One of the dangers of a Dr Who spin-off, especially for kids, is that it could end up feeling like something the production team rattled off before they put all their effort into planning the Doctor's next adventures.
Thankfully, The Sarah Jane Adventures is a wonderfully-written, slick programme that's great entertainment for both kids and adults.
Strange
For those of you who didn't catch the first one-off special which hit our screens last January, or the Doctor Who episode which introduced Sarah Jane to younger viewers, she's a woman who used to travel with the Doctor back in the days of the old series in the 1970s.
She had one last adventure with him in 2006's Who story School Reunion, and now has her own show - where she and a group of kids investigate strange goings-ons.
Aliens
No surprises for guessing who the villains are in this first two part episode, which is called Revenge of the Slitheen. The farting aliens with their human body suits are back and have got deadly plans for the planet.
So it's up to Sarah Jane and her friends Maria, Luke and Clyde to work out what's going on and try to save the world.
There are two things that make the Sarah Jane Adventures special.
Laughs
Firstly, the spot-on performance from the kids - Yasmin Paige, Thomas Knight and Daniel Anthony.
Secondly, this episode's sparkling script from Gareth Roberts, who penned this year's Shakespeare Doctor Who episode. It has just the right balance of scares and laughs and surprises.
It's a great start, and hopefully the high standard will be maintained right the way through the series' 10 episodes.
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