10 TV Reboots Better Than The Original

Reboots. Reimaginations. Remakes.

Hollywood seems to love them since it doesn’t necessarily involve an original idea, which takes effort and time to develop. But audiences have come to hate the way Tinseltown takes their favourites and puts a new uninspired spin to them.

But that’s the film industry because when it comes to TV, there have been several instances of success, and sometimes, a reboot of a reboot is even a possibility because there are just some stories that are too good to leave in the past. 

For example, the 2004 rendition of Battlestar Galactica was incredible that they’re going to be making another one. Right.

So while you are waiting for some sci-fi goodness, below are 10 (in no particular order) of the best TV show reboots from beloved stories in the past. Be prepared to let the nostalgia sink in.

1. Battlestar Galactica (2004)

When an old enemy, the Cylons, resurface and obliterate the 12 colonies, the crew of the aged Galactica protect a small civilian fleet – the last of humanity – as they journey toward the fabled 13th colony, Earth.

Originally broadcast in the 70s, the first Battlestar Galactica lacked the emotional depth and opted for superficially covering the true grit that came with being a hunted race. However, the reboot has been lauded as one of the best sci-fi dramas of all time. Not only does it have a stellar cast, but the story was compelling and never shied away from discussing the political and religious struggles that were reflected in our world.

2. Hawaii Five-O (2010)

Former Navy SEAL Steve McGarrett returns to Oahu, Hawaii to find his father’s killer. And when the governor of the state offers him his own task force, he accepts. Along the way, Steve recruits various members to his task force that answers only to the Governor of the state of Hawaii and is given full immunity and means.

The rebooted Hawaii Five-O had a lot to live up to. The original was considered to be a solid work of entertainment with a widespread audience, running for 279 episodes in the 60s and 70s. So when the reboot debuted, critics were glad that it felt close enough to the original to be respectful, and delightfully surprised that the cast made the show even better.

Now hum the theme song with us.

3. One Day At A Time (2017)

Three generations of the same Cuban-American family living in the same house: a newly divorced former military mother, her teenage daughter and tween son, and her old-school mother.

With over 20 million viewers, the original broadcast of 70s sitcom, One Day At A Time was a huge hit. However, the reboot has managed to capture the hearts of viewers and critics alike, covering topics ranging from a veteran’s struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to the difficulties facing Hispanic American families.

4. She-Ra And The Princesses Of Power (2018)

After a chance encounter with an enchanted sword, the orphan girl Adora transforms into She-Ra, Princess of Power. Now she must lead the rebellion to free her homeland of Etheria from the evils of the Horde.

Created by the incredible Noelle Stevenson, and scripted by an all-female writers’ room the reboot of the 1980s classic animation still retains the core premise of the original while still keeping a majority of the original characters. But now, instead of all of them being slender Caucasian women, the characters are distinct in appearance and personality, giving this cartoon the opportunity to explore more profound themes.

5. Westworld (2016)

This science-fiction western series is set at a Wild West theme park at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past created by Dr. Robert Ford with human-like androids, where guests are encouraged to indulge their fantasies and desires.

Originally a film from the 70s by creator and director Michael Crichton, it was followed by a sequel and a short-lived TV series. While the movie was a story about a robot going haywire and killing all the guests at the park, the rebooted series by HBOseries is able to explore the themes within the movie with a lot more complexity. For example, just by shifting the sympathy from the visitors to the robots, Westworld was able to develop in-depth ideas about consciousness and humans’ greedy behaviours.

6. The Tick (2016)

The Tick is a nigh-invulnerable superhero in a blue tick suit who arrives in the city to help combat crime and uncover the mysterious figure behind the city’s underworld. He befriends a nervous and mild-mannered young man named Arthur who becomes his sidekick. They come to realize that an apparently long-dead supervillain called “The Terror” may still be pulling the strings in the city’s underworld.

The Tick has had many adaptations, from an animated series to a 2001 live-action series and now the online series. Although the last live-action version only lasted nine episodes, it still has a strong cult following. The new series, on the other hand, has a much better narrative and with the technological progress we’ve made, it has much better graphics and special effects. Too bad it’s stopping after the second season.

7. Voltron: Legendary Defender (2016)

Teenagers transported from Earth become pilots for robotic lions to fight in an intergalactic war. The Paladins of Voltron must learn to work as a team to assemble the robot Voltron and use its power to conquer the Galra Empire.

A modern reimagining on both a similar cartoon from the 80s and a Japanese anime, it is not surprising that this Netflix series was a huge hit. With creative giants that worked on the Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra, this reboot has a nostalgic feel that manages to hit the mark for both children and adults; providing both colourful and vivid action as well as complex storylines and character development.

8. Queer Eye (2018)

The Fab Five are back! These style experts are going around to the communities in and around Atlanta to share their insights on fashion, grooming, interior design, cooking and culture.

Expanding upon the original, the rebooted Queer Eye provides a social commentary that is digestible and relatable in our modern society. They meet people with varying views and while they try to break down their project’s barriers, they too check their biases, making this show well-rounded and heart-wrenching.

9. Duck Tales (2017)

Donald Duck – begrudgingly – drops Huey, Dewey and Louie off to the home of their mysterious and rich great-uncle, Scrooge McDuck. Inside the majestic McDuck Manor, the triplets start to learn about Scrooge’s epic life and many secrets. After rekindling Scrooge’s love for adventure, the family now travel around the world going on heroic quests and searching for incredible treasures.

We can all agree that when the new Duck Tales was released, we were sceptical that it would ever live up to the magic that was the 80s version. But, we have to admit that this reboot goes above and beyond all expectations. With various nods to its predecessor, the new series filled up that previously fell flat. Huey, Dewey and Louie now have distinct personalities instead of coming together to form a singular entity. The adventures are a lot more exciting, the story is more captivating and even Scrooge is a just a wee bit meaner than before.

10. The Flash

Barry Allen, an assistant police forensic investigator who was orphaned when his father was falsely imprisoned following the mysterious murder of his mother. After being struck by lightning, he wakes up with superhuman speed.

Like a race between The Flash and…The Flash, this is a close one. It’s hard to say which series is better and some might cling onto the nostalgia to say it’s the 1990s version. However, CW’s The Flash has better, more recognisable villains, a better origin story and a better storyline. The previous rendition of The Flash was great but clearly made for a younger audience and thus their episodes wrapped up whatever story was going on. 

But this reboot, not only wraps up a portion of the plot, it has a season-long plot that keeps viewers hooked. Plus it also managed to get the original star of the 1990s version to participate in the reboot, in multiple roles.