In a time when reboots abound from film to television, there are a few noticeable titles missing. The reboot of Charmed upgraded the story of witch sisters to fit a modern, intersectional audience. Roswell, New Mexico took inspiration from the original teen show but is back with the dream team that brought fans The Vampire Diaries.
Not all reboots evoke nostalgia. Rather, they make the franchise their own, like Netflix’s The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, turning the bright and sunny Sabrina the Teenage Witch into a gritty horror show. While the trend lasts, here are 10 shows that should get a reboot.
Firefly
The cult following Joss Whedon’s Firefly developed has been calling for a redo on this one for years. The debacle of Fox’s original airing was partially why the show failed to have more than one season, but its content was also not right for the time.
But in a time when the likes of The Mandalorian on Disney Plus proved greatly successful, the time is right to resurrect the beloved space Western sci-fi romp. Captain Mal and his friends have been missed. It’s also a great opportunity to add more layers to the story.
Dark Angel
Fox’s Dark Angel is another series that might have been ahead of its time. A post-apocalyptic world, cyberpunk aesthetic, Latinx leading lady and intriguing sci-fi government conspiracy plot all sound like the recipe for a story that would excel in today’s media.
This show managed two seasons before getting canceled. Its story continued in the form of a few novels and video games, but the time is prime to bring it back for a reboot. With Supernatural and Arrow coming to an end, the CW has a couple of slots open again.
Freaks and Geeks
Many of today’s TV shows following the lives of teens either add a paranormal element to it or depict them as raging party animals who get tangled up in drugs and sex. It’s not to say the latter doesn’t happen, but that’s not everyone’s high school experience.
A reboot of Freaks and Geeks would do well to show the calmer side of teen lives while still staying true to their angst. Bringing it back with a more diverse cast wouldn’t go amiss either and would be much appreciated.
Animorphs
The middle-grade book series by K.A. Applegate was always egregiously underrated, and its television adaptation suffered the same fate. It follows the escapades of a group of friends who stumble upon a dying alien that passes on his mission and powers to morph into any animal to fight and save Earth from an invading species.
The original focused a great deal on sci-fi adventures but failed to touch on the book’s themes about growing up as soldiers and how war changes people. A reboot could rectify that.
Tru Calling
The premise of this show sounds like Groundhog Day meets CSI. With the newfound power to repeat a day, medical grad student Tru Davies uses the magic to prevent the murders of people that come through her morgue.
The premise sounds absurd, but with the success of procedural dramas and paranormal plotlines, why not merge the two genres together? Besides, the original also has the heart that pulls audiences in with Tru’s family struggles. It’s not a stretch to say that a reboot of this story could do well in today’s television landscape.
Xena: Warrior Princess
The spinoff of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys had its own successful run of six seasons. Thankfully, visual and special effects improved with advanced technology, which would make a reboot of the adventure dramedy even better.
It’s hard to step into the shoes of the legendary Lucy Lawless, but another fine actress out there could take on the mantle. Also, the show wouldn’t have to beat around the bush for so long regarding the nature of Xena and Gabrielle’s relationship. It’s time for the queer representation the fans deserve.
Daria
The wry teenager with a secret heart of gold graced televisions for five years. Her sarcastic brand of feminist humor made many finally feel seen. Daria was last seen graduating high school and on the verge of taking a journey into adulthood.
The MTV series could be rebooted with adult versions of the characters, much like Disney Plus’ Lizzie McGuire reboot in the works. With the current wave of the feminist movement in place, Daria’s take on pop culture and politics would be much appreciated.
Pushing Daisies
The piemaker with the power to bring the dead back to life didn’t get the chance he deserved. The cast of quirky characters in bright and colorful settings investigating the macabre combined off-beat humor with intriguing mysteries.
This type of story is the bread and butter of cozy mystery novels, which means there’s an audience for them. The twist of Ned’s powers sending the dead back to the ground with another touch added a heartbreaking element to his relationship with his childhood sweetheart Chuck. It would kill with an audience today.
Moonlight
The trend of vampire stories never really dies. Rather, it goes into hiding and returns when the time is right. The revival of vampires is right around the corner, so bringing back the vampire turned private eye would get a network ahead of the curve.
With only one season, Moonlight didn’t get the chance to hit its stride. But the story of a vampire using his paranormal abilities to help humans never gets old. Wrapped up with a love story and the return of an old nemesis makes this show a classic narrative.
The Wild Thornberrys
Now more than ever the world needs a wholesome cartoon family traveling the globe and connecting with nature. A reboot of the Thornberry family would give Nickelodeon the chance to enhance the emphasis on environmentalism for a generation that’s growing up in the middle of environmental chaos.
Eliza’s magic powers that allow her to talk to animals gives it a whimsical twist that’s fun for an audience of all ages. The show had five successful seasons but the fans wouldn’t be mad if it made a comeback.
