Top 10 FAILED Character Reboots

Top 10 FAILED Character Reboots

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the very worst recasts and reimaginings of TV characters.

#10: Thomas Magnum

“Magnum P.I.” (2018-22; 2023-24)

There’s three main reasons Thomas Magnum is one of the most iconic private investigators in television history: he’s smart, he’s funny, and he’s got a killer mustache. Unfortunately, the 2018 reboot misses the mark on just about all of those. We can live without the mustache, and Jay Hernandez certainly gives it his all, but ultimately, this new version of Magnum never rises above his goofball antics. It’s a maddening creative choice, especially because Magnum’s friend, Rick, has the exact opposite issue. Demoted from suave playboy to thumb-twiddling wet blanket, the updated Rick may as well be an entirely new character. Maybe another reboot’s in order.

#9: Carlton Banks

“Bel-Air” (2022-)

Now, this is a story all about how Carlton Banks got flipped, turned upside down. Fans of the original will remember the character’s snooty personality providing tons of laughs, social commentary, and even a few legendary dance moves, too. Sadly, “Bel-Air’s” take on the character is a self-serious tryhard that, while not without his moments, isn’t the same Carlton fans wanted. That’s part of a larger issue with “Bel-Air” overall. If the character of Will Smith wasn’t allowed to be consistently funny, then there wasn’t any hope for the rest of the cast. It’s a shame that, in trading comedy for drama, “Bel-Air” lost so much of what audiences loved about these characters.

#8: Cordell Walker

“Walker” (2021-24)

With all due respect to Jared Padalecki, there’s only one Cordell Walker in these parts, and he’s played by Chuck Norris. That’s not to say Padalecki does a bad job by any means. He elevates the material where he can, but overall, this new take on Walker still lacks any of the commanding screen presence that made the character popular in the first place. There’s just nothing like seeing Chuck Norris dole out justice in glorious, slo-mo action scenes. In comparison, Padalecki’s grounded spin on the material feels dry, derivative, and just plain stale. He’s not a hopeless Texas Ranger; he’s just not Cordell Walker.

#7: Fallon Carrington

“Dynasty” (2017-22)


Sporting a sharp tongue, familial grudges, and more scandalous lovers than you can count, Fallon Carrington is an inseparable part of what made 1981’s “Dynasty” work. The same goes for the 2017 reboot of the same name. The issue is that, there, Fallon’s the lead - and also only really Fallon in name alone. For better or worse, the original heiress was defined by how often her family underestimated her. By reconceiving her as “Dynasty’s” feisty leading lady, Fallon loses the underdog status that made her storylines so addictive. It’s much harder to fall in love with a spoiled rich girl when she’s the backbone of the entire series.

#6: Shaggy & Scooby

“Velma” (2023-)

Zoinks; this is a disaster. Despite only being named after Mystery Incorporated’s bespectacled investigator, 2023’s “Velma” throws out decades of consistent characterization for the whole Scooby Gang. The biggest victim is Shaggy - sorry, we mean “Norville,” since he goes by his first name here for some reason. We wish that was the only problem. Here, instead of a hungry scaredy-cat, Norville is a sullen teen with more romantic entanglements than charming quips. It’s a complete 180 for the character that never really connects the way it’s supposed to. Hey, at least Shaggy made it into “Velma” at all. That’s more than we can say for Scooby Doo.

#5: The Upper East Side Kids

“Gossip Girl” (2021-23)

Almost a decade after the eponymous blogger signed off the first time, the residents of the Upper East Side returned for more soapy drama. But, try as they might, there’s simply no recreating the flawless class of 2007. And boy did they try. Despite taking place in the same continuity, most of the characters in 2021’s “Gossip Girl” are less interesting knockoffs of the first ensemble. It makes you wonder, if they wanted carbon-copies of Serena, Blair, and Nate, why not just get the original cast back? Your guess is as good as ours. Sadly, we’ll never find out for sure, since the show said XOXO after just two, short seasons.

#4: Jaime Sommers

“Bionic Woman” (2007)

Cybernetic enhancements or not, no television character can survive the most dreaded threat of all: a remake. In 2007, it finally happened to “Bionic Woman,” which reimagined Jaime Sommer’s as a no-nonsense crime fighter with a bone to pick. And, that’s about it. The inaugural “Bionic Woman” was so captivating because it balanced Jaime’s extracurricular activities with her desire to live a normal, human life. Without that crucial part of her character, all you’re left with is yet another dull crime show. Just one with a star that can punch through a wall. The 2007 writers strike powered “Bionic Woman” off after just eight episodes, and honestly, that’s probably for the best.

#3: The Three Witch Sisters

“Charmed” (2018-22)

Ready to tune in to the heartfelt adventures of three, sibling sorcerers? No, we don’t mean Piper, Phoebe, and Prue. Although, we can see why you’d be confused. Taking “Charmed’s” brand recognition but jettisoning all of its heart, The CW tried redoing the show with its own trio of female leads. Unfortunately, Mel, Macy, and Maggie aren’t just poor replacements for the originals. They’re dull lead characters, period. The three are too different to play on nostalgia, but too beholden to their counterparts to stand out, either. It’s a tricky balance that 2018’s “Charmed” never managed to strike, leaving its talented cast without much to work with.

#2: Angus "Mac" MacGyver

“MacGyver” (2016-21)

There’s young, there’s rash, and then there’s just plain impatient. 2016’s MacGyver is all three at once. While there is some merit to the show’s exploration of the character’s early years, it leans so far into MacGyver’s boldness, it’s easy to forget he’s supposed to be a genius. Funnily enough, if anyone could make these disparate ideas work together, it’s MacGyver. But, apparently, defusing bombs with paper clips isn’t the same as fixing a flawed creative direction. Sure, five seasons and nearly a hundred episodes isn’t anything to be ashamed of. But, from a series bearing the name of a television icon, we expected a whole lot more.

#1: The Angels

“Charlie's Angels” (2011)

After many years away from the small screen, Charlie recruited three new leading ladies to become his Angels in 2011. The results were anything but heavenly. Say what you will about the original, but it indulged in its campy tone in a way that’s still watchable to this day. On the other hand, this misguided interpretation tries so hard to play it straight, it feels like a parody sketch. To make matters worse, the actors are woefully miscast, the dialogue is wince-inducingly cringey, and the characterization is slim to none. If these are the best operatives Charlie could find, we have major concerns about his judgment.




Did we miss any off-the-rails character reboots? Let us know in the comments below!