7 Fan-Favorite TV Shows That Deserve A Revival
Revival series have become something of a brand-new phenomenon in the entertainment industry.
Capitalizing on people’s nostalgic love for age-old TV series, these spiritual reboots simultaneously provide an epilogue for their beloved characters, all the while showcasing new and exciting narrative possibilities around their series’ next generation of characters. Whether looking at a fan-favorite sitcom from the 2000s or an iconic drama series from the ‘90s, revival series have long since taken on a life of their own in contemporary pop culture, as seen with such recent TV series as Twin Peaks: The Return, Fuller House, Frasier, Daredevil: Born Again, That ‘90s Show, and many, many more.
With several exciting TV revivals currently in the works (including Disney+’s Malcolm in the Middle and Dexter: Resurrection), we decided to piece together a list of exceptional TV series we’d love to see rebooted in some way, shape, or form.
Shameless
It’s only been a few years since the end of Shameless’s eleventh season, but almost everyone who witnessed the series throughout its run continues to express hope the show might one day return. Reflecting the numerous trials and tribulations the Gallagher brood experience in their daily lives, Shameless also succeeded in showcasing the new fiascos plaguing the family in either their personal and/or professional lives. While the series ended on an ingeniously bittersweet final note, part of us struggles to envision what lives the Gallaghers might lead without Frank there to complicate things, affording them a chance to change, improve, and challenge themselves to use their time wisely (a sentiment their dysfunctional father would almost certainly agree with).
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
While we occasionally saw her pop up in Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s spin-off series Angel, audiences are still hungering for a full-on return for Sarah Michelle Gellar’s fearless monster hunter, Buffy Summers. With just over 20 years passing since the end of The CW’s flagship series, it’d certainly be interesting to see a new addition to Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s expansive continuity, complete with a returning appearance from Gellar in the title role. With numerous comic books and canonical literature released in the years since Buffy’s formal conclusion, there’s no end to the number of directions a Vampire Slayer revival might veer towards should The CW ever give the formal green-light.
Freaks and Geeks
One of the many TV series unceremoniously canceled by NBC, Freaks and Geeks has gone on to achieve a life of its own as a cult favorite coming of age drama among more appreciative modern viewers. Exploring the distinct growing pains that come with high school social life, Freaks and Geeks excelled at tracking the emotional maturation of its main characters from angsty, uncertain teens into more weary young adults. While the series never made it past its initial season, there’s little question that contemporary audiences would love to see a sequel series following the character’s in their 30s and 40s. Just as the original series eloquently analyzed the difficulties that come with growing up, a Freaks and Geeks revival can expand upon the issues surrounding one’s middle-age years, similar to producer Judd Apatow’s later work on 2012’s criminally underrated This Is 40.
House
Let’s face it, House never exactly received the ending viewers expected or even hoped to see. Instead of concluding with a satisfying final sendoff to Hugh Laurie’s curmudgeonly Dr. House, the series came to a disappointing close with Season 8’s middling finale, “Everybody Dies.” Faking his death and embarking on a cross-country road trip alongside best friend James Wilson, House’s last episode seemed to leave just as many gaping questions as it did genuine answers. At the end of the day, all we can do is cross our fingers and hope that we see this grievous finale rectified with a short-term revival series. After all, just imagine how amazing a series built around House and Wilson’s travels might be – not to mention their growing acceptance of Wilson’s terminal illness.
Modern Family
Hypothetically, Modern Family could have extended to Season 20 and beyond and we still would have tuned in to see how the show’s three principal families were faring. A rare sitcom that retained its sharp sense of humor and intelligent writing throughout its lengthy seasons, Modern Family somehow remained just as fresh and funny in Season 11 as it did in Season 1. With that being said, we would absolutely love to witness a reunion between some of the show’s foremost cast, allowing us to see how the current generation of Pritchetts, Dunphys, and Delgados are doing as they contend with their current lives, careers, families, and prospective personal endeavors.
Jessica Jones
Hypothetically, we’d love to see a sequel series for every entry in Marvel’s Defenders continuity, from Jon Bernthal’s short-lived Punisher series to Finn Jones’ once promising Iron Fist. However, we’d be remiss if we didn’t specifically single out the enormous potential for a Jessica Jones reboot first and foremost. Undoubtedly the greatest Netflix-era MCU show after Daredevil, Jessica Jones pushed the boundaries of the superhero story in exciting new directions, using its basis in the genre to explore real-world themes like trauma, abusive relationships, and its characters’ continuous battles with guilt and mental illness. With the recent return of Charlie Cox’s billy club-toting vigilante in Daredevil: Born Again, we’re curious to see which other potential Defenders might join the Man Without Fear in a Disney+ sequel series, be it Luke Cage, Iron Fist, or Krysten Ritter’s wonderfully jaded former superhero.
Firefly
At this point, it’s fair to say Firefly will never receive that long-awaited second season fans have been hyping up for just over 20 years. But it certainly speaks volumes that Firefly fans have kept that increasingly unlikely dream alive for two whole decades. Unjustly canceled by Fox following its critically acclaimed first season, viewers have continually voiced their fervent desire to see Firefly and its cinematic adaptation, Serenity, continued in some kind of capacity. Far from letting the years diminish any possibility of one day seeing a sequel series, fans have spent the last two decades wondering aloud about a potential reboot following an older Mal Reynolds and his crew of misfit smugglers, similar to Star Trek’s recent accomplishments with Picard or Star Wars’ similar feats with Ahsoka.
