10 TV Shows We All Love That Should Never, Ever Be Rebooted

We live in an age where legacy sequels, reboots, and remakes rule the world of mass entertainment. The nostalgia for classic movies and TV shows drives people's interest in recontextualizations and refreshers, thus motivating network executives to hunt for reprisals of long-finished TV shows. While this hurts the chances of unique new mainstream TV, it could be good for some shows, like the sci-fi TV shows that should be remade because they were canceled too soon.

Some great TV show franchises failed to make a comeback because the time had simply passed for them to return. Many great classic shows were either too much a product of their time to justify being remade today, or ended too perfectly to rationalize rebooting them. Moreover, as demonstrated by great TV shows that started to decline after a while, forcefully adding more content to a concluded franchise has a high chance of not living up to the standards set by it when it originally aired.

10 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-2021)

A Reboot Would Feel Like Copaganda

While workplace sitcoms are still in demand, as proven by the critical and commercial success that Abbott Elementary has received, a police precinct may not be the ideal workplace for a comedy show in today's political climate. Set in the fictional 99th precinct of the NYPD in Brooklyn, Brooklyn Nine-Nine follows a group of police detectives as they befriend each other, protect each other like family, and grow together.

The cast of Brooklyn Nine-Nine in a promo image for the show's final season

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While finding a place for comedy in the form of hilarious shenanigans, some involving police work, some strictly in their personal lives, the characters provided us with reasons to laugh with them for eight years. However, the lightheartedness regarding police work, including grievous crimes, while well-intentioned, can seem frivolous in today's political climate. Episodes that deal with difficult subject matter like workplace sexual harassment and racism in the police force are done brilliantly. However, as the final season proved, addressing the rising concerns about cops in America is probably done best without the lens of comedy.

9 House (2004-2012)

The Tone Would Seem Wrong Today

Hugh Laurie's Dr. Gregory House, like his inspiration Sherlock Holmes, solves patient diagnoses like mysteries. His jaded worldview and his sarcastic demeanor often makes him a darkly witty presence, and it's entertaining to watch him solve diagnoses step by step. However, rewatching House reveals some harsh realities, particularly that the show glorifies abusive, manipulative, and toxic behavior through its main character's charisma. While Dr. House regularly gets called out for his behavior by his coworkers, friend, and boss, he doesn't really change, and his triumphs make his attitude seem like a necessary evil.

The sixth season of House shows the titular character confronting his addiction head-on, but he remains just as insufferable until the end of the final season, undermining the potential for representing meaningful change, thus glorifying his toxicity.

The show became so beloved because Dr. House's sarcastic sense of humor and depraved charisma gives him a certain charm, but at the end of the day, the show is a product of its time. The glorification of toxicity was a major problem with the show already, and a reboot would either involve changing House's personality, thus making a new show altogether, or trying to make the original tone work in today's TV scene, which won't work.

8 The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019)

The Jokes Won't Hold Up

While The Big Bang Theory found widespread appeal and adoration because it was nerdy and funny, the show fails to hold up today. While the premise promises an exploration of nerd and geek culture through the lens of comedy, eventually, the nerds are the butts of the jokes themselves. The representation of people is also rather stereotypical, from the offensive portrayal of Indian culture through the character of Raj, to the clichéd depiction of autism through the main character, Sheldon.

The only way to make another show of its kind would be to revamp the brand of humor, change the characters involved, and take a more inclusive approach towards writing.

While the heartwarming moments of bonding and the innumerable pop culture references are why we love the show, it simply wouldn't hold up today. The misogynistic character choices, and the portrayal of geeks as either creeps or socially inept seem dated, despite the show ending a little more than five years ago. While The Big Bang Theory wasn't canceled, the only way to make another show of its kind would be to revamp the brand of humor, change the characters involved, and take a more inclusive approach towards writing.

7 Twin Peaks (1990-2017)

Would Be Wrong Without David Lynch

Whether it's a sci-fi TV show with a mystery element or a mystery show with a sci-fi element is a debate that will rage on forever, but what's undisputed is that Twin Peaks shouldn't be touched. It was David Lynch's brainchild, and as tempting as the idea must be for networks looking to capitalize on the popularity of his titles right now, it would be disrespectful to the maestro.

Even Twin Peaks: The Return, which happens 25 years after the original run of the show in the early '90s, was a continuation, and was co-written by Lynch himself. The unique blend of surrealism and twisted mystery that Lynch made year after year while building his impressive filmography could never be replicated by someone else. Without the trademark Lynchian traits, Twin Peaks just wouldn't be Twin Peaks, and just out of reverence for Lynch, it should also be left untouched.

6 Jessica Jones (2015-2019)

The MCU Hasn't Been Able To Do The Strong Female Character Justice

Some of Netflix's Marvel characters are set to return with Daredevil: Born Again releasing in a little over a week. That could mean all the scrapped projects from Netflix's time with the Marvel properties could be rebooted in the years to come, but this isn't necessarily a good thing. While shows like Iron Fist and The Defenders were disappointing, and the new MCU era could revamp them and renew people's interest in them, I'm not sure if the same can be said about Jessica Jones.

We love Ms. Jonesbecause she's a complex female character with layers to her characterization. Her PTSD, her alcoholism, her self-destructive urge to distance people, and her general lack of optimism about the world – the Netflix show handles sensitive subject matter and the titular character's complicated persona delicately. However, the MCU's track record with female characters doesn't make a Jessica Jones reboot seem promising. Wanda was a grieving mother, but she became a villain who then killed herself. She deserved a better arc, and so does Jessica Jones.

5 Sherlock (2010-2017)

Deserves Re-Imagining

While he's much more famous for his portrayal of Alan Turing, Benedict Cumberbatch's breakthrough in the film and TV industry was as Stephen Hawking in the 2004 TV movie Hawking. However, he'd have to wait 6 more years to become a household name for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. While it features what's undoubtedly the most iconic version of the character today, Sherlock is far too niche to work as a reboot. Holmes gets re-imagined every decade anyway, and a new show after Elementary ended in 2019 would be a better idea than a Sherlock reboot.

BBC Sherlock Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes with him and Martin Freeman as John Watson in the background

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The only way I'll watch more of that version of Sherlock Holmes is if Cumberbatch plays him, and has Martin Freeman by his side as Dr. Watson. And if that's possible, they can just continue the existing show. Reviving this exact version of Holmes is also a fool's errand after the mess that was Season 4. From Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock Season 5 update, continuation seems unlikely anyway. We still have at least 10 amazing episodes to revisit every time we miss him, which is very often, and we should be content with that.

4 Killing Eve (2018-2022)

Deserves A Rewrite Instead

Rebooting Killing Eve would mean the first season, brilliantly written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, wouldn't be canon again. That is perhaps one of the greatest seasons of television ever, and a redo would simply not capture the electric atmosphere again. Waller-Bridge's interpretation of Villanelle and Eve, and how their obsession with each other affects them, is unparalleled.

Villanelle's ending was so dissatisfying for viewers, that writer Luke Jennings, whose books the character is based on, decided to write another book, Killing Eve: Resurrection, in late 2023 (via The Guardian).

The final season, and especially the ending, which disappointingly upholds the bury-your-gays TV trope which the show had seemingly subverted, is one of the biggest letdowns of all time. So, I would love a rewrite of the later seasons, but if that's only possible through a reboot that throws the first season out as well, I'm not a fan of the idea. Villanelle is one of the female TV characters who deserved a better ending, and I'm satisfied just denying her ending happened than watching a reboot of the amazing pilot season.

3 Friends (1994-2004)

The Premise Is Overused Now

When it first started in '94, Friends was unique and refreshing. Apart from Seinfeld, which was much more of a personal project, most successful sitcoms were more focused on family back then. The concept of finding a family via friendship as the premise for a long-running sitcom made it new and exciting. However, its iconic status and cultural footprint today means there are too many ripoffs that have tried to recreate the winning formula. In such a scene saturated with re-imaginations of that concept, a reboot simply wouldn't work.

The 10-season run of the show has ensured we can't imagine anyone else playing those characters.

Friends is most definitely a product of its time. It serves as a comforting time capsule into the '90s, but most of its humor hasn't aged well. I'd love nothing more to watch Chandler Bing be sarcastic one more time, but he wouldn't be Chandler without Matthew Perry, and nor would the other characters without their actors. The 10-season run of the show has ensured we can't imagine anyone else playing those characters, so not only is a reboot not necessary, it will always be competing with its precursor. So, Friends should just be left as it is.

2 Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)

There Is Now Too Much Lore

Avatar: The Last Airbender

TV-Y7

9/10

9.1/10

Release Date: 2005 - 2008

Avatar: The Last Airbender, released in 2005, follows a young boy in a war-torn world of elemental magic as he reawakens to embark on a challenging mystical quest to fulfill his destiny as the Avatar and restore peace to the world.

Cast: Zach Tyler Eisen, Mae Whitman, Jack De Sena, Dante Basco, Dee Bradley Baker, Jessie Flower, Mako, Grey DeLisle, Johanna Braddy, Cricket Leigh, André Sogliuzzo, Olivia Hack, Mark Hamill, Paul Eiding, Joe Alaskey, Derek Basco, Amy Hill, John Kassir, Greg Baldwin, Jodi Carlisle, Lucille Bliss, Ross Thomas, James Shigeta, Andrew Lewis Caldwell, Jim Ward
Showrunner: Michael Dante DiMartino
Directors: Giancarlo Volpe, Ethan Spaulding, Lauren MacMullan, Dave Filoni, Joaquim Dos Santos, Anthony Lioi
Writers: Tim Hedrick, Elizabeth Welch Ehasz, Joshua Hamilton, James Eagan, Joann Estoesta, Nick Malis, May Chan, Katie Mattila
Seasons: 3

While Avatar: The Last Airbender wasn't made as an adaptation of any existing source material when it first came out, it has since inspired graphic novels, movies, and animated and live-action shows. As the live-action adaptations demonstrate, re-imagining the original events of Avatar: The Last Airbender is simply a bad idea. Every moment in the original show contributes meaningfully to the overarching story, the lore of the world, the characterization, and the commentary.

Rebooting Avatar: The Last Airbender makes no sense because there's no need for a reboot. I don't see why the show would need to be recreated if not to change the art style or the storyline, and both are essential to the vibe, and the precious characters would get ruined. The art doesn't look dated to me, and the unique blend of anime and American animation styles is forever associated with the simple yet layered narrative of the show. I look forward to seeing more of Zuko in Avatar: Seven Havens, but I hope the show never gets rebooted.

1 Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

It's Perfect As It Is

It's one of the greatest TV shows ever made, perhaps, the greatest one of all time. Unlike Game of Thrones, it ended with a perfect conclusion, too. Then it got a spinoff show that is at the same level, and a sequel movie, equally good, which tied all loose ends. So, the story of Breaking Bad is just perfect as it is. I agree with Bryan Cranston about a possible Walter White return – the show is over, and there is no reason to force a return. The show ended exactly as it should have, and a reboot would sully its legacy.

Custom image of Bryan Cranston as Walter White in Breaking Bad juxtaposed with Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman in Better Call Saul. — Bryan Cranston Walter White Breaking Bad Bob Odenkirk Saul Goodman

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Just because Breaking Bad, El Camino, and Better Call Saul are all so good, doesn't mean their success can be repeated, or even should be. Breaking Bad has aged well, has the most satisfying character arcs for all its major characters, doesn't glorify toxicity, and is a well-contained complete story. Moreover, the actors are too iconic as the characters, and a recast would be jarring too. There's no reason to tell the story again, and for anyone who wants more, I can only suggest a rewatch – you'll find new details, and will enjoy it just as much again.

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