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The Sarah Jane Adventures

(Rated NR, Science fiction , Starring Elizabeth Sladen, Yasmin Paige, Thomas Knight, Where to watch: SciFi)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Doctor Who spin-off is fun for tweens+.

updated 07.04.08

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Unlike most American shows that focus on female characters, this show makes no effort to hide either Sarah Jane's age or her brains. She seems resigned to being perpetually single, and she and others sometimes pointedly remark on her lack of a husband or boyfriend. Maria's parents are divorced, and the show makes no effort to hide the downside of divorce, including parents who bicker over money and revel in their ability to date new people while neglecting their children.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Sarah Jane and her friends frequently tangle with hostile aliens, but they use their wits rather than weapons, and she makes a point of noting that they're almost always outgunned. The violence is very tame, with a few less-than-dramatic explosions, some rather unconvincing alien costumes, and very little shooting or punching.

  • Sexy stuff:

    No sex or nudity, though there's a bit of subtle innuendo. The show does not ignore sexuality -- middle-aged Sarah Jane's lack of a husband or boyfriend is occasionally mentioned, both by her and other characters. Maria's parents are divorced, and her mother sometimes hints at romantic encounters with a new boyfriend.

  • Language:

    "Fart" is about as bad as it gets.

  • Consumerism:

    Few obvious product placements, though Sarah Jane is frequently seen driving a sporty green Nissan Figaro. Several episodes center on alien plots to take over the Earth using successful corporations as fronts to hide in plain sight (perhaps a not-so-thinly-veiled metaphor for capitalism's potentially adverse impact on society).

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Sarah Jane Adventures

Parents need to know that this family-targeted Doctor Who spin-off is heavy on aliens trying to take over the Earth, but light on violence and scares (the characters prefer to use wits over weapons, and the effects aren't very sophisticated). There's no iffy sexual content, drinking, or particularly strong language, either, and main character Sarah Jane is a plucky, ingenious single mom who -- in a rarity for TV -- looks and acts her age, speaks honestly about her feelings, and comes across as a very real person. That is, a real person who spends her days tracking down aliens and sending them packing without resorting to violence.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about aliens. Do you think there's intelligent life somewhere else in the universe? If so, do you think they've ever come to visit Earth? Why do so many TV shows assume that aliens are real, here, more advanced than humans, and bent on taking over the planet? And if an alien creature could look like just about anything, why do so many fictional ones have two legs, two arms, and a head (in other words, a lot like people)? Families can also discuss how this show compares to Doctor Who. Is it more age-appropriate for kids? Why or why not?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer
    Age 17
    ravvie
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Very fun

    This is a very fun and worthy spin off from Doctor Who, especially for the younger ones who are too scared of the parent show. Yes, it can be hokey and silly at moments, but in the end it's a lot of fun, and I'm quite excited to see more.

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