New Spin-Off: The Sarah Jane Adventures

The Sarah Jane Adventures starts on Sci-Fi channel on April 11 (Fridays at 8). It is a spin-off of the original Dr. Who series. Sarah was the sidekick of Doctors 3 & 4 (Jon Pertwee & Tom Baker). K-9 will also appear on some episodes.

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Permalink Reply by jampony on March 16, 2008 at 4:58pm: Very cool. I've seen the series and I liked it a lot, except for one or two episodes (I'm not a fan of the Slitheen). I can't wait to hear what others think of it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Baff on March 26, 2008 at 10:08am: I am quite encouraged to hear that you liked it. Aside from Torchwood, our tastes in sci-fi have been amazingly similar. (You are the only other person I know who hated 2001. It boggles my mind how so many people can give it 5 stars.)

Sarah and K9 weren't my favorite sidekicks, but they weren't my least favorite either. (That gives me an idea for a new thread.) I heard K9 is only in a couple episodes? Probably a good thing since they always billed him as being super smart and amazingly powerful. They were constantly finding ways to cripple him on the original show.

Have you seen the original spin-off, "K9 and Company"? I only know about it from reading the official site and a few mentions in interviews on one of the discs. Maybe they will include it as an extra when they release this series on dvd (assuming they have it).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by jampony on March 26, 2008 at 4:43pm: Wow! I just checked 2001 -- I didn't realize so many people loved that movie. Well, to each his own, I guess. But now I'm doubting myself and my taste... a million people can't be wrong, can they???

Okay, back on topic... I hadn't seen the classic episodes, so when I saw Sarah and K9 for the first time, (well, second, I guess, since they were in a recent DW episode) I had no preconceived ideas. She's a fine actress, but she does have an odd tendency to not look other actors in the eyes -- she sort of stares off into the distance while other people are talking then when they're done she snaps into action. It's kind of effective a lot of the time since they're always rushing around to save someone or something. And, yes, K9 does appear only in a few episodes. If he is that powerful like you said, I can see why they keep him busy doing other things (which they'll disclose in the first episode). I think people will be surprised by this show. It is geared towards children but there are a few episodes that are just as creepy as a DW episode (in other words, don't stop watching after the first episode; it gets better). :)

I've only read about K9 and Company but I thought it was a whole series; I didn't realize until just now that it was just one episode. I just checked wikipedia (so take the info with a grain of salt) but it says "The story will be released on DVD in July 2008 as a double pack with K-9's first Doctor who story The Invisible Enemy." Pretty cool!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Master Papp on March 28, 2008 at 5:25am: I guess that I will give it a try...Sci-Fi seems to ruin remakes of old shows or spin-offs...the new doctor who series on Sci-Fi is absolutely horrible. I watched the first season, for some reason, but stopped after the first episode of the second season with the new doctor...what garbage! I know that the last few years of the original series wasn't very good, but this is an insult to the original show.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Baff on March 28, 2008 at 11:01am: All the new shows are done by the BBC. Sci-Fi channel is just re-airing them here, they have nothing to do with the production.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Master Papp on March 31, 2008 at 7:55am: Well, that's good to hear. Thanks!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Alex the Lion on April 2, 2008 at 3:41pm: Hey all, I'm new to the group...this is the first time I've heard of this spin off. To be honest Sarah Jane wasn't my favorite sidekick to begin with, (I preferred the first Romana) she was always getting into trouble and had to be saved while screaming her lungs out lol. So I guess it'll be interesting to see how they spin the story to make it bearable.

Wait...oh God no! I just clicked the link to the Sci-Fi channel site and I see they have the original Sarah Jane playing the part...tisk tisk...they might as well start bringing back the old Doctors and do an episode similar to the 5 Doctors. lol; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by jampony on April 2, 2008 at 6:41pm: Will you settle for the fifth Doctor's real life daughter playing the current Doctor's tv daughter? I have it on good authority we'll be seeing Peter Davison's daughter in the sixth episode of Doctor Who.

(Thanks, Wayne, for keeping me up-to-date on all the DW/TW/SJA news!); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Baff on April 12, 2008 at 1:26am: I can't say I was too excited about the 1st episode. I rarely like pilot episodes though, as the actors haven't gotten into the roles yet. Some shows film the episodes out of order so that the first episode they air the characters come off more natural (I know Dresden Files did that, though it obviously didn't save the show).

There was one girl on the show I really didn't like, but it seems this is the only episode she is in.

The first episode was 90 minutes. My DVR says next week is 30 minutes. Is it normally a 30 minute show?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by jampony on April 12, 2008 at 6:30pm: Invasion of the Bane (my second to least favorite of the series) was actually the made for tv movie/pilot (not sure what that's called in the UK) and it was an hour long. Technically they're all one hour long, but they were aired as half hour shows with every other week being a "to be continued" episode. It looks like SciFi will be airing part 2 of the previous episode before part 1 of the next. Except for next week when the Doctor Who Christmas Special will be airing (which was fun and all, but not my favorite of the few Christmas Specials I've seen).

You're right that the annoying girl doesn't appear in any more episodes, thank goodness. I really didn't like the little wench. Maria gets a new friend, a boy this time, and I have to say I think he's kind of awesome. And by the second or third episode, the actress who plays Maria settles in to the part and is much more natural. Unfortunately, Maria's mom stays the same. Through the whole series.

The next episode (my absolute least favorite of any SJC, DW or TW episode -- hate the Slitheen) is better than the movie/pilot but not great. But I really do think it gets better as it goes on. The next set of episodes (The Eye of the Gorgon) is one of my favorites. But really, this is a kids' show so don't expect too much.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Baff on April 12, 2008 at 7:48pm: "Unfortunately, Maria's mom stays the same. Through the whole series."

Heh. Sorry to hear that, but not surprised.

"But really, this is a kids' show so don't expect too much."

Yeah, I don't expect the same as I do from the other 2 shows.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Baff on April 20, 2008 at 4:01pm: "It looks like SciFi will be airing part 2 of the previous episode before part 1 of the next."

It's annoying that they feel the need to have a "to be continued" every single week instead of just giving us full episodes. I'm watching them via DVR, so maybe I will just let the 1st half of the episodes sit for a week so I can watch them together.; ▶ Reply to This