After Sarah Jane Smith's return in Doctor Who in 2006 with David Tennant's Doctor. Russell T Davies realised the potential for a childrens spin off series.
Almost 25 years after K9 and Company, Invasion of the Bane was a pilot that launched the Sarah Jane Adventures. It even included K9 in a cameo.
Sarah Jane is now investigating alien goings on. She is intrigued by a new company launching a fizzy drink which has become very popular.
Moving in next door is a teenage girl, Maria with her father who has recently split up from her mother.
At first Sarah Jane appears distant, but she meets up with Maria, her new friend Kelsey and a newly created boy, Luke at the Bubble Shock fizzy drink plant. A factory run by aliens and the drink is something not fit for human consumption.
There is a lot that is right with this pilot. It is fast moving, it has excitement, it is squarely aimed for kids but with just enough nostalgia to keep older Doctor Who fans satisfied. Some of the special effects were very good. It is noticeable that the black hole special effects sequence involving K9 was taken from the Doctor Who episode The Impossible Planet.
Some tweaks were made when the series properly launched with the character of Kelsey being replaced by Clyde.