Secrets of the Stars (TV story)

"But this time, Sarah Jane Smith... you will lose."

- Martin Trueman

Secrets of the Stars is the third serial in Series 2 of The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Synopsis
Astrologer Martin Trueman causes a stir with his uncanny insights and predictions. While Sarah Jane doesn't believe in astrology, she does believe that all is not as it seems with Trueman. Around her, people are falling under Trueman's sinister spell and even Mr Smith doesn't understand what's going on.

Plot
Part 1

A young woman, Cheryl, is paying a regular visit to her astrologer, Martin Trueman. When she confides that she is spending her rent money to see him, however, Trueman breaks down and confesses that he is a con artist. As he stands by his window, unable to face her, he is hit by a shooting star... and suddenly, he's found a renewed belief in astrology.

Some time later, Rani and her mum have dragged Mr Chandra, Luke, and Clyde to Martin Trueman's astrology seminar. Sarah Jane has come, too, thinking she might do a story on Mr Trueman. Before entering the auditorium, each of them fills out a card with his or her birthday and gives it to Cheryl, now working as Mr Trueman's assistant.

Mr Trueman begins his show by naming a random date and asking those born on that date to stand. Clyde stands, despite his stated intention not to; he is unnerved, but Sarah Jane reassures him that it's a trick of persuasion. Mr Trueman selects another audience member and

Luke is slightly upset given that he does not have a star sign as he was never born, but activated. The show starts and Trueman begins to ask random dates and three people including Clyde stand up, as this is their birthday, although Clyde is unsure why he stood up.

Sarah Jane tells him its a trick of persuasion and she is sceptical about the entire show. Next he asks for a person and begins to tell truths about her life, as the woman herself is shocked but enjoying the show. Sarah Jane then tells Luke, Clyde and Rani that the woman was a plant and that Martin Trueman already knew her. Next Martin calls on Rani, and starts detailing that she has recently moved house and gives few details about her family. Rani is slightly amazed but not suspicious. Next he calls on Sarah Jane Smith, and begins detailing her travels with the Doctor in front of the audience, no-one but Sarah Jane and Luke could know of these stories and Sarah Jane is instantly suspicious. Martin Trueman then predicts her downfall.

Part 2

Clyde threatens Sarah but they manage to talk him out of it, which leads Sarah Jane to believe that Trueman's control on people can be repressed by persuading them to do something that they do not normally want to do. Meanwhile, using in his broadcast to the world, Martin Trueman takes over each star sign one by one, starting with Gemini - including Rani's mother. The world is in confusion as people are accepting the 'Ancient Lights'. Sarah Jane and the gang head to the New Theatre in East Acton to stop the broadcast, but the possessed Children of Gemini threaten to stop them. Clyde bluffs his way through by making up horoscopes.

The Ancient Lights create a portal through to the theatre. Martin reveals that Luke's theory on the Ancient Lights is true. Martin insinuates that in the old universe, they used to control all lifeforms. The Ancient Lights survived the Big Bang and needed Martin Trueman to rule the world because, he was the 'Chosen One'. Sarah Jane tries to talk him out of it but to no avail. Rani and Luke try to shut down the broadcast by flicking the mains switch off, but it is protected by the Ancient Lights' energy. Rani is an Aries and eventually becomes possessed, leaving only people with the star-sign of Taurus, which includes Sarah Jane, not under Trueman's control. However Luke, who was not born and so does not have a star-sign, realises he can stop the power of the Ancient Lights by breaking Trueman's circle. Realising that he has been beaten, Trueman cannot bear to return to his former life and instead chooses to become one with the stars. In the aftermath, the unaware Earth authorities begin a search for Trueman and Sarah Jane declares the date will Luke's equivalent to a birthday.

Cast

 * Sarah Jane Smith - Elizabeth Sladen
 * The Doctor - David Tennant
 * Luke Smith - Tommy Knight
 * Clyde Langer - Daniel Anthony
 * Rani Chandra - Anjli Mohindra
 * Mr Smith - Alexander Armstrong
 * Gita Chandra - Mina Anwar
 * Haresh Chandra - Ace Bhatti
 * Martin Trueman - Russ Abbott
 * Cheryl Farley - Carryl Thomas
 * Stuart Farley - Ed Hughes
 * Lisa Trotter - Nicky Ladanowski

Production crew

 * Co-Producer - Phil Ford
 * 1st Assistant Director - Steffan Morris
 * 2nd Assistant Director - Anna Evans
 * 3rd Assistant Director - Sarah Davies
 * Location Manager - Johnathan Allott
 * Production Co-Ordinator - Phillipa Cole
 * Continuity - Frances Mable
 * Script Editor - Gary Russell
 * Focus Puller - Steve Rees
 * Grip - Clive Baldwin
 * Boom Operator - Jeff Welch
 * Gaffer - Mark Hatchings
 * Stunt Co-Ordinator - Abbi Collins
 * Supervising Art Director - James North
 * Standby Art Director - Ellen Woods

Story notes

 * This was the first episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures in which the The Doctor appeared in some fashion, though it was in flashbacks from School Reunion and Journey's End. The TARDIS could also been seen in the background of one of the flashback scenes.
 * This is the third story in a row to involve a significant 'mind control' theme.
 * The French newscaster says:
 * La situation est tres confuse. Personne sait ce qu'il se passe, ni qui pourrait etre cet etrange Anglais.
 * The situation is very confused. No one knows what is going on, or who the strange Englishman could be.


 * The French crawl reads:
 * ...ont ete hypnotises suivant une emission televisee imprevue. Ceux qui ont ete touches par l'emission, ils commencent maitenent a agir...
 * ...have been hypnotised during an unplanned television show. Those who have been affected by the programme are now beginning to...

Ratings
to be added

Myths
to be added

Filming Locations
to be added

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

 * If Trueman took over all the channels, how did the news programmes get on the air. This was after.
 * What if people are not watching the television at the time. The TV was just for relaying instructions, he could take them over across the world without it, as seen when Rani is taken over - she is not watching TV at the time
 * Trueman didn't mention 2 other star signs, Virgo and Aquarius.He could have mensiond them when the camra is one something else. E.G. He says a star sign then it shows Luke Smith and Rani runnig up some stairs. When the camra is back on Trueman, the Aquarius symbol is lighting up

Continuity

 * Mr. Smith mentions Draconia as one of the planets that has astrology (DW: Frontier in Space).
 * Sarah Jane has a flashback of her reunion with the Tenth Doctor (DW: School Reunion) and her farewelling him after the War in the Medusa Cascade (DW: Journey's End) just after her traveling with him was spoken of by Martin Trueman.
 * Sarah Jane remarks having been by controlled by other powers in the past, referring to (DW: Planet of the Spiders, The Hand of Fear).
 * The french news reporter originally appeared in (DW: Army of Ghosts).

DVD and Other releases
to be added