Top 10 Best TV Reboots
#10: “Lost in Space” (2018-)
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The 1960s original was beloved in its time. Then came the 1998 film adaptation starring William Hurt, Matt LeBlanc, and Gary Oldman. It was definitely “lost”, but mostly just in action movie cliches and cringe-worthy dialogue. So when fans heard about Netflix’s 2018 reboot, they could have been forgiven for seeing danger ahead! However, thanks to a solid story arc, a compelling cast, and high production values, the new “Lost in Space” actually won respectable ratings from critics, and a new following of dedicated fans. The Robinsons might have been lost again, but this time in all the right ways!
#9: “V” (2009-11)
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To this day, the original “V” miniseries, created by Kenneth Johnson, is considered one of the best pieces of sci-fi television of all time. The original is definitely worth checking out, but if you want a bit of an update, you should give the 2009 reboot a watch. A few things were changed the second time around to better fit contemporary concerns, perhaps the most interesting being the portrayal of propaganda through the Visitors’ offers of universal healthcare and clean energy. The 2009 series was cancelled before the story could come to a close, but it still stands as an excellent update to the original.
#8: “The Twilight Zone” (2019-)
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This series has been on QUITE the journey. There have been several attempts to revive Rod Serling’s sci-fi anthology classic. A film adaptation in 1983 received mixed reviews, and became notorious due to a fatal helicopter accident on set. A revival for TV in the mid-80s did moderately well, but the next attempt in the 2000s was a huge disappointment. Then came Jordan Peele, Simon Kinberg, Marco Ramirez’s 2019 revival, with Peele as narrator. While the first season had its detractors, critics generally agreed that it was thought-provoking and relevant, and most definitely an improvement on the mediocre revival of the 2000s.
#7: “Voltron: Legendary Defender” (2016-18)
The “Voltron” franchise originally spawned from an anime called “Beast King: GoLion.” When World Events Productions gained the rights to air the anime, they made extensive edits, changes, and censors, rebranding it as “Voltron: Defender of the Universe.” Because of these changes, “Voltron” grew to be its own world and story, producing multiple followup series, including an American-produced reboot. “Voltron: Legendary Defender,” produced by Dreamworks Animation, has seen massive critical and commercial success since it dropped on Netflix, due in no small part to its brilliant writing, smart updates, and breathtaking animation, courtesy of Studio Mir.
#6: “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic” (2010-)
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It’s hard to think of a toy/cartoon franchise more successful than “My Little Pony.” Though the original cartoon and tie-in merchandise was incredibly successful with their target audience, the reboot series, “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic” has drastically outperformed its predecessor. “Friendship Is Magic” has gained fans from all walks of life across multiple age groups, with the “brony” movement garnering the most attention. This reboot series has been praised for its universal humor, constant upbeat tone, and complex themes despite being a children’s show. “Friendship Is Magic’s” massive following proves that this reboot is miles ahead of the original.
#5: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (2012-17)
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Since their indie-comics debut, the heroes in a half-shell have spawned a massive franchise consisting of multiple live-action films and numerous different animated series. Though it’s hard to compete with the nostalgic popularity of the 1987 cartoon, the 2012 reboot was an undeniable improvement in storytelling and animation. Nickelodeon’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” managed to update and reinterpret elements of both the comics and the previous series. It also leaned much further into the Japanese elements of the Turtles’ lore, unfolding into a dark, mature, and wonderfully strange world of mutants and mythology in New York City.
#4: “Daredevil” (2015-18)
For a long time, Daredevil was a cameo character on screen, appearing only in the animated series of other heroes. Then in 2003, he finally got his own movie. Aaand it was . . . pretty ordinary. The appalling 2005 spin-off “Elektra” just rubbed salt in the wound. Everything changed however with the launch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its expansion into TV. In 2015, the MCU brought us the dark, gritty, superhero crime drama that the character deserved. Although it was cancelled after three seasons, it was a glorious ride while it lasted, receiving praise for both its writing and performances - particularly for Charlie Cox in the title role, and Vincent D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk.
#3: “Westworld” (2016-)
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The best part about rebooting a movie as a television series is that glossed over elements of the original can be further explored and spread out over time. This is exactly what HBO’s “Westworld” has done with the 1973 film. The original Michael Crichton film portrayed a western-themed amusement park during a massive android malfunction. The TV series dives much further into the company behind the park, creating drama from the inner workings of the various branches and departments that keep Westworld running. Though the original is an undeniable classic, HBO’s modern update has definitely earned its critical praise.
#2: “Hawaii Five-0” (2010-)
Here’s a fun fact: did you know that Hawaii doesn’t actually have state police? The original “Hawaii Five-O” actually portrayed a fictional police force, albeit based on a real-life 1940s one that existed under martial law. The reboot series made things a bit more realistic, as the premise focuses on a special task force created to deal with rampant crime in Hawaii. But, this isn’t the only update to the original. There is of course the use of zero in the title instead of an “O,” and the characters and production were also treated to sleek, modern upgrades in 2010, and the series is still running strong. Before we get to our number one, here are a few honorable mentions: “DuckTales” (2017-) “Transformers: Prime” (2010-13) “Nikita” (2010-13) “Thundercats” (2011-12) “She-Ra and the Princesses of Power” (2018-)
#1 “Battlestar Galactica” (2003; 2004-09)
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Though original series actor Dirk Benedict isn’t a fan of it, the “Battlestar Galactica” remake garnered massive critical praise and a dedicated fan following. Where the original was a sci-fi epic, one that inadvertently sparked a copyright infringement lawsuit with “Star Wars,” the remake took things in a much different, and much more unique, direction. 2004’s “Battlestar” was a dark reimagining of the first series, making changes to the characters and updating the story with multiple layers and plot lines. Even though the show’s quality started to decline in later seasons, it remains one of the most celebrated sci-fi series in television history, and is still our number one pick for the best TV reboot.