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Farewell, Sarah Jane (2020) movie poster

Timeline

Farewell, Sarah Jane (2020) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 13 mins · English
Directed by
Russell T Davies
Starring
Anjli Mohindra, Tommy Knight, Sophie Aldred, Katy Manning, Mina Anwar, Daniel Anthony

Following the death of Sarah-Jane Smith, her friends and allies reunite at a memorial service to pay their respects.

On this page (4)
  1. 1 Events in order (15)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Every angle

15 events in order · contains spoilers

Farewell, Sarah Jane Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Farewell, Sarah Jane (2020) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Funeral service for Sarah Jane Smith

    A funeral service is held for Sarah Jane Smith, with Luke Smith, Clyde Langer, and Rani Chandra among the mourners. They gather during the reception as friends share memories and smile sadly for the loss. The mood is solemn but warm, as relatives and companions offer support to one another.

    Where
    Funeral service
  2. Reception greetings and memories

    Luke greets UNIT soldiers and is hugged by Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, signaling official recognition of Sarah Jane's network of allies. Clyde moves through a chain of familiar faces—Tegan Jovanka, Nyssa, Ben, Polly, Ian Chesterton, Barbara Wright, then Martha Jones and Mickey Smith with their son August—sharing memories. Dodo Chaplet, Grace Holloway, Liz Shaw, and Victoria Waterfield greet the group as well.

    Where
    Reception hall
  3. Sky Smith and Jack Harkness moment

    Sky Smith briefly manifests in human form, offering a moment of warmth amid the farewell. Jack Harkness salutes Sarah Jane from a distance and then departs.

    Where
    Reception hall
  4. Virtual guests join the reception

    Maria Jackson and her father participate in the reception virtually after missing their flight due to chasing an alien in Seattle. Their video connection keeps them part of the gathering and the shared memory.

    Where
    Reception
  5. Jackals reveal the Trickster

    As guests tell stories, the waiters reveal themselves to be Jackals of the Backwards Clock, servants of The Trickster. The crowd's mood shifts from nostalgia to uneasy tension as the danger becomes clear.

    Where
    Reception
  6. The Trickster's appearance and defeat

    The Trickster appears, planning to replace Earth with a copy from the Septic Dimension. The guests react with resolve and manage to shrink him to the size of a doll and lock him in a treasure chest at the bottom of the ocean for one thousand years.

    Where
    Bottom of the ocean
  7. Reunion and vow to reconnect

    After the danger passes, the reception resumes and attendees exchange contact information. They vow to meet again every year, forming what they call the Family Smith to honor Sarah Jane's memory.

    Where
    Reception
  8. Farewells at the doorway

    Luke, Clyde, and Rani stay by the door to say goodbye to everyone. Jo Jones approaches apologetically and expresses her love for Sarah Jane, offering comfort in the Doctor's absence and noting that the Doctor's two hearts may make his pain greater, which seems to ease the trio's sorrow slightly.

    Where
    Funeral venue entrance
  9. Words from Gita and Haresh Chandra

    Gita speaks warmly of Sarah Jane's relationship with Clyde, Rani, and Luke, sharing respect and appreciation. Haresh Chandra adds his own reflections before the farewell.

    Where
    Reception area
  10. Dorothy McShane's memory

    Dorothy McShane hugs the trio and recalls a memory of the Seventh Doctor saying he missed Sarah Jane, a moment that underscores the depth of their friendship.

    Where
    Reception area
  11. Clyde's reflection on Sarah Jane's belief in him

    Clyde muses that Sarah Jane saw potential in him and expresses remorse that he never told her he loved her. The moment is tender and filled with regret mixed with gratitude.

    Where
    Near the doorway
  12. Drive to Sarah Jane's house

    The three drive to Sarah Jane's house, and Luke and Clyde agree that she seemed to wait for them to leave the country to spare them pain. Rani remains thoughtful during the ride.

    Where
    On the road to Sarah Jane's house
  13. Attic and the house's future

    They search the house and reach the attic, calling for Mr. Smith. He explains that Sarah Jane wanted the house and him to be shut down, waiting for its next owner to arrive.

    Where
    Sarah Jane's house attic
  14. Plan to reconvene on Christmas Day

    The trio agrees to see each other on Christmas Day, with Luke noting how lucky he felt to have been adopted by Sarah Jane and to carry on her legacy.

    When
    Christmas Day
    Where
    Sarah Jane's house
  15. Final departure and belief in a new journey

    Luke and Clyde go home while Rani stays behind to tidy up. Mr. Smith shuts down the house, and Rani tells him she does not think Sarah Jane is dead, but that the Doctor came back for her and took her on one last trip. Mr. Smith agrees, and Rani leaves the house.

    Where
    Sarah Jane's house

Last updated: October 14, 2025 at 04:08

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Timeline questions answered

Farewell, Sarah Jane Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Farewell, Sarah Jane (2020): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

How did the funeral guests defeat The Trickster?

The Trickster was defeated when the funeral guests, comprised of former companions and allies of Sarah Jane, combined their will and managed to shrink him to the size of a doll. They then locked him in a treasure chest at the bottom of the ocean for one thousand years, effectively neutralizing his threat to Earth.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the reception, the waiters revealed themselves to be Jackals of the Backwards Clock, servants of The Trickster, signaling that danger was approaching.

  • trickster
  • defeat
  • 缩小
  • 客人
  • 海底
  • 宝藏箱
Q2

Why does Rani think the Doctor took Sarah Jane on one last trip?

Rani tells Mr. Smith she does not think Sarah Jane is dead, but rather that the Doctor came back for her and brought her on one last trip. This reflects Rani's hopeful interpretation that Sarah Jane's death was not an ending but a new adventure with the Doctor.

  • rani
  • doctor
  • 萨拉·简
  • 最后旅程
  • 信念
Q3

Why did Sarah Jane wait for Luke, Clyde, and Rani to leave before dying?

Luke and Clyde sense that Sarah Jane waited for them to be away from the house to spare them the worst of the pain. She chose to pass when her adopted children were not present, protecting them from witnessing her final moments.

  • 萨拉·简
  • 死亡
  • 等待
  • 卢克
  • 克莱德
  • rani
Q4

Why did Sarah Jane want Mr. Smith and the house shut down?

Sarah Jane instructed Mr. Smith to shut down the house and wait for its next owner. She wanted the house preserved rather than maintained indefinitely, indicating she had accepted her fate and was preparing for the next chapter, whether for herself or for others who might inherit her legacy and alien-tech.

  • 史密斯先生
  • 房子
  • 关闭
  • 下一任主人
Q5

Why does Jo Jones mention the Doctor's two hearts at the funeral?

Jo Jones mentions that since the Doctor has two hearts, his pain at losing Sarah Jane may be greater than anyone else's. This comforts the trio by acknowledging that the Doctor, though absent, shares their grief deeply, even more intensely due to his longer life and deeper connections.

  • 乔·琼斯
  • 医生
  • 两颗心
  • 悲伤
Q6

Why did Jack Harkness leave the funeral early?

Jack Harkness saluted Sarah Jane from a distance and then departed before the reception fully concluded. Given Jack's history with loss and his complicated relationship with mortality, his early exit suggests he chose to honor her in his own private way rather than linger in the gathering.

  • 杰克·哈克尼斯
  • 离开
  • 敬礼
  • 早期
Q7

What is the Family Smith that the guests form?

After defeating The Trickster, the guests exchange contact information and vow to meet up every year to honor Sarah Jane's memory. They call themselves the Family Smith, creating a new tradition and support network bound together by their shared connection to Sarah Jane and the Doctor.

  • 史密斯家族
  • 年度聚会
  • 传统
  • 纪念
Q8

Why did Clyde never tell Sarah Jane he loved her?

Clyde admits he wishes he could have told Sarah Jane that he loved her, expressing regret that he never said those words directly to her. His reflection shows how deeply her loss affects him and highlights the complicated emotions of losing someone who believed in you.

  • 克莱德
  • 遗憾
  • 表达

Movie threads

More Movies Like Farewell, Sarah Jane, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Farewell, Sarah Jane tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about bittersweet reunions like Farewell, Sarah Jane

Stories where old friends reunite to celebrate a life and confront a shared loss. Discover movies like Farewell, Sarah Jane that center on emotional reunions following a loss. These films explore the bittersweet blend of mourning and celebration, where characters find comfort in their shared past and hope for the future. If you enjoyed the heartfelt gathering of friends in Farewell, Sarah Jane, you'll find similar stories here.

  • bittersweet
  • nostalgic
  • grieving
  • reflective
  • warm
  • sentimental
  • Tone: bittersweet, nostalgic, reflective
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives often begin with a somber event, like a funeral or memorial, that reunites a group of characters. The plot is character-driven, revolving around shared memories and the rekindling of bonds. A central theme is confronting grief collectively, which may be punctuated by a minor external challenge that ultimately strengthens the group's resolve and highlights the enduring impact of the person they've lost.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a specific emotional tone—a blend of sadness and warmth—and a narrative structure centered on a reunion. They prioritize emotional reflection over complex plotting, offering a steady, reflective pace that allows the audience to fully engage with the characters' journey through grief and remembrance.

Movies about legacy and found family like Farewell, Sarah Jane

Stories about the families we choose and the legacies we leave behind. Explore films similar to Farewell, Sarah Jane that delve into themes of legacy and found family. These stories show how a person's life brings together a unique group of people who become a family, carrying on their spirit. If you liked how Farewell, Sarah Jane honored its hero's legacy through her friends, you'll appreciate these movies.

  • found family
  • legacy
  • hopeful
  • warm
  • sentimental
  • heartfelt
  • Tone: warm, hopeful, sentimental
  • Pacing: steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a group of disparate individuals united by their connection to a central, often inspiring, figure. After this figure's departure (through death or other means), the story explores how their legacy continues through the actions and bonds of this 'found family'. The conflict is often internal or emotional, centered on healing and deciding how to move forward together, reaffirming their unique identity as a group.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their deep thematic focus on the concept of legacy and the emotional dynamics of found family. They share a warm, hopeful undertone even within sad circumstances, emphasizing that connections forged by choice are as powerful as those by blood, and that a person's influence endures through the community they built.

Every angle

Farewell, Sarah Jane (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Farewell, Sarah Jane in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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