The Mark of the Berserker

"Bannerman Road. It's where it all happens."

Writer: Joseph Lidster

Format: TV

Broadcast: 3rd-10th November 2008

Series: SJA 2.04

Featuring: Sarah Jane, Luke, Clyde, Rani, Maria 

Synopsis 

An alien pendant which gives its wearer the power to control others is stolen from Sarah's attic. Luke and Rani enlist the help of Clyde's mum to track down Clyde and his father, who has the alien pendant. The chase leads to a terrifying waterside confrontation when the pendant takes control of Paul and begins transforming him.

Verdict 

The Mark of the Berserker was a very good story and continued the high standard of the second series of the Sarah Jane Adventures. It just goes to show how good this spinoff series is because when a story of this quality is the worst of the series so far, you know things are good! It does indeed get the lowest rating so far in series two but it was still a brilliant story. I thought it was interesting that Sarah Jane didn't appear much and that's probably a major reason as to why the story didn't score in the upmost highest regions but with the rating it has, her absence wasn't felt too much. I think it allowed for Rani to step up and fully get on board with the whole alien thing that she's slowly been getting used to since the events of The Day of the Clown. Luke and Clyde seem to be enjoying her company and Sarah Jane has been more than welcoming which is great and she really has established herself as Maria's replacement very quickly. It was wonderful to see Maria back though in this story as although it hasn't been long since she departed in The Last Sontaran, we were still reminded about her and Luke clearly missed and valued her. I liked how they actually required Alan and his computer skills with the small task of hacking into UNIT. His reaction to Maria knowing what that stood for was magnificent. The concept behind the Berserker pendant was interesting and something having the ability to control people just by a simple command really was a deadly weapon. Jacob had used it and Rani shortly followed but when she learned more about it, she was planning on leaving it to Sarah Jane to deal with it. She simply left it in the attic with a deactivated Mr Smith and it looked like that would be it. That was until Clyde's Dad showed up at his doorstep. The humour between Clyde and Luke at the sleepover, mainly concerning Carla, was brilliant but things soon took a sour turn when Paul showed up. Clyde wasn't happy to see him and wanted some answers for his absence over the past five years. He wasn't a likeable guy at all really and hearing what he had done was petty despicable. I was surprised Clyde spent so much time with him but he didn't have too much choice with Paul using the pendant considerably. He was on his way to becoming a Berserker and that definitely didn't look like a comfortable process. He made his own son forget his friends, his mother and a lot of his own feelings which was pretty horrifying. He used the pendant to jazz himself up with a new sports car and flashy suit and all of his actions were just everything I despise in a human being. That's maybe a little severe but I think it's true. I did though enjoy the references to Revenge of the Slitheen and The Lost Boy. Maria and Rani getting to have a conversation was fantastic and I think if they met in person they'd get along just pleasantly. Sarah Jane dealing with her own troubles in a hospital was intriguing but I liked how she emerged at the marina and talked Paul and the Berserker he was becoming into defeat. She owned the place when she arrived and she was one person that Clyde did remember due to her absence. He confided in her and with words Paul remembered who he was and that was enough to revert himself to normality. Overall, a very good story!

Rating: 8/10