The quality of reboots, remakes, and spin-offs of old shows and movies seems like an age-old debate. While on one hand, we get to see some of our favorite shows in a new light, we also seem to lose what once made these shows so impactful to us. 

A prime example of this can be seen when comparing the shows Full House and Fuller House. In Full House we see characters deal with an array of real issues such as eating disorders/diet culture, child abuse, smoking, underage drinking, and drunk driving. If we look at its successor Fuller House, they have many of the same characters reprise their roles, but they are now used to instill nostalgia in us instead of shedding new light on potentially controversial issues. Common Sense Media has made the comment that “fans of the original show will want to tune in for the nostalgia alone,” suggesting that this is a show made for nostalgia. 

While some remakes aren’t going for nostalgia, they still don’t make the same mark on society that their predecessor did. This includes the new remake of Saved by the Bell.

After a controversial joke made about Selena Gomez in the remake, Screen Rant made an article addressing how the joke went against the original. They stated that “the original Saved by the Bell knew its moral obligation to viewers, exploring important social issues like drug use, trauma, loss, and drunk driving with sensitivity and seriousness,” seeming to believe that the new version does not do these same topics justice. 

We can’t forget the classic show Boy Meets World and the show that follows main characters Topanga and Corey’s teen daughter Riley, Girl Meets World.

According to CBR.com, Boy Meets World “was a classic 90’s show. It was fun but mature, teaching audiences about the struggles and hardships of growing up, becoming an adult, and taking responsibility for your actions,” but the high enjoyment of the original made Girl Meets World not able to hold up in comparison. It also tries to tackle important issues like bullying, but it seems to miss the mark more often than not.

While much of this article has focused on shows doing too little, sometimes new shows do too much. This is the case with the current iCarly reboot.

On IMDb, user Watcher101 explained that “there’s the very forced and very apparent shoving of representation down your throat while not even trying to be subtle about their agenda-pushing” while “riding on the original series’ coattails… relying almost solely on nostalgia.”

iCarly isn’t the only show to rely on this feeling of nostalgia for views, but it is a prime example of the emotion not being enough to hold together a show or franchise. Despite the reboot being a huge success, many of those who watched for the nostalgia aspect simply couldn’t continue due to such a large change in the subject matter and characters. It shows that aging the characters to follow their storyline may also not be the best option when rebooting a show. 

Another show that’s reboot simply didn’t do what fans were hoping it would is the Gossip Girl reboot. The characters of Gossip Girl were not ones that the common person could relate to. Audiences were drawn in by the deception and drama of the show. While the current reboot still follows extremely over-privileged teenagers, they have cut out what once made the show interesting for many.

In the Guardian’s review of the new show, they state that the old show’s “raison d’etre was the unspeakable joy of watching people relish in lives buttressed by more money than you knew existed, drinking martinis at 16 at impossibly glamorous clubs, and the exquisite catharsis (or schadenfreude) of seeing awful people being awful to each other in gloriously pitiless ways.”

The new Gossip Girl has gone nearly the opposite direction. Instead of the “leader” of the group being one of the meanest, she is now the kindest, seemingly straying off of the original show’s intent. 

While it is only tv shows that are mentioned in this article, reboots and remakes of movies also tend to miss the mark of where they should be compared to the original. One of the greatest downfalls is simply the lack of creativity among many of the shows and their dependence on the nostalgia of those who used to watch them. There are some remakes and reboots that have proved successful, but they typically change the premise of the original to a degree in which it is almost unrecognizable allowing for added creativity and elaboration on new and improved storylines.

Disclaimer: Articles designated as “Editorial” represent the views and opinions of the author, not the 2021-2022 Periscope staff, CHS/CASD administration, or the CHS student body.

Most people enjoy a nice and relaxing family TV night. Let’s imagine on this particular night you turn on the TV and click through the channels before seeing the title Girl Meets World flash across the screen. You sigh as the impending “back in my day” speech by your parents creeps nearer and nearer and before you know it, your dad is telling you about his middle school crush on Topanga Lawrence and your mom is going on about how TV just “isn’t how it used to be.” Sometimes it can be hard not to roll your eyes in dismay at your parents’ dismissal of all things new but it is important to remember the actual successes of a new generation of TV and film. Contrary to the claims of your parents, reboots and remakes are a highly acclaimed category of film that should not be so easily brushed aside. 

Reboots often catch a bad rep in the media and in the typical person’s eye but sometimes there is a movie or TV show reboot/remake that redefines the original and allows for a new generation to enjoy it. For example, Jumanji (1995) is a beloved fantasy adventure starring the talents of Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Bonnie Hunt, David Alan Greir, and Jonathan Hyde. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) continues the legacy of the franchise, over 20 years after its predecessor, through comedy and great modernization of an already marvelously adventurous story. The remake/sequel, Jumanji: The Next Level (2019), is just another example of an incredible addition to the story. The 2017 and 2019 renditions star some of the funniest talents in Hollywood at the moment and create a perfect comedy for a new generation to enjoy. When a reboot is done right, it can have even more of an impact than the original. 

Time and time again, remakes such as Home Alone 3 (1997) and Ghostbusters: Answer The Call (2016) reinforce the idea that originals should be left alone and not tampered with. I strongly disagree with this stance. It is because remakes and reboots are so hard to master that they are so special when successful. This may lead someone to question, “what makes a good remake?” and there is no one single answer for that. Nostalgia is a heavy emotion that the entertainment industry plays off of very often but it alone is not strong enough to hold together a reboot. When a remake hinges on callbacks to the original for the sake of nostalgia it ruins the merit of the reboot as a standalone piece of art. This is not entirely impossible though. Take Cobra Kai (2018-) as an example. The show is a sequel to The Karate Kid  movies and continuously uses footage from the original movies to create a cohesive and polished storyline within the show. While also profiting off the crucial nostalgia factor, the show itself appeals to a new generation of children who have probably never seen The Karate Kid movies but they can now have their own version of the acclaimed movies. Intertwining a modern setting with recurring themes from the original creates a contemporary Karate Kid for children to adore. 

One of the most iconic remakes of all time is  The Parent Trap (1998) starring Lindsey Lohan. While the original movie is considered “just fine” among viewers, the Lindsey Lohan rendition holds a special place in many hearts. It can be argued that a remake or reboot can “lose the magic” that was once in the original. This is simply untrue for many remakes such as The Parent Trap (1998). This movie took the old story and reimagined it in a very charming and lovable way. 

While it is very true that many remakes or reboots are simple cash-grabs or hinge on nostalgia, a truly exceptional piece of art can be made by recycling what we already know as familiar and successful. In the end, every work of art is just a reimagining of some old folktale or story framework, so it is unfair to belittle remakes because they’re “not the same.” Taking an idea and turning it into a new piece of work is just what makes art, art. 

Disclaimer: Articles designated as “Editorial” represent the views and opinions of the author, not the 2021-2022 Periscope staff, CHS/CASD administration, or the CHS student body.