This review contains spoilers!
Investigating through time and space, one case at a time!
“WHATEVER HAPPENED TO SARAH JANE?: A REALITY-BENDING MASTERPIECE”
Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane? wastes no time in pulling viewers into its gripping mystery. The lighthearted opening—with Luke questioning skateboarding, Clyde showing off, and Alan unexpectedly revealing some skills—immediately gives way to something far darker. A hooded figure lurks in the background, setting up an eerie tension that lingers throughout the story.
The introduction of the Trickster—one of The Sarah Jane Adventures’ most iconic villains—elevates this episode to something truly special. The slow-burn reveal, with glimpses of a genuinely unsettling figure and the mysterious box that won’t open, is brilliantly handled. Even though Part 1 focuses on Maria’s desperate search for proof that Sarah Jane ever existed, the Trickster’s presence is always felt. His cold, whispering voice, the skeletal design, and his reality-warping abilities make for an antagonist so powerful it’s almost surprising he never made it into Doctor Who itself.
THE TRICKSTER AND THE HORROR OF ALTERED REALITY
What makes the Trickster so terrifying is that he doesn’t kill outright. Instead, he changes things, warping reality and manipulating people’s fates to create chaos. This is most evident in his dealings with Andrea, who unknowingly made a bargain as a child, resulting in Sarah Jane’s erasure from existence. The real horror comes when Andrea, given a second chance at life, is willing to erase Maria’s memories just to protect her own happiness. It’s a chilling moral dilemma that makes Andrea an incredibly complex character—she’s not evil, but her selfishness makes her hard to sympathise with. Even when she realises what she’s done, she clings to the life she’s been given, willing to let the world burn rather than give it up.
The Trickster’s ultimate plan—erasing the Doctor’s existence entirely—is a terrifying prospect, instantly raising the stakes beyond just Sarah Jane’s disappearance. The idea that a single change in history can doom the world is executed brilliantly, creating a truly high-stakes scenario for Maria to unravel.
MARIA JACKSON’S MOMENT TO SHINE
With Sarah Jane erased, Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane? becomes Maria’s story, and Yasmin Paige carries it effortlessly. She’s resourceful, determined, and heartbreakingly vulnerable, making her one of the most relatable companions in Doctor Who history. The scene where she furiously lashes out at Andrea, telling her she shouldn’t exist, is one of her finest moments, showing just how much Sarah Jane means to her.
Maria’s father, Alan, also gets a more prominent role, and while his skateboarding subplot feels a little out of place, it pays off in a fun moment when he uses it to knock over the Graske. More importantly, his direct involvement in the story—finding himself in a version of reality where Maria never existed—pushes him to take action, culminating in his emotional confrontation with Andrea. His desperation to bring Maria back makes for one of the most heartfelt moments in the episode.
A BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED ATMOSPHERE
The episode’s direction is outstanding, with eerie music and creative camerawork adding to the sense of unease. The shifting angles, particularly in the cliffhanger where Alan activates the box, are visually striking. The contrast between the vibrant 1964 flashbacks and the stark white void where Sarah Jane is trapped reinforces the episode’s themes of lost time and altered fate. The limbo scenes, where Sarah Jane and Maria confront the fragility of their existence, are beautifully bleak, filled with quiet sorrow.
The inclusion of the Graske—first seen in Attack of the Graske—is a nice touch, reinforcing the Trickster’s influence. Though more of a secondary threat, his role in erasing Maria and Alan from existence adds another layer of tension.
📝 VERDICT: 10/10
Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane? is The Sarah Jane Adventures at its absolute best—intelligent, emotionally rich, and genuinely gripping. With a compelling mystery, a terrifying villain, and standout performances from Yasmin Paige and Elisabeth Sladen, it transcends its "children’s TV" label, delivering a story that holds up alongside Doctor Who’s best. The Trickster’s debut sets the stage for even bigger threats, but even on its own, this is a masterpiece of storytelling that cements Maria as one of the show’s strongest characters.

MrColdStream
View profile