It's The End of the Road

Hi Guys

It's a bit of a sad blog this time round, as two stalwarts of BBC telly end this week, one by design, and the other, sadly, not so much.

Firstly, it's the end for Sir Harry and the guys and girls of the Grid in Spooks. This series has centred firmly on Sir Harry and his past life as an active spy during the cold war and, despite a cursory foray into some Middle East politics it's mostly been one long arc. But, for me, it's been all too short. New characters Erin and Cal haven't had time to bed in in the six short episodes, and show great promise as being really good additions, despite my initial worry about them being too complicated or unlikeable, but it has to be said, despite some fabulous guest appearances - particularly by Star Trek's Alice Krige - it's all been about Harry and Ruth.

The ending is strictly embargoed - I can't say nuffin guv - but rest assured there are plenty of twists and turns, a fabulous stand off and some unbearable tension. All the players get a proper slice of the finale pie, with perhaps the underused Dimitri coming off worse. The final few moments will have you simultaneously wiping a tear away and punching the air as an old face returns, however briefly, in a fitting finale for Sir Harry and the boys and girls of Section D. Spooks has been consistently classy through it's ten series - especially under the head-writership of Ben Richards - and this series only flaw is that it's way too short. Still, some lovely little nods to the past may slake the fanboy thirst, at least for a while. I can't help thinking though that perhaps, despite it's end, we may not have seen the end of Spooks after all.

More sadly, of course, this week sees the end of The Sarah Jane Adventures, a series cut short by the all too soon and heartbreaking death of Elisabeth Sladen. Despite rumours that this series may continue under a new leading girl - Jo Jones for instance - it seems by the finale, and a tastefully tacked-on ending - that they're are no current plans to spin off with Clyde and Rani for instance.

The Man Who Never Was is a good solid ending to go out on, written by stalwart Gareth Roberts, fresh from his success with Doctor Who's Closing Time. It takes themes that we are all familiar with - just as last week's The Curse of Clyde Langer dealt with bullying, homelessness and rejection of peers - this one deals with consumerism, and the need for the latest gadget, The Serf Board - a sort of tacky looking iPad and deals quite openly with slavery and torture. It uses ideas gleaned from The Last of the Time Lords in typical Masterly style, and shows some great themes very typical to the world of Doctor Who and Sarah Jane - never judge a book by its cover for instance, and helping rather than interfering and boasts a pretty top notch cast including Peter Bowles and James Dreyfus - neither of whom overplay the part for children, as can be the  instinct with some actors - giving it class and believability. It's also fitting that Luke makes a return in this one, although along with newbie Sky they could make a formidable team. No K9 though, although his dog whistle comes in handy.

There's no big fanfare at the end of this - no return for the Doctor, although it was considered - and it leaves the series upbeat and open ended, with Sarah Jane Smith out there, doing was she does, from Bannerman Road. A fitting legacy for Elisabeth Sladen and another series, like Spooks, that may have a future in some form further down the road.

At the end of the month 2Entertain release Series 4 of SJA on DVD, and, despite the lack of commentaries - although a frustrating miss from DW S6 Part 2, released soon too - there is the rather wonderful addition of the full story The Pyramids of Mars as tribute to Elisabeth Sladen, which I'm personally thrilled about. There can be no better story to show Sarah in her hayday with the Doctor, or to introduce kids perhaps used to Matt or David a look at an earlier, classy story. A great idea.

We'll be discussing The SJA's in our latest podcast so we hope you tune in to that.

Happy Times and Places

Ed