-checks. Though Sarah Jane's mum keeps reminding me irresistably of Drusilla from Buffy.
Mobile phone as plot device: Non-check.
Luke says something so daft that you have to wonder how he gets through life without being mercilessly bullied: His guess-the-gobstoppers-in-the-jar routine; Sarah Jane's mum briefly looks like she'd like to give him a clip round the ear for that one.
Sonic lipstick: Check.
Wristwatch scanner: Non-check.
One or more of Sarah's companions falling under alien influence: Non-check, for a change.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
SJA Checklist: The Mark of the Berserker, part II
Crowds of people walking through London under alien influence: Semi-check; Clyde's Dad left a crowd of people under alien influence, but they weren't going anywhere.
Tie-in with Doctor Who story: Check-- "hey Dad, hack into UNIT!"
Girl protagonist's mum is annoying: Still a non-check; they must be giving her a rest this fortnight.
Mobile phone as plot device: Check. Clyde's refusing to answer his friends calls (and puzzlement at their names in his phone book), Maria downloading data to Rani and Luke via mobile, Sarah Jane having her mobile switched off meaning that she can't come to the rescue, etc.
Luke says something so daft that you have to wonder how he gets through life without being mercilessly bullied: Non-check for once.
Sonic lipstick: Check, briefly.
Wristwatch scanner: Non-check.
One or more of Sarah's companions falling under alien influence: Serious check. We're pretty much batting 100 on this one this season.
Alan points out: UNIT couldn't have existed in the 1940s, as it was originally at least a UN organisation. Unless there's some historical revisionism going on in Cardiff. Or maybe it was the League of Nations Intelligence Taskforce instead?
Tie-in with Doctor Who story: Check-- "hey Dad, hack into UNIT!"
Girl protagonist's mum is annoying: Still a non-check; they must be giving her a rest this fortnight.
Mobile phone as plot device: Check. Clyde's refusing to answer his friends calls (and puzzlement at their names in his phone book), Maria downloading data to Rani and Luke via mobile, Sarah Jane having her mobile switched off meaning that she can't come to the rescue, etc.
Luke says something so daft that you have to wonder how he gets through life without being mercilessly bullied: Non-check for once.
Sonic lipstick: Check, briefly.
Wristwatch scanner: Non-check.
One or more of Sarah's companions falling under alien influence: Serious check. We're pretty much batting 100 on this one this season.
Alan points out: UNIT couldn't have existed in the 1940s, as it was originally at least a UN organisation. Unless there's some historical revisionism going on in Cardiff. Or maybe it was the League of Nations Intelligence Taskforce instead?
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
SJA Checklist: The Mark of the Berserker, part I
Crowds of people walking through London under alien influence: Semi-check; no crowds, but good heavens, how many alien mind control devices can one series feature?
Tie-in with Doctor Who story: Non-check.
Girl protagonist's mum is annoying: Amazingly, non-check, though her Dad fills in admirably.
Mobile phone as plot device: Semi-check. It's obvious that Clyde's Dad rejecting a call from someone called "Mel" is going to mean something important later, but we don't know what yet.
Luke says something so daft that you have to wonder how he gets through life without being mercilessly bullied: Check: the whole sequence where he argues determinedly with Clyde that his visit is in fact a sleepover despite Clyde's assertions that sleepovers are for girls.
Sonic lipstick: Non-check.
Wristwatch scanner: Non-check.
One or more of Sarah's companions falling under alien influence: Big. Old. Check.
Tie-in with Doctor Who story: Non-check.
Girl protagonist's mum is annoying: Amazingly, non-check, though her Dad fills in admirably.
Mobile phone as plot device: Semi-check. It's obvious that Clyde's Dad rejecting a call from someone called "Mel" is going to mean something important later, but we don't know what yet.
Luke says something so daft that you have to wonder how he gets through life without being mercilessly bullied: Check: the whole sequence where he argues determinedly with Clyde that his visit is in fact a sleepover despite Clyde's assertions that sleepovers are for girls.
Sonic lipstick: Non-check.
Wristwatch scanner: Non-check.
One or more of Sarah's companions falling under alien influence: Big. Old. Check.
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