Netflix’s 10-episode animation of Eric Monte and Mike Evans’ sitcom ‘Good Times’, has certainly raised eyebrows. This new 'Good Times', developed by Ranada Shepard and Carl Jones, has been criticized for veering away from the original's themes and style. Previews reveal a departure from the original ‘Good Times’ storyline, focusing on caricatures depicting poverty-stricken adversity. Complaints have arisen mainly from fans of the original series who have a close attachment to its depiction of Black family life.
The first episode of the remake is far removed in tone from the original series and has garnered critique for lacking the charm that defined the original. Nonetheless, if viewers can overlook the initial presentation and the title, the series matures noticeably towards the end of its first season, offering promise for its potential.
The animation is set in a nameless Chicago project, recalling Cabrini-Green, with the storyline circling around Reggie (JB Smoove) and Beverly (Yvette Nicole Brown) Evans. Reggie is portrayed as a struggling cab driver while Bev wrestles with the family’s legacy. Their children, Junior (Jay Pharoah) and Grey (Marsai Martin), reflect the original’s character traits with Junior being an artistically inclined often misunderstood son and Grey, an emerging activist daughter. Yet, the family portrait is completed with a surprising element – an infant drug dealer.
The series ventures into the fantastical with apparent references to the original series embedded in the storyline. While the first few episodes appear lackluster, by the third segment the series begins to showcase its potential, with sequences that bring out the benefits of animation as a medium. Still, comic abilities are found wanting as attempts at political commentary fail to hit the target.
The eighth episode is a standout, successfully blending vintage comic book traditions into a superhero origin story peppered with humor, audacity, and novelty. It’s in these latter stages where character arcs finally begin to develop with greater depth, addressing themes of gentrification and racial exploitation.
In conclusion, while this new 'Good Times' deviates from the original series significantly, viewers putting up with the initial odds may find a show that matures into something engaging and promising. A greater development of characters and an enigmatic guest ensemble enrich the series, making it very likely that a potential second season could deliver actual good times despite its rocky start.
