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{{Infobox Story
{{Infobox Story SMW
|image = Sky_main.jpg
|image               = Sky main.jpg
|name = Sky
|series               = [[List of The Sarah Jane Adventures television stories|''SJA'' television stories]]
|series =[[List of The Sarah Jane Adventures television stories|''SJA'' television stories]]
|season number       = Series 5 (SJA)
|season number = [[Series 5 (SJA)|5]]
|season serial number = 1
|story number = 25
|story number         = 25
|main character = [[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah Jane]], [[Sky Smith]], [[Clyde Langer|Clyde]], [[Rani Chandra|Rani]], [[Mr Smith]]
|scripturl      = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/sja-series-5-episode-1-sky-part-one-yellow-revisions-15072010.pdf
|featuring=[[Gita Chandra|Gita]], [[Haresh Chandra|Haresh]], [[Celeste Rivers|Celeste]], [[Luke Smith|Luke]]
|scripturl2      = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/sja-series-5-episode-2-sky-part-two-blue-revisions-15072010.pdf
|enemy = [[Miss Myers]], [[Metalkind]]
|main character       = [[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah Jane]], [[Clyde Langer|Clyde]], [[Rani Chandra|Rani]], [[Sky Smith|Sky]], [[Mr Smith]]
|setting =[[Ealing]] and [[Summerwell Nuclear Power Station]], [[2011]]
|featuring           = Gita Chandra
|writer = [[Phil Ford]]
|featuring2          = Haresh Chandra
|director = [[Ashley Way]]
|featuring3          = The Shopkeeper (Lost in Time)
|producer = [[Brian Minchin]]
|featuring4          = Celeste Rivers{{!}}Rivers
|broadcast date = [[3 October]] [[2011]] (Part 1)<br />[[4 October]] 2011 (Part 2)
|featuring5          = Luke Smith
|format = 2x30 minute episodes
|enemy               = [[Myers (Sky)|Miss Myers]]
|prev = Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith (TV story)
|setting             = [[Ealing]] and [[Summerwell Nuclear Power Station]], [[2011]]
|next = The Curse of Clyde Langer (TV story)
|writer               = Phil Ford
|director             = [[Ashley Way]]
|producer             = [[Brian Minchin]]
|broadcast date       = 3 October - 4 October 2011
|format               = 2x30 minute episodes
|prev                 = Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith (TV story)
|next                 = The Curse of Clyde Langer (TV story)
|network              = CBBC
|epcount              = 2
}}
}}
{{TV stub}}
'''''Sky''''' was the first serial of [[Series 5 (SJA)|series 5]] of ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]''. It was written by [[Phil Ford]] and directed by [[Ashley Way]]. Like all of series 5, it was actually filmed as a part of [[series 4 (SJA)|series 4]], roughly a year before its broadcast. This production scheduling allowed for the episode to be completed and broadcast after the death of Elisabeth Sladen. It also introduced [[Sky Smith]], who would later become the adoptive daughter of Sarah Jane.
'''''Sky''''' was the first story of [[Series 5 (SJA)|Series 5]] of ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]''. It introduced [[Sky Smith]], who would later become the adoptive daughter of [[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah Jane]].  
 
Although the story introduced a new regular character, it also contained the last appearances of [[Gita Chandra]], Professor [[Celeste Rivers]] and [[The Shopkeeper (Lost in Time)|the Shopkeeper]]. Due to the unexpected end of production, none of these characters were given a narrative conclusion; ''Sky'' is merely their final story.


== Synopsis ==
== Synopsis ==
=== Part one ===
[[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah Jane]], [[Clyde Langer|Clyde]] and [[Rani Chandra|Rani]] try to figure out why [[Sky Smith|a baby]] abandoned on Sarah Jane's doorstep is undergoing rapid maturation, and how she's connected to a [[war]] between the [[Metalkind]] and the [[Fleshkind (Sky)|Fleshkind]].
Sarah Jane finds a baby girl on her doorstep and tries to find out who abandoned her. At a nearby nuclear power station, a beautiful woman appears out of thin air and uses alien powers to take control. She's looking for something – and realises Sarah Jane may have it.
 
=== Part two ===
Sky has undergone a metamorphosis, but in doing so has triggered a countdown that no one can stop. As Sarah Jane and Sky find themselves trapped between the alien war fought by Metalkind and Fleshkind, Clyde and Rani face a race against time to stop the biggest bang in history...


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
=== Part 1 ===
=== Part 1 ===
In the attic, [[Sarah Jane Smith]] watches the [[star]]-filled sky with her telescope, narrating [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the wonderful things she has seen]]. A seeming meteor approaches [[Earth]] and crashes in a junkyard. A homeless person witnesses this and sees a metalloid figure emerge, scan the area and then make itself invisible. Back in the attic, Sarah Jane speaks via the computer to her son, [[Luke Smith]], with her friends [[Clyde Langer]] and [[Rani Chandra]]. Sarah Jane misses her son but Rani comforts her, saying Luke will be back soon and that Sarah Jane should make the most of her peace and quiet.
In the [[attic]], [[Sarah Jane Smith]] watches the [[star]]-filled sky with her telescope, narrating the wonderful things she has seen. A seeming meteor approaches [[Earth]] and crashes in a junkyard. A homeless person witnesses this and sees a metalloid figure emerge, scan the area and then make itself invisible. Back in the attic, Sarah Jane speaks via the computer to her son, [[Luke Smith]], with her friends [[Clyde Langer]] and [[Rani Chandra]]. Sarah Jane misses her son but Rani comforts her, saying Luke will be back soon and that Sarah Jane should make the most of her peace and quiet.


Very early next morning, Sarah Jane is awoken by the doorbell. She finds a baby girl on her doorstep. When the baby cries, every light bulb on Bannerman road burst. Rani is woken later by a text from Sarah Jane saying to come right away. Rani reports to Sarah Jane that all of the light bulbs on Bannerman Road have gone out. Sarah Jane reveals to Rani and Clyde, who appears later, that the child is an alien. Clyde feeds the baby [[milk]], calming her down.
Very early next morning, Sarah Jane is awoken by the doorbell. She finds a baby girl on her doorstep. When the baby cries, every light bulb on [[Bannerman Road]] bursts. Rani is woken later by a text from Sarah Jane saying to come right away. Rani reports to Sarah Jane that all of the light bulbs on Bannerman Road have gone out. Sarah Jane reveals to Rani and Clyde, who appears later, that the child is an alien. Clyde feeds the baby [[milk]], calming her down.


Meanwhile at a power plant, an orb of energy appears and an attractive woman walks out. She confronts a fallen worker, introducing herself as [[Myers (Sky)|Miss Myers]]. She is looking for her child. She hypnotises the fallen worker, putting the rest of the power plant personnel into an unconscious state. Miss Myers learns that her daughter is at [[Bannerman Road]] and heads there.
Meanwhile at a power plant, an orb of energy appears and an attractive woman walks out. She confronts a fallen worker, introducing herself as [[Myers (Sky)|Miss Myers]]. She is looking for her child. She hypnotises the fallen worker, putting the rest of the power plant personnel into an unconscious state. Miss Myers learns that her daughter is at Bannerman Road and heads there.


[[Gita Chandra]] encounters Sarah Jane and the others with the baby. She assumes that Sarah has begun taking in foster children, an idea which the others go along with, calling the baby [[Sky Smith|Sky]] (as she essentially "fell out of the sky"). Gita then tells them about the meteor which that fell the previous night. Sarah Jane and Rani go to investigate. With [[Celeste Rivers|Professor River's]] help and the eyewitness account of the homeless man, they discover that the metalloid alien is headed for Bannerman Road.
[[Gita Chandra]] encounters Sarah Jane and the others with the baby. She assumes that Sarah Jane has begun taking in foster children, an idea which the others go along with, calling the baby [[Sky Smith|Sky]]. Gita then tells them about the meteor which that fell the previous night. Sarah Jane and Rani go to investigate. With [[Celeste Rivers|Professor River's]] help and the eyewitness account of the homeless man, they discover that the metalloid alien is headed for Bannerman Road.


Clyde is babysitting Sky, when the alien attacks them. He is rescued by Miss Myers and taken to the power plant. Miss Myers tells Clyde a little of "Sky's" purpose. Clyde is suspicious of Miss Myers, and runs away with Sky. He evades Miss Myers and her henchmen while Sarah Jane and Rani break into the plant. They reunite with Clyde and Sky. The metal alien arrives, and corners them. It reveals that the baby is a weapon. The child begins a metamorphosis. Myers is delighted that the weapon is "priming" itself; an energy aura surrounds Sky and she becomes a pre-teen...
Clyde is babysitting Sky when the alien attacks them. Clyde and Sky are rescued by Miss Myers and taken to the power plant. Miss Myers tells Clyde a little of "Sky's" purpose. Clyde is suspicious of Miss Myers, and runs away with Sky. He evades Miss Myers and her henchmen while Sarah Jane and Rani break into the plant. They reunite with Clyde and Sky. The metal alien arrives and corners them. It reveals that the baby is a weapon. The child begins a metamorphosis. Myers is delighted that the weapon is "priming" itself; an energy aura surrounds Sky and she becomes a pre-teen.


=== Part 2 ===
=== Part 2 ===
Sky, having just transformed, launches a powerful jolt of electricity at the metal alien, sending it crashing into the wall. Miss Myers encourages Sky to finish off the [[Metalkind]] but Sky is scared and confused until she is comforted by Sarah Jane. Miss Myers reveals that she created Sky. The Bannerman Road gang escape with Sky to Sarah Jane's house, where [[Mr Smith]] can scan her. He determines that Sky was created to be a bomb to destroy the whole Metalkind species across the entire [[universe]], killing Sky in the process.
Sky, having just transformed, launches a powerful jolt of electricity at the metal alien, sending it crashing into the wall. Miss Myers encourages Sky to finish off the [[Metalkind]] but Sky is scared and confused until she is comforted by Sarah Jane. Miss Myers reveals that she created Sky. The Bannerman Road gang escape with Sky to Sarah Jane's house, where [[Mr Smith]] can scan her. He determines that Sky was created to be a bomb to destroy the whole Metalkind species across the entire [[universe]], which would kill Sky in the process.


Rani tells Sky of Sarah Jane adopting Luke and about what it is to be a girl. Sky learns of her purpose and with the Bannerman Road gang returns to the power plant, as Miss Myers is the only person who can "defuse" Sky. They break in again and Sarah Jane confronts Miss Myers alone, leaving Sky at the car with Rani and Clyde. Myers is a member of the the [[Fleshkind]] species, who have been locked in war with the Metalkind for centuries. The Metalkind that was injured has been hooked up to the power plant. Myers plans to have it summon the entire Metalkind species, so Sky can destroy them all. Miss Myers tells Sarah Jane that she will be forced to hand over Sky to save Earth from the cruelty of the Metalkind, who have vowed to destroy all Fleshkind. The injured Metalkind tells Sarah Jane that the Fleshkind invaded his home planet and mined the ore, which was actually the Metalkind children. Myers is determined that Sky fulfil her destiny. Sky believes that she should fulfil her purpose to save Earth from the oncoming Metalkind army, even if it means dying, and runs from the others to confront the Metalkind. Sarah Jane goes after her, tasking Clyde and Rani to shut down the power, thus closing the portal which the Metalkind will use to come to Earth.
Rani tells Sky of Sarah Jane adopting Luke and about what it is to be a girl. Sky learns of her purpose and with the Bannerman Road gang returns to the power plant, as Miss Myers is the only person who can "defuse" Sky. They break in again and Sarah Jane confronts Miss Myers alone, leaving Sky at the car with Rani and Clyde. Myers is a member of the the [[Fleshkind (Sky)|Fleshkind]] species, who have been locked in war with the Metalkind for centuries. The Metalkind that was injured has been hooked up to the power plant. Myers plans to have it summon the entire Metalkind species, so Sky can destroy them all. Miss Myers tells Sarah Jane that she will be forced to hand over Sky to save Earth from the cruelty of the Metalkind, who have vowed to destroy all Fleshkind. The injured Metalkind tells Sarah Jane that the Fleshkind invaded his home planet and mined the ore, which was actually the Metalkind children. Myers is determined that Sky fulfil her destiny. Sky believes that she should fulfil her purpose to save Earth from the oncoming Metalkind army, even if it means dying, and runs from the others to confront the Metalkind. Sarah Jane goes after her, tasking Clyde and Rani to shut down the power, thus closing the portal which the Metalkind will use to come to Earth.
 
Rani and Clyde find a room in the power plant where they begin to manually shut down the power. Sarah Jane finds Sky and tries to convince her that she doesn't have to sacrifice herself and destroy the Metalkind. Sky is fully primed and ready to "fulfil her purpose" when Clyde and Rani succeed in deactivating the power in the plant, and Bannerman Road as well. Sky absorbs the energy of the portal and collapses. She revives, and reports that she feels different. Myers confirms that Sky is different, and her genetic programming has been altered. She is no longer a weapon. Miss Myers says that she has lost her daughter. The Metalkind breaks free, grabs Myers and uses her own pendant to teleport them both away from Earth.


Rani and Clyde find a room in the power plant where they begin to manually shut down the power. Sarah Jane finds Sky, and tries to convince her that she doesn't have to sacrifice herself and destroy the Metalkind. Sky is fully primed and ready to "fulfil her purpose" when Clyde and Rani succeed in deactivating the power in the plant (and Bannerman Road as well). Sky absorbs the energy of the portal and collapses. She revives, and reports that she feels different. Myers confirms that Sky is different, and her genetic programming has been altered. She is no longer a weapon. Miss Myers says that she has lost her daughter. The Metalkind breaks free, grabs Myers and uses her own pendant to teleport them both away from Earth.
[[File:Sky_hugs_sarah.jpg|thumb|left|Sky is adopted.]]
[[File:Sky_hugs_sarah.jpg|thumb|left|Sky is adopted.]]
The gang return to Bannerman Road. Gita is confused seeing Sky now much older than the baby she saw Sarah Jane with earlier, but Sarah Jane explains that there was a mix-up at the foster agency with the "other Sky". This girl — now called Sky Smith — will be staying for awhile. Sarah Jane and Sky go to the attic and are surprised to see [[Captain (Parrot)|Captain]] and [[the Shopkeeper]]. They were the ones who left Sky on Sarah Jane's doorstep; the young girl would be safe with the former time-traveller. It is the Shopkeeper's task to put things in the right place as a "servant of the Universe". Sky expresses her desire to stay with Sarah Jane, and the Shopkeeper agrees. He tells Sarah Jane she will find out who he is in good time, then teleports away with Captain, leaving Sarah Jane confused just like [[Lost in Time (TV story)|last time]]. Sarah Jane offers Sky [[pizza]] but the young girl is unaware of what it is.
The gang return to Bannerman Road. Gita is confused, seeing Sky now much older than the baby she saw Sarah Jane with earlier, but Sarah Jane explains that there was a mix-up at the foster agency with the "other Sky". This girl — now called Sky Smith — will be staying for a while. Sarah Jane and Sky go to the attic and are surprised to see [[Captain (Lost in Time)|Captain]] and [[The Shopkeeper (Lost in Time)|the Shopkeeper]]. They were the ones who left Sky on Sarah Jane's doorstep; the young girl would be safe with the former time-traveller. It is the Shopkeeper's task to put things in the right place as a "servant of the Universe". Sky expresses her desire to stay with Sarah Jane, and the Shopkeeper agrees. He tells Sarah Jane she will find out who he is in good time, then teleports away with Captain, leaving Sarah Jane confused just like last time. Sarah Jane offers Sky [[pizza]] but the young girl is unaware of what it is.


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
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* [[Gita Chandra]] - [[Mina Anwar]]
* [[Gita Chandra]] - [[Mina Anwar]]
* [[Haresh Chandra]] - [[Ace Bhatti]]
* [[Haresh Chandra]] - [[Ace Bhatti]]
* [[Miss Myers]] - [[Christine Stephen-Daly]]
* [[Myers (Sky)|Miss Myers]] - [[Christine Stephen-Daly]]
* [[Caleb (Sky)|Caleb]] - [[Gavin Brocker]]
* [[Caleb (Sky)|Caleb]] - [[Gavin Brocker]]
* [[Metalkind (Sky)|The Metalkind]] - [[Paul Kasey]]
* [[Metalkind (Sky)|The Metalkind]] - [[Paul Kasey]]
* [[Celeste Rivers|Professor Rivers]] - [[Floella Benjamin]]
* [[Celeste Rivers|Professor Rivers]] - [[Floella Benjamin]]
* [[Hugo]] - [[Peter-Hugo Daly]]
* [[Hugo (Sky)|Hugo]] - [[Peter-Hugo Daly]]
* Baby [[Sky Smith|Sky]] - [[Chloe and Ella Savage]] and [[Amber and Scarlet Donaldson]]
* [[The Shopkeeper (Lost in Time)|The Shopkeeper]] - [[Cyril Nri]]
* Baby Sky - [[Chloe and Ella Savage]] and [[Amber and Scarlet Donaldson]]
* Voice of [[Metalkind]] - [[Will McLeod]]
* Voice of [[Metalkind]] - [[Will McLeod]]


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== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
* The homeless man in the episode got his idea of what [[robot]]s are like from the movie series ''[[Star Wars]]''.
=== Individuals ===
* Rani describes shutting down a nuclear reactor as "[[James Bond]] meets [[Super Mario Bros|Mario]]". Clyde claims to be excellent at the latter.
* Clyde objects to Sky entering a power station, saying it would be like a "[[Houses of Parliament]] tour with [[Guy Fawkes]]."
* Clyde objects to Sky entering a power station, saying it would be like a "[[Houses of Parliament]] tour with [[Guy Fawkes]]."
* Rani likens herself to Wikipedia by calling herself "Ranipedia".  
 
* Clyde calls the attic the [[Batman|Bat Cave]] and mentions Jedward.
=== Locations ===
* Professor Rivers uses her own lipstick to imitate Sarah Jane's [[sonic lipstick]].
* Hugo lives in [[Taylor and Trott Car Salvage]].
* [[Peel Road]] is located in [[Ealing]].
* [[Coulabria]] is a planet.
* The [[Tornado Nebula]] is a nebula which contained a [[binary planetary system]] in its eye.
 
=== Organisations and institutions ===
* [[West London Power]] is a electric current company.
 
=== Cultural references from the real world ===
* Clyde calls the attic the [[Batcave]] and mentions [[Jedward]].
* Rani describes shutting down a nuclear reactor as "[[James Bond]] meets [[Super Mario Bros|Mario]]".
* Hugo got his idea of what [[robot]]s are like from the movie series ''[[Star Wars]]''.
* Rani likens herself to [[Wikipedia]] by calling herself "Ranipedia".
 
=== Elements ===
* [[Boron]] is a metalloid element.
 
=== Objects ===
* Professor Rivers uses her own lipstick to playfully imitate Sarah Jane's [[sonic lipstick]].
 
=== Foods and beverages ===
* Clyde tells the baby Sky that [[oven chip]]s are made by bad [[cooking goblin]]s.
 
=== Other ===
* Clyde doesn't know much [[chemistry]] because he used to watch the school [[netball]] team during chemistry class.
* Clyde doesn't know much [[chemistry]] because he used to watch the school [[netball]] team during chemistry class.


== Story notes ==
== Story notes ==
* This is the first and only series premiere not to feature an alien from ''[[Doctor Who]]'' (discounting the pilot story, ''[[Invasion of the Bane]]''). [[Series 1 (SJA)|Series 1]]'s ''[[Revenge of the Slitheen]]'' featured the [[Slitheen]], [[Series 2 (SJA)|Series 2]]'s ''[[The Last Sontaran]]'' featured a [[Sontaran]], [[Series 3 (SJA)|Series 3]]'s ''[[Prisoner of the Judoon]]'' featured the [[Judoon]], and [[Series 4 (SJA)|Series 4]]'s ''[[The Nightmare Man]]'' featured a cameo appearance from a [[Slitheen (The Nightmare Man)|Slitheen]].
* There are a few nods to the {{iw|terminator|Terminator Franchise|Terminator franchise}}. The Metalkind's hunt for Sky, a child that will be used against them in a war, is reminiscent of {{iw|terminator|Skynet}} hunting {{iw|terminator|John Connor}}. The way [[Myers (Sky)|Miss Myers]] initially appears is very similar to the method of [[time travel]] used in ''{{iw|terminator|Time Displacement Equipment|The Terminator}}''. She also tells Clyde to go into the van, saying, ''"Get in if you want the child to live"'', similar to "{{iw|terminator|Come with me if you want to live|come with me if you want to live}}", a famous line used in ''Terminator''.
* This episode premièred a longer pre-title sequence than those seen in previous series.
* This story was intended to be the beginning of a story arc involving the characters of [[The Shopkeeper (Lost in Time)|the Shopkeeper]] and [[Captain (Lost in Time)|the Captain]]. However, the cancellation of the series meant that this arc never materialised. According to [[DWMSE 32]], the character was added to the story at the last minute as a replacement for [[Matt Smith]], who was originally to have appeared as the [[Eleventh Doctor]] and reveal he was responsible for leaving Sky on Sarah Jane's doorstep; Smith's commitments to filming ''[[A Christmas Carol (TV story)|A Christmas Carol]]'' prevented this from happening and so the ending was rewritten to feature the Shopkeeper and the Captain. However, the original narrative is alluded to when the Doctor is mentioned as someone who could have left Sky on Sarah Jane's doorstep by Rani. This was also written in the back of ''The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Complete Collection Series 1-5'' DVD boxset.{{note|The bubbly Sky — the Starchild placed in Sarah Jane's care by The doctor — settles into Bannerman Road and discovers she has telekinetic powers.}}
* Clyde's joke in part 1, about a man with tissue paper trousers being called Russell, is a well-known kid's joke, but may also be an in-joke reference to series creator [[Russell T Davies]].
* Part two aired on Daniel Anthony's birthday.
* There are a few nods to the [[w:c:terminator:Terminator Franchise|Terminator franchise]]. The metalkind's hunt for Sky, a child that will be used against them in a war, is reminiscent of [[w:c:terminator:Skynet|Skynet]] hunting [[w:c:terminator:John Connor|John Connor]]. The way [[Myers (Sky)|Miss Myers]] initially appears is very similar to the method of [[time travel]] used in ''[[w:c:terminator:Time Displacement Equipment|The Terminator]]''. She also tells Clyde to go into the van, saying "get in if you want the child to live", similar to "[[w:c:terminator:Come with me if you want to live|come with me if you want to live]]", a famous line used in ''Terminator''.
* This was the first ''Sarah Jane Adventures'' story to be broadcast after the death of [[Elisabeth Sladen]] on [[19 April]] [[2011]].
* This story was part of an ongoing story arc involving the characters of the [[The Shopkeeper|Shopkeeper]] and the [[Captain (Parrot)|Captain]]. Unfortunately, the cancellation of the series left their story unfinished. According to [[REF]]: ''The Sarah Jane Companion Volume Three'' (DWM Special Edition), the character was added to the story at the last minute as a replacement for [[Matt Smith]], who was originally to have appeared as the [[Eleventh Doctor|Doctor]] and reveal he was responsible for leaving Sky on Sarah Jane's doorstep; Smith's commitments to filming [[TV]]: ''[[A Christmas Carol (TV story)|A Christmas Carol]]'' prevented this from happening and so the ending was rewritten to feature the Shopkeeper and the Captain.
* This story marks the final appearances of [[Gita Chandra]], Professor [[Celeste Rivers]], the Shopkeeper and the Captain on the series.


=== Ratings ===
=== Ratings ===
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=== Rumours ===
=== Rumours ===
* The Doctor was originally going to appear. ''Confirmed in [[REF]]: The Sarah Jane Companion Volume Three''.
* The Eleventh Doctor was originally going to appear. ''Confirmed in [[REF]]: ''The Sarah Jane Companion Volume Three'', with the Doctor originally being the one to drop off Sky, as suggested by Rani.''


=== Filming locations ===
=== Filming locations ===
''to be added''
* Substation, Tonteg road, Trefforest Estate


=== Production errors ===
=== Production errors ===
{{SJA discontinuity}}
{{SJA discontinuity}}
* [[Luke Smith]] is credited in the credits for Part 2 although he only appeared in Part 1.
''to be added''
* Baby Sky is credited in the credits for Part 2 although she only appeared in Part 1.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* Rani suggests the possibility that the [[the Doctor|Doctor]] was the one who left Sky on Sarah Jane's doorstep, an idea which Sarah Jane dismisses since it is not his style. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith (TV story)|The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[Death of the Doctor (TV story)|Death of the Doctor]]'') However, he previously did so with [[K9 Mark III]], which his [[Fourth Doctor|fourth incarnation]] left for Sarah Jane at [[Lavinia Smith|her aunt]]'s home in [[Croydon]] in [[1978]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[A Girl's Best Friend (TV story)|A Girl's Best Friend]]'')
* Rani suggests the possibility that [[the Doctor]] was the one who left Sky on Sarah Jane's doorstep, ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith (TV story)}}, {{cs|Death of the Doctor (TV story)}}) an idea which Sarah Jane dismisses, despite him having previously done something somewhat similar when leaving [[K9 Mark III]] for her. ([[TV]]: {{cs|A Girl's Best Friend (TV story)}})
* Miss Myers' intention for her daughter to be used against the [[Metalkind]] is similar to the Silence's plans for [[Melody Pond]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]]'')
* Clyde tells Sky about when they fought the Bane and how they got covered in alien gunk when the Bane exploded. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Enemy of the Bane (TV story)}})
* Clyde compares Sky's relative unawareness of the world - and humour - to that of Luke . ([[TV]]: ''[[Revenge of the Slitheen]]'', et. al.)
* Rani tells Sky about [[Luke Smith]] being created by [[Bane (Invasion of the Bane)|aliens]] to [[alien invasion|invade]] the Earth. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Invasion of the Bane (TV story)}})
* Rani tells Sky about [[Luke Smith]] being created by [[Bane (Invasion of the Bane)|aliens]] to [[alien invasion|invade]] the Earth. ([[TV]]: ''[[Invasion of the Bane (TV story)|Invasion of the Bane]]'')
* Sarah Jane tells Miss Myers that if she destroys the Metalkind, she will become worse than them. The [[Fourth Doctor]] once made a similar comment to Sarah Jane herself when he contemplated destroying the [[Dalek]]s. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)}})
* Clyde tells Sky about when they fought the Bane. ([[TV]]: ''[[Enemy of the Bane (TV story)|Enemy of the Bane]]'')
* [[The Shopkeeper (Lost in Time)|The Shopkeeper]] and [[Captain (Lost in Time)|Captain]] reappear, but their true identities still remain unknown to Sarah Jane. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Lost in Time (TV story)}})
* [[The Shopkeeper]] and [[Captain (Parrot)|Captain]] reappear, but their true selves remain unidentified. ([[TV]]: ''[[Lost in Time (TV story)|Lost in Time]]'')
* Other, similar instances exist of [[twin planet]]s, with one having flesh-based life forms and the other having metal based ones. However, unlike the [[Metalkind]], the [[Cyberman (Mondas)|Cybermen]] did not evolve naturally. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Spare Parts (audio story)|Spare Parts]]'')
* Despite being set in [[2011]], no reference is ever made in this nor the remaining stories to the seemingly contemporaneous events of [[Miracle Day]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The New World (TV story)|The New World]]'', et al)


== Home video releases ==
== Home video releases ==
=== DVD releases ===
=== DVD releases ===
''to be added''
* This story was included in the 5th Series DVD release (Region 2 release: 6th February 2012).
* It was also released in the Complete Collection Series 1-5 boxset release (Region 2 release: 6th February 2012).


=== Blu-ray releases ===
=== Blu-ray releases ===
''to be added''
''to be added''


== External links ==
* {{briefhistory|sarahjane/2011ab.html|{{StoryTitle}}}}
* {{locguide|sky|{{StoryTitle}}}}
== Footnotes ==
== Footnotes ==
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===Note===
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[[Category:SJA television stories]]
[[Category:SJA television stories]]
[[Category:Series 5 (SJA) stories]]
[[Category:Series 5 (SJA) stories]]
[[Category:2011 television stories]]
[[Category:BFI-exhibited television stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in London]]
 
[[Category:Stories set in Ealing]]
[[de:SJA 26 - Sky]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2011]]

Latest revision as of 18:21, 31 March 2024

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Sky was the first serial of series 5 of The Sarah Jane Adventures. It was written by Phil Ford and directed by Ashley Way. Like all of series 5, it was actually filmed as a part of series 4, roughly a year before its broadcast. This production scheduling allowed for the episode to be completed and broadcast after the death of Elisabeth Sladen. It also introduced Sky Smith, who would later become the adoptive daughter of Sarah Jane.

Although the story introduced a new regular character, it also contained the last appearances of Gita Chandra, Professor Celeste Rivers and the Shopkeeper. Due to the unexpected end of production, none of these characters were given a narrative conclusion; Sky is merely their final story.

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

Sarah Jane, Clyde and Rani try to figure out why a baby abandoned on Sarah Jane's doorstep is undergoing rapid maturation, and how she's connected to a war between the Metalkind and the Fleshkind.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Part 1[[edit] | [edit source]]

In the attic, Sarah Jane Smith watches the star-filled sky with her telescope, narrating the wonderful things she has seen. A seeming meteor approaches Earth and crashes in a junkyard. A homeless person witnesses this and sees a metalloid figure emerge, scan the area and then make itself invisible. Back in the attic, Sarah Jane speaks via the computer to her son, Luke Smith, with her friends Clyde Langer and Rani Chandra. Sarah Jane misses her son but Rani comforts her, saying Luke will be back soon and that Sarah Jane should make the most of her peace and quiet.

Very early next morning, Sarah Jane is awoken by the doorbell. She finds a baby girl on her doorstep. When the baby cries, every light bulb on Bannerman Road bursts. Rani is woken later by a text from Sarah Jane saying to come right away. Rani reports to Sarah Jane that all of the light bulbs on Bannerman Road have gone out. Sarah Jane reveals to Rani and Clyde, who appears later, that the child is an alien. Clyde feeds the baby milk, calming her down.

Meanwhile at a power plant, an orb of energy appears and an attractive woman walks out. She confronts a fallen worker, introducing herself as Miss Myers. She is looking for her child. She hypnotises the fallen worker, putting the rest of the power plant personnel into an unconscious state. Miss Myers learns that her daughter is at Bannerman Road and heads there.

Gita Chandra encounters Sarah Jane and the others with the baby. She assumes that Sarah Jane has begun taking in foster children, an idea which the others go along with, calling the baby Sky. Gita then tells them about the meteor which that fell the previous night. Sarah Jane and Rani go to investigate. With Professor River's help and the eyewitness account of the homeless man, they discover that the metalloid alien is headed for Bannerman Road.

Clyde is babysitting Sky when the alien attacks them. Clyde and Sky are rescued by Miss Myers and taken to the power plant. Miss Myers tells Clyde a little of "Sky's" purpose. Clyde is suspicious of Miss Myers, and runs away with Sky. He evades Miss Myers and her henchmen while Sarah Jane and Rani break into the plant. They reunite with Clyde and Sky. The metal alien arrives and corners them. It reveals that the baby is a weapon. The child begins a metamorphosis. Myers is delighted that the weapon is "priming" itself; an energy aura surrounds Sky and she becomes a pre-teen.

Part 2[[edit] | [edit source]]

Sky, having just transformed, launches a powerful jolt of electricity at the metal alien, sending it crashing into the wall. Miss Myers encourages Sky to finish off the Metalkind but Sky is scared and confused until she is comforted by Sarah Jane. Miss Myers reveals that she created Sky. The Bannerman Road gang escape with Sky to Sarah Jane's house, where Mr Smith can scan her. He determines that Sky was created to be a bomb to destroy the whole Metalkind species across the entire universe, which would kill Sky in the process.

Rani tells Sky of Sarah Jane adopting Luke and about what it is to be a girl. Sky learns of her purpose and with the Bannerman Road gang returns to the power plant, as Miss Myers is the only person who can "defuse" Sky. They break in again and Sarah Jane confronts Miss Myers alone, leaving Sky at the car with Rani and Clyde. Myers is a member of the the Fleshkind species, who have been locked in war with the Metalkind for centuries. The Metalkind that was injured has been hooked up to the power plant. Myers plans to have it summon the entire Metalkind species, so Sky can destroy them all. Miss Myers tells Sarah Jane that she will be forced to hand over Sky to save Earth from the cruelty of the Metalkind, who have vowed to destroy all Fleshkind. The injured Metalkind tells Sarah Jane that the Fleshkind invaded his home planet and mined the ore, which was actually the Metalkind children. Myers is determined that Sky fulfil her destiny. Sky believes that she should fulfil her purpose to save Earth from the oncoming Metalkind army, even if it means dying, and runs from the others to confront the Metalkind. Sarah Jane goes after her, tasking Clyde and Rani to shut down the power, thus closing the portal which the Metalkind will use to come to Earth.

Rani and Clyde find a room in the power plant where they begin to manually shut down the power. Sarah Jane finds Sky and tries to convince her that she doesn't have to sacrifice herself and destroy the Metalkind. Sky is fully primed and ready to "fulfil her purpose" when Clyde and Rani succeed in deactivating the power in the plant, and Bannerman Road as well. Sky absorbs the energy of the portal and collapses. She revives, and reports that she feels different. Myers confirms that Sky is different, and her genetic programming has been altered. She is no longer a weapon. Miss Myers says that she has lost her daughter. The Metalkind breaks free, grabs Myers and uses her own pendant to teleport them both away from Earth.

Sky is adopted.

The gang return to Bannerman Road. Gita is confused, seeing Sky now much older than the baby she saw Sarah Jane with earlier, but Sarah Jane explains that there was a mix-up at the foster agency with the "other Sky". This girl — now called Sky Smith — will be staying for a while. Sarah Jane and Sky go to the attic and are surprised to see Captain and the Shopkeeper. They were the ones who left Sky on Sarah Jane's doorstep; the young girl would be safe with the former time-traveller. It is the Shopkeeper's task to put things in the right place as a "servant of the Universe". Sky expresses her desire to stay with Sarah Jane, and the Shopkeeper agrees. He tells Sarah Jane she will find out who he is in good time, then teleports away with Captain, leaving Sarah Jane confused just like last time. Sarah Jane offers Sky pizza but the young girl is unaware of what it is.

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

General production staff

Script department

Camera and lighting department

Art department

Costume department

Make-up and prosthetics


General post-production staff

Special and visual effects

Sound



Not every person who worked on this adventure was credited. The absence of a credit for a position doesn't necessarily mean the job wasn't required. The information above is based solely on observations of the actual end credits of the episodes as broadcast, and does not relay information from IMDB or other sources.


Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]

Locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Organisations and institutions[[edit] | [edit source]]

Cultural references from the real world[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Clyde calls the attic the Batcave and mentions Jedward.
  • Rani describes shutting down a nuclear reactor as "James Bond meets Mario".
  • Hugo got his idea of what robots are like from the movie series Star Wars.
  • Rani likens herself to Wikipedia by calling herself "Ranipedia".

Elements[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Boron is a metalloid element.

Objects[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Professor Rivers uses her own lipstick to playfully imitate Sarah Jane's sonic lipstick.

Foods and beverages[[edit] | [edit source]]

Other[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Clyde doesn't know much chemistry because he used to watch the school netball team during chemistry class.

Story notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • There are a few nods to the Terminator franchise. The Metalkind's hunt for Sky, a child that will be used against them in a war, is reminiscent of Skynet hunting John Connor. The way Miss Myers initially appears is very similar to the method of time travel used in The Terminator. She also tells Clyde to go into the van, saying, "Get in if you want the child to live", similar to "come with me if you want to live", a famous line used in Terminator.
  • This story was intended to be the beginning of a story arc involving the characters of the Shopkeeper and the Captain. However, the cancellation of the series meant that this arc never materialised. According to DWMSE 32, the character was added to the story at the last minute as a replacement for Matt Smith, who was originally to have appeared as the Eleventh Doctor and reveal he was responsible for leaving Sky on Sarah Jane's doorstep; Smith's commitments to filming A Christmas Carol prevented this from happening and so the ending was rewritten to feature the Shopkeeper and the Captain. However, the original narrative is alluded to when the Doctor is mentioned as someone who could have left Sky on Sarah Jane's doorstep by Rani. This was also written in the back of The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Complete Collection Series 1-5 DVD boxset.[nb 1]
  • Part two aired on Daniel Anthony's birthday.

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Rumours[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Eleventh Doctor was originally going to appear. Confirmed in REF: The Sarah Jane Companion Volume Three, with the Doctor originally being the one to drop off Sky, as suggested by Rani.

Filming locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Substation, Tonteg road, Trefforest Estate

Production errors[[edit] | [edit source]]

If you'd like to talk about narrative problems with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.

to be added

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Rani suggests the possibility that the Doctor was the one who left Sky on Sarah Jane's doorstep, (TV: The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith [+]Loading...["The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith (TV story)"], Death of the Doctor [+]Loading...["Death of the Doctor (TV story)"]) an idea which Sarah Jane dismisses, despite him having previously done something somewhat similar when leaving K9 Mark III for her. (TV: A Girl's Best Friend [+]Loading...["A Girl's Best Friend (TV story)"])
  • Clyde tells Sky about when they fought the Bane and how they got covered in alien gunk when the Bane exploded. (TV: Enemy of the Bane [+]Loading...["Enemy of the Bane (TV story)"])
  • Rani tells Sky about Luke Smith being created by aliens to invade the Earth. (TV: Invasion of the Bane [+]Loading...["Invasion of the Bane (TV story)"])
  • Sarah Jane tells Miss Myers that if she destroys the Metalkind, she will become worse than them. The Fourth Doctor once made a similar comment to Sarah Jane herself when he contemplated destroying the Daleks. (TV: Genesis of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)"])
  • The Shopkeeper and Captain reappear, but their true identities still remain unknown to Sarah Jane. (TV: Lost in Time [+]Loading...["Lost in Time (TV story)"])

Home video releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

DVD releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • This story was included in the 5th Series DVD release (Region 2 release: 6th February 2012).
  • It was also released in the Complete Collection Series 1-5 boxset release (Region 2 release: 6th February 2012).

Blu-ray releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Note[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. The bubbly Sky — the Starchild placed in Sarah Jane's care by The doctor — settles into Bannerman Road and discovers she has telekinetic powers.