28.03: School Reunion

[Dave]

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Written by...............Toby Whithouse
Directed By.............James Hawes

Guest Stars
Elisabeth Sladen...........Sarah-Jane Smith
Anthony Stewart Head....Mr Finch
John Leeson..................Voice of K9

This is the most talked about episode of Season 2 with the return of the above characters.

Rose and Mickey investigate sinister events at a modern-day comprehensive school (Deffrey Vale), and take on the evil Krillitanes.

Russel T Davies is quoted as saying that he took a lead from the first season on 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' in which they made a complete break with the original series except for a brief cameo with Dr McCoy. Once the series was established, they then brought back older enemies and friends in later Seasons. But he doesn't want too many cameos or this series will become a "greatest hits" show!

[Dave]

Great episode, best yet!

Rose learns a few harsh truths about the reality of travelling with the Doctor.

My only nit would be that the 13amp plug Mickey pulled out was seriously overloaded with about 30+ monitors connected to it!

Mickey was blocked from investigating the UFO sitings by "Torchwood".

The BBC has a fake website up for the school:
http://www.deffryvaleschool.org.uk/

MR SMITH joins us as Ms Barrat's replacement until the end of term. He's previously taught Physics in Shoreditch.

It also includes some really difficult puzzles under the are you smart enough link.

This is a summary of the first ten minutes courtesy of Wikipedia:The episode begins at a modern day comprehensive school, with the headmaster, Mr Finch, questioning a student as to why she is sitting outside his office. She claims she has a headache, and that she has not gone home because she lives at the orphanage. Mr Finch tells her to come into his office, at which point she is eaten by a mysterious shadow.

The doctor then appears, undercover, as the replacement teacher of a science class. He asks the class a few simple questions about physics, which no-one can answer except a student called Milo. After trying out a few more questions, the doctor advances onwards through higher levels of knowledge, finally asking how to travel faster than the speed of light. Milo answers this, suprising The Doctor.

As The Doctor goes to eat lunch in the cafeteria, Rose is shown, working undercover as a dinnerlady. She comes over and talks to The Doctor. The doctor comments on odd-tasting chips, then the headmaster, Mr Finch can be seen encouraging other students to eat theirs.

Mr Wagner tells a girl named Melissa that she has been moved to top set and that Milo has failed him. Melissa goes with Wagner to the maths room.

Meanwhile back in the kitchen, the dinnerladies are moving in a large barrel. The head dinnerlady does not want one drop spilled. Rose phones Mickey to tell him about the barrel. Then it tips over onto a dinnerlady and starts to burn her. The dinnerladies move her into a room where a scream and lots of smoke appear. Rose is confused.

In the staffroom, The Doctor is talking to Mr Parsons, the Head of History. Parsons says that when Finch came as head 7 teachers came down with flu and they were replaced with these new teachers who act oddly. Then Finch comes in to introduce a Miss Sarah Jane Smith who is writing an article about the school. She shakes hands with the Doctor who claims to be a John Smith, Sarah says she knew a man who went by the name John Smith (referring to the Doctor). Although the Doctor immediately recognised her name, he does not let on to her that he is the Doctor.

[Brit Chick]

I really loved this episode, and I have to admit the return of Sarah Jane and K9 played a big part in that (assume don't need spoilers now the ep has aired) the interaction between the SJ and Rose was hysterical, it really was like an ex girlfriend and current girlfriend kind of thing, but in the end they realised how daft they were being

And K9 - well my hubby is a bit younger than me and whereas my Doctor was Jon Pertwee, his was Tom Baker...and K9 - he was so so upset that K9 was going to die saving them he actually shouted at the TV - can't believe they would bring him back just for one little bit of a episode....but of course K9 survives.....good dog - "affirmative"

Great to see Tony Head hamming it up as the villian as well

[Dave]

Originally posted by Brit Chick
Great to see Tony Head hamming it up as the villian as well

He was great wasn't he?
Actually, the spoilers were for Obcooke and the Americans who won't get to see this yet. I'm not sure if they are necessary - if you look inside a thread on an aired episode, you should expect spoilers. We certainly never had them in other series when they aired first in the US or Canada. This is so unusual that we in the UK actually get to see something first.

Actually, I thought the same thing regarding K9, but my son actually guessed he would make a "K9 Mark 4".

What about Mickey joining Rose and the Doctor? He is such a wimp - "screaming like a girl" - and the first one to run out of the building. Do you think it is a deliberate attempt to reverse the 'strong man' and 'screaming girl' assistants that the Doctor used to have in the sixties? Or is it really because Mickey has realised that he is simply "the tin dog"? Remember that he wanted to come along before, but Rose made the Doctor promise not to take him, and Mickey thought that the Doctor didn't want him. I didn't know if Rose was upset about the Doctor saying yes, or if she was still upset about discovering she would get dumped some day - hence her final question to Sarah Jane.

[Brit Chick]

I think Rose was upset that Mickey was going with them, I think she enjoys being the only companion, and thats a lot to do with why she threw such a hissy fit re Sarah Jane - realising she really is the last in a long line of travelling companions.

And Mickey, yeah - The Tin Dog.....side kick - he could only dream of ever being as useful as K9 eh !

My hubby made the comment that doesn't SJ look like Laura Roslin from Bat Galac - and you know what, he's right - very similar. I read somewhere that Liz Sladen is 58 - wow, hope I look that good when I get to 58 - she looks amazing

[Dave]

Originally posted by Brit Chick
And Mickey, yeah - The Tin Dog.....side kick - he could only dream of ever being as useful as K9 eh !

I think you are too harsh on Mickey. Look how proficient he has become researching on the Internet and uploading viruses since he met the Doctor. And he is always there with back-up support, cars to give lifts, bringing the passport for Rose. I'm not sure how he earns a living though, I can't see he has time.

Originally posted by Brit Chick
My hubby made the comment that doesn't SJ look like Laura Roslin from Bat Galac - and you know what, he's right - very similar. I read somewhere that Liz Sladen is 58 - wow, hope I look that good when I get to 58 - she looks amazing

I agree and I also wouldn't have said anything near 58.

[PTeppic]

Originally posted by Brit Chick
I read somewhere that Liz Sladen is 58

IMDB concurs with wherever you read it... though of course she would have only been 57 when it was filmed...

[obcooke]

[Originally posted by Dave: Actually, the spoilers were for Obcooke and the Americans who won't get to see this yet. I'm not sure if they are necessary - if you look inside a thread on an aired episode, you should expect spoilers.]

I thought we had covered that and I agreed that you were right. The only reason I got caught by surprise is that I always kept spoilers in a unique thread and didn't create episode threads until about an hour before the episode aired. But, there is nothing wrong with the way you do it - I just didn't account for different people doing different things.

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Wow, what else can you say about that?

My only regret is that I felt cheated that Anthony Head had to share his episode with a compelling personal story. I would have much preferred for him to have an entire episode to himself.

I was aware of Doctor Who as a phenom before I ever saw one. About 20 years ago I began watching Peter Davidson on American Public Television. I didn't grow up with him but over the years I have seen so many and spent hours reading various sites and magazines that I feel like I have. I'm not a fanatic, but I've always thought that Doctor Who was the best show on television and that feeling is back!

Personally, just seeing Sarah Jane again was FANTASTIC!

It's cruel, but when Rose whined, "... it is if I'm just the latest in a long line."

I yelled at the screen, "But you are!"

I've been waiting for a new Companion. Rose is fine, but this one-on-one is getting old - we need new blood - a trouble-maker - yeah, like an Ace - someone to make Rose realize that she's becoming an old lady - The Doctor's old lady.

I don't see Micky adding much, in fact, I don't think he'll last very long.

[Originally posted by Dave: Remember that he wanted to come along before, but Rose made the Doctor promise not to take him, and Mickey thought that the Doctor didn't want him.]

Actually Dave, I think you're remembering it wrong. In "Rose", The Doctor made clear - he's not invited, because Micky was acting very xenophobic. But in "World War Three" Micky tells The Doctor that he couldn't cope with being a Companion, then Rose suggests that Micky come along. The Doctor covers for Micky's fear by rejecting any idea of Micky going with them. Rose seems disapppointed, but that's before she mets Captain Jack.

I think Rose's obvious reluctance isn't just that Micky and this Doctor seem to get along like a couple of old chums but she was "running away from home" before and now home in the form of her "boyfriend" is coming along with her - watching over her shoulder. A stranger would be better because a stranger wouldn't feel compelled to approve/disapprove of everything she does.

Remember what Eccleston said - No domestics, I don't do domestics. This couple is headed for a nasty split and now the TARDIS is going to be the battleground.

I did almost spit when Micky called the girls - the Mrs. and the Ex. That was spot-on and an inspired bit of dialogue. "A man's worst nightmare."

Sarah Jane - you know I looked it up - it's hard to believe that she was only with him for three years, it seems like more.

But - there's always a but - they kept talking like the last time they had seen each other was when he dropped her off in the UK. But that leaves out "The Five Doctors". Admittedly, they didn't have much time to talk, but she did meet his next regeneration.

When he says that he's regenerated "half-a-dozen times, since we last met." That's right if he's talking about Tom Baker and (I hate to be the one to break this to you) the FOX movie, sorry,

TB - PD - CB - SMcC - PMcG - CE - DT

I know they don't want to do it too much but feeling nostalgic is an okay feeling and I really enjoyed watching Sarah Jane and K9 once again. Sure K9 looks like an antique even though he's suppposed to be futuristic, but it was like seeing an old friend once again, which is why I watch The Doctor in the first place.

[Dave]

Originally posted by obcooke
Actually Dave, I think you're remembering it wrong. In "Rose", The Doctor made clear - he's not invited, because Micky was acting very xenophobic. But in "World War Three" Micky tells The Doctor that he couldn't cope with being a Companion, then Rose suggests that Micky come along. The Doctor covers for Micky's fear by rejecting any idea of Micky going with them. Rose seems disapppointed, but that's before she mets Captain Jack.

You're right. That's how it was. On the spoilers, I think you should at least be able to read a couple of posts in the thread before someone blurts out the ending.

Originally posted by obcooke
Sarah Jane - you know I looked it up - it's hard to believe that she was only with him for three years, it seems like more.

But they say everyone has a favourite Doctor depending on how old they are. For me, it was the later Pertwee years and the early Tom Baker years - just the time when SJA was around.

Originally posted by obcooke
Sure K9 looks like an antique even though he's suppposed to be futuristic, but it was like seeing an old friend once again, which is why I watch The Doctor in the first place.

Rose saying: "Why does he look so.... Disco?"

[lordoftime]

Micky has become more an active part of the stories and as a character he is showing much more courage than the previous Doctor ever gave him credit for. Its now Rose I cant stand!

Every time the Doctor meets another woman, Rose gets jealous. The Doctor really needs to have a talk with her and explain that they are not or ever were dating or a even a couple-she has some pretty naieve ideas, more so than most of the companions who came before her.

And after veiewing School Reunion for the 3rd time, I hate how she acts when Micky asks to join the Tardis crew properly. She needs a good kick in the pants.

[Krystal]

This episode was very good, I enjoy the story and it was fun to watch all the thing between Sarah Jane and Rose, and of course the Doctor in the middle.

[lordoftime]

Really, this one is a great achievement for what they covered in so little time! Watch the scene where the Doctor challenges the Headmaster by the pool. Now that is classic WHO.