"Naturally Sadie" is very atypical of the current Disney Channel lineup, probably because it is made by a Canadian production company. The Canadian writers have actually managed to create a cerebral children's show, inside a package that is like a blend of 'The Saddle Club" and "Even Stevens".
It probably would be a better fit on Discovery Kids because it is a bit over the head of the standard Disney Channel viewer (at least judging by some of the comments and messages on IMDb). "Zack and Cody", "Hannah Montana", and "Raven" are basically "I Love Lucy" episodes in content (zany slap-slick with little attention to a theme) and much like "The Honeymooners" in their cartoonish production design. So you would not expect many in that audience to connect with something like "Naturally Sadie", which actually has a message as well as a realistic look.
"Naturally Sadie" is really working on three levels. There is a commentary by the title character (Charlotte Arnold-who looks like a younger and shorter Misha Barton) relating the human world to the animal world, this is sometimes a voice-over and other times Sadie looks directly into the camera and talks to viewers. There are the standard teen comedy adventures centering on family and school. Finally, there is the friendship dynamic between Sadie and her two best friends, Margaret Browning-Lesveque (Jasmine Richards) and Rain Papadakis(Michael D'Ascenzo). The writers give each episode a semi-serious theme, often about this friendship dynamic.
"Naturally Sadie" is more like a coming of age feature film than a television show. The nature emphasis is appropriately symbolic of Sadie's growth. Each episode she learns something, gains more perspective, and grows wiser.
With her red hair and freckles, Arnold is effortlessly charming and like the other younger members of the cast has become considerably more polished as the series has progressed. The newest episodes show a nuance and subtlety in her acting that was not there when the series started.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
