First broadcast across two parts in December 2008, Enemy of the Bane marks the thrilling conclusion to Series Two of The Sarah Jane Adventures. Written by Phil Ford and directed by Graeme Harper, this story isn’t just a satisfying end to a solid season of family-oriented science fiction—it also serves as a poignant and historically significant milestone in the wider Doctor Who universe. Most notably, it features the final on-screen appearance of Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, portrayed with gentle authority by Nicholas Courtney. Rewatching this in 2025, the story remains a richly enjoyable blend of action, humour, nostalgia, and emotional depth, with added reverence for the legacy that Courtney and the Brigadier brought to the Whoniverse.
The story begins with the reappearance of Mrs Wormwood, the sinister Bane villain from the pilot episode Invasion of the Bane. Samantha Bond returns to the role with cold-blooded elegance, oozing charm and menace in equal measure. She claims to be on the run from her own kind and requests Sarah Jane’s help, introducing immediate tension into the group. Luke, ever the compassionate heart of the team, believes there might be something redemptive in her, but Sarah Jane is understandably wary.
The story wastes little time in building stakes. Mrs Wormwood seeks the Tunguska Scroll, a powerful artefact said to awaken Horath, a godlike entity with the power to conquer galaxies. The scroll is hidden in the secure vaults of UNIT, prompting Sarah Jane to call upon an old friend for help: the Brigadier.
Nicholas Courtney’s return is everything a fan could wish for. Now retired from active duty but still sharp and deeply respected, the Brigadier slots seamlessly into this more youthful world. Courtney’s performance is warm, authoritative, and just a little wistful. He shares a lovely rapport with Elisabeth Sladen’s Sarah Jane—a partnership that stretches all the way back to their time with the Third and Fourth Doctors. Their scenes together are peppered with nostalgia, mutual respect, and an unspoken sense that they’ve both lived long, complicated lives filled with loss and heroism.
There’s a moment in particular that resonates on rewatch: when the Brigadier, reflecting on his years of service, jokes about not missing the invasions. But his smile fades quickly, and there’s a flicker of something deeper—awareness of time passing, of battles won and comrades lost. In 2025, watching Courtney in this role for the final time is profoundly moving. He doesn’t go out with a blaze of glory or a grand death scene, and that’s precisely what makes his final bow so dignified. He remains the steady hand, the calm in the storm, and the perfect embodiment of duty.
The younger cast also shines. Thomas Knight continues to grow into his role as Luke, particularly when he confronts his own origins through Mrs Wormwood. As his "mother," she embodies both temptation and threat, drawing him toward the notion of greatness through domination. The emotional tension here is strong, particularly in Luke’s rejection of her manipulations. Yasmin Paige as Maria and Daniel Anthony as Clyde provide excellent support, their banter and bravery adding warmth and levity to the escalating crisis. It’s especially refreshing to see Clyde’s increasing confidence—he’s no longer comic relief, but a fully-fledged hero.
The action moves briskly, with Harper’s direction keeping things tense without losing the lightness that defines The Sarah Jane Adventures. There’s infiltration, subterfuge, and a terrific set-piece in the UNIT vaults. The final confrontation, involving the awakening of Horath and Wormwood’s betrayal of Kaagh (the returning Sontaran from The Last Sontaran), manages to balance spectacle with character drama. The defeat of the villains doesn’t rely solely on explosions but on loyalty, teamwork, and the ability to see through lies.
Rewatching Enemy of the Bane in 2025, its storytelling holds up remarkably well. It’s a satisfying fusion of classic Doctor Who ethos—courage, cleverness, and compassion—with a modern, youthful tone that never talks down to its audience. The strength of The Sarah Jane Adventures has always been its respect for both its characters and its viewers, and this finale encapsulates that beautifully.
And of course, it’s impossible not to reflect on what we lost. Nicholas Courtney passed away in 2011, and while his legacy lives on in audio dramas and novels, Enemy of the Bane remains his last on-screen appearance. That legacy is impossible to overstate. From his debut in 1968’s The Web of Fear, through decades of loyalty and courage across regenerations, timelines, and parallel Earths, the Brigadier became a cornerstone of the Doctor Who universe. He was the Doctor’s soldier, his conscience, and sometimes his foil. But most of all, he was his friend.
In Enemy of the Bane, he’s exactly what he always was: dependable, dignified, and decent. His presence elevates the story, not through bombast, but through quiet strength. It’s fitting that his final appearance is not alongside the Doctor, but with Sarah Jane—the companion who, like him, never stopped fighting for what was right.
As a series finale, Enemy of the Bane hits every mark: it’s emotionally satisfying, dramatically compelling, and thematically rich. As a tribute to the Brigadier and Nicholas Courtney, it’s priceless.
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