Reboots or remakes of old or semi-old movies and TV shows have dominated the big and small screens in recent years. Queer Eye (2018), a Netflix reboot of the 2003 hit reality TV series, Queer Eye for The Straight Guy; Duck Tales (2017), a reboot of the 1987 cartoon with a different art style and theme song; and IT (2017), a remake of Stephen King’s novel of the same name, which had a TV mini-series back in the 1990s, are some notable reboots/remakes of TV shows and movies of the past few years.
Reboots/remakes of established franchises or IPs are frequently beneficial because they can introduce new perspectives or initiate conversations on topics that were not tackled or brought to attention during the first iteration of the show. The internet, however, has expressed disdain for Hollywood rebooting/remaking of established properties, as they see it as lazy, unoriginal cash-grabbing.
On Facebook, I asked for opinions on Western media constantly rebooting/remaking franchises, and the answers were varied. Some people prefer reboots, since they have more stories to tell, and would judge them based on how the plot would flow; while others prefer to watch something new and original, as most reboots of Western cartoons are often drawn in the Calarts style, and the designs are too simplistic.
ThunderCats Roar is an infamous reboot of the iconic 1985 cartoon. Both critics and fans of the 1980s cartoon criticised the reboot. One of the reasons for the reboot’s cancellation after one season is the show’s Calarts art style.
Should reboots/remakes of anything be damned?
The answer, of course, is: no. Reboots/remakes of any show can be a terrific opportunity for parents and children to bond and spend time together, while watching a show that both the adult and the child love; as well as develop greater communication between the two.
With the availability of streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and many more, reboots of any franchise have become inescapable. It’s okay to dislike a rebooted show, but do not hate-watch it for the sake of hating the show, especially as some reboots might not be as bad as they might seem.
Who knows? You might relate to the rebooted version more than the original!
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