Wednesday 20 April 2011

Sarah-Jane Smith

This is not a Superman post.




About 22 hours ago, a post appeared on Facebook that I initially thought and wanted to believe was a sick, tasteless joke. It told me that Elisabeth Sladen had died. I hate it when things like this pop up, because I fall for them like crazy. I fell for the Samuel L. Jackson one a few months ago, where CNN accidentally tweeted of his death and it spread like wildfire. I fell for the Michael Jackson thing a few years ago, then refused to believe it when it actually happened. The post linked to a BBC news story. Surely the BBC couldn't be complicit in a hoax about the death of the star of their most popular children's dramas, The Sarah-Jane Adventures?

Sadly, they weren't. The news was true.

Completely out of nowhere, Elisabeth Sladen, the actress behind the most popular and enduring companion of the entire 49-year history of Doctor Who, had sadly succumbed to battle with cancer that very few people knew that she was fighting.

I've spent the past day in a state of partial shock. I can't think of anyone's passing that has affected me more, and I can't quite work out why. Sarah-Jane was never my companion. She debuted a full decade before I was born, and by the time I discovered Doctor Who the series had been consigned to history, bar the publication of a regular novel series. And yet, whenever companions were discussed, the name 'Sarah-Jane Smith' was always mentioned with the highest praise and respect. Coupled with the most popular Doctor (at least, until David Tennant), Sarah-Jane had managed to burn herself into the national consciousness, the Doctor Who-loving bits of it, with such presence that twenty years after her departure from the show she was still remembered with more than casual fondness. (Of course, she never really departed, returning in 1981, 1983, 1993, 2006, and beyond).

Until a few years ago, bar a repeat of Pyramids of Mars shown when I was still a bit too young to truly appreciate her performance, I had never seen Sarah-Jane Smith in action. When I remedied that, with a rented DVD of The Time Warrior, I was very impressed. Most of what I knew of companions came from the Target novelisations, and they tended to embellish and over-sell the character in comparison to the performance on screen. In the case of Sarah-Jane, the opposite was true. The printed word couldn't hold a candle to what I was seeing.

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In 2006, Russell T. Davies was looking for a way to strengthen ties between the revival of Doctor Who and its past. Working on the season-long theme of what would happen to Rose when she left the Doctor's side, the decision was taken to bring back a former companion from the show's classic era. There was only one person who could be brought back - Sarah-Jane Smith (oh, and K-9, the robot dog). The third episode of the second series, School Reunion, was as close as Doctor Who has ever got to a masterpiece (some dodgy CGI aside). Sladen's performance was pitched perfectly. The moment where she ran into the TARDIS in the school basement and then into the Doctor was the most electric moment of the entire series. Her return was a success, propelling her into a successful spin-off show, 25 years after her first attempt!

For me, the shining moment of Sladen's performances in new Doctor Who came from the Season 4 finale, Stolen Earth/Journey's End. Her reaction to the revelation of the Daleks as the 'kidnapper's of Earth, crying whilst hugging her adoptive son closely to her, was so human and so painful to watch that it grounded what was otherwise a very overblown, but enjoyable, piece of space opera. Even better was a confrontation with Davros from the second part, referencing scenes from Genesis of the Daleks from 34 years previously. This short interaction crackled, Sladen was feisty and defiant, living proof beyond the Doctor that Davros was doomed to fail in his plans. Even better was the fact that for these two episodes, Sladen, along with several other cast members, wasn't credited as a guest star, but received her name in the opening credits, the coveted 'and' position, for the first time in her career.

The news of her death of shocking, and pretty much took everyone by surprise. Twitter was full, initially, of comments trying to discover if this was a terrible hoax, then with anguished realisation and acceptance, before heading into a day of celebration and remembrance. There have been many responses to her death, and I'd like to link a few of them.

Chip, the Two Minute Time Lord, released episode 201 of his podcast within hours of the news of Elisabeth's death. A tender, heartfelt, and brief look at his reactions to the news. http://twominutetimelord.com/

Tony Lee, writer of the ongoing Doctor Who comic from IDW, wrote a warm recollection of her impact on his life, both personally and professionally, over at his blog.
http://www.tonylee.co.uk/index.php?option=com_wordpress&p=255&Itemid=1

Richard Herring, comedian, covered his discovery of her passing during the interval of his stand-up tour, before launching into a very touching remembrance of her, probably the most tender writing from someone not directly connected with the show or the franchise.
http://richardherring.com/warmingup/?id=3095

Tom Baker, former Doctor, writes about the loss of his friend, and publishes some rare behind the scenes pictures from his archive.
www.tom-baker.co.uk/

Finally, the current generation of fans, those who knew Elisabeth Sladen primarily through the revived series and the Sarah-Jane Adventures, post their thoughts and tributes over at the CBBC Newsround site. There are so many, from young children to teenagers, and the simplicity and honesty of what they have to say is heartbreaking.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_9460000/newsid_9463000/9463099.stm

I hope Elisabeth knew of some of the extent of the love that people had for her, and I hope that these good wishes, fond memories, and public remembrances act as a small measure of comfort for her family in these difficult times.

Elisabeth Sladen
1936-2003

Sunday 10 April 2011

A fast 'Hello'

Hi all!

Well, I'm back from my holidays. I had a great time over in California, exploring the state, enjoying the good weather, rueing the bad, and generally having the time of my life. I had a few nice comic-related experiences, discovering Earth-2 Comics in Sherman Oaks and discovering that the owner had spent a large part of the late 1980s in London, working for and with most of the comics shops that I've ever had a pull list from. I also encountered WonderCon in San Francisco, although due to schedule and not buying a ticket I only encountered the outside of the convention center. But being there did allow me to meet and enjoy a breakfast with Jeffrey Taylor of the supermanhomepage.com and the From Crisis To Podcast.

Sadly, it's going to be a bit longer before we get back into things here at the World of Superman. I'm currently starting the huge task of packing up my life and moving to the other side of London. At the same time, my computer has been hit with a crazy mad virus which at the moment is preventing it from booting up. I'm getting help with it, but my confidence is low and I think it may have to be a new computer before too long.

So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can be back regularly just after Easter, but if I'm not then you know why.

See you all soon!