'Party of Five' reboot's deportation plot has fans divided: 'Not liking the bait and switch approach'
TV reboots can be tricky. Of course, they need to be connected to the original show, but some of the best ones aren’t a straight-up retelling of the same story, either. They feel modern, but not in a way that’s forced.
The creators of the ‘90s show Party of Five, a drama about five kids of varying ages learning to navigate the world after their parents die in a car crash, decided to change up the upcoming new version of that show with a fresh plot that’s very 2019. The family at the center of it, the Acostas, struggle to stay together as the parents are deported to Mexico and the children are left to fend for themselves.
As soon as the trailer debuted last week, fans began weighing in on the new premise, with some of them arguing that the plot strays too far from that of the original.
This is the story of an American family. Meet our new @PartyofFiveTV, coming to Freeform. pic.twitter.com/8LpIPoybkS
— Freeform (@FreeformTV) May 14, 2019
the latest 90s reboot? party of five. not clear on this. if the story has changed, can't it be called something else? not liking the bait and switch approach. is there a bailey salinger?
The New ‘Party of Five’ Trailer About Immigration Is Heartbreakinghttps://t.co/OoXvfMeD39 pic.twitter.com/eM3UBdski3— T (@trig72) May 22, 2019
Then it’s really not a reboot of Party of Five is it?
— Devil Pup🇺🇸🐶 (@DevilPup74) May 22, 2019
Wait what they’re doing an illegal immigrant reboot of Party of Five? LMAOOO
— Vivian 🇺🇸 (@VivianWBW) May 23, 2019
They think they can remake #PartyOfFive and get away with it like we wouldn't notice. Don't play me like that!
— Candice Kemp (@cblayrek) May 23, 2019
Others welcomed the timely storyline.
I need everybody to go watch the trailer for “Party of Five” and support this show bc even though it’s a “show”, it is someone’s real life. I’m so excited for it to come out and I know it is going to impact so many people for the better. @PartyofFiveTV
— BAIM≡H 🇨🇴🇵🇪 (@Heidii_lopez) May 23, 2019
Party of Five remake trailer just came out and I’m so so so excited because it’s going to be new and different!
— Love, Raquel 🌻 (@xoxoRaquelita) May 22, 2019
The #PartyofFive reboot looks so good, I cannot wait
— rebeca (@ayuramat) May 21, 2019
For their part, the creators behind both the reboot and the original said they only wanted to do a new version of the show if it had a new angle. They told the Associated Press that they’d said no to previous offers, but they were inspired by stories they were seeing in the news, as President Trump and his administration have cracked down on immigration.
“We have told this story before but it was imaginary,” creator Amy Lippman said. “Now it’s actually a story that is playing out all over the country.”
The premiere date for the new Party of Five has not yet been announced.
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