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“REVENGE OF THE SLITHEEN: A FART-FUELLED SCHOOL INVASION”

The Sarah Jane Adventures officially kicks off with Revenge of the Slitheen, a two-part story that serves as both a sequel to the Slitheen’s Doctor Who appearances in Series 1 and an introduction to the show’s ongoing format. With Sarah Jane guiding a team of young companions, the series leans into the familiar Doctor Who dynamic—only with children taking centre stage.

The return of the Slitheen means a mix of grotesque horror and childish humour, and while their skin-shedding reveal remains as effective as ever, their over-the-top antics can be a bit much. This time, the invaders are disguised as school staff, setting up a classic “something’s not right with the teachers” mystery that gets the kids—and Sarah Jane—investigating.

A BALANCED TEAM, BUT SOME AWKWARD DYNAMICS

The episode does a great job of establishing the everyday lives of Maria, Luke, and Clyde. Their struggles with school, friendships, and home life make them feel real, and the domestic scenes between Maria and her father, Alan, are particularly strong, grounding the story in relatable emotion. It’s also nice to see Sarah Jane interact more with Alan, showing that she’s not entirely isolated from the world of adults.

Luke’s struggles with fitting in are a major theme, though his habit of spouting facts and figures is a bit more grating here. Meanwhile, Clyde’s introduction is a bit rocky—Daniel Anthony’s performance is uneven, and his cheeky, too-cool attitude is initially more irritating than charming. However, by the end of the story, he shows promise as a solid addition to the team. Maria, unfortunately, feels sidelined, which is a shame given how central she was in Invasion of the Bane.

THE SLITHEEN: CAMPY, CREEPY, AND KIND OF RIDICULOUS

The Slitheen remain as silly as ever, with their grotesque, fart-fuelled disguises and pantomime villainy. Their motivations are clear enough, but their over-the-top performances make them feel even more ridiculous than they did in Doctor Who. Martyn Ellis, in particular, hams it up as the Slitheen-possessed school headmaster, making it hard to take them seriously as a threat.

However, the introduction of a Slitheen child adds an interesting new wrinkle, giving Sarah Jane a more complex moral dilemma. While the Slitheen’s plot—draining Earth’s energy for profit—feels abstract and underdeveloped, the episode does a decent job of fleshing out their backstory.

A DECENT START, BUT A WEAKER CLIMAX

Part 1 builds up slowly, mostly setting the stage rather than delivering real stakes, but it does end on a strong cliffhanger. The Slitheen chase is fun, and their transformation scenes are still unsettling, but the real action doesn’t kick in until Part 2.

When the story does pick up, the kids play a more active role, and Sarah Jane firmly establishes herself as their leader and protector. However, the climax doesn’t land as effectively as Invasion of the Bane, feeling a bit messy and rushed.

📝VERDICT: 6/10

Revenge of the Slitheen is a serviceable start to SJA’s episodic format, reintroducing a familiar foe while further developing Sarah Jane’s young team. The school setting works well, and there are some great character moments, particularly for Maria and Luke. However, the Slitheen’s exaggerated performances, Clyde’s shaky introduction, and a slightly underwhelming finale keep this from being a standout.

A fun but flawed series opener that doesn’t quite outshine its blobby green villains.