[daveyboy7472]

This story always stands out for me in this Season as it is the only modern day Earthbound one within in it, and as such it makes it that little bit more special, aside from being Sarah's last story, off course.

I like the opening scenes which setup everything for the rest of the story followed by The Doctor and Sarah's arrival in the quarry (a set which actually was a quarry!) which then led neatly into Sarah being taken over by Eldrad for nearly two whole episodes. I think Lis Sladen, looking hot in her Andy Pandy outfit, played the possessed Sarah very well, considering it was her swansong.

I think the Nuclear Reactor location scenes add to the story, giving it realism. What I also like is that Eldrad comes into forms. The female one, who seems devious but suspiciously reasonable, whom you don't know whether to trust or not, or the male one, who is an out and out villain played superbly by veteran villain actor, Stephen Thorne.

I really like the last episode especially. Kastria was displayed nicely as lonely and desolate and it was interesting to see a villain who had been defeated before he had even done anything.

The last scene where Sarah departs I always have mixed feelings. On one hand I have always felt after the way that Jo left that The Doctor reacted totally the opposite to Sarah's departure. Off course, it's a different Doctor, but after all they'd been through I thought he may have shown just a little more reaction to it.

On the other hand, though, that last scene really summed up The Doctor/Sarah relationship from the last couple of Seasons and maybe it was the right way to go. Off course, it doesn't feel so bad watching Sarah being dumped like this now she has returned and resolved her problems with The Doctor in the New Series. It certainly was a sad final scene with her walking away to a freeze-frame finish!

[sovietusername]

A fairly good plot but the special effects are pretty poor and the resolution is awful.

Spoiler

I mean they trip him up over this precipice using his scarf. For ****'S sake! They should have had it so he was just left there, as king of nothing etc

Having said that however, Sarah Jane's departure is heartbreaking and it just goes to show you dont need all that "I love you" stuff at the end of Doomsday to have a sad farewell.

[meglosmurmurs]

Not my favourite story, I'd say it's easily my least liked of season 14 (but then again season 14 is possibly the best season ever so it's not a huge criticism).

I liked it that in her last story Sarah got to really take the spotlight and show a different side.
I find it hilarious that she's possessed by the hand and acting quite sinister while wearing an outfit that looks like it was designed by a 5 year old. lol

Overall though, apart from a few memorable quotes and scenes (particularly Sarah's farewell of course) this is a fairly forgettable story.

[Listentome]

Really love this one, even if it does fall apart when they go back to Eldrad's planet. Loved all the stuff at the reactor and absolutely think Sarah's goodbye blows away any other companion goodbye before or since.

[Larry1971]

first episode is a bit dull but after that it's another top quality story from the Hinchclif era and for me possibaly the best farewell scene between the Doctor and companion in both classic and new series.

[DavetheScot]

Like meglosmurmers, I find this the weakest story in the series, but I also agree that the series is so good that that's not a big criticism. In fact, the story is a very good one, and there's many series where it would have been by far the best.

The Eldrad we first meet is a brilliant character; really captivating and as daveyboy says, you don't quite know if she's all bad or not. Sadly, in the last episode she turned into a bog standard OTT ranting maniac who deserved absolutely the ignominious pratfall of an end he got. As Sarah Jane so aptly said "Quite liked her. Couldn't stand him."

Which brings on neatly to Sarah Jane's departure. This came as a massive shock to me at the time. As a 10-year-old, I felt like she had been part of the show forever (my memory did in fact stretch back to Jo, but that had been three or four years ago, an eternity for a child). I think the ending is a good one, and I don't see the Doctor as not caring about it. I think he was just trying to make it easier for her. I liked that he left her in the wrong place; totally like him!

And can I say "Yes, just like Andy Pandy!"

[doublefour]

Ahh that suit SJS wears, I love it. It makes her really weirdly creepy when she is under the influence though. Fantastic, it's that Inferno parallel planet thing, where you see the companions/friends being a bit bad or a lot bad.
Eldrad the female one is well sexy, if you watch the commentary on the DVD, Tom Baker spends most of the time going on about it whenever she is on screen. Can't blame him really!
The fact they used a real industrial setting adds to the whole atmosphere of the story. However, my favourite scenes are in the quarry and in and around the Hospital, love SJ being possessed but it just brings home some of the humour and tight bond these two had, being shown in her last story. A nice understated but emotonal departure at the end also. Still the best companion Docotr Who has ever had in Sarah Jane, and the only choice to bring back a classic series companion in the new series, was so glad it was Sarah

[ocox]

I thought the “bad “ SJS was some of Elisabeth Sladen’s best acting.

[AdelaideGirl]

Eldrad Must Live

[allen_who]

It's a great story but it has to be said the first ten minutes of part one are really annoying. The beginning only makes sense at the very end (if that makes sense) and that siren noise makes you want to turn the telly off.

But.... I really really enjoy watching 'The Hand of Fear'

Top dialogue...

Medical Doctor: 'You are a doctor yourself, where did you qualify?'

Doctor: A place called Gifrey

Medical Doctor: 'Galifrey...., No I've not heard of it. Perhaps it's in Ireland?'

Doctor: Probably