The popular show Saved by the Bell was very much a product of '90s television. The characters had big hair and wore too many patterns, every joke had a cheesy punchline, and the show didn't have much diversity. With the news that a 2020 reboot was coming from NBC's streaming service Peacock, people wondered what that would look like and what storylines would be featured.
Fans have been curious to see how the reboot compares to the original show and many have taken to Reddit to share their thoughts and feelings about the new batch of episodes. From missing characters to the vibe of the show, everything is covered.
It's Great How The Reboot Pokes Fun At The Original Show
The Saved by the Bell reboot has some callbacks to the '90s show is very much in on the joke. For example, the pilot includes a scene making fun of Zack Morris, as he's not good at his governor job, and he thinks that he can get away with everything.
One fan shared on Reddit that they love how the reboot is poking fun at the original series. They also think that it's funny and compared it to some other popular sitcoms: "it's fun to watch. Weird humor like 30 Rock and Kimmy Schmidt."
Slater's Dance Sequence Is Awesome
Some fans are glad that Mario Lopez has returned as A.C. Slater and they love that he danced in one fun scene.
A fan shared on Reddit that they found Lopez to be really funny in the reboot and another wrote that they enjoyed Slater's dance at Jamie's party. This is a great way to keep the silly vibes of the original show while telling a new story, as Slater helps Jessie out and realizes that he doesn't have a family of his own. It's funny but also emotional.
The New Cast Make It Worth Watching
It can be tough to think that a reboot is going to be well-done, as sometimes, they feel awkward and don't capture the same magic. It sounds like some people weren't sure how they would feel about the Saved by the Bell reboot and one posted on Reddit that the new characters make it worth watching. The fan said, "I'm glad that it's basically a new cast because my expectations were super low and it was pretty decent."
While fans love Kelly and Zack and the rest of the gang, the new characters, from Bayside High students Lexi, Mac, and Jamie to new kids Daisy, Aisha, and Devante, are sweet, special, and well-written.
It Reminds One Fan Of The Sitcom Community
Fans of Community enjoyed the friendships and one fan of the Saved by the Bell reboot posted on Reddit that it reminds them of that sitcom. They wrote that Zack is like Jeff and Jessie is sometimes Britta, sometimes Annie, and explained, "It may not quite recapture that Community magic, but it’s fun and it wears its Community inspiration on its sleeve."
This makes a lot of sense, as both shows are set at a school and involve a quirky friend group who get up to mischief and help each other through ups and downs.
Mr. Belding Could Have Been In It
As soon as the reboot was announced and then trailers started appearing online, fans of the original started giving their opinion.
When the cast list was released, it was clear that Richard Belding wouldn't be on the new show, and one fan asked on Reddit, "No Dennis Haskins? I had assumed he’d be Superintendent Belding or something..." It's definitely strange to watch the new episodes and see Bayside High without Mr. Belding.
Is Zack Really The Governor?
Zack may be the protagonist of Saved by the Bell, but many fans see a major problem with his character.
Some people who watched the original series are confused that Zack could be the Governor of California on the reboot. Before the show premiered, someone posted in a Reddit thread that if Zack had that political position, he probably wouldn't be in many episodes since the focus is on the teens at Bayside High. Another Reddit shared they assumed the reboot was a "joke" because of Zack's role and when they realized it was really happening, they agreed that they would check it out.
Why Isn't Lisa In The Reboot More?
Even though Lark Voorhies does appear very briefly as Lisa Turtle, it doesn't make sense that she isn't given more screentime along with Zack, Kelly, Slater, and Jessie.
A few months ago, the actress shared her disappointment about not being in the reboot very much, and a fan backed her up on Reddit. They wrote, "she was one of the main cast in the original series. she should be in the new show just as much as the other original cast are."
What About Screech?
Speaking of characters from the original show, one fan wished that Screech would appear in the reboot, and wrote in a Reddit thread, "I just need some screech in my life."
The original characters were mean to Screech but Dustin Diamond's character is popular, as he was a staple of Bayside High and his dorky personality added something different to the show. While the gang mentions him once, that's all he gets in the reboot.
Zack Could Have Been A Major Cast Member
Reboots often feature the same characters, just older and maybe with kids, and the Saved by the Bell reboot does a good job of reintroducing the original gang and giving their children brand new storylines.
It's fun to watch Zack and Kelly's son Mac and Jessie's son Jamie, as they're a whole new generation. It makes sense that some fans would want to see Zack get more screentime, though: one fan shared on Reddit that they wanted to see Zack in every episode.
It's Good That The Reboot Is Silly
When the trailers for the reboot dropped, some fans shared their thoughts on Reddit, and one said they liked that the show is updated and contemporary. They also appreciate that the reboot its that it's "goofy" and silly, as that makes it fun to watch.
The fan wrote, "kudos to them for at least trying to make the show different and modernize it a bit" and added that from the trailer, the reboot "seems to be buying into the goofiness."