DW2000 - The Sarah Jane Mysteries 2003

 


The success of the first series of The Sarah Jane Mysteries was a resounding success, a new generation watched with excitement and anticipation for a new set of adventures with one of the greatest Doctor Who companions of all-time, viewers for the first season reached 6 million which for BBC One was a success. But with Gary Russell leaving due to creative differences as showrunner a second series was seen as highly unlikely, however the BBC put their faith in Jed Mercurio, Mercurio would later have success with Line of Duty and Bodyguard.

Working with Russell T Davies and Matthew Robinson, Mercurio realised 2003 was a big year for Doctor Who as 2003 was the fortieth anniversary year meaning Series Four of Doctor Who and this series of The Sarah Jane Mysteries needed to be something special. Elisabeth Sladen, Yasmin Bannerman and David Tennant all returned, however an old companion would return for this series, Mercurio worked with Davies and Robinson on who should return. Originally they considered Tegan Jovanka but she was kept in mind until the end of planning, Ian Chesterton and Grace Holloway were all considered but in the end it was decided to bring back Ace, played by Sophie Aldred, she would return in Episode Four and would remain until Episode Six.


The Axos Stratagem

By Jed Mercurio and Russell T Davies

March 7th


This story would be the return of the Axons from the Jon Pertwee era.

The story is about a ship crashing on the outskirts of London where the Axons have come to take revenge on Humanity, Sarah would get the help of UNIT where they would all come to defeat the Axons.


The Stranded Sontarans

By Paul Abbott

March 14th


This story would see a small invasion of Sontarans become stranded on Earth, Sarah knows how dangerous they are but can’t do anything as the Sontarans have knocked out communications, Tom is taken prisoner and Ashley takes shelter in the underground. So for the majority of the episode sees Sarah on her own and trying to reunite with all of them, eventually the Sontarans are stopped and the trio are reunited.


Duplicated

By Steven Moffat

March 21st


This story sees Sarah, Tom and ashley on holiday in the Highlands where they come across a village where they find more devious and evil versions of themselves, eventually it becomes clear that the evil versions of the trio are Zygons and they start to turn more people into Zygons but Sarah manages to defeat them.


A Charitable Earth

By Paul Cornell

March 28th


This story would see Ace contacting Sarah and the two of them would meet for the first time, they would bond over their adventures with the Doctor and how they stand up for the right thing. However they would investigate a new company pushing for a more eco-friendly future, however they are going about it the wrong way as they are turning people into Krynoids. Sarah and Ace would end up blowing up the factory and killing all the Krynoids, at the end of the story Ace goes on temporary leave from A Charitable Earth and decides to stay with Sarah Jane for a while.


School Days

By Toby Whithouse

April 4th


This story would be similar to School Reunion but with changes to suit the story, one of these being Ace would set off some explosives instead of K-9 sacrificing itself.


Attack of The Spiders

By Jed Mercurio and Russell T Davies

April 11th


This story would see a man being found in a forest who has recently been operated on, he’s taken back to Sarah’s house and when he wakes up he becomes angry and more powerful it’s found he has a Metabilis crystal with him and that the Spiders of Metabilis 3 are returning. We would see UNIT and Sarah fight the Spiders with Ace, Tom and Ashley.

At the end of the story, the Spiders are defeated and Ace returns back to A Charitable Earth.


Two of The Sarah Jane Mysteries was another successful year for the series and fan reaction was through the roof. Fans and critics adored the season as it saw the return of so many classic villains and the return of Ace, especially for 70’s and 80’s fans of the show.

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