Netflix has a new original series: The Baby-sitters Club! The first season covers the first eight books plus a sort of adaptation of of the second super special, Baby-sitters Summer Vacation. AND...it's set in the present day (2020s).
Naturally, a lot is updated, like Kristy's mom joining an expy of care.com to look for a sitter for David Michael. Claudia's working on a sculpture about menstruation and takes a life drawing class. The girls have cell phones and email, and use social media. The calendar is kept on a laptop. And the girls reference current pop culture AND look like seventh-graders.
There's a big effort for inclusion, too. A lot of background characters aren't white, and same goes for more of the main and supporting cast than in the books. Mary Anne is biracial: her mother was black and her father is white, which is a clever way of explaining her perpetual braids, as it's the only hairstyle her dad knows how to do with her more textured hair (he doesn't require braids unlike the books, but Mary Anne assumed she was only allowed braids because it's how he did her hair when she was young). Dawn is Hispanic. Charlotte Johanssen's parents are both women. One of the kids the club sits for (Bailey Delvecchio) is transgender. Ethnic and sexual orientation diversity are far more common here than in the books, which makes sense--when the first books came out, it was unusual to even have divorced parents in children's and young adult books, but society marches on! Overall, I think it's a fun update, but the original holds a special place for me because of the nostalgia. I'm also not the target audience. I'm glad I watched it, and I'm happy it's been renewed for a second season.
The plots are largely the same as the original books, so I won't rehash that except for the episodes that veer way off. But here are some things I noticed:
What stood out as surprisingly (not necessarily good or bad) different to me:
Mr. Redmont is a misogynistic jerk in this version. Kristy doesn't get in trouble for jumping out of her seat at the end of class, but for yelling out why Thomas Jefferson didn't say all people are created equal instead of all men.
Watson isn't heavyset or balding. He also helps the club get a lot of clients by word of mouth.
Kristy sees Stacey in Stoneybrook when she's supposed to be in New York City, but doesn't tell Claudia or Mary Anne. Stacey knows Kristy saw her and is grateful to Kristy for keeping her secret. Stacey doesn't mention her diabetes yet.
What I was happy stayed the same:
Claudia still has a landline.
Louie is still a rough collie.
The girls' friendship is great.
PSA Time: Don't give the Heimlich maneuver when someone's coughing!
Other interesting touches:
Mary Anne uses a backpack that she pulls behind her rather than the typical kind, perhaps a nod to her over-protective father.
Season 1 Cast
Kristy Thomas: Sophie Grace
Claudia Kishi: Momona Tamada
Stacey McGill: Shay Rudolph
Mary Anne Spier: Malia Baker
Dawn Schafer: Xochitl Gomez
Mallory Pike: Vivian Watson
Jessi Ramsey: Anais Lee
Logan Bruno: Rian McCririck
Elizabeth Thomas-Brewer: Alicia Silverstone
Charlie Thomas: Ethan Farrell
Sam Thomas: Dylan Kingwell
David Michael Thomas: Benjamin Goas
Watson Brewer: Mark Feuerstein
Andrew Brewer: Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguz
Karen Brewer: Sophia Reid-Gantzert
Mimi Yamamoto: Takayo Fischer
Kimiko Kishi: Diana Bang
John Kishi: Kevan Ohtshi
Janine Kishi: Aya Furukawa
Maureen McGill: Shauna Johanssen
Richard Spier: Marc Evan Jackson
Marc Schafer: Andy Canete
Sharon Porter: Jessica Elaina Eason
Esme Porter/Morbidda Destiny: Karin Konoval
Deidre Pike: Caitlin Howard
Forrest Pike: Stephen Weigand
Jordan Pike: Remi-Gael Panon
Adam Pike: Valen Peyton
Byron Pike: Brock Brown
Vanessa Pike: Daphne Hoskins
Nicky Pike: Connor O'Mahoney
Margo Pike: Evelyn Burke
Claire Pike: Sara Halliburton
Dr. Johanssen: Kalyn Miles
Mrs. Johanssen: Luvia Petersen
Charlotte Johanssen: Naomi Tan
Kim Newton: Christina Sicoli
Jamie Newton: Sawyer Frasier
Baby Lucy: Stella and Sophia Rahou
Natalie Barrett: Rebekka Johnson
Hamilton Barrett: Matt Hamilton (funny coincidence)
Buddy Barrett: Benjamin Jacobson
Suzi Barrett: Nadia Batista
Marnie Barrett: Julianna and Emilia Lucente
Todd Delvecchio: Todd Matthews
Francine Delvecchio: Julie Lynn Mortensen
Bailey Delvecchio: Kai Shappley
Nate Marshall: Seth Ranaweera
Mrs. Papadakis: Malaika Jackson
Mrs. Rodowsky: Krista Magnusson
Other Parent #1: Kareem Malcolm
Trevor Sandbourne: Bodhi Sabongui
Shillaber Twin #1: Angelina Belsey
Shillaber Twin #2: Kiara Belsey
Lacy Lewis: Madison Guppy
Michelle Patterson: Kenya Jordan
Janet Gates: Katarina Mueller
Luke Howard: Connor Wong
Caleb: Ben Cockell
Toby: Mason McKenzie
Philomena Means: Tami Sagher
Barb: Heather Feeney
Nurse: Helenna Santos
Doctor: Eric Ruggieri
Sarah: Jacqueline Breakwell
Nurse Diane: Kendra Westwood
Cop #1: Celia Aloma
NYC Camper: Alozie LaRose
Camper #1: Emily Delhunty
Camper #2: Romy Sanchez
Paola: Valeria McNicol
Mean Girl: Zoriah Wong
Saleswoman: Angela Galanopoulos
Nora: Mila Morgan
Doctor: Donna Soares
Teenage Counselor #1: Kenneth Tynan
Glam Squad Member: Garth Hodgson
Old Man Carl: Alex Kliner
Gus: James Reed
Nurse: Charles Singh
Bruce: Cedric Ducharme
Teen Girl: Asia Lizardo
Teen Heckler in Car: Lyric Kennedy
Saluting Camper: Amelie Timer
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