Customer Reviews

The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Complete First Season

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The longest running female character played by the same actress, Elisabeth Sladen, in BBC History.

Sarah Jane Smith is a character from the long running TV Series 'Doctor Who', she was his most beloved companion, and a fan favorite. Sarah Jane traveled with the Doctor from 1973-1976;1983;2006;2008, and has met various Doctors (1st-5th;10th)and various companions (Susan, Victoria, The Brigadier, Harry, K-9, Tegan, Turlough, Rose, Jack, Martha and Donna) along the way.

Sarah Jane was considered the Doctor's bestfriend, and even at one time voted the best side kick by TV Guide, beating out Burt Ward as Robin from the 1966 Batman series.

Sarah Jane was given K-9 Mk3, in the original spin off series 'K-9 and Company' (1981), as a gift from the Doctor. Sarah later appeared with K-9 in the 20th Anniversary episode 'The Five Doctors' (1983)
After a break from the TV screen for 10 years, but featured in various novels, Sarah Jane would return alongside the Brigadier and the 2nd Doctors former companion, Victoria Waterfield in 'Downtime'(1993).

The New Series of 'Doctor Who' returned in 2005, and Elisabeth Sladen was again asked to reprise her role as Sarah Jane Smith alongside K-9 in the episode 'School Reunion' where she met the 10th Doctor (David Tennant).
This spawned another Sarah Jane spinoff 'The Sarah Jane Adventures'. Sarah Jane is given a son, who was created by the Bane mother in 'Invasion of the Bane' (2006), which she name Luke Smith. Together they shared, which can only be described as a series of 'classic era Doctor Who' adventures.

Sarah Jane and Luke Smith returned to 'Doctor Who' in the 2008 2-part series finale 'The Stolen Earth/Journey's End' in an attempt to help stop the Daleks. K-9 was given a brief cameo in the end.

The Sarah Jane Adventures proved so successful that it was given the green light for a second series which begins in 2009.

A surprise announcement for the series, was that another former friend of Sarah Janes and the Doctors, would be returning to series two, again played by Nicholas Courtney, fan favorite 'The Brigadier'.Doctor Who - The Time Warrior (Episode 70)Comeback (Sarah Jane Smith)The Sarah Jane Smith Adventures Sarah Jane & General Kudlak Action Figure SetDoctor Who - The Complete Second SeriesDoctor Who: The Invisible Enemy/K9 and Company: A Girl's Best FriendDoctor Who: The Brain of Morbius No. 84Doctor Who - The Five Doctors (25th Anniversary Edition)Doctor Who - Planet of Evil (Episode 81)Doctor Who - The Sontaran Experiment (Episode 77)Doctor Who - Robot (Episode 75)Doctor Who - Genesis of the Daleks (Episode 78)Doctor Who - The Hand of Fear (Episode 87)Doctor Who - The Ark In Space (Story No. 76)Doctor Who - Pyramids of MarsK-9 Remote Control Dog

Herein is an excellent children's sci fi excellently done. Taking place alongside the latest episodes of Doctor Who are the adventures of investigative journalist (and former Doctor's companion) Sarah Jane Smith, her adopted son Luke, and young neighbors Maria and Clyde. Aliens are falling to Earth every day, Sarah Jane explains, and it's up to people like them to help the good ones and protect the planet from the bad ones.

Most live-action children's shows seem to be the afterthought of their writers and producers (and actors), but the Sarah Jane Adventures is produced with as much sincerity, intelligence, and wit as its parent show. One wouldn't expect such high quality from a show mostly starring child actors, but Yasmin Page (Maria), Tommy Knight (Luke), and Daniel Anthony (Clyde) are natural actors, believable and fun. The adults aren't just there for a paycheck either: Elisabeth Sladen is superb in her latest portrayal of her classic character, Sarah Jane Smith. Joseph Millson is both charming and protective as Maria's dad, Alan. Even Chrissie, played by Juliet Cowan, is interesting in her minor role.

Mixed in with aliens and spaceships are more adult themes, such as Sarah Jane's loneliness, Alan's struggles to protect his daughter, and Maria's perspective of her parents' divorce. But the show is never bogged down by them, portraying a world infused with optimism and adventure, where games turn dangerous, but everybody makes it home in the end.

Come for the scares and laughs, stay for the fine writing and acting, and cheer that the next season starts airing this fall.

With Season Two under production in the UK, Sarah Jane, Voted Doctor Who's favorate Companion even over Rose in a recent DWM poll is shown in her first successful TV series. Telling stories worthy of Doctor Who's current series the show was aimed at the Dr's original target group Children. The shows are a bit younger in the writting but still have the quallity that have marked the New series of Doctor Who. The improvements to the Silveen are out of this world I love the Thin Suits. After the Adventures of K-9, a Girls best Friend went flop, for lack of story more than any other reason in the late 1970's, we all thought Sarah was gone, wrong, she's back, and shows no sign of leaving us soon. She has stated she feels her time of visiting the Doctor is done following the final show of Season 4 of Doctor Who, however she is still going strong her, and the new producer is looking to bring K-9 back intothe stories more in season 3, so watchout more are comming. Now does revlon carry sonic lipsticks?

I was so happy to see this released on DVD here. I am a 26 year old female with no kids and I adore this series and I am not ashamed at all. Personally I think The Sarah Jane Adventures is a much better series than Torchwood and I find it more consistent in terms of quality than the New Doctor Who series.

Admittedly the 1st two stories (invasion of the Bane and Revenge of the Slitheen) are sort of weak which is why I gave this set 4 stars but as the series progresses the stories definitely improve. I especially enjoyed Eye of the Gorgon and Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane?

Another thing I love about this series is the main heroine is a single middle aged woman. That's something you don't see every day.

So if you are just looking for a fun science fiction series with well written characters and stories that don't try to be all dark and edgy then I definitely recommend this.

The Doctor Who Invisible Enemy / K9 set that is just on its way out, contains "K9 & Co." the introduction to K9 mark III. and the Christmas special that didn't fly as a Dr. Who spin-off in the 80's. But leave it the 2005's DW producer Russell T. Davies to get not one but 2 spin-off successful off the ground (both are working on season 2's as we speak, well..."read"). The continuing adventures of the best companion in the 40 years of Doctor Who...in my humble opinion...Elisabeth Sladen still has "IT." Having see loads of space and time travel following her first meeting with the 3rd Doctor in Time Warrior (who she immediately assumes is the root of kidnappings she's investigating) they soon become the best of friends and a team to continue into his 4th incarnation, then later meeting the 5th, and most recently the 10th in School Reunion revealing what happens to a companion who is "left behind" by the Doctor. She's witnessed the creation of the Daleks, she seen plenty with the Doctor. Her individual adventures show to be well, "spooky" for having traveled with the Timelord, maybe having lost some humanity (like Rose's mum suggests is happening to her), but she grows over the course of the SJ Adventure series (and the Season 4 finally).

The monsters of the series, some old, some new, some new and old, are okay...interesting and benign enough that there is no true horror, as Sarah's companions are barely in jr. high, it seems inappropriate for the danger to be to much...but the stakes do get pretty high over the course of the series, building to a climax of planetary proportions....and super cameo at the end (no not the Doctor!) The SJ Adventures' TARGET AUDIENCE is neatly below Dr. Who's family audience, but with enough scares to make it work for the being the sofa crowd. My 6 year old was hooked, less so with my 10 year old, both who love DW (old and new), and they understand the SARAH JANE was my "ROSE" and that connection with it's roots means plenty. So as a stand alone project...I'd say 3 stars if fair...but if we evaluate it as fans (and parents), I'd make it 4 stars. which if pretty good for a fledgling series and a spin-off no less.....plenty that's cringe-worthy and not enough of the "TIN DOG".

There's also some nice links to the Season 4 of Doctor Who....like Luke's origin and the Time Beetle from "Left Turn" is a minion of a creature faced by SJS in her initial season here.

One Question....does this set include the pilot special "INVASION OF BANE"
which was released by itself on DVD, atleast on region 2. I'm assuming what is considered season 1 is including the pilot. If anyone knows for sure please add a comment.

Doctor Who was once a happy romp through history for the children. Nothing too scary, nothing too complex, nothing too controversial. At some point, perhaps Tom Baker, Dr. Who became something not accessible to children. A little too scary, a little to adult. Targeted to older teens. As one commentary on Doctor Who mentioned, there is certain expectation when you put a girl in leathers on TV after the football.

I enjoy The Sarah Jane Adventures because it harks back to that time when Doctor Who was suitable for children. Certainly the new updated Doctor is targeted to older teens and adults, while Torchwoord is strictly not in prime time. It is nice to have balance.

What I don't like about the Sarah Jane Adventures is that it falls all too often into that most wicked formula of the monster of the week killed by magic. Doctor Who was on some level cerebral, and it would be nice if problems were solved by ingenuity and not by magic. It is the sonic screwdriver issue. At some point the plot devices get in the way of the story. One plot device, such as the TARDIS, is tolerable. Multiple plot devices can be overwhelming. Sarah Jane is the original plucky, bright girl. She does not need Mr. Smith to solve all her problems.

My 10 year old grand daughter happened to catch a Sarah Jane Adventures marathon on TV and told me about it, knowing I was a Dr. Who fan. A fan of the classics, from William Hartnell to Sylvester McCoy. Her mom said they both really enjoyed it. I tried to find it on TV but couldn't. So I had to buy it and I'm not the least bit sorry. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even with all the special effects, it is a return to the original Doctor Who in innocence, flavor, and excitement. I look forward to Season Two.

I wasn't sure I would like this new series because the side-kicks were kids ... so I figured it would be too young for me ... but I was pleasantly surprised!!! I love K-9! I love that some of the Doctor Who monsters made an appearance!! I like how they grew SJ's character in the 1st season. It is a family show ... probably more in line with the scariness of the orignal series ... definitely something you could watch with your kids and enjoy!! If you liked the original Doctor Who you will probably like this series ... it is sort of New Doctor Who Lite. Not quite as scary ... but still VERY well written and acted!!!! This spin-off series seems to be targeted at families and/or younger viewers the Torchwood series seems to be targeted at adults. All three shows are great and a welcome addition to my Original Doctor Who DVDs and video tapes :o) ... Highly recommended!

And I don't mean to kids, although you probably are to them, too. I'm talking to 50 something ladies, who, thanks to you, can still see their own potential for being an action hero!

This is a wonderful show. And Sarah Jane is almost, just so nearly almost as wonderful as the Doctor in it. (Sorry, SJ, you of all people will understand how no one can be as wonderful as the Doctor.) And I just love that they've given her her own young ersatz Doctor to raise in the form of Luke--the brown-haired, brown-eyed, tall, slim young man who's super intelligent and more than a bit alien--brilliant! She deserves her own Doctor, even if it is in the form of an adopted son.

And I wasn't even going to go out of my way to watch this. Figured, what the hey, the Doctor's not in it. But then I found myself writing a fan fiction story about Sarah Jane and the Tenth Doctor which can be found on fanfiction.net under the title Silver and Gold in case anyone is interested, and after having her living in my head for over a month, I decided I had to see the Adventures. I am SO glad! Can hardly wait for the second series to hit DVD.

Buy it! Encourage them to make more!

Unlike the dismal Torchwood, Sarah Jane adventures are a great spin off from Doctor who. Something the whole family can watch. The adventures are fun and engaging. Elisabeth Sladen returns as the iconic Sarah Jane Smith. Former companion of the Doctor. She tackles the same elements on earth as the doctor does in time and space. The kids with her face each task with enthusiasm and no fear. A show that proves why sarah jane is the most popular companion of all time. She is wonderful as is the show.