From retro to remarkable, these small-screen gems breathe new life into classics, offering fresh perspectives, rekindling old flames, and proving that second acts can actually steal the show
Wait, is that what I think it is? Yeah, we’re definitely having déjà vu. That’s because the Hollywood Hills are alive with the sound of reboots. So much so that we’re officially unofficially calling our current state the TV Show Reboot Era. But, hey, we’re not complaining—when these do-overs are good, they’re really good.
But first, a little Reboot 101. Just to clarify: Reboots are not remakes, reruns, sequels, prequels, or spinoffs. Rather, they fall in franchise territory, meaning they honor the original idea of a television show but inject their own fun. Maybe they tweak the plot, reimagine the cast, or modernize the storytelling. It’s your favorite past worlds reintroduced from the start without just regurgitating the same series you already celebrated, mourned, and put to bed.
Ahead, 12 incredible TV show reboots that remind us some series should never die.
Saved by the Bell
Class is back in session with a fresh coat of campus schemes. The core rabble-rousers are all back, with the series picking up 26 years later when Zach and Kelly are the Governor and First Lady of California, and Slater and Jessie are molding Bayside’s newest students. A clever mix of winks and nods to the original series, bolstered by contemporary themes and a cast that celebrates diversity, this is one of our absolute favorite reboots. It’s genius, it’s self-aware, it’s devastating Peacock gave us only two seasons.
Watch it on Peacock
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers
Flipping the script on the original, our favorite Minnesota underdogs have become the big, bad bullies they once feared on the ice. That is until newbie cast members Lauren Graham and Brady Noon, who play mother-son duo Alex and Evan, convince Coach Bombay (Emilio Estevez) to return to the rink and guide a new team of ragtag pucksters to flying-V victory. A clever Quack Attack 2.0, Game Changers also hosts several worthy cameos from original Ducks and proves there’s always a shot at redemption.
Watch it on Disney+
Fuller House
What used to be part of the TGIF lineup on ABC is now taking up real estate in the Thank Goodness They Didn’t Waste Their Time zone on Netflix. True talk: Full House was a bit of a fixer-upper; lame storylines and cheesy characters made for eye rolls (even so, we wanted to be besties with the Tanner sisters). With Fuller House, D.J. runs the household, raising her three young boys with Stephanie and Kimmy. But here’s where the series shines: The themes are serious, the struggles are real, and no topic is off-limits.
Watch it on Netflix
DuckTales
Uncle Scrooge and his nephews who were down for any adventure were heroes to kids who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s. Thankfully, the brood has been resurrected for modern audiences, the new ducklings are voiced by some of the funniest actors in the biz (Ben Schwartz, Bobby Moynihan, Danny Pudi), and take on personalities all their own. Also propelled by fantastic storylines involving Webbigail and the boys’ long-lost mother, Della, this Duckverse is funnier, wilder, and, dare we say, better than the original.
Watch it on Disney+
Cobra Kai
Bad blood never stops hemorrhaging. If you need proof, just cue up this swift kick of reboot brilliance that pits the original’s dueling dojos, Miyagi-Do (run by Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso) and Cobra Kai (run by William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence), against each other again. Only this time, the tables have turned and the line between good and bad is mighty muddy. Upping the ante is a diverse cast and coming-of-age challenges that are handled with as much grace as a karate crane kick.
Watch it on Netflix
She-Ra and the Princess of Power
Relishing five seasons, She-Ra and the Princess of Power will make you wish bottomless episodes were a thing. The writers’ room is powered by an all-female team, and the influence shows. A feat of body positivity, female empowerment, and cosmic fabulousness, the animated series dazzles with its animation and subtext that takes pride in being different. The story you know about the Princess of Power is still intact: Adora and friends work to defeat the Horde. But, here, She-Ra doesn’t look like a vixen drawn for the male gaze, and her mission is more than capitalizing on the popularity of He-Man.
Watch it on Netflix
Veronica Mars
Completing the entire Veronica Mars experience, Hulu’s reboot gives fans the shocking conclusion they may not want, but definitely deserve. After the first three seasons were followed by a movie, Marshmallows rejoiced at the news of their favorite whip-smart detective working cases again. Alas, the streaming platform pulled the plug after just one reboot season, but as we have come to learn with the small screen, no great story—or character, for that matter—is ever dead and buried.
Watch it on Hulu
One Day at a Time
Another reboot that suffered a brutal premature cancelation but is still worth your watch list, One Day at a Time pays homage to the 1975 Norman Lear classic with a reimagined sitcom about a Cuban American mother raising kids under the brazen eye of her mother, played by the legendary Rita Moreno. Equipped with dialogue that doesn’t shy away from complex topics and a rhythm that understands the power of a well-timed punchline, ODAAT is rebooting at its best.
Watch it on Netflix
Queer Eye
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy broke new ground when it premiered on Bravo in the early 2000s, its cast of gay trendsetters making over straight men in New York City. With that same trailblazing attitude, the reboot expands its orbit by diversifying it’s Fab 5 and offering their expertise to everyone, including gender-nonconforming people, from coast to coast. We guess you could say it gives its predecessor a stylish makeover, infusing this new look with an irresistibly inclusive spirit.
Watch it on Netflix
The Wonder Years
The winsome series about a precocious kid and his innermost thoughts leaps into a new era with a tale that belongs to a Black family in Montgomery, Alabama. Just like the original, this new Wonder Years comes of age in the ’60s; although, this time the episodes unfold from the point of view of a middle-class family who has to face racial dynamics like bus boycotts, segregated sports, and the death of Martin Luther King Jr. head on.
Watch it on Disney+
Gilmore Girls
Now that you’ve said farewell to the Maisels and Weissmanss, why not invite the Gilmores and Stars Hollow townies back over for another four episodes? Amy Sherman-Palladino’s GG revival follows the ladies for a year, brewing breakneck banter and adding a dose of maturity to our favorite mother-daughter duo. The narrative picks up about a decade after the original bows and tags along with Rory and Lorelai as they navigate the highs and lows of adult life. And where they lead, we will follow.
Watch it on Netflix
The Proud Family
Subtitled Louder and Prouder, the most recent romp with the Proud family lives up to its name. A well-rounded reboot that explores gender and identity through a contemporary lens, the family-first cartoon continues the journey of its protagonist, Penny, now 16 but still hilariously outmaneuvering a madcap brood. Fans of the original will remember the theme song performed by Destiny’s Child and Solange Knowles. But we promise you’ll grow to love the new beat from R&B artist Joyce Wrice just as much.
Watch it on Disney+
