Crafting a great TV show revival is no easy task. Though revivals and reboots are more popular than ever, this doesn’t mean every iconic TV series should be brought back to life.Doctor Whois a great example of a show that found its footing in the modern era, connecting to the past while looking toward the future. However, it could’ve easily gone wrong and ended up alienating the long-time fans of the series it was trying to appeal to. Fortunately,these shows all handled their returns to the small screen with graceand well-written stories.
There are plenty ofgreat TV shows that would be ruined by a revival, as the ending of a series must leave the door open for a return for a revival to work. Some of these projects were cut short or canceled before they could complete their planned arcs. This didn’t just make the revival possible but also expected.Fans and critics are often willing to wait a long time for beloved serieslike these to get a second chance. Though not all of them continue past a singular season, there’s always a chance they’ll return once again.
One of thebest teen romance TV showsof all time,Veronica Marsstruggled to make the transition from high school to college onscreen, leading to its cancellation after season 3. Fortunately, Kristen Bell lost none of her charisma and plucky sleuthing ability by the timeVeronica Marswas brought back by Hulu in 2019.Veronica Marsseason 4 still knows exactly how to balance Veronica’s personal life with the tragic mysteriesshe can’t stop herself from solving.
There’s little better than watching Veronica do what she does best: solve crimes and deliver many cutting remarks while doing so.
Veronica Marsgained traction in the years following its cancellation not only because of the show’s strength but also because of Bell’s increased fame through her many projects. However, even though she had portrayed many other characters in the years sinceVeronica Marsended, Bell slipped right back into her witty, sardonic role. There’s little better than watching Veronica do what she does best: solve crimes and deliver many cutting remarks while doing so.
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A young Raven-Symoné was the charming and heartfelt lead ofThat’s So Ravenfrom 2003 to 2007, and she was still the most engaging part of the continuation,Raven’s Home. When we catch up with Raven in 2017, she’s raising her kids in Chicago and grappling with what her gift means as an adult and a mother.The supernatural elements ofThat’s So RavenandRaven’s Homeboth serve to elevate the everyday dramasand conflicts of the story.
ThoughRaven’s Homedoesn’t break boundaries, it’s easy to enjoy the chemistry of the cast and follow Raven on one of her many misadventures.Raven-Symoné is the real reason to tune intoRaven’s Home,as any fan of the actress will appreciate her return to the small screen and feel plenty of nostalgia forThat’s So Raven. It helps thatRaven’s Homefocuses as much on the coming of age of Raven’s kids as it does on her.
Though many great Nickelodeon original TV shows came out in the early 2000s,iCarlyis considered one of the best and has maintained its cultural relevance. Thanks to the nostalgia for the original series and the return of the central stars, Miranda Cosgrove, Jerry Trainor, and Nathan Kress,the 2021 revival ofiCarlyearned a place for itself within the sitcom landscape.This time around, Carly is an adult with bigger and more mature problems, appealing to the audience base who grew up watching the originaliCarlyand are now adults themselves.
An iCarly Movie Needs To Happen To Address The Show’s Biggest Unanswered Question
The iCarly reboot ended on two massive cliffhangers, both of which could be resolved in a potential iCarly movie as pitched by Miranda Cosgrove.
Back where she started, Carly revived her in-series web show and became something of a social media influence within the story.Still a family-friendly show,iCarlyholds true to the whackier and offbeat elementsthat defined the show early on but are a little more grounded in reality. The updated and more respectful romance between Carly and Freddie in the series is a highlight. The pair became well-developed characters, and the relationship became a compelling throughline for the show.
iCarly (2021–2023)
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Before he was Ben inParks and Recreationor Mark inSeverance,Adam Scott was playing the beleaguered and down-trodden cater-waiter, Henry inParty Down.Also starring Ken Marino and Lizzy Caplan,Party Downfollowed a group of struggling Hollywood hopefuls working for a catering company in LA. ThoughParty Downwas unapologetically entrenched in the pitfalls of the film industry and the desperation to achieve fame, it was a smart, funny, and relatable series.
Despite its strong reviews,Party Downwas canceled after season 2, returning in 2023 as a limited series in the wake of the show’s cult classic status. Though it was a little awkward getting the whole gang back together whenParty Downfirst returned,it didn’t take long for the cast to fall back into their easy chemistry,and the writing is just as brilliant. While it makes sense thatParty Downcould only return for a short stint, it’s the kind of series that leaves an impact.
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Sex and the Cityis well known for being a beloved but dated addition to the canon of TV shows that use New York City as one of its characters. Following Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her friends navigating love and life in New York,Sex and the Cityended with all the characters getting their happily-ever-after. However,And Just Like That…catches up with these women in a new phase of life that proves to be just as challenging.
Their experiences of life and love have evolved, and the characters have matured, but there’s still plenty of learning and growing to do.
Thebest episodes ofSex and the Citystill outpace whatAnd Just Like That…has put out so far, but there’s something to be said for the fact that a show centering on older women has gained so much traction. Their experiences of life and love have evolved, and the characters have matured, but there’s still plenty of learning and growing to do. It’s no secret thatSex and the Cityhas plenty of jokes and storylines that haven’t aged well, andAnd Just Like That…effectively makes up for this.
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Timothy Olyphant anchorsJustified: City Primevaljust as well as he didJustifiedfrom 2010 to 2015. An enormously popular neo-Western TV show,Justifiedfollowed the U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens and his work keeping the peace in his own unique way in the Appalachians. In a surprising but effective change,Justified: City Primevalplaces Givens first in Miami and then Detroit,providing new opportunities for the series to challenge Givens' worldview and style of justice.
Though this change immediately altered the traditional formula ofJustified, Olyphant was still at the heart of the series, just as dynamic and easy to watch. One of the most interesting parts ofJustified: City Primevalthat makes it unlike other revivals is that it purposefully shakes up the show’s style and subverts audience expectations. The cultural clashes andjuxtaposition of Givens' past as a contemporary cowboy against a metropolitan setting create excellent tension.
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Frequently hailed as one of the best sitcoms ever and known for being well ahead of its time,Arrested Developmentinitially ran for three seasons from 2003 to 2006. Telling the story of the wealthy Bluth family’s fall from grace,Arrested Developmentcaptured hearts with its absurdist humor and imaginative characters who were hilariously engaging to watch. When Netflix acquired the show and brought it back in 2013, it was a risk that paid off.
Arrested Developmenthad a lot of goodwill from the audience and critics going into the long-awaited revival seasons.
It would have been impossible to top the near-perfect formula of the first three seasons. However,Arrested Developmentseasons 4 and 5 justify themselves well and bring something new to the table.Arrested Developmenthad a lot of goodwill from the audience and critics going into the long-awaited revival seasons. Fortunately, the show still worked hard to make us laugh and present new challenges for the Bluth family that were just as offbeat.
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Lisa Kudrow stars inThe Comebackas Valerie Cherish, an aging former sitcom star trying to reenter Hollywood and become relevant again. Co-created by Kudrow herself,The Comebackis a sharp, satirical take on the ruthless nature of the film industry and the life of a sitcom star after their series has ended.Kudrow clearly mines her own life and experiences for content,givingThe Comebackits edge and drawing viewers in.
Though it took nine years forThe Comebackto make its triumphant return to television with season 2, this turned out to be the perfect amount of time. In 2005,The Comebackgrappled with early takes on the mockumentary format and reality TV. In 2014, the series could reflect on the way celebrity had changed and how reality TV altered fame. Unerringly witty and brilliant,The Comebackshowcases Kudrow at the height of her skills as an actor and a writer.
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When the first era ofDoctor Whopremiered in 1963, the creators and actors couldn’t have known that the show would develop into the cultural phenomenon it’s become. However, in 1989, the series could’ve faded from memory for good, as this was when the show originally ended. Fortunately, there was enough interest and continued support for a revival that in 2005,Doctor Whocame back with a vengeance, converting new generations of sci-fi-lovers intoDoctor Whofans.
Why BBC Was Doubtful About Reviving Doctor Who After 9 Year Absence Explained By Longtime Producer
Doctor Who was famously revived from cancellation with its 2005 premiere, but the BBC remained doubtful about the new show’s short-term potential.
Since 2005, many performers have stepped into the role of the Doctor, with Ncuti Gatwa’s iteration gracing the screen most recently. One of the best parts of every era ofDoctor Whois that the series resets and refreshes itself whenever the Doctor regenerates. However, there’s little question thatthe 2005 continuation brought one of the most iconic versions of the Doctor to life thanks to David Tennant.Tennant is far from the only reason thatDoctor Whohas become an even bigger success. However, his contributions can’t be ignored.
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After leaving off on a devastating cliffhanger in 1991, David Lynch’sTwin Peaksonly increased in notoriety and popularity,coming to be known as one of the iconic filmmaker’s most imaginative works. In 2017, we finally found out what became of Agent Dale Coope (Kyle MacLachlan) inTwin Peaks: The Return. ThoughTwin Peaks: The Returnended up being Lynch’s last completed work, it was a tremendous artistic achievement to go out on and cements what makes Lynch one of the greats.
As much asTwin Peaks: The Returnis a revival and continuation, the themes it grapples with and visual language immediately signal to the viewer that this isn’t a traditional TV show. Shot and written as an epic feature-length project and edited into episodes,Twin Peaks: The Returnpushes the boundaries of both film and television, as so many of Lynch’s projects did. Considered one of the best pieces of media of all time, regardless of its status as a revival,Twin Peaks: The Returnis mandatory viewing for film lovers.
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