When Netflix released their reboot of Netflix version stands out with its bold characters, a contemporary feel, and more compelling storylines.
Of course, when there's a new adaptation, some changes are going to be made. Thankfully, The Baby-Sitters Club is always about the friendship between the girls and that has never changed. But while there are many things to love about the Netflix reboot, there are some parts that aren't as fantastic.
Does Better: The Diversity
One thing is for sure, the new Baby-Sitters Club is much more diverse than the past adaptations or the original book series. Mary Anne Spier (Malia Baker) is biracial and Dawn Schafer (Xochitl Gomez) is Latina instead of a California blonde like in the novels.
There is also diversity in other ways, like the scene when Mary Anne babysits a child who is trans, and advocates for them at the hospital. It's beautiful to watch this beloved story move into 2020.
Misses The Mark: Mallory And Jessi Are Introduced Late
Mallory and Jessie are always the "junior " of the club and it's very charming. They play an especially big and important role in the 1995 movie, which fans will .
These two characters are introduced pretty late, however, as it isn't until the final episodes when the girls are at camp that they really talk to them. It would have been nice if they had been introduced a bit earlier because fans love these characters and them fondly.
Does Better: Mary Anne's Storyline Is Powerful
In the books and the other adaptations, Mary Anne is a sweetheart but she doesn't really stand up for herself. It's hard for the reader to understand why she is the way that she is.
Mary Anne's storyline in the Netflix show is really powerful as she learns to stand on her own two feet and stop being so meek all the time. She makes a new friend in Dawn and realizes that when it's important, she can help other people and be there for them. And the death of her mother also serves to explain Mary Anne's reservedness.
Misses The Mark: Mary Anne's Dad Isn't Well-Developed
TV dads can be strict or fun, and Mary Anne's dad Richard (Marc Evan Jackson) is definitely the former. But while he doesn't want Mary Anne to make any mistakes or leave his sight, he's not a very well-developed character.
Father and daughter do start seeing eye to eye but it seems like Richard should try harder to understand Mary Anne. It would also be great if his character had more of a personality and wasn't just rigid and serious all the time.
Does Better: Kristy Is A Feminist Now
Kristy Thomas (Sophie Grace) is an inspiring, powerful character and now, she's a feminist. This is a really positive character development.
Fans know that Kristy has always been super bossy. That's part of her charm (and also something that gets her into a lot of trouble). But now that she cares about equality, it adds another layer to her character.
Misses The Mark: Kristy's Dad Should Have Been A Character
The 1995 movie does an amazing job of showing how tough it is for Kristy to be without her father . But in the Netflix series, while Kristy mentions her sadness around being ignored and neglected by her father and she gets very upset in one scene, he's not a shown character.
This is one way that the series misses the mark because it would have been more powerful to see him actually come visit (or disappoint her once again). This might have also helped Stacey McGill (Shay Rudolph) and Claudia Kishi (Momona Tamada) understand Kristy more.
Does Better: Karen Is More Interesting
Kristy's stepsister Karen is a big feature of the books and she even got her own spin-off novel series called Baby-Sitters Little Sister.
Played by Sophia Reid-Gantzert, Karen is more interesting in the Netflix reboot than she has ever been before. She's pretty dark and loves talking about bad news and the supernatural. She's also just as spirited and tough as Kristy, and she's a blast to watch.
Misses The Mark: Logan And Mary Anne's Love Story Is Different
Logan and Mary Anne are one popular couple, but their love story is different in the Netflix reboot.
Played by Rian McCririck, Logan doesn't really do much on the show, although it's clear that he and Mary Anne have crushes on each other. It would have been nice to see them start a relationship.
Does Better: The Storytelling Feels Streamlined
There's an episode of the 1990 TV show called "Stacey's Big Break" where she tries modeling, but this time around, the focus is on Stacey's diabetes and how she comes to with her illness. This is just one example of how the storytelling is more streamlined this time around.
Each episode is structured around one character, whether it's Kristy dealing with her mom's wedding or Claudia wanting to go to a school dance even though she failed a test, and it works really well.
Misses The Mark: There Could Have Been 2 Or 3 More Episodes
There are so many things to love about Netflix's The Baby-Sitters Club, but one thing that missed the mark is the fact that there are only 10 episodes.
Since each episode is around half an hour, it would have been nice to have at least two or three more. This is especially true since the last two episodes take place at camp. While that's enjoyable to watch, fans love seeing the girls' daily lives in Stoneybrook, so it would have been better to continue the story a little longer.