Here's the thing: The Sarah Jane Adventures is genuinely wholesome, features a great role model, and was well-intentioned children's programming. The problem is it's nearly 20 years old and looks it.

If your kid is already into Doctor Who or loves low-budget British sci-fi vibes, they might embrace the dated effects as part of the charm. But if you're trying to get a modern 8-year-old who's used to Marvel-level production to sit through this, you're fighting an uphill battle.

The stories are solid, the values are good, and Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane) is wonderful. But the special effects look like a PS2 cutscene, the pacing is glacial by streaming standards, and the whole thing feels like eating vegetables - good for you, but kinda hard to get down.

It's a perfectly fine show that would score higher if it weren't competing with every modern streaming option. Worth a shot for the right kid, but don't force it.