There are a lot of properties making comebacks on the small screen lately (over the past few years, really) and a lot are really popular, especially among fans who remember them from “the first time around”. So I was thinking about this and whether the popularity stems from actual quality (in the writing, acting, overall production value) or if people are blinded by nostalgia. I think, in a majority of cases, it’s nostalgia.

First off, I’m not talking about older properties in one form that are getting new life in another, like comics becoming tv shows, ala Daredevil. I’m talking about things that are returning to the same medium in pretty much the same form, like Fuller House or X-Files. The popularity of the resurrected versions of these shows is sometimes staggering, regardless of genre. Less biased reviewers noted that Fuller House was not a good show (then again, neither was Full House), but so many people were curious that the numbers were huge.

If you’re wondering why this came to mind at this time in particular, it’s because of Voltron. There’s a new version on Netflix and I got stuck watching a couple of episodes. I never watched the original, so there was no nostalgic value for me – I was looking at it with fresh eyes. And ye gods, is it horribly written, predictable and boring! All I’ve heard from the fan boys about it is how fantastic it is, but these are all people who watched the original. There are so many plot holes and one dimensional characters it’s like something written by Stephenie Meyer.

Yes, obviously, fans are going to love what they love. And it’s easy to overlook what, as a fan, you might deem small flaws just for the sake of having more of something you love in your life. I get that completely. But, ultimately, it doesn’t make something great or even good. Quality counts and it’s unfortunate that, so often, production companies know they can skimp on it at least a little because nostalgia will make up for it.