Although a lot of conscious effort was made to make Sarah Jane a powerful female character with intelligence, guile, and strong feminist values; her real character growth comes after School Reunion when she basically becomes the Doctor. Taking both her UNIT training and what the Doctor taught her during their time together, she sets out to defend the Earth. Well, mainly Ealing but its still impressive. For Sarah Jane, surrendering is almost never an option. Even in her sixties, she still steps out into untold danger countless times to stand against the villains of the universe and save not only the Earth but the family she ends up building. Which is another big factor in just how strong she is. Although she never finds a long-lasting relationship, she becomes a mother to Luke (a boy artificially grown as part of an alien invasion) and Sky (a rapidly aging child left on her doorstep), as well as something of a surrogate mother to other teenagers who become part of her life, helping them grow as people by showing them the wonders of the universe. Like the Doctor, she takes people and makes them better by giving them opportunities outside of their ordinary lives. She is the closest thing the Earth has to the Doctor when he's not around, making her (without a shadow of a doubt), Doctor Whos strongest female character. Think we've missed somebody out? Who would your top choices be? Let us know in the comments section below...
JG Moore is a writer and filmmaker from the south of England. He also works as an editor and VFX artist, and has a BA in Media Production from the University Of Winchester.
