Elisabeth Sladen spends much of the concluding part to Prisoner Of The Judoon under the influence, which turns her into a rather coquettish oddity who sounds in dire need of a lozenge or two. The alien in question, Androvax (“Destroyer of Worlds”, apparently, though one does wonder how exactly), doesn’t get much screen time but is a memorable addition to the ‘monsters’ in The Sarah Jane Adventures – especially his creepy voice and unnerving threat to SJ as he exits with the Judoon. From a production stance, this opener is a step-up from the previous two series being filmed in glorious High Definition (check out the simulcast on the BBC HD channel). But there’s also a renewed confidence in the direction (although non-fans of the ‘shaky cam’ may want to avert their gaze) and the cast portray the drama with conviction and deliver the gags with flair. If there is a problem, it’s that Prisoner Of The Judoon lacks much originality, though you’ll be having so much fun you’ll hardly care. Read our review of Part One here.
