Sarah Jane Smith explored time and Space with the Doctor in classic Doctor Who, and after he dropped her off on Earth we got this. Turning her journalistic skills from getting the scoop to finding and stopping alien threats lead her to making friends with a few brave, curious local children and adopting an artificial human boy made by aliens. That's the story you get out of Sarah Jane Adventures, and it's way better than it sounds. SJA is generally better written than its parent show, with more consistent characters, better, if less complex, plots and themes that appeal to tweens and teens. It blends themes of responsibility to the world and society, the importance of courage but also discretion, and general ideas like that with frank discussions of divorce, parental influence, adoption, stepfamilies, and life milestones. A favorite example of mine is The Mark of the Berserker, which uses alien mind control technology to explore themes of parental alienation syndrome. It also attempts to put the risks of societal changes in context by using them as springboards for alien plots. Energy drinks are a target in one episode, promotional marketing to kids in another. Still, consumerism is not presented as the end-all-be-all of evil. Characters who have prestigious things have often been implied to have worked for them, and the introduction of Gita the florist in season 2 offers an opportunity to talk about buying local and supporting regional economy. Plus, brand associated with wealth are shown, but in value-neutral contexts (i.e. a rich man, neither hero nor villain, driving a mercedes). This can help young kids learn to navigate the tropes of a class-stratified world. One thing I love about this show is how real ethical power lies in the kids' hands. Sure, sometimes Sarah Jane is the wise voice of wisdom bringing them back to reality, but occasionally her son and his friends have to remind her the right thing to do. Sarah Jane, in her courage, brilliance, and constant concern for others's safety, is a decent adult role model, but Luke's innocent heart, crafty mind, and willingness to play along with villains if he thinks it will save lives are what really impress me. The odd educational content, such as the episode discussing the pied-piper myth and the one mentioning the near-universality of zodiac systems, sneak in and delight my teacher's heart. The Sarah Jane Adventures is one of my favorite shows and I only wish Doctor Who were as good anymore. It's great for children but do discuss the violence with very young kids and social commentary with older ones.