Yeah, sometimes Doctor Who can be a bit perfunctory in it's handling of what should be important character developments, to say the least! But I'm glad if Mike will get a little more in 'Planet of the Spiders', if I can bring myself to watch it- giant spiders and the Doctor getting killed are pretty much my least favorite things ever. Even knowing he regenerates, it's still sad to say goodbye to a Doctor.

My mother used to watch Classic Who back when it was new, and Four & Sarah Jane were her first TARDIS team and her favorite, so I remember how excited she was when Sarah Jane came back in New Who- I heard all about Sarah Jane before I'd even seen her. (She almost named me Sarah Jane, apparently, but she thought it would be too popular a name- so she chose Nyssa instead, LOL)