Doctor Who 2x03 School Reunion | Full Reaction
Added 2023-09-20 21:01:47 +0000 UTCBuffy and Doctor Who cross over! I cannot be MORE EXCITED 🤣
I love this episode. A lot of fun having our boy Giles as a super guest star and something else I also loved was a certain someone (no spoilers in this blurb) but it's times like this that I wish I knew classic Who as I think that this would have honestly been incredible to watch if you've seen the classic episodes. Such a HUGE thing to happen. I loved it SO much.
Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/UgLRip-NM68
Comments
MINOR SPOILER ALLERT: The writers missed a great opportunity for a throwback to the very first episode way back in 63. It would be so cool for the school to have been the same one that Susan attended.
James Hawkins
2023-10-03 11:56:05 +0000 UTCWhen watching Rose interact with Sarah Jane, we are reminded of how Rose acted when the Doctor was being all friendly with Lynda with a 'y' in Season One. Our Rose is a bit possessive.
Martin Holt
2023-09-22 15:13:38 +0000 UTCWell, I read it and am glad I did, thanks for all of the info Lloyd, an interesting read.
James Hadden
2023-09-22 13:18:33 +0000 UTCTrying not to be spoilery here, but Sarah and the Doctor were not lovers, as you asked, but the rapport they had was probably one of the best, especially as it went on. Also Sarah was one of only a couple that he deliberately left behind. Most left of there own accord or during tragic consequences.
Joeking
2023-09-22 13:09:17 +0000 UTCEvil Giles is a treat for sure. And yes, poor Sarah Jane. She is beautiful indeed and strong and smart <3 Rose is so full of jealousy in this one hehe, with Sarah Jane and then at the end with Micky. But tbh I'd also want the Doctor all to myself :p The next episode is one of my, if not, my favourite episode of the whole show, so I cant wait for your reaction to that one!
x_Rhi_x
2023-09-21 18:24:53 +0000 UTCJuliette reacting to Giles is how I reacted to Sarah Jane. ;-)
Martin Holt
2023-09-21 15:38:29 +0000 UTCOn some of your final comments after watching this, I believe Elisabeth Sladen was in her mid to late 50s when this was filmed (and as you said, looking as beautiful as ever). Obviously, the reasons companions leave are many and varied. Sometimes the Doctor turns them out “for their own good”. Sometimes they find a purpose of their own, or fall in love or get married. Occasionally they are made to leave by external forces, and sometimes they find all the danger and death too much to handle. And very occasionally they die. In the case of Sarah Jane, I won’t go into specifics beyond what the Doctor said in this episode (and you have the option to find out yourself), but I will say that when Lis Sladen’s contract was coming to an end, and she had other things she wanted to do (including raising a family), she was asked how she wanted Sarah Jane to leave, so she and Tom Baker (the Doctor) more or less wrote their own final scene together. That shows the level of respect the producers and writers had for her and the character. Incidentally, I believe Elisabeth Sladen’s daughter now voices Sarah Jane in the Big Finish audio dramas featuring her mother’s character.
Lloyd B
2023-09-21 08:16:02 +0000 UTCI'm sure I'm not alone in saying I've been waiting for you to get to this episode. And, there's a lot more parallels to Buffy than just having Giles in it. We have an episode set in high school (just like Buffy has been so far), and we just explored the complexities of someone who is, essentially immortal, trying to hold down a relationship with a human. The timing of this episode was perfect considering your last reaction was the Buffy S3 finale, with Angel having that exact conversation with Buffy, and doing exactly what the Doctor did to Sarah Jane, Angel "dumps" Buffy and leaves. The nostalgia of seeing Sarah Jane aside, this is a really important episode as it's the first time we've actually bridged the gap between classic who and NuWho. Sure we've had the daleks, but they were given a "current" storyline. There wasn't really any tie in or call back to anything that has happened in the classic series. This episode is the defining moment that says "yup, this is 100% a continuation of the same show that started in 1963."
SeeJay
2023-09-21 05:58:19 +0000 UTCI really love how Rose is obsessed with chips because they are one of my weaknesses, too! It really makes her so relatable 🤣
Juliette Gaming
2023-09-21 04:32:07 +0000 UTCNot at all but it was PERFECT!! HA! I love it so much!!
Juliette Gaming
2023-09-21 04:31:35 +0000 UTCSpike'd kill him 🤣
Juliette Gaming
2023-09-21 04:31:16 +0000 UTCHello Neil 🥰💜 Giles REALLY needs to pull his head in! He's been eating WAY too much band candy and has gone too far now 🤣 I am in the same boat as you when it comes to Sarah Jane. It would have been amazing to see her return, but even without that knowledge, she still made such an impact. What a great episode! And I loved the jealous banter between the ladies! HA! I've had a lovely week so far, Neil! I've had a little time off and working a few hours less per day which has been good to recharge a little. I sometimes do a bit too much and need just that little bit of a forced break every few months 😅 So I'm feeling good this week!! I hope you've been okay as well 🥰😸
Juliette Gaming
2023-09-21 04:30:53 +0000 UTCIt would have been amazing... it really is the only moment so far that I feel I would have benefited immensely from watching the classic episodes and seeing her there 🥹
Juliette Gaming
2023-09-21 04:27:06 +0000 UTCThat is so sad to hear about Elisebeth... I didn't know 😥
Juliette Gaming
2023-09-21 04:25:50 +0000 UTCNo. I think it is because it had nore adult themes and consequences within the show.
Leenis
2023-09-21 04:09:20 +0000 UTCYeah, this was about 3 years after BUFFY wrapped. And yeah... like most American fans of a certain age, my introduction to the show was the first half of the Tom Baker era. So I guess you could say, for 7 year old me, Sarah Jane was my Rose. And seeing her again was *definitely* big.
AlyAdmirer
2023-09-21 03:23:09 +0000 UTCTLDR...sorry.
The Dog Whisperer
2023-09-21 02:52:42 +0000 UTCFYI, Torchood is not the only spinoff of Dr. Who. This episode set up a spin-off called The Sarah Jane Adventures. It ran 5 seasons. While Torchwood is much more "Adult" then Who, The Sarah Jane Adventures is very much a kids show. Also, sadly Elisebeth Sladen, who played Sarah Jane, passed away in 2011. I think from pancreatic cancer, or something related to that.
Leenis
2023-09-21 00:42:08 +0000 UTCI’m doubly looking forward to the next episode. While I can’t say anything about the plot, it’s just simply so well made. The use of music, the timing and pacing, the balance (and intermixing) of humor and powerful drama, the cool concepts, the acting, the well done sets, the script. If you enjoy great craft, it’s worth soaking this all in. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Paul Hess
2023-09-21 00:36:25 +0000 UTCLike many others here, I grew up with Sarah Jane and the 4th Doctor and she has always been a favourite. So to see her return was a real treat
Dyrla
2023-09-20 23:14:30 +0000 UTCI was going to be the resident Doctor Who nerd who explains all the references to the classic series, but it seems several commenters beat me to it. Sarah Jane and K9 were fan favorite companions and I believe I heard that Sarah was David Tennant's favorite companion, so it's nice they got to act together in the modern series. The doctor did not leave Sarah because she was old (she was quite young in 1977 when she left). As the doctor says in this episode, he left to see the timelords and humans were not allowed. The reason for why he didn't come back is another story that you might get more insight on as you continue to watch the show.
Lime Pie
2023-09-20 22:40:03 +0000 UTCStill waiting for Captain Jack to meet Spike.
Martin Holt
2023-09-20 22:31:27 +0000 UTCI knew that I was going to love this episode when I saw who was in it. just as Tom Baker is MY Doctor, Sarah Jane is MY Companion. Just as Tom Baker was the longest-running Doctor (seven seasons,) Sarah Jane was one of the longest-running Companions, serving for three seasons (18 episodes). Plus, K9 was fun. I usually hate cute robots, but K9 is of the rare exceptions. Now I'm off to eat some chips. :-)
Martin Holt
2023-09-20 22:29:09 +0000 UTCK9’s design is exactly as it was in the 1970s - “cutting edge” as the Doctor said. Did you notice SJ’s expression when Rose disparaged how he looked? Don’t dis the tin dog, my friend!😉
Lloyd B
2023-09-20 22:17:33 +0000 UTCfrom what I've read. Outside of the UK its going to be Disney + In the UK it's staying with the BBC for Nu-Who. Classic, is I think going to ITV premium
Colin 3of5
2023-09-20 21:51:39 +0000 UTCOh well that sucks. ☹️ Can you not get it through Amazon either? I know a reactor living in the US watches them that way. Obvs might be different for Australia. They have done a select few hand picked for reactions.
Daryl
2023-09-20 21:48:51 +0000 UTCNot the Buffy & Who crossover you were thinking off. 😀😀
Colin 3of5
2023-09-20 21:47:06 +0000 UTCNow for some fun facts: #1 - Croydon. When she left the Tardis, the Doctor said he had landed in her home street in Croydon (just south of London). Her last words, after the Tardis had left, on looking around were “This isn’t Hill View Road. I bet this isn’t even South Croydon. He blew it!” Now we know she was in Aberdeen! Also, the scene at the end where Sarah Jane turns her back on the Tardis and walks away, only turning around just as it vanishes, is almost exactly the same as when she left in her final episode in 1976 (there was even a dog in the street that she talked to briefly). That’s a nice little touch, I think. #2 - K9. Firstly, K9 here is voiced by the same actor from the classic series - John Leeson. Sarah Jane and K9 didn’t actually travel together with the Doctor. Our favorite robot dog came along after she left. But in an aborted spin-off a few years later called K9 and Company, Sarah Jane opened a crate she found in her home in Croydon which the Doctor had left her, containing K9 MarkIII as a gift. There was only the one episode, sadly, but you can see a clip of SJ and K9 meeting on YouTube here - https://youtu.be/sMv15XKzDrM?si=ju0egIR6sIES4Y33 #3 . When Rose and Sarah Jane argue about the weird things they’ve seen, everything Sarah Jane mentions can be traced back to one or more Classic Who story. Yes, even the Loch Ness Monster😀. In order mentioned, these are: “Mummies" - Pyramids of Mars "Robots, lots of robots" – Robot; The Android Invasion "Daleks" - Death to the Daleks; Genesis of the Daleks "Anti-matter monsters" - Planet of Evil "Real living dinosaurs" - Invasion of the Dinosaurs "THE Loch Ness Monster" - Terror of the Zygons. She could also have mentioned giant space wasps, killer sentient alien plants, giant spiders with mind control, Cybermen, and much more. I really don’t think Rose had a chance of winning that argument!
Lloyd B
2023-09-20 21:46:33 +0000 UTCWhat happened to Giles? Getting sacked from the Watchers Council really changed him! I suppose this episode is a pretty big deal if you know your Doctor Who history but, as someone who very much doesn't, it's kind of lost on me. Still, I really enjoyed the episode anyway, and the scene where we had old companion Sarah, and current companion Rose, being jealous and trying to outdo each other with their experiences was fun. It was great to see Mickey finally step up and decide to go along for the ride, although Rose didn't exactly seem very enthusiastic about it. Wants the Doctor all to herself does she? It can't just be me who thought this, but K9 really looks like some old reject from Robot Wars, right? Thanks for yet another awesome reaction Juliette, and I hope you're having a great week 💜
Neil Hanson
2023-09-20 21:45:32 +0000 UTCThis is a real nostalgia feast for DW fans (something I’m quite happy for). The actual Krillitanes plot is almost incidental to the real point of the story - reintroducing Sarah Jane Smith and K9 to a new audience and giving people a glimpse of the extended history of the show. And of course exploring what it means to be a human companion to a virtually immortal Time Lord. I’ve always been a little amused/bemused watching Buffy fans go all “SQUEEE!!” at the sight of Anthony Stewart Head in this. But now, having watched BTVS along with you in recent months, I can better appreciate your excitement. However, for a long term Doctor Who viewer like me, having grown up in the 60s and 70s with the show, the REAL excitement is seeing the wonderful Elisabeth Sladen return as Sarah Jane Smith (followed by another squeal of delight at the appearance of K9). For many, Sarah Jane is perhaps of the most beloved and admired of the Classic Who companions, and was one of the longest serving. She started with the 3rd Doctor in 1973, and continued on with the 4th, leaving the show in 1976 (breaking the hearts of many a young fan in the process - I’m sure I wasn’t the only boy who had a bit of a crush on SJ!). The show runner, Russel T Davies, is not only a huge fan of the original Doctor Who, but is also something of a Buffy fan. So to a certain extent, this episode is a nod to Buffy, with Anthony Head guest starring, the school setting, and of course they blow up the school at the end as well! But most of all, this is a love letter to Doctor Who and the incredibly rich history of the show. Lis Sladen’s return as Sarah Jane came some 30 years since she left the TARDIS, and it honestly feels like she never left- she fits straight in, and is as tight with the Doctor as she ever was. Back in Classic Who there was never any hint of romance between the Doctor and his companions (though there are a couple of moments between the 4th Doctor and Romana II - but that might just be because the actors were actually married for a short time!). The chemistry, though, between Lis Sladen and Tom Baker (4th Doctor) was extraordinary- they were clearly very good friends and worked extremely well together, often improvising together. It was a magical pairing. She also bucked the trend for many female companions of the era, being an intelligent, independent and resourceful young woman, working as an investigative reporter (not a common character type in 1970s TV generally). Sadly, Elisabeth Sladen passed away in 2011 from breast cancer, but not before filming 5 seasons of The Sarah Jane Adventures (only half of series 5 was filmed, though), introducing a new generation to SJS. That spin-off is generally aimed at a younger audience than DW, but don’t let that put you off, as it’s very, very good, with outstanding scripts (especially the later seasons), and wonderful performances by all involved. They don’t talk down to the audience, as I feel a lot of kid’s shows do, and cover topics and themes intelligently and with great heart. I highly recommend you watch it at some point, though perhaps hold off until after series 3 of DW, as there are a couple of crossovers in later seasons. Also, SJA episodes are shorter - just 25 minutes (apart from the 1-hour pilot), and they are all 2-part stories. So you could watch 2 episodes in a sitting easily. Of course, you also have a lot of Classic Who adventures to watch to see more of Sarah Jane, with the young Lis Sladen. One I absolutely insist you MUST watch at some point is Genesis of the Daleks - regarded as one of the best Classic Who stories out there. Another couple worth considering are Pyramids of Mars and The Brain of Morbius. Most Classic stories are usually 4 or 6 parts of 25 minutes each, and can be watched out of sequence without too much bother (in fact, in Australia during the 70s the ABC regularly showed the stories out of order, depending on whatever tapes they managed to get from the BBC at the time). This episode is pure gold for Doctor Who fans, and it’s strength is demonstrated by the fact that I’ve seen other reactors who have no idea who Sarah Jane is but who immediately connect with her and get quite emotional at the end. Everybody loves Lis Sladen and Sarah Jane, and we all miss her terribly.
Lloyd B
2023-09-20 21:45:32 +0000 UTCSadly, BritBox in Australia no longer has Classic Who☹️. They dropped it earlier this year. I think the only place you can get them here now is on Apple TV (or borrow the DVDs from the public library - many libraries I know have classic Who in their collections).
Lloyd B
2023-09-20 21:43:08 +0000 UTCWell, the answer to that is to get yaself a BritBox subscription, and slowly start privately working though the episodes for your own research. 😁 You'll find the vast majority are on there. Sadly some were lost back when the BBC didn't archive recordings, but even some of those have been resorted as animations with the original audio track.
Daryl
2023-09-20 21:11:20 +0000 UTCI can't wait to watch this reaction. Anthony Head really did a great job being "alien", and of course the Sarah Jane Smith add-on was wonderful. This episode was also the first time for me that I fully embraced David Tennant as the Doctor, instead of comparing each time to his predecessor. It really felt like he brought things to the role that Chris Eccleston never could have, and Tennant's "ensemble acting" really shines through here in making many of the complex multi-actor scenes gel. I'll be the first to mention that when Sarah and Rose are bonding over Doctor stories and he walks in on them, their reaction of cracking up uncontrollably was because the director sent Tennant in wearing a funny mustache. It was a candid reaction (look how Rose is pointing while she laughs). That ending "there has to be a Smith on the Tardis" was a fun place to leave things...
Paul Hess
2023-09-20 21:08:08 +0000 UTCJust as I got myself into bed, you upload this. A perfect evening sorted <3 Can't believe you're finally meeting THEE Sarah Jane!!
NNC
2023-09-20 21:04:27 +0000 UTC
