By Melody Ortiz
What makes a good show? It mainly depends on the target audience, the genre it is considered and the years it ran through.
In an era full of remakes and adaptations, it’s understandable why some networks want reboots of past successful shows.
A TV reboot is usually a retelling of an original show with a change of plot, background or genre.
In the end, it all comes down to just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
Though some successful shows can thrive from a reboot, it doesn’t mean they all could.
A prime example in the “shouldn’t” category is this year’s reboot of the 1998 show “Charmed.”
The reboot a 26 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, while the original has 98 percent.
The new show doesn’t share much connection with the original. Its characters don’t have the same names, personalities or powers.
It seems like more of a rip off that they called a reboot to avoid legal action.
There is no twist or interesting changes in the plot: three sisters who find out they are a special trio of witches called the Charmed Ones.
Any other connections to the 1998 show are out the window.
A reoccurring comment in audience reviews suggest that the show could have done better if it had detached itself from the original and was introduced as a brand new show.
In a review by Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya, she said the show goes overboard with the pop culture references.
The show may have done better if it told the story of how the original characters (even with different actresses) would have handled their issues in 2018 and what could have gone differently based on current events.
The fans would have been more interested in seeing what kind of people their favorite characters would be if they were dealing with smartphones, Snapchat, and Slenderman.
Fans won’t have the same satisfaction watching brand new characters with brand new personalities deal with these things.
A show that’s doing the reboot thing right is “The Chilling adventures of Sabrina.” This Netflix original is based on a comic’s retelling of the 1996 series “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.”
In the 1996 show, viewers will find humor, romance, teenage angst, a loving family and a sassy, talking cat.
“The Chilling adventures of Sabrina” is a far more thrilling tale of Sabrina Spellman, a half-witch trying to balance her normal and magical lives.
Set in the same universe as the CW’s “Riverdale,” viewers will see death, blood, drama and (fortunately/unfortunately) a sass-less cat.
The show has many of the original characters, a few new ones, exceptional effects and an interesting plot to tie it all together.
Generally speaking, any show can be rebooted but it takes a clever and special mind to find the right way to reimagine an already great show.