When I first heard that there will be a reboot of “Saved By The Bell”, I did not react to it that well. The general thought in my mind was that it was going to be another 90’s reboot that did not need to be revived. My curious mind opened up to the idea of the reboot. And I must say, it is one of the better reboots.
The original stars Mario Lopez, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, and Elizabeth Berkley Lauren are heavily featured on the first few episodes. But not to the point where they all have more screentime than the new cast. Even the Tiffani Thiessen cameo worked and told a brief story as Kelly and Zach Morris are now married. Zach is now the governor of California, and his son Mac (Mitchell Hoog) attends Bayside High School.
Mac is very similar to his father. In fact, Jamie Spano (Belmont Cameli) is similar to A.C Slater on the original show. When they appear on screen, the duo can be compared to the original characters. Whether if it is the dialouge, or their pranks, much of Zack Morris and A.C Slater’s personalities are passed down to these two. But the rest of the cast, are their own characters.
Haskiri Velazquez, the lead actress of Peacock’s Saved By The Bell, plays as Daisy. Daisy and her friends Aisha (Alycia Pascual-Pena) and Devante (Dexter Darden) were from a different school. The three were transferred to Bayside High and it is a surreal experience for them. What they were used to in their past high school, will not be the same anymore. This really hit hard for the three as they struggle to adjust to the new changes.
On the first episode, Daisy and Max’s chemistry is a highlight for the episode. Daisy’s bubbly and straight forward personality really stretched out the flow of “Saved By The Bell”. She actually became my favorite character during my time watching. There were really good moments that made me giggle and also feel for the character too.
There are also key features and easter eggs that pay homage to the original Saved By The Bell. Such as Daisy breaking the fourth wall, “time out”, the silly tricks and pranks, and even The Max. I found it quite amusing that the characters questioned why everyone eats at The Max every day since the food is expensive. It not only ads to the culture shock these characters go through, but it also addresses real world millennial problems not only in tyhat scene, but other scenes as well.
The characters are really enjoyable. Other than Mac and Jamie, the characters do not feel like they are copycats of the originals. There is a lot to know about them and it is surprising to know what their backstories are and what is in their minds.
Peacock’s “Saved By The Bell” is a nice way to revive the franchise. After the first episode, you will see that it is a completly different show than the original. The comparisons to the original is only by structure. But within that structure, there is a good balance of substance that will keep you engaged. I can easily say that Saved By The Bell is back and better than ever.
Peacock’s Saved By The Bell premieres on November 25th, 2020.
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