It was recently announced that the streaming service Peacock picked up a spinoff of “The Office.” The so-called “spinoff” is actually being classified as a “mockumentary” rather than a reboot of sorts. In doing so, it has been said that there will be an entirely new cast, but it still exists in the same universe as the original employees of Dunder Mifflin. If you are a fan of the original cast, you will need to prepare yourself to get used to some unfamiliar faces. The plot of this new show is allegedly revolving around a group of employees attempting to keep their newspaper business afloat.

With this recent announcement of rebooting an old classic in a completely new way, it begs the question: are spinoffs and reboots really the way to go? I always find that my love for the original version of a show makes it difficult for me to adjust to a whole new cast and plot. For example, I attempted to watch the Gossip Girl reboot when it was brand new; however, as a huge fan of the original, I struggled to connect with the characters in the same way I did with the 2007 version.

I used to watch “The Big Bang Theory,” and when “Young Sheldon” was released, contrastingly, I actually found that I enjoyed the spinoff a little bit more. I suppose that the less connected I feel towards the original characters, the more open and willing I am to adjust to a brand-new cast. Also, the fact that the narrator’s voice in “Young Sheldon” is indeed the same Sheldon Cooper from the “Big Bang Theory,” played by Jim Parsons, helps increase my interest. The show does a great job of circling back to its roots.

Funnily enough, in certain cases, people find that while the reboot is rarely better than the original, it has its own flare that can make it equally as good. Joy Mikhail (12) states, “Reboots and spinoffs are usually flops, but they can definitely still be entertaining!” I’d have to agree with her take on this; I am simply not the biggest fan of reboots.

I think that if you have a good thing going, you probably shouldn’t try to change the “formula”, stick with your roots, and listen to your audience’s opinions. If you find that your audiences approve of new improvements, definitely continue your efforts, however, it is probably best to stay away from recreating something that is already working.