TV Show Revivals I BuzzFeed List

TV Revivals have divided fans and critics for decades, leaving many people questioning: Should this even have been made? Some revivals have made the original better and more worthwhile, while others have completely derailed and ruined the original series.

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From classic sitcoms, teen dramas, and gripping drama series — this list features the 11 very best TV show revivals and the 11 very worst TV show revivals. Let us know where you agree with us on these rankings, and where you don’t, in the comments below!

DID WORK: Doctor Who (2005-present).

1. Following the beloved series, the 2005 revival of Doctor Who quickly gained global attention, becoming a worldwide phenomenon that has captured the intrigue and hearts of millions. From its continuous wave of new characters and storylines, Doctor Who has successfully maintained its longtime fanbase and acquired new audiences in the process.

DID WORK: Cobra Kai (2018-2025).

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2. Filled with captivating new characters, twists, and nostalgic beats, Cobra Kai confidently carries on the legacy of The Karate Kid films in a new, refreshing revival that’s worth every season of streaming and stands as a firm franchise in its own right.

DID WORK: Twin Peaks: The Return (2017).

3. Premiering 26 years after the phenomenon of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, Twin Peaks: The Return revived the story in new, groundbreaking ways that captivated audiences everywhere. It’s considered one of the best TV show revivals ever due to its striking creativity and boldness.

4. 12 years after the massive success of the animated adventure series, the revival of Samurai Jack gave audiences the closure and ending it rightfully deserved. The revival stayed true to its roots and original style, yet elevated the show to a much darker, sophisticated tone that resonated with viewers and longtime fans.

5. After the colossal success of Criminal Minds, the revival confidently stepped up the stakes and intensity, maintaining its massive fan base through the franchise’s transition to a more modern, serialized storytelling. This new format connected with audiences greatly due to its focus on providing new depth to returning characters and recurring storylines.

DID WORK: One Day at a Time (2017-2020).

6. The hugely beloved 1975 sitcom One Day at a Time was a timeless series that connected with audiences everywhere, making a revival an extremely difficult feat. However, its revival 33 years later proved to be a significant contemporary series, receiving great praise for its strong characters, writing, and overall performances.

DID WORK: The Comeback (2014).

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7. Almost a decade after its first season aired, The Comeback did just that; it made a real, strong comeback. With its surprise season two revival, the series’s themes of fame, television, and celebrity culture resonated much more with modern audiences. The revival found itself in a firm place, enhancing the original series by a wide margin.

DID WORK: The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (2022-present).

8. After two decades, the hugely popular animated sitcom The Proud Family was successfully revived, capturing the original’s heart and glory through a more modern lens that viewers could still resonate with, proving revivals can reuse their working parts without complete abandonment.

DID WORK: Scrubs (2026-present).

9. While a fairly recent and ongoing revival, the first season of the Scrubs revival has managed to maintain its original charm, echoing the nostalgia and style of its origins while giving fresh storylines to key returning cast members. First receptions suggest the revival will stand well alongside the original as it continues.

DID WORK: iCarly (2021-2023).

10. The long-anticipated revival of iCarly gave audiences a bittersweet, nostalgic look at the beloved characters they grew up with, minus a few main stars. The revival evolved the show’s memorable style and humor, allowing the characters’ stories to progress in a more mature, grounded setting that fans longed to see unfold on screen.

DID WORK: Beavis and Butt-Head (2022-present).

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11. The long-awaited revival of Beavis and Butt-Head was a huge success among audiences, maintaining the cultural relevance and comedic value of its iconic comedic duo. Through sustaining the characteristics and aesthetics of the original cartoon, the revival remains a memorable and special addition for audiences.

DIDN’T WORK: Gossip Girl (2021-2023).

12. The original drama series Gossip Girl took audiences by storm, creating a huge teen fandom, but the revival focused too much on a modernizing approach to the new era of Gossip Girl. The revival created a whirlwind of new characters, storylines, and drama that just didn’t click with audiences in the same way. It’s safe to say the gossip fell a little short on this one.

DIDN’T WORK: And Just Like That (2021-present).

13. Many original fans of the Sex and the City franchise were thrilled when a revival series of the hit show was announced. However, the series remains one of the more divisive revivals of late because of its character progressions and storylines that seem to heavily contradict the original, taking away from the franchise’s overall nostalgic, charming quality.

DIDN’T WORK: Arrested Development (2013-2019).

14. The groundbreaking, original sitcom Arrested Development captured audiences everywhere. However, the revival of Arrested Development wasn’t able to satisfy audiences in the same way. Many critics and fans often cited the revival as a weaker continuation that failed to maintain the essence of the original .

DIDN’T WORK: Dexter: New Blood (2021-2022).

15. The hit crime series Dexter left many fans disappointed after the finale, making the first revival a risky venture. Despite this, Dexter: New Blood proved to be only a mildly successful return into a compelling new story that many critics and fans viewed as a general improvement, but divided fans once again with a rushed, sloppy ending.

DIDN’T WORK: The X-Files (2016-2018).

16. While many long-standing fans were thrilled about the revival and continuation of the prominent show and its characters, The X-Files revival seemed to lack much significant creative initiative, leaving audiences greatly disappointed and criticizing the existence of the new seasons altogether.

DIDN’T WORK: Will & Grace (2017-2020).

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17. The anticipated return of the beloved sitcom Will and Grace excited its fanbase beyond belief, but the revival fell short in many ways. Audiences claimed it didn’t add much new meaning to its characters and ongoing story, leaving many to question whether it really needed a continuation at all.

DIDN’T WORK: Fuller House (2016-2020).

18. Following the massive success of the sitcom Full House, the Fuller House revival seemed to have the same family-friendly fun and charm, but that nostalgia only hooked audiences for so long. Many argued that the drawn-out storylines, cheesy writing, and unlikable characters made the revival unnecessary.

DIDN’T WORK: That 90’s Show (2023-2025).

19. While the returning cast members for That 90’s Show made the revival a fun, nostalgic look back, the series was short-lived, struggling to maintain the same charm and chemistry of its original characters, and leaving fans quite unsatisfied with the outcome. It proved the nostalgia wasn’t enough to top the original That 70’s Show.

DIDN’T WORK: Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (2022-2024).

20. It was going to be pretty difficult to top the original teen mystery series Pretty Little Liars, and the revival of Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin was no exception. The franchise moved in a completely new direction, transitioning into a much darker, horror setting that divided fans and viewers. Without its main stars, many felt the revival was just a different story and world that they couldn’t connect with.

DIDN’T WORK: The Twilight Zone (2019-2020).

21. While the talent and passion were there, the revival season of The Twilight Zone fell quite short, leaving many fans disappointed with the progression and the lack of an intriguing or refreshing narrative in the revival of the original, prominent anthology that captivated audiences.

DIDN’T WORK: Girls Meets World (2014-2017).

22. While the original sitcom of Boy Meets World wowed audiences in the 90s, the revival Girl Meets World didn’t stick with fans the same way. Many people complained that the influence of Disney Channel moved it too far from its roots, and the series relied too heavily on references to find its own footing, even though it found a short-lived place in a younger audience.

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