User Reviews

Sarah Jane has been caught by ringed finger, after being swallowed up by some old clinker, now she's actively engaged, with a hand that's enraged, and for now I think she's going to let it linger.

Review of all 4 episodes:

Sarah Jane Smith is thought by many, myself included, to be the greatest ever companion for The Doctor. It is incredibly sad to see her leave at the end of this story but this is a good send off for her. It is a great pity that she leaves in the final episode but the final scene between The Doctor and Sarah Jane is an extremely good, subtle and poignant farewell and she got this terrific adventure as her finale as a regular companion. Elisabeth Sladen is fabulous in her last regular story and the interactions with Tom Baker, who is also in top form, are perfect.

The start of episode 1 shows an alien world (Kastria) where a being called Eldrad who has been judged as a criminal is being supposedly destroyed. The Doctor and Sarah are then seen arriving accidentally in a quarry where rock blasting causes them to be buried by rubble. This opening couple of scenes does not indicate any greatness for this story, it is all looking pretty run of the mill. That is until Sarah reaches from under the rubble to take a hand she believes to be a rescuer only to find it is a hand not attached to a body. That moment is unnerving and quite intriguing. From that point on the opening episode gets better and better as it builds the suspense about the hand and its dangerous nature. It is, of course, the hand of the supposedly destroyed 'criminal' Eldrad and the TARDIS has clearly taken them where they need to be to deal with what happens. The hand has been in the ground for 150 million years but it now takes telepathic control of Sarah and makes her into a temporary (and convincing) villain. She takes the hand to a nuclear research centre station pursued by The Doctor.

There are believable, very well acted characters interacting brilliantly with our heroes. Glyn Houston as Professor Watson, Rex Robinson as Dr. Carter and Frances Pidgeon as Miss Jackson are convincing and wonderfully characterised. The story quickly becomes extremely interesting, gripping entertainment. The cliffhanger of episode 1 when the hand absorbs radiation and begins to move is brilliantly done and exciting.

The second and third episodes are absolutely marvelous, intelligent and thrilling. Eldrad is restored to a full female body and this alien being is a fabulous creation in every respect - visually superb, great voice, brilliantly acted by Judith Paris and full of interesting character, showing friendly and likable traits as well as threatening ones. The script is expertly advances an intelligent plot with action and excitement side by side with clever and thoughtful ideas.

The final episode continues in the same fantastic way. Part way through the final episode it does have a few scenes that move away from the thoughtful, cerebral build up and turns into a more standard 'monster trying to destroy the universe' scenario. Eldrad changes into a male that looks pretty good but not quite as visually stunning or as impressively characterised as the female version. The male Eldrad played by Stephen Thorne does not have the fascinating character depth of the female version as he is revealed to be just another evil villain. It is a shame this less interesting choice for Eldrad's final scenes was made rather than the more nuanced character that had been there up until that point. It is more of a run of the mill villain finale for those few scenes but it is still exciting and a lot of fun.

As Part 4 turns out to be Sarah Jane's last episode as a regular companion (until returning in 1983's The Five Doctors, 2006's School Reunion and spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures) we get touching scenes where Sarah and The Doctor bid fond farewells. This is done with such class and poignancy and is so wonderfully acted by Tom and Lis that it ensures this final part maintains the top quality of the rest of the story.

It a pity in a way they could not have thought up a better finale to the Eldrad story, maintaining the more interesting female form but it was still a satisfying conclusion to a cracking adventure. Sarah's finale is done beautifully and if any character deserved a good farewell it is the delightful Sarah Jane Smith. Rest in peace Elisabeth Sladen, you played the best companion with sheer quality at all times.

My ratings: 10/10 for all 4 episodes.

Review of the Complete Story:

This four-part Tom Baker story was Elisabeth Sladen's final appearance as Sarah Jane and the final moments provide a fitting, poignant closure for her character. Story-wise, it's business as usual with the Doctor involved with a rapidly-evolving alien life form that's just arrived on earth. The opening shots see the Tardis arrive in a quarry, so it's nice to see a quarry playing just that, a quarry, for once instead of standing in for an alien planet. Following a spectacular filmed explosion, the action shifts to a nuclear power plant where much of the ensuing action takes place.

The idea of a life form thriving on radiation is a good one, and there's fun to be had from the severed/crawling hand prop (and a nod to CARRY ON SCREAMING!) when the hand regrows both a digit and a body! Some stiff-upper-lipped British officials populate the cast, and are quite fabulous, although once the action shifts to an extraterrestrial planet in the last episode it does get noticeably weaker. Judith Paris was a strange, Bowie-esque alien presence, but Stephen Thorne's scenery chewing becomes quickly tiresome.

The cheesy-looking alien "rock men" brought back fond memories of HERCULES AGAINST THE MOON MEN, a reminder of how much fun this show was when all they had going were a low budget and plenty of enthusiasm. Not one of the best stories out there, but perfectly serviceable nonetheless.

The Doctor and Sarah land in a quarry (yes another quarry,) and an accident links her to an ancient,.alien force.

Forever my favourite Doctor and companion, but I have always felt a little cold towards this story, I can think of no other tangible reason, other than I'm just not overly fussed on the story.

This does however engage my adoration for Sarah Jane, her acting is just so good, she is so sincere here, she's dressed in a sweet, childlike set of overalls, not unlike Andy Pandy, and yet she's behaving in a demonic, blank, controlled way, she really does shine through.

Surely there was an in joke about them being in a Quarry? I always felt it was a little tongue in cheek.

I've never fully understood the whole story of Eldrad, and never warmed to the character, I will watch more closely, and try to get a better knowledge.

It's alright, but Sarah Jane deserved better. 6/10.