Over the past decade, studios have been obsessed with rebooting classic TV shows to cash in on nostalgia. From Bunk’d, a spin-off of Jessie, to the CGI Rugrats, networks continue to revive old series, but more often than not, these reboots fail to capture the original magic. Instead of fresh stories, studios rely on nostalgia-driven marketing, leading to uninspired adaptations that disappoint both fans and new viewers. While a handful of reboots succeed, most are met with poor reviews, backlash, or early cancellations. These beloved shows ended on a high note, yet their reboots haven’t lived up to expectations.
One popular example of a poorly received reboot is Bunk’d, the spin-off of Jessie. While Jessie followed the Ross children in New York, Bunk’d took place at a camp and gradually replaced the original cast. Many fans criticized the show for losing the humor and charm of its predecessor, relying on stereotypes like Ravi being a “nerdy, weak” South Asian boy and Zuri being an “overly sassy” Black girl. Critics said the show dragged on, with later seasons feeling more like a desperate attempt to keep the franchise alive. Though it ran for several seasons, Bunk’d exemplifies how reboots can dilute the essence of the original.
Similarly, the 2021 CGI reboot of Rugrats received widespread criticism, especially for its animation style. The original 2D Rugrats was beloved for its hand-drawn charm, but the CGI version was seen as creepy and lifeless. Fans also noted that the voice acting for adults felt off, with one saying, “The adults sound just wrong.” Viewers also felt the characters were unnecessarily altered, and the writing lacked the cleverness that made the original appealing to both kids and adults. Though the reboot tried to modernize the show, many fans felt it was an undeserving revival.
Lastly, The Patrick Star Show, a SpongeBob spin-off, failed to gain traction. Unlike Kamp Koral, which explored characters’ backstories, The Patrick Star Show was disjointed and directionless. Fans criticized it for straying from SpongeBob’s humor, turning Patrick into an even more exaggerated and ridiculous version of himself. Lack of structure and bad storytelling made the viewers unhappy, and the majority felt that it was a last-ditch effort to milk more from the SpongeBob franchise rather than creating something truly enjoyable…but even Stephen Hillenburg requested that the series rest before his passing—so maybe studios should’ve listened (but hey, what do I know?).
While I do not feel that all reboots are failures, the disappointments far outweigh the successes. Instead of recycling old ideas, studios should focus on creating new, original content for today’s audiences. There’s no shortage of fresh ideas, and the entertainment industry should start taking creative risks again.
