This one (Sarah Jane losing her powers) and Secrets of the Stars ("But this time Sarah Jane you lose") make me cry on cue. Lis.has been gone for 13 years now, and I still miss her desperately.
A few serials, maybe? ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ from 1981, perhaps ‘Children of the Stones’, maybe ‘The Changes’. All in 25-30 min eps. I reckon you’d love all of those.
Pleaseeee do Inside No.9 next!!! Half an hour episodes, and while maybe not quiet as 'comforting' as SJA, it is ultimately a comedy and one of the most amazing shows of all time
I'm currently watching Catweazle on ITVX. Although it predates it there are shades of Worzel Gummidge to it. In fact, it stars Geoffrey Bayldon, who played the Crow Man in Gummidge. That could be something in your wheelhouse, but I don't know how many views it would get.
Suggestions for follow ups to SJA, going to try and stick with sci-fi and fantasy shows that first aired in children's slots for the most part because that's likely the closest to giving you that same vibe. Wizards vs Aliens - The show the production team did after SJA, with the same target audience as SJA. About a wizard defending the world from aliens who eat magic. Contains voice work by BRIAN BLESSED. Three seasons. Wolfblood - Drama about... Well in universe they're explicitly not werewolves, but 'humans who can transform at will into wolves' makes it very hard to describe them as anything but that. S1-3 has very 'coming of age' vibes, but S4-5 it felt like it should have been in Doctor Who's timeslot rather than Sarah Jane Adventure's given some of the places those last two seasons went. Probably my favourite show of the early 2010s. Five seasons. The Demon Headmaster - 1990s drama about a group of children trying to stop their headmaster from taking over the world via hypnosis. Two seasons. (Has a 2010s remake which I never got around to watching but which I hear good things about). The Dark Season - I haven't seen this so can't say much about it, but it's Russel T Davies's first drama series and I hear good things about it. 1 season. The Tomorrow People - The 90s version is a series of serials about a group of humans who have evolved the ability to teleport. I'm familiar with the 90s version, I hear excellent things about the 70s version, while the 2010s version... Also happened (and isn't half hour episodes). Each version is a reboot of the last so can be watched in any order, and I cannot emphasize enough that I am not recommending the 2010s version. 8 seasons (70s); 3 seasons (90s); 1 season (2010s). The Animals of Farthing Wood - Bit of a wildcard pick, what with it being animted and not sci-fi, but one of my favourite tv shows of all time. Adaptation of the novel by the same name, about a group of animals forced onto a perilous journey by human activity. Trying to avoid accidentally giving spoilers here, but it gets closer to Watership Down in terms of content than you'd perhaps expect for a show originally broadcast at 4pm so... Maybe not great as a 'comfort' show? Three seasons. Class is a _very_ different vibe to SJA so entirely get why you wouldn't want to replace SJA with it, though it being six episodes long means you should be able to slot it in when you finish one of your other shows before moving on to... Whatever. (likely Babylon 5, I saw how the Prisoner vote went).
I was not immediately convinced by Class, but thought it was alright by the end; it might have improved further if it wasn't so short lived. But it is not a feel-good comfort watch. If you can see yourself watching an animated show at all, I would recommend the 2017 version of DuckTales. It is * ~22 minutes per episode (some 2-3 parters/omnibus editions) * made for kids, but very enjoyble for adults * starring a very familiar voice in the lead * ... and another in a recurring one * mostly fun and exciting adventures * occasionally heartbreaking I don't usually watch animated shows myself, this one lured me in because I used to read comic mags featuring these characters as a kid and the idea of that actor in that role intrigued me. And I ended up loving it!
Tomorrow People, 68 episodes, 1970s. ITV's answer to Doctor Who in a weekday Children's slot and SJA was influenced by it. So that would be my recommendation
This is an emotionally affecting story that manages to deliver a satisfying ending. It is great to see Clyde, Rani and Luke all step up to the mark to rescue Sarah Jane, and the acting and characterisation here gives you a real sense of how much they have all grown up - I agree that Clyde becomes noticeably more mature over the course of series 4. Anyway, still a few more stories to go, but sadly this particular episode would be the last broadcast in Lis Sladen’s lifetime.
Great episode to end season 4 and what a fantastic season some brilliant stories yes really enjoyed this one ps the great replacement for this series would be the itv equivalent of dr who in the 70s only 30 minutes episodes the tomorrow people with so many seasons and cast its a great replacement
Class is great but it's not a kids show. I'd suggest either Star Maidens (13 half hour episodes) or Children of the stones (6 half hour episodes) - both coincidentally starring Gareth Thomas - Blake from Blake's 7. Maidens is a fun seventies sci-fi romp and you'll love it as it Is proper. Feel good telly. Stones on the other hand, Is tea time Terror for kids! And as a kid in the 70's, it scared me witless! And having watched every one of your reactions... you'll love both, I'm sure! 100% Mark.
Don't bother with Class... Try "Dark Season" or "Century Falls" - Childrens BBC serials from the early 90's, they're both 6 episodes at about 25 mins each. Both on Britbox/ITVX Or an older show from the mid-70s "Children of the Stones" with a co-lead who you should recognise from Blake's 7 - I don't think it's on Britbox/ITVX
Class won't be the comfort show The Sarah Jane Adventures is, because the vibe is different and lets be honest, no show has the comfort feeling Sarah Jane has. But I would love to see you react to Class nonetheless. I was one of the few people who actually really enjoyed it and were sad, when it got canceled. It would have been such a good season 2 with all the setup (not saying more). I would at least give it a try and since it's only 8 episodes it wouldn't be that much to commit to
Class is to SJA what Holby Blue was to Holby City (for those who don't know/have forgotten HB was a short-lived attempt to do a cop show in the same town)🎩
