Season Three of The Dr Who Spin Off: Sarah Jane Adventures is Out Now To Own on DVD!

Stalwart journalist Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) and her trio of intrepid teenage sidekicks defend the Earth against hostile aliens galore, equipped with gumption, sonic lipstick, and a hidden extraterrestrial supercomputer called Mr. Smith. This spinoff from Doctor Who is squarely aimed at a younger audience, with much of the action carried by handsome and cool Clyde (Daniel Anthony), spunky but levelheaded Rani (Anjli Mohindra), and Sarah Jane's adopted son Luke (Tommy Knight), who's a genetically engineered genius. The six two-episode stories in the complete third season feature Sarah Jane becoming possessed by an alien prison escapee, red-eyed teens playing in an empty amusement park, paranormal investigators in a haunted house, the Mona Lisa come to life, and an invasive alien plant, as well as some aliens familiar to Whovians and a visit from the Doctor himself (in the form of the ever-energetic David Tennant). Many of the pleasures of Doctor Who can be found in The Sarah Jane Adventures--goofy humor, goofy aliens, and an enthusiastic optimism about humanity--but the writing is considerably weaker, with clumsy exposition and forced plots (and while Doctor Who certainly has its share of nonsensical talk about dimensions and energy, somehow the techno-babble seems worse in The Sarah Jane Adventures). Despite that, the cast is lively and charming--Sladen has long been one of the most popular of the Doctor's companions--and several episodes have vivid or deliciously creepy images and ideas. An enjoyable series, particularly for younger audiences. --Bret Fetzer