I really watched all over the place in these past days, but seemed to have especially found some kind of nostalgic streak with reboots and the era things were set in. Let’s check it all out!
The Hardy Boys (Season 1)
I have never read a Hardy Boys book (or Nancy Drew book for that matter) in my whole life. When I asked my parents, neither of them had every even heard of them. I do know they mean a lot to people, but my country just did not have them and focused on local groups of book-kid-detectives instead. I’m telling you all this so you know that I have no nostalgia for the books (or even previous TV shows/movies) when it comes to the Hardy Boys. I just like watching them the way I like watching Nancy Drew adaptations.
When I first saw the trailer, I expected this to be hulu’s response to CW’s Nancy Drew, which I like very much despite it being far more supernatural than I expected. It has a darker look, but The Hardy Boys are still squarely set in the 80s. I think it’s funny how you really need to take a hard look these days, because so many shows have established an 80s/90s aesthetic without being set in that decade. I like those vibes coming back, but I was also intrigued by it actually being set at the time.
I really enjoyed myself throughout the entire season even if I wasn’t exactly surprised by any of the twists. It is nicely paced and I was really impressed by the acting even from the younger cast. I think they would do well in continuing this show!
For fans of: The Hardy Boys nostalgia
Saved by the Bell (Reboot – Season 1)
Just like above, I have never watched a Saved by the Bell episode in my life. I went into this out of boredom and then watched the entire season in one sitting. I have to say, and again, I have no reference point for comparison, this show is A LOT. Like, if you want authentic teens, this is not it. It’s so overacted and weird sometimes, but after a while these characters grow on you anyway. I can’t give it any points for nostalgia due to obvious reasons, but I had fun.
For fans of: Saved by the Bell???
Fierce
This is a movie made in Poland about a girl whose father is a big time musician and never wanted to have anything to do with her, so, she makes it onto the music competition show he is a judge on as a sort of revenge? The plot says it all? Kinda?
I think this wasn’t the best possible iteration of a story we’ve all seen in some shape or form before, but I liked it well enough. It was a good vied on fame and sticking to your true self, even though it got VERY dramatic sometimes.
On a side note, I know the English dubbing is bad … I watched it with German dubbing, which was better. But I’d also recommend just checking out the subtitles?
For fans of: music competition shows + family drama
Godmothered
Do you remember the movie Enchanted? This totally gave me similar vibes. We have a character from an actual magic world placed in our much harsher reality, but instead of them needing to find true love, they want to help others. And that, does not look the typical fairytale way, so don’t worry about it being too cliché.
It’s a really heartwarming and funny tale, one that works for the whole family. Maybe the humour won’t always hit home 100%, but I think in general it’s a sweet movie and even very fitting for the Christmas time! I definitely came out of it utterly enchanted.
For fans of: sweet fairytale style fun that’s for the whole family
Uncle Frank
This movie. I loved it so freaking much!
Don’t get me wrong, you need to go into it with the right mindset and be prepared for the trauma involved, because this is both a happy and incredibly sad coming out story at the same time. From the trailer and premise it does not look as deeply sad as it is sometimes, but then again, it also does have these amazing moments of humour.
This movie is so many things. I don’t know how it could have been so simple at it’s core, yet also so smart and complex. But I just hope everyone has an Uncle Frank in their lives to open their eyes, but even more so, I hope that everyone meets a Wally and lets them into their hearts! Also, this was a deeply personal movie for Alan Ball and it’s worth it checking out why he made the movie.
For fans of: coming out stories, family centric stories
I have not watched any of these but I plan to give at least The Hardy Boys a look. I would watch Saved by the Bell if i had Peacock.
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I just finished the Hardy Boys today and I have to say I already want more. I really enjoyed it and was pleasantly surprised by just how much in the end!
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My 11 year old son loves the Hardy Boy books and we watched the first episode together and he wasn’t that impressed lol I hope as we keep watching that he gets into it more!
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I obviously don’t know your son and what he usually likes to watch, but I feel like the show might have been targeted at an audience a bit older? The pacing was nice for me, but I could see kids maybe wanting to move along things, especially the mystery elements, quicker. I hope he won’t be too disappointed in this adaptation.
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Attaboy, good for you, kid.
‘Yeah, the t.v. show was okay, but the books are better.’
You should be proud of that boy, Ma’am.
Happy Trails!
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Haha thank you!!
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I’ve never read any of the Hardy Boys either, and I’m undecided if I’m going to check out this adaptation. Think I would enjoy it?
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I think you might like it! It’s not just a plain murder mystery. There’s secret societies and inexplicable supernatural elements as well.
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Does it get very dark and bloody at times?
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Not bloody, but people do die. It’s not very explicit though.
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Still has potential.
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Nancy Drew has been around since 1930. the Hardy Boys have been around since 1927. You could pick anytime in the past one hundred years to place these characters and they would work. The 80’s is popular and easy, but I would be curious to see a more ambitious time-frame to house the show.
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I think ever since Stranger Things, people have really latched on to the 80s and potentially 90s in the process. It’s a popular decade, but I would have liked to see it in the present to be honest. There’s many workarounds to not just googling answers to mysteries haha but I am not sure I would have liked to go back further in time.
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Interestingly, the Hardy Boys also starred in a 1960s American cartoon ripped off from The Archies (rock-band detectives), and a 1970s live-action series which is ALL bell bottoms and Farrah Fawcett hair.
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I had NO IDEA there was a Hardy Boys series. I’m mumblety-mumble years older than you and spent most of the early ’80s reading nothing but Hardy Boys (but that was set in the NYC suburbs, where I grew up). I named my kid after Frank Hardy’s girlfriend from the books (though she’s 10 now and just never got into the books the way that I did, even the junior paperbacks that still flood the market). Will have to check this Hulu series out!
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I hope the show won’t be a disappointment, because I really can’t speak to it’s accuracy to the books etc. But I had fun!
We have our own kid detectives here and I’m very protective of some of them as well haha
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