Why should fans of Doctor Who & Torchwood watch The Sarah Jane Adventures? What fans of Doctor Who might not know is that every story of The Sarah Jane Adventures relates to Doctor Who in some way; either he's referenced; or the Doctor Who series is; or there's some connection made. Torchwood fans should also be watching the series as there are vague references to that series as well, and between seasons 1 & 2 of Sarah Jane...Captain Jack meets her on Doctor Who in a 3 part, 3 series crossover event, in which multiple Sarah Jane Adventures are referenced, spoiled, echoed and related.
Be Warned - Major Spoilers Below!
The Sarah Jane Adventures:
768 30x02 SJA 1x01 Invasion of the Bane
Sarah Jane's history with the Doctor is related here, including her most recent encounter with him in Season 28, "School Reunion". This story explains to us what she and K9 have been doing since she re-encountered The Doctor in that episode. There are also vague references to UNIT and Torchwood.
Returning Characters / Aliens / Races:
Arcateenians aka Mary's Race (last seen in #748: "Greeks Bearing Gifts")
Sarah Jane Smith (last seen in #725: "School Reunion")
K9 Mark IV (last seen in #725: "School Reunion")
Pictures are seen of:
The TARDIS (last seen in #766: "Voyage of the Damned")
Brigadier ("The Brig") Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, of UNIT.
(Last seen in #696: Battlefield, Part IV)
The Daleks (last seen in #750: "Evolution of the Daleks")
K9 Mark III (last seen in #275: "School Reunion")
Harry Sullivan; former companion to the Doctor
(last seen in #418: The Android Invasion, Part IV)
The Cybermen (last seen in #742: "Cyberwoman")
References / Mentions: