The Sarah Jane Adventures 5x03 & 5x04 "The Curse of Clyde Langer" full reaction
Added 2021-07-19 23:15:48 +0000 UTC"This is how it goes, isn't it? Everything you ever were, everything you ever wanted to be, it just gets worn away till there's nothing left."
Comments
I've said this before about SJA, that one of it's great strengths is that as a show for younger kids it never talks down to it's audience. It tells stories and tackles themes that treat it's young viewers with respect, and this is a classic example of that. All the performances are top notch, especially Clyde, but also Rani in that scene in the car with her dad breaks my heart every time, and Lis Sladen is outstanding as always. Each season has just gotten better and better, and had they been able to compete season 5 I'm sure it would have been outstanding.
Lloyd B
2021-07-20 11:33:21 +0000 UTCOne of the best SJA stories. Easily the best story for Series 5 and definitely one of the strongest entries for the entire show. This episode not only puts a strong spotlight on Clyde but also a very effective showcase on homelessness and isolation. Definitely one of the most mature and bleak episodes of SJA. The curse itself is the most horrifying thing about this episode in terms of the circumstances that it puts Clyde through and it leads to such a horrible experience. It's really upsetting to see Clyde get isolated, hatred and abuse not only towards strangers but especially the people he loves. There's a real sense of danger with the curse in how easy it can manipulate people into being violent and aggressive towards Clyde. It's genuinely scary to see Sarah Jane snap at him with so much venomous anger and the sonic lipstick threat. It's even more sadder when Rani turns against Clyde. You can tell by his reaction that he's heartbroken when he hears those words from her (because of their growing romance). The fact that this curse can easily turn his world upside down by affecting his school life (Haresh excluding him from school) and having his old school friends threaten to beat him up is really terrifying. His old school friend (Steve) previously appeared in Day of The Clown and Mark of the Berserker. That musical piece that plays every time the curse comes into play really showcases the horror of it too. It reminds me of Midnight in a way in terms of the psychological horror that it projects with the way people react when hearing Clyde's name. The museum and Langer household scenes are especially huge highlights for part 1. The Dr immediately turning on Clyde (after remembering his name from his previous visit) and Sarah Jane calling the police on him genuinely shocked me when I first saw this. There's something very chilling about the effect the curse causes throughout people. Most heart-breaking scene is Carla (Clyde's mother) confronting his son and turning against him. This scene is both emotional and devastating. That genuinely hurt to watch as a kid. I love the way its shot with the camera facing towards her back which feels like a horror movie moment before a jump scare but it's so much more effective here. When she tells him that life tricked her the day he was born, I feel Clyde's heartbreak every time. Both of the actors were really brilliant in that moment. I love how you get excited every time Carla appears. Clyde once told his dad in Mark of the Berserker that he was scared that once his father left him, he feared his mum and everyone else would do the same leaving him on his own and unfortunately it ends up happening in this story. Thankfully only temporarily though. Part 2 really delves into the homelessness situation really well with the development of Ellie and how she describes the life others go through this experience. It's like we're introduced to a completely new world with Clyde and it feels so real because it does happen in reality. I agree with you about Clyde's response to this. I like how they didn't make him completely dismissive of the situation by having him give money to Ellie in Part 1 and sympathising with her when he tells Sky that it's not her fault. But him not recognising her in the second part is also realistic and now that he's experiencing it for the first time, he's able to soak in the reality more. Ellie's story about how her life fell apart is tragic but I love the relationship that she quickly develops with Clyde. He really gives her that sense of hope for a second chance at getting her life together again. The Night Dragon mention also adds a very unsettling presence to this episode until the end reveal. Sarah Jane, Rani and Carla subconsciously crying and grieving over Clyde is also very emotional as the curse not only affects Clyde but it also ends up putting a mental strain on Clyde's loved ones without them knowing why they're feeling emotional. There's so many powerful layers to this story. Sky was definitely the MVP. You were right about her not being affected because of her being an alien. Likewise with Mr Smith. I love when she keeps pushing Sarah Jane, Carla and Rani towards the reality of the situation. I remember giving the loudest cheer when she opened up Mr Smith and got Sarah Jane and Rani to break the curse. Such a great character moment for her. And you're spot on about her alien-ness being her greatest asset for seeing things differently from humans and even man made bank machines. The confrontation with the totem pole in the attic was such a crazy but wild climatic moment too (only nitpick is that I wish it would have been slightly harder to break the curse). But it still works either way. Just to clarify, Hetocumtek was an alien who posed as a Native American god. It's really heart-breaking for Clyde to lose Ellie and also be stuck in the dilemma into having to save the world or risk everything waiting for her. As much as I love Ellie, I think the tragedy of losing her makes this story even more effective. I think her staying would complicate things with Clyde and Rani's relationship had they found her and I definitely wouldn't want that. Having said that though, its still sad to lose her without truly knowing what happened to her. There is hope at the end with the ex-boxer guy (that Ellie introduced Clyde to earlier in the food shelter place) telling Clyde that the Night Dragon van gives people another chance in life. We were led to believe earlier through Ellie that the Night Dragon was a dangerous and sinister work but it ultimately ends up being an apparently good thing. But you're right in the fact that we don't actually know if that's the real truth or not which makes it even more tragic and scary in retrospect. The twist of Ellie not using her real name either is even more sad as Clyde did the same thing towards her. But yeah. This is a really solid episode. Great development for Clyde, lots of emotional and sad tension, great showcase on homelessness and isolation. Great acting from everyone in this episode (especially Danny Anthony who plays Clyde. He was brilliant in this episode). I like how this episode starts with Clyde talking towards the camera and it's revealed that he's talking to Ellie in part 2. At the start, Clyde is also drawing over The French Revolution Book which is a nod to Susan reading the French Revolution in the very first episode of Doctor Who. Him burning his Silver Bullet comic was also very bittersweet as was Sarah Jane's reflection on homelessness. One of the few SJA episodes that doesn't have a happy ending either. Now I'm even more sad that you have only one more episode to go. The emotions in this episode mixed with the realisation and sadness of the circumstances of this show coming to an abrupt end makes it even more sad. But as sad as it is, I'm still looking forward to your reaction to the final adventure.
JY
2021-07-20 04:14:23 +0000 UTC
