Modern Reboots: An Entertainment Industry Decline or a Touch of Nostalgia?

We have all been the ‘victims’ of the current reboot mania.

We all know the drill.

A beloved movie or an endearing TV show from a beautiful childhood remade into something somewhat familiar, but yet so alien. It is like travelling back in time and finding yourself in an alternate reality with the same things but with different rules. And feelings.

I love movies, TV shows, novels, anime and everything in between that entertains. Naturally, some of the shows I love or loved have gone through the reboot process.

And I have mixed feelings about the reboot craze.

For instance, I watched the original Charmed series and enjoyed it quite a lot. It was not a masterpiece. The special effects were lacking, the fight scenes were comical, and the rules of the magical world were a little skewed.

However, it was a charming little TV show.

When the reboot was made, I was curious. I wanted to see if the show would be better or worse than the original. I thought with the advances in technology, it would be exciting to see Charmed with good special effects.

So far, I have watched almost three seasons of the new show. I have enjoyed it to a certain extent, but I always find the series a little bit ‘off’. It is not like the original story was great, but I keep feeling a certain unnaturalness in the new show.

The Nerds Have It

The constant talk (from hardboiled nerds) about the rebooting of movies and TV shows has made me consider the psychological aspects of this matter. The nerds are constantly complaining about the changes in the OG characters, storyline and the spirit of the franchises, and I cannot help but want to weigh in.

Everyone with a favourite show out there thinks their favourite movies and shows have been ruined by the modern reboots. And we all want to recapture that moment we found something special on TV that defines our entire existence.

So, we resist everything that could damage our perfect memories.

An Evaluation of Star Trek.

Trekkies are always all up in arms about the some of the newest attempts to go where no man has gone before. Frankly, I have only watched Next Gen and DS9, plus some of the movies. The Original series was a little dated for me, and Voyager… Come on!!! (No, thank you… For now.)

But my eldest sister is a true Trekkie. She has watched almost the entire franchise since The Original series, and she has loved most of the franchise production. Her dedication and commitment to Star Trek is practically religious.

Does that mean that she has better taste than me? Possibly.

Am I a purist that has impeccable taste? Unlikely.

But Star Trek opens a significant platform for discussing the changes in the entertainment industry, specifically movies and TV shows. While these different shows with the same underlying concepts are not reboots, the significance of the generational releases cannot be overlooked.

Everyone thinks that their Star Trek is the best.

And each has its merits.

Personally, I love the Next Generation. (Yes, yes, I know! Captain Kirk and Mr Spock, so awesome!)

The Question: Quality or Nostalgia

So, has the quality of production (and creative brilliance) changed in the entertainment industry, or does the content just change to match each new generation?

How is our individual taste developed?

And does our environment influence what we find amusing or exciting?

In my opinion, we are always bound to our beautiful memories and emotions. And it is difficult to recapture the essence of something that brought you happiness once in the past. We hate anything that mimics but does not live up to expectations.

In truth, we are just pursuing the good but ephemeral feelings we had at some point. For instance, we look for food that tastes like home, especially when we are sad and low.

Was the food our mothers cooked for us as children better than a Michelin-star restaurant or even KFC?

The answer: probably not.

But there were feelings attached to the happiness we once felt.

Sometimes, our senses can help us recapture the positive feelings, if just for a moment. Perhaps, that joy is evoked by a smell, a touch, a sound or even the taste of a subpar meal. In that fleeting moment, everything is perfect.

Nostalgia is beautiful.

But it mars reality.

I’m no Sigmund Freud, but to reiterate, we are and will always try to recapture our purest moments of joy. We look for the feelings we felt when everything seemed perfect, even when it was not perfect.

That’s why everyone talks about the beauty of ‘the first love’.

The Bottomline

Yes, the Rings of Power, House of Dragon, the new Star Wars trilogy (?) or Star Trek Discovery might not evoke the love you felt when you were introduced to the franchise. It might feel like the studios (or whatever) are selling out.

The cruel truth: the new shows are probably not meant for you.

I mean, the entertainment industry targets the most relevant generation at the time and their interests. For instance, millennials love the 90s and early 00s. And a lot of them are enraged by everything that does not have an edge.

As they (I mean, we) berate modern entertainment and how it is too woke, we forget that our parents loved the 70s and 80s. And they think everything from the 90s is trash! Don’t get them started on the music.

Next time...

When you are so quick to blame Hollywood for ruining your favourite shows (curse ‘em reboots), keep in mind they are not meant for you.

You had your moment.

It’s over.

Let the new generation go to the cinema, eat popcorn and enjoy the movies made for them. Just like your parents let you do the same, despite their thoughts about 'the trash in this generation'. As an author, I know what it means to appeal to the masses when writing.

We all bow to the almighty dollar.

Postscript (PS)

And it would be good if people would stop yapping about representation. And this goes to both sides: the woke and the anti-woke.

Stop!

Complain about your feelings, but don't declare your feelings as facts. Don’t force everyone to agree with your opinion. Don’t berate those who do not think that certain movies are good or bad. You are not the ruler of taste.

Most importantly, remember acting is pretending. If you cannot picture a story just because one element changed, your problems are much bigger than bad entertainment.

If a movie or TV show does not meet your expectations… Watch. Or don’t. It is in your control.

If you do and feel you must say something, write a review: bad or good. But remember it is your opinion.

You are not better than anyone for liking or hating something you watched passively.

If you are so passionate, join the industry and show us what you got!

Of course, this is also just my opinion. :)