Revenge of the Slitheen (TV story)
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Revenge of the Slitheen was the second story of The Sarah Jane Adventures, and made up the first two regular episodes of the first series. It introduced Clyde Langer as a regular cast member.
Synopsis
First days at school are always difficult. For Maria Jackson and Luke Smith, the task of blending is made all the more difficult when their teachers turn out to be aliens from outer space, back for revenge.
Plot
Cast
- Sarah Jane Smith - Elisabeth Sladen
- Maria Jackson - Yasmin Paige
- Luke Smith - Tommy Knight
- Clyde Langer - Daniel Anthony
- Mr Smith - Alexander Armstrong
- Alan Jackson - Joseph Millson
- Chrissie Jackson - Juliet Cowan
- Greg Blakeman - Martyn Ellis
- Tim Jeffery - Ian Midlane
- Wendy - Pamela Merrick
- Janine - Imogen Bain
- Carl - Anton Thompson McCormick
- Trinity Wells - Lachele Carl
- Carl Slitheen - Jimmy Vee
- Jeffery/Blakeman/Janine Slitheen- Paul Kasey
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References
- The Slitheen mention they ran into "interplanetary police".
- One of the Slitheen says "for the love of Clom", which is the home planet of the Abzorbaloff and the twin planet of Raxacoricofallapatorius.
- Some of the aliens seen in Mr Smith's files include the Arcateenians, Bane, Macra, the Beast, Krillitanes, Abaddon, the Lazarus Monster, Cybermen and Pterodactyls.
- This is the first time that a Raxacoricofallapatorian child is seen.
- UNIT is referred to.
- Sarah Jane is heard saying "Give my love to the Brig" in a telephone conversation with a UNIT contact. This is a reference to Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart and is the first direct dialogue reference to the character in the revived Doctor Who franchise. A second reference would later be heard in DW: The Poison Sky and a third in The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith. The character would first be seen in Enemy of the Bane.
- When describing the Slitheen's previous attempt to destroy earth, Sarah Jane begins by saying "what happened..." then modifies herself to say "who happened ..." - a reference to the ongoing "Doctor who?" joke involving the Doctor's name.
- The headmaster Slitheen mentions the Blathereen, who are cousins and enemies of the Slitheen.
- Sarah Jane mentions "Slitheen in Downing Street", and that it was "something a friend said". This references Rose Tyler telling Sarah Jane in School Reunion about her adventures with the Doctor in the Doctor Who episodes Aliens of London and World War Three.
Story notes
- The first episode aired on BBC 1 only. Episode 2 was broadcast afterwards on the CBBC channel, and was shown on BBC 1 a week later.
- Beginning with episode 1, The Sarah Jane Adventures adopts a format of 25-minute episodes (following its 50-minute pilot episode). This marks the first time a Doctor Who franchise series has used the 25-minute episode format since episode 3 of Survival concluded the original series in 1989.
- Part 1 includes flashback footage from SJA: Invasion of the Bane.
- Mr. Smith's zapping of Clyde (followed by dark laughter) is a possible foreshadowing of his true intentions.
Ratings
- Episode 1 - 1.4m viewers
- Episode 2 - 0.4m viewers (CBBC channel), 1.1m (BBC 1)
Myths
To be added
Filming locations
To be added
Production errors
- When Mr. Smith is showing them the American news channel down the info bar at the bottom it says 'thepacific ocean' instead of the 'The Pacific Ocean'.
- When Clyde is squirting the head Slitheen he realises that he has no more vinegar in his squeezie, however in the previous shot, a good quarter of the mixture is still visible.
- Mr. Smith brings up a world map before Sarah Jane asks him to.
Continuity
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.
- The Slitheen family previously appeared in DW: Aliens of London, World War Three, NSA: The Monsters Inside and DW: Boom Town.
- This is the second time Sarah Jane has investigated schools with alien teachers, the first being DW: School Reunion. Sarah Jane refers to this fact, sarcastically saying it would be ridiculous for there to be something unusual in a school. In both cases the leader of the alien group is depicted as impersonating the school's headmaster.
- The Slitheen's tendency to flatulate while wearing a person's skin is featured more prominently here than in the previous Doctor Who appearances.
- The Blathereen are mentioned, and they are a rival family which appeared in NSA: The Monsters Inside.
- The events of DW: World War Three are mentioned. The Slitheen also state that they are attempting to wipe out Earth in revenge for the loss of family members in that episode.
- Sarah Jane recalls the phrase "Slitheen in Downing Street", which is a direct quote from Rose Tyler in DW: School Reunion.
- Sarah Jane refers to School Reunion when talking to Maria's dad.
- Much as she did in the pilot episode, Sarah Jane describes the Doctor to Clyde and explains how she used to travel with him.
- The American newsreader Trinity Wells (aka Mal Loup), who appears in numerous Doctor Who episodes, makes her first SJA appearance.
- UNIT are mentioned as handling the other Coldfire and Slitheen sites, and Maria is familiar with them.
Home video releases
This was due to be released on a vanilla DVD along with Eye of the Gorgon on 17 March 2008, until the release was cancelled. It is featured in the Series One box set, which was released in North America on 7 October 2008 and released in the UK on 10 November 2008.
Novelisation
A novelisation was released on 1 November 2007, written by Rupert Laight. The cover features Sarah Jane, Maria, Luke, Clyde and the Slitheen.
External links
Footnotes
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