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Tuesday 16 November 2010

SJA: Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith Review (4.5/5)

The season finales of The Sarah Jane Adventures have always had a reputation of finishing each wave of 2-part adventures with a whimper rather than a bang, and though perhaps still not the perfect story, Goodbye Sarah Jane Smith goes some way to proving that not every series has to end on its low note. The title is decidedly ominous for a kids' show, yet soon on fans will work out that the tragic climax that could perhaps one day exist for Sarah Jane Adventures isn't coming here (if the announcement of a fifth season months back didn't highlight that already). Despite this, we do get more than a glimpse at darker themes for the season here: Sarah-Jane's age; the threat of mental illnesses and the idea that a new team might have to be formed under the guise of Julie Graham's simply fantastic anti-hero Ruby White are all considered in Part 1, ending on a predictable but nonetheless scary cliff-hanger for kids to ponder on for a day. Part 2 is undeniably weaker, with Graham's White being given less to do other than make idol threats which never come to fruition, while the inclusion of Luke Smith (Thomas Knight) and K-9 (John Leeson) seems unnecessary and for old time's sake rather than a fully-fledged appearance for the fan favourite characters. No matter what its flaws- deceptive title included- Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith was the best finale yet to the best season of SJA so far!

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