Reboots and Revivals of course, what did you think I was talking about? You either appreciate the classics and do not want them changed, because let’s face it writers always change something. Changes can be subtle or drastic, like changing the main character’s race or gender in a movie to appeal to new audiences. Films that come to mind are Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel. Gal Gadot is an Isreali actress that was cast as Wonder Woman, who was originally played by Linda Carter a white actress. Brie Larson a female actress was cast as Captain Marvel, who was a male character in earlier comic books. Some people enjoy reboots and revivals for a number of reasons. Either they never saw the original show but heard enough about it to pique their interest or they are a die-hard fan (STAN), and jump at the chance to revisit their favorite characters in a make-believe storyland.
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Many of the greatest stories have been told over and over again through film and television. The same goes for remakes of classic songs (and not so great ones too). Because it seems like everything has already been done, Hollywood writers have a tough time producing original ideas. I personally do not mind watching R&Rs if they are done with respect to the original plot. A few surprises here and there add excitement to the storyline. It keeps it fresh and in sync with the present times, making it more relatable to new audiences. Some shows that have been rebooted and revived are created with a diverse cast to keep up with current times. The problems and conflicts amongst the characters involve exclusion, racism, other social issues such as underage drinking, drugs, and abuse.
The show Riverdale is the perfect example of this kind of reboot. I have watched two out of the five seasons on Netflix, and by the third season I lost interest. I only became interested when I found out it was based on Archie Comics. I am not a fan, but I am familiar enough with the characters to follow along, or so I thought. Archie has been made into books, cartoons, you name it. But none of them come close to the tv show Riverdale. I am used to the characters being colorful, bright, lighthearted upbeat, nothing short of rainbows and sunshine. Now I will admit, it has been a while since I read or saw an Archie comic book, but nothing would have prepared me for the “upside down” version of Riverdale. It is dark, and I mean DARK. It’s the polar opposite of the original comic strip (hence the word “comic”). It is filled with sex, lies, murder, deceit, drugs, gangs, you name it! It is morbid and disturbing. Some of the topics discussed in the episodes are not suitable for young people. I was shocked to find out that it has a PG-13 rating. The first two seasons ( the only full seasons I watched) had its share of cringeworthy moments, but like a bad train wreck I could not stop watching it. I may revisit the series, as I do not like to think of myself as a quitter, plus I do have time invested in it, but it is not on my immediate “To Do List.” I may or may not give it another try
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Photos from http://www.archiecomics.com and http://www.tealmango.com
However, there is a list of R&Rs that I am interested in watching- My top two picks are Dexter and And Just Like That (the Sex and the City remake).
Upcoming Reboots & Revivals:
1. Dexter (I CAN’T WAIT!)
2. And Just Like That
3. Old-ish (the spin off of Black-ish)
4. Bewitched
5. Conan the Barbarian
6. The Jetsons (live action version of the animated series)
7. Jodie (Daria’s friend)
8. Rugrats
9. Gossip Girl
10. The Many Saints of Newark (The Sopranos prequel)
11. Clueless
12. iCarly
13. The Boondocks (AWESOME!)
14. The Wonder Years
This is a list of some Reboots and Revivals, there are plenty more to come over the next few years. I am looking forward to watching most of these shows and curious to see how new audiences accept some of the animated series. Although some things have changed, Hollywood has a way of keeping us rooted in the past by providing us with a magical feeling of nostalgia with a blast from our past!
