iCarly is officially back on Paramount+ and this new revival is a little different from the original Nickelodeon show. Having dropped its first three episodes on June 17, 2021, audiences will be delighted to know many of their favorite cast members have come back for the show, as well as a few new faces as well. Though Paramount+ opted to release the first three episodes on the same day, the subsequent episodes will release weekly on Thursdays. After watching these initial episodes, it is clear the show shares many core qualities with its predecessor and seems to even chase that original audience.
The original iCarly aired on Nickelodeon for six seasons from 2007 to 2012 and was created by Dan Schneider who had a string of Nickelodeon hits. His tenure with the network, however, came to an end in 2018 and this revival TV series is being spearheaded by Ali Schouten. Set nearly a decade after the original series ended, iCarly pivots around Carly (Miranda Cosgrove) navigating adulthood in a way many young millennials will be able to relate to. In this sense, the show doesn’t try to be what it was before; instead, it has grown up with its cast and become a show that deals with mature themes in a fun and comical way.
This is not to say everything has changed for the iCarly cast. In fact, in many ways these are the same characters audiences will remember. Audiences will recognize the majority of cast and sets from the classic Nickelodeon show. The primary differences between this revival and the original result from the characters growing up, not in a way that changes who they were, but builds on that core personality. Fortunately, this is the sign of a good revival, in the sense that it’s not trying to be the same thing it was once before, which seems to be the failure of certain sitcom revivals. Consequently, none of the changes hurt the series, instead they aid in its success.
Carly Proves She Doesn’t Need A Co-Host
Perhaps the most glaring difference between this revival and the original series is the absence of Sam (Jennette McCurdy), Carly’s best friend and co-host. In the revival’s pilot, this is rather quickly addressed by Carly and Freddie (Nathan Kress), with Carly explaining that Sam is “off following her bliss with that biker gang.” So, while Sam may not physically be in this revival, they have definitely stayed true to her character even off-screen. Though audiences will miss Sam, this creates an opportunity to explore Carly and her relationships a little more. This dynamic shift also forces Carly to do things on her own, something she rarely had to do in the original series.
In essence, this goes to the core of this new revival. Obviously, she still has the help of many of her old friends and new friends, Carly is having to deal with what happens when friends go their separate ways. This was something she dealt with in the first iCarly episodes when she first decides to reboot the iCarly channel. She didn’t think she had it in her host a show by herself, but this self-doubt is something she overcomes. It will be interesting to see the further repercussions not having a co-host will have for Carly and the channel as it will surely be a recurring source of humor.
Carly Has A New Best Friend
Most likely coming as a result of Jennette McCurdy’s decision to not take part in the Punky Brewster-style revival, Carly has a new best friend and roommate. Harper, one of the new cast members this season is played by Laci Mosley and is a “Skybucks” barista with a dream of becoming a fashion stylist. The initial episodes also highlight Harper’s wild streak, which makes her a great stand-in for Sam, whose mischievous antics were a key element of the show. Moreover, Mosley is already winning audiences over by capitalizing on iCarly meatball merchandising and chasing a date out of the apartment wearing a chicken suit in what was potentially a love affair gone wrong. This chicken suit scene is just one example of the show’s foray into mature themes and innuendos.
In fact, Harper is the show’s first LGBTQ+ character whose dating life on the show was described as “interesting and all over the place.” Having this representation on-screen will further allow the show to explore adult situations for older audiences outside of Nickelodeon viewers which iCarly previously could not. Additionally, it will be interesting to see how Harper’s relationships with Spencer (Jerry Trainor) and Freddie (Nathan Kress) develop as these will are two of the unexplored friendships that the series will likely exploit. Harper’s relationship with Spencer was already highlighted in an episode featuring a subplot in which Spencer needed Harper to like one of his sculptures.
Freddie Exchanged His Nerdhood For Parenthood
Freddie is remembered as the dorky and loveable neighbor with an overprotective mother. However, while his mother is still the same old overprotective character from the original series, Freddie has been through the wringer. Audiences quickly learn Freddie has been through two failed marriages and has lost everything including an enterprising tech start-up. All he has left is his new daughter, whom he and his second wife had previously adopted. Now, Nathan Kress’ Freddie must prove his worth as a father. Jaidyn Triplett stars as Freddie’s adopted daughter Millicent and has already been the source of many laughs for the new show.
Millicent is the youngest cast member on the revival and her spitfire attitude is comparable to Sam’s on the original series, or better yet, Miranda Cosgrove’s role as Megan in Drake & Josh. She is definitely a welcome addition to the show as someone who will be the source of grief for many of the characters as she attempts to become an internet star herself. Having a rebellious, almost Loki-like, daughter of this nature is also perfect for Freddie who was always the grown-up of the group to begin with, and is now forced to deal with a child more akin to Sam than himself.
Streaming Has Given iCarly An Edge
The most striking differences between the revival and the Nickelodeon original likely originate from its new home on Paramount+. The decision to air this series on the streaming service rather than network television provided its ability to be more than a children’s show. Younger audiences will enjoy the series and find humor in the more over-the-top elements, but the series’ intended audiences may be a little older. Those who grew up enjoying the original series will certainly find the revival not only entertaining but also relatable. This is because the series is exploring more mature themes than its predecessor as a result of the aged-up characters.
In the first three episodes, the series has already tackled breakups, rebounds, the dangers of social media, and have featured near-constant alcohol consumption. These are all storylines that could never have been explored on Nickelodeon. It’s this edge that will likely help this iCarly reboot succeed. Instead of trying to be what it once was, the series was allowed to age with its stars. This is not to say it’s not a family show, because it is. There is definitely something enjoyable for everyone, young and old.
Where many revivals fail to re-establish a strong connection with its audience, iCarly is achieving this through its various changes and updates for modern audiences. At the same time so many things have not changed and the inclusion of almost all of its original cast benefits the show tremendously. It’s also likely the writers understood from the start that maintaining the series’ original fans would be instrumental to the overall success of the show. So, while there are major differences between Nickelodeon’s original iCarly and Paramount+’s revival, the heart of the show remains the same.