It get better after the pilot, but it shouldn't even be called SBTB
The pilot was more than bad-it was offensive with all the stereotyping and unintentional negative messaging. I thought it was the worst thing I had seen in a while, and I almost stopped watching. I saw a couple of reviews say it got better, so I decided to give it another chance since I'm in lockdown with nothing better to do. It does get better, and by the end of episode 10, I was enjoying it.
It's not Saved by the Bell-like not at all. It reminds me of those sequels in the 1980s that had nothing whatsoever to do with the original and we're just using the sequel for name recognition and nothing more. This reboot is so different from SBTB that I think it would have been better received if it had just been a separate entity unrelated to SBTB. It doesn't have the heart. The characters aren't clever. The relationships aren't believable. It's not wholesome. It resembles Glee (sans singing and dancing) or Popular (the old Ryan Murphy series) a lot more closely than it resembles SBTB.
The four original characters are unrecognizable. In this reboot, they are clownish, cartoons of the characters they played in the original. Slater is a total moron-like using misconjugated verbs as a character trait stupid. Zach is a vapid, self-absorbed man-ho. Jessie is an enabling Karen. Kelly is a nymphomaniac socialite. There's almost zero level of truth in their characters whatsoever-they're so over the top. I enjoy those four actors, and it was fun seeing them reprise these characters for a minute, but honestly, the series didn't even need it. The only episode late in the season where these four are prominently featured was jarring and took me out of the actual story-lines. I would have preferred these four did an extended special of the Jimmy Fallon appearance and then this series be named something else. They don't fit well together.
When watching it pretending it was unrelated to SBTB, it's enjoyable enough. I couldn't understand what audience they were going for, though. It's way racier than SBTB with a good bot of swearing and many controversial issues. I probably wouldn't let my ten year old watch it, and I can't imagine it is very appealing to 40 year old GenX-ers once the nostalgia goes away.
It also tried really hard to be woke, but often missed the mark or got it so wrong I cringed. I guess it's the thought that counts?
Hopefully, the creators will read the feedback and the next season will improve. If it doesn't, I can't imagine it will last for a third.
It's not Saved by the Bell-like not at all. It reminds me of those sequels in the 1980s that had nothing whatsoever to do with the original and we're just using the sequel for name recognition and nothing more. This reboot is so different from SBTB that I think it would have been better received if it had just been a separate entity unrelated to SBTB. It doesn't have the heart. The characters aren't clever. The relationships aren't believable. It's not wholesome. It resembles Glee (sans singing and dancing) or Popular (the old Ryan Murphy series) a lot more closely than it resembles SBTB.
The four original characters are unrecognizable. In this reboot, they are clownish, cartoons of the characters they played in the original. Slater is a total moron-like using misconjugated verbs as a character trait stupid. Zach is a vapid, self-absorbed man-ho. Jessie is an enabling Karen. Kelly is a nymphomaniac socialite. There's almost zero level of truth in their characters whatsoever-they're so over the top. I enjoy those four actors, and it was fun seeing them reprise these characters for a minute, but honestly, the series didn't even need it. The only episode late in the season where these four are prominently featured was jarring and took me out of the actual story-lines. I would have preferred these four did an extended special of the Jimmy Fallon appearance and then this series be named something else. They don't fit well together.
When watching it pretending it was unrelated to SBTB, it's enjoyable enough. I couldn't understand what audience they were going for, though. It's way racier than SBTB with a good bot of swearing and many controversial issues. I probably wouldn't let my ten year old watch it, and I can't imagine it is very appealing to 40 year old GenX-ers once the nostalgia goes away.
It also tried really hard to be woke, but often missed the mark or got it so wrong I cringed. I guess it's the thought that counts?
Hopefully, the creators will read the feedback and the next season will improve. If it doesn't, I can't imagine it will last for a third.
- Eki75
- Feb 18, 2021