Elisabeth Sladen Gone But Not Forgotten
Non cosmetic Musings ahead….
I’m not entirely sure how old I was when I first seen The Time Warrior. It came out around ’73 and I wasn’t born as of yet. I was probably ten or so when I actually saw it and I can probably, at this point in my geeky existence, recite alot of the parts for you by memory alone.
Actually The Time Warrior isn’t a favorite episode of mine but it was my introduction to Sarah Jane Smith, one of the Doctor’s longest standing companions. It was also to my great joy a Sontaran episode that Sarah Jane became embroiled in because hey, in my youth, alien’s that looked like they had baked potatoes for heads was all kinds of wicked cool.
Sarah Jane was cheeky as hell in some cases but was also very much a boring companion at times, mind you not because of the way Elisabeth played her but because of the way she was written for 1970’s TV.
But I think many people have come to terms with the fact they they were favoring her simply because she accompanied a most beloved and favorite Doctor, the Fourth. It was kinda default that you loved Sarah Jane simply because she was there when the 3rd regenerated and was there again for part of the adventures of the 4th.
Much to delight of fans Sarah Jane returned in 2006 to accompany another most beloved Doctor, Ten. Sarah Jane underwent a bit of a transformation in her old age and she was quite spunky, smart, and well written not that she wasn’t before but she got upgraded so to speak.
Above all else she was played with greatness thanks to Elisabeth Sladen. Her bright smile and her sweet voice made her a joy to watch plus she got to work with the 4th, my absolute hero.
When I was little girl I wanted to be Sarah Jane, all great companion to the 4th thanks to how gorgeous Elisabeth Sladen was.
With great sadness I wish her a fond goodbye as Elisabeth passed away today, at 63, to cancer.
For fans of Who, I console your geeky heartbreak with some of my own sadness.
A sad day indeed but she lives on in time and space.
