OFFICIAL PEACOCK SYNOPSIS:
In this new chapter of the classic 80s sitcom about a bright young girl raised by her foster dad, Punky is now a single mother of three. She’s trying to get her life together when she meets Izzy, a young girl in foster care who reminds Punky of herself at that age.
PUNKY BREWSTER REVIEW
I was a Punky fan. As an older Millennial, I was too young to watch it when it first aired (I was two years old). But when I was about five or six, I caught the series in reruns, and I loved it. I would put on plays with my siblings where I was Punky (my sister played Cherie and my brother was Allen), sometimes dressed like her, and even got a golden retriever!
So, I was really excited for this new version of the show. But does it meet expectations? Sadly, not really. While I mostly enjoyed it, at times it felt like the producers didn’t know who their audience was. Was it meant for young teens or for nostalgic adults? The tone was a bit all over the place.
WHAT I LOVED
The reunion of Soleil Moon Frye and Cherie Johnson was awesome. They slipped back into their roles effortlessly, and their chemistry was fantastic. The dynamic between Punky and her ex, Travis (played by Freddie Prinze Jr.), showed promise too. Cherie also gets a sweet love story with Jasika Nicole from Fringe. And young Izzy (played by Quinn Copeland) was a standout.
WHAT WAS MISSING – BUT COULD IMPROVE IN A POSSIBLE SEASON TWO
What was missing was the sharp wit. If you watch the original show again, you’ll notice how funny George Gaynes and Susie Garrett were. That humor isn’t really there in this reboot. Instead, it feels like another cheesy modern reboot that focuses on new kids, similar to Girl Meets World or Fuller House. Fans of the original show might just want to see more about the original characters.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Even with its flaws, the Punky Brewster revival is still a fun watch. I appreciate that they kept the optimistic vibe of the original show. It’s worth watching, especially if you’re a fan and want to see what happened to the characters.
Content Note: Rated TV-PG for a few inappropriate jokes and innuendos. The romantic scenes are quite mild and fade to black. You can watch it on Peacock.
