Positivity about the new Homecoming

[AR15]

I've seen a lot of fans across the internet express their unhappiness at The Homecoming being remade this year (to the extent that Kami Cotler had to delete a post about it, because there were so many hateful comments, but I, for one, am very happy about the news, so I wanted to make a thread specifically for positivity surrounding the new movie. Here are a few reasons I'm glad about the news.

First of all, it's excellent to have some new Waltons to look forward to. I became a fan in 2009 so this is the first time I've had new Waltons content to look forward to and I am very excited!

Secondly, having Richard Thomas as the narrator bodes very well for me. The fact that they have chosen to bring him back is a clear sign that they are making this for the fans as much as new audiences. In my head, I imagine this dream scenario: the story starts with John-Boy and his kids on Christmas Eve - they can't sleep and so he tells them a Christmas Eve story from his childhood. In this scene, they can include photos of the rest of the family (Zebulon, Esther, John, Olivia and everyone else can all get a nice bit of representation that way). At the end, when the kids are asleep, John-Boy takes a look at the old photos and thinks to himself that he's lead a wonderful life and been very lucky - finally giving The Waltons saga an "end" which could feel satisfying and also bookmarking the series fantastically: it starts and ends with The Homecoming!

Thirdly, I know a lot of people struggle with the change in actor, but personally I'm quite excited to see how the new cast will tackle the characters. We've already had multiple actors for John, John-Boy and Olivia, so I'm quite comfortable with the change - as much as each actor to take on the role has given a huge part of themselves to it (and done an utterly fantastic job), for me, all of these characters transcend actors, which is a testament to Earl Hamner's abilities as a writer - they're all so real, because they were drawn from reality.

Finally, I'm just very curious to see what The Waltons looks like when reinterpreted for a modern auidence. Even if it turns out to be bad, that doesn't matter, we haven't lost the original and we don't have to watch it again, but this is an opportunity for a new generation of fans to get into The Waltons and a new generation of artists to give their own spin on the formula. Personally, I hope it is quite different to the original - I don't want to see the same thing done again, I want to see something that will stand on its own, rather than something that tries to do what the original already does. Considering that Richard Thomas has agreed to be involved, I think that that's a sign of its quality - based on what I've seen him say of The Waltons (and about acting/his career in general) I don't think he'd attach himself to a sub-par project or one which was disrespectful to the legacy of The Waltons.

Who else is excited for the new movie?

[Brenda]

There isn’t much I can add to your well thought out post. I don’t understand the negativity from some Waltons fans. They don’t have to watch it if they don’t want to. It’s not a replacement for the original movie. We will always have that.  So, yes, I am very excited to see the new movie. 

[Deleted]

Anne of Green Gables has had a few adaptations made. Only two versions, the 1980s with Megan Follows and the new version, Anne with an E cause people any real angst. There was another version made between the two and nobody even notices it.

The 80s one is still the best , but I also like the one in between but it is not AOGG to me. It is a movie about a girl who lives in Avonlea like Anne, but lives on a different farm. I am able to enjoy it in that frame. Maybe this remake will be the same.


A lot of remakes bomb and suck horribly. RT sucked in Beyond the Prairie. Talk about a bad "reboot". I doubt anybody would claim that was better than LHOTP.

[Easton]

I, along with a few other members here of my generation, have had the privilege of watching both original and rebooted (updated) versions of such classics as The Beverly Hillbillies, Dennis the Menace, The Three Stooges, and many others. The reboots are written and made not for the fans of the originals, but for new fans. They are modern-day programmes and movies taking place in completely different eras.

I have hopes that it will succeed, but I won't be surprised if it turns out to be virtually and disappointingly unrecognisable.

[patriciaanne]

I'm excited about it. I'll have an open mind and not expect it to be exactly like the original.

The reaction is ironic, though.

Waltons fans: There are no good shows like the Waltons anymore!!

Also Waltons fans: Oh no!! A Waltons reboot! I won't watch that! 😱

[Kyle]

Reboots/remakes rarely surpass the originals. And the nice thing is: if you’re strongly against it, you don’t have to watch it. It’s presence doesn’t in any way diminish the magnificence of the original.

[JessicaGirlSpy]

I'm also eagerly waiting a new Waltons. I'm curious how a different group of creative minds will approach this brilliant series. I do hope they don't depict Christians as hypocritical, shallow, people. I also hope they keep Mary Ellen's wonderful line 'I always feel better when I hug a cow'

[Johnny]

I do hope the new Homecoming will be as successful was we would like it to be.  I have seen successful reboots of other pieces, some even had sequels and there was opportunity for old friends to be a bridge to the new.

Who can forget when bones (DeForest Kelley) visited the deck on The Next Generation of Star Trek

or when Spock (Leonard Nemoy) visits his younger self (Zachary Quinto) on Star Trek (2009) (reboot) film.

To perennial fans, this kind of crossover was sentimental & moving and helped the new story lines & actors to succeed. 

[carol]

May 26, 2021 17:39:04 GMT -5 patriciaanne said:

I'm excited about it. I'll have an open mind and not expect it to be exactly like the original.

The reaction is ironic, though.

Waltons fans: There are no good shows like the Waltons anymore!!

Also Waltons fans: Oh no!! A Waltons reboot! I won't watch that! 😱

Also there are also those who couldn't accept Robert Wightman as John Boy but are now fine with not only someone else playing John Boy but an entirely new cast.

I'll probably watch it but like most reboots the original will probably still be better.

[AR15]

Excellent comparison, Johnny

I'm quite a fan of Star Trek and I actually just finished watching through all of the original series, followed by its animated series, then the original movies, all the way up to the most recent movies! The news of the new Homecoming actually made me think of that specifically: it's completely new in terms of style and even cast, but still respectful to the original, even finding a clever way to incorporate an original cast member. If the new Homecoming is to The Waltons what the 2009 Star Trek movie is to the original series of Star Trek, we will be very lucky!

[Deleted]

May 27, 2021 14:30:20 GMT -5 AR15 said:

Excellent comparison, Johnny

I'm quite a fan of Star Trek and I actually just finished watching through all of the original series, followed by its animated series, then the original movies, all the way up to the most recent movies! The news of the new Homecoming actually made me think of that specifically: it's completely new in terms of style and even cast, but still respectful to the original, even finding a clever way to incorporate an original cast member. If the new Homecoming is to The Waltons what the 2009 Star Trek movie is to the original series of Star Trek, we will be very lucky!

If the new Homecoming is as good as the 1980s Anne of Green Gable, the original Homecoming will be forgotten about like the 1934 Anne of Green Gable has. Sometimes the new is way better than the original. 

[pinkbaker07]

I've only read bits and pieces about the reboot. Usually remakes are never as good as the original but it might be interesting.