The BSC is back for a new generation
Kristy. Mary Anne. Claudia. Stacey. Dawn. These names are familiar, almost by heart, to anyone who read and grew up on Ann M. Martin’s 1980’s series of children’s novels, The Baby-Sitters Club (shyly raises my hand). The books were iconic, spawned spinoff series and really became something of a franchise, as most of the hundred plus novels were eventually written by ghostwriters, and with a 1990 TV show and 1995 movie to its name as well.
I owned most of them myself, read them from about age 8-11 before outgrowing them, but after watching this frankly miraculous new adaptation based on the original books, realized that the characters have stayed with me, somewhere in the back of my mind, years after the last time I ever thought about them. I never thought there was a chance this wholesome series could be adapted in a new iteration that would have anything to say to today’s kids, but I think creator Rachel Shukert has proven me wrong about that. This new version of the BSC is remarkably faithful to the original premise, nails the casting for the major characters, and updates itself to modern times, incorporating all the right touches without going overboard. It just feels right.
Kristy’s mom’s wedding happens early in the series
These ten episodes are closely based on the first Ann Martin authored books, from Kristy’s Great Idea to Mary Anne Saves the Day, etc. The girls are perfectly case with age appropriate actresses- especially Sophie Grace as protagonist and Martin alter ego Kristy Thomas, the tomboy and president of the club. Each girl’s personality is familiar to readers, from Claudia as art student, to Mary Anne as wallflower, and Stacey as NYC sophisticate (and her diabetes is updated to reflect today’s treatment standards). The biggest change is probably Dawn (now changed from a blonde CA surfer girl to a latina CA activist), but Xochiti Gomez is one of the strongest screen presences of the young cast, frankly making Dawn far more memorable than she was in the books.
The parents are well written too, from Alicia Silverstone as Kristy’s mom to Marc Evan Jackson as Mary Anne’s strict widower father. The show maintains a wholesome tone but commits to taking the coming of age of 12-13 year old girls seriously and with a winning belief in their friendships, family problems, heartbreaks and discoveries of who they want to become. It’s an idealistic approach that pays tribute to the lasting ideals of Martin’s books, which had the same effect on millions of female readers. Some of the extended cast is clearly played by some amateur child actors, but it’s so endearing that any imperfections are pretty easily overlooked, as it kind of is a perfect show for its target audience- kids. I don’t know if it intends to keep following the pre-written plots of the books (there are plenty to choose from, so they definitely could), but unlike the BSC, these girls will age quickly, so if the show continues, we may see them go on into high school for a bit. And that’s fine, because I have a feeling we’ll want to keep following them for some time to come.
Grade: A-
A perfect show for young girls to watch
