Saved By The Bell is more than just another reboot of a beloved '90s series - it's a maturation of a series that has been a nostalgic part of fans' lives for decades. Thanks to the gathering of most of the original cast and an influx of new characters, going back to Bayside High has never felt more appealing.
It's different going to high school now than it was in the early '90s, and even the original series wasn't an authentic representation of what high school life was like, so it isn't surprising that longtime fans won't feel like the series is as comfortable as slipping on an old Bayside Tigers sweater. But it has enough of the sameness of the original, blended with the different themes and perspectives of the reboot to make it one of the best series available to stream.
Different: Emphasis On Class Struggles
One of the most salient changes to the content of the reboot is the focus on issues of class, particularly the difference between the privileges and opportunities afforded to the extremely wealthy Bayside students in comparison to the disenfranchised, low-income Douglas High students.
Many of the aspects of the original Saved By The Bell, like students being able to afford to hang out at a "sit down restaurant" like The Max before and after class, were played for laughs, whereas in the reboot they're brought under scrutiny by the Douglas students as they question the affluence of their surroundings.
The Same: Time-Out Power
Daisy is undoubtedly the star of the reboot, taking over for Zack Morris in the original series, and seeming to acquire his special "timeout power". Zack used it to make amusing asides to the audience and break the fourth wall, while the characters around him were frozen in place as soon as he brought his hands together.
By giving Daisy the ability to speak to the audience directly, instead of any of the Bayside students who have no real problems, she can introduce a contrasting perspective, and give herself agency. It will be interesting to see in future seasons if Zack has retained his power, and what that means for Daisy.
Different: Mature Language
The original series was a family-friendly Saturday morning show, so mature language wasn't used by the teenagers or the adults in their lives. While it occasionally made the series feel unrealistic, most of its content was already far removed from a truly accurate portrayal of high school life.
In the reboot, not only do the students use much more mature language than the original cast, but the adults do as well. Even the teachers at Bayside High can be heard saying the occasional casual cuss word, and Principal Toddman is accused in one episode of being a "little b**ch".
The Same: Chemistry Between The Original Cast
One of the strongest aspects of the reboot is the interplay between members of the original cast (now in their mid-40s) and the new cast. It wouldn't be possible if the original cast didn't fall back into their roles with ease, portraying older versions that seem to have naturally and organically progressed.
Sparks continue to fly between AC Slater and Jessie Spano, who have the same chemistry they've always had. The same can be said for Zack and Kelly. When they're all together, it feels like no time has passed, even if they've gone in a few different directions with their lives. Even a surprise video chat with Lisa Turtle shows the fashionista living in Paris and loving every minute of it.
Different: More Diversity
The original series has always been criticized for a lack of diversity, with the main cast (and even ancillary characters) being overwhelmingly white. The new series completely changes this, not only featuring several people of color in prominent roles, but making the most popular girl in school transgender. Slater even coaches a co-ed football team!
The amount of diversity as pertains to race, class, and orientation allows for a greater wealth of storylines, opinions, and perspectives. It's also much more inclusive for viewers who never identified with the homogeneous cast of the original series.
The Same: A Morris Class Clown
Zack Morris was always the class clown at Bayside, stirring up trouble out of his own sense of self-absorption and amusement. His son Mac takes after his father in the same way, particularly when it comes to hatching incredible schemes to satisfy banal ends.
Despite being a charming troublemaker, Mac isn't the main character of the series, an interesting change from the format of the previous series. His schemes are plentiful but they don't dominate the storylines, and therefore aren't as catastrophic when they affect the student body.
Different: Mature Themes
The original series couldn't discuss some of the more mature aspects of teenage life, like sex, drugs, and abuse, so they had to settle for conveying them in subtle ways. Jessie Spano's caffeine pill addiction was the closest they could get to discussing substance abuse without angering censors, and it remains one of the best episodes of the series.
By contrast in the reboot, an episode about cellphone addiction features students engaging in other addictive activities to compensate for Principal Toddman confiscating their phones. Some students are shown becoming heroin addicts, something the original series could never have gotten away with.
The Same: The Max
Frequent teen hangout spot The Max is back for the reboot, and the main cast go there for burgers and social pow wows much as they did in the original. Owner Max is also back, and so are his magic tricks. The interior has been updated slightly, but still retains a fun, brightly colored '90s aesthetic.
The Max has endured as one of the most popular locations in both series because of its iconic look as well as its distinction of being where many of the original series most standout moments occurred (such as Slater doing ballet to impress Jessie).
Different: Newer Technology
One of the most obvious differences between the original show and the reboot is the featured technology, which has changed drastically in the twenty-plus years since the original has wrapped. In an apropos gag, Daisy even carries the same comically large cellphone Zack used in the original series because she can't afford one of the smartphones the students at Bayside have.
Bayside High is full of new tech, and the students are all savvy with it. There's barely a textbook in sight because every student has their reading lists downloaded onto their tablet or kindle. The school even has an app for kids to check in on, as well as message each other and coordinate events.
The Same: Life Lessons
As with the original, the reboot focuses on important issues for teens that result in some life lessons. Original characters like Slater and Jessie help the students they mentor deal with difficult problems, like communicating their feelings and processing loss and rejection.
The diverse student body even makes original characters question some of their longstanding beliefs. Slater, who Jessie always referred to as a "Sexist Pig" on the original series, and who has struggled to express his more "sensitive side", finally understands that the new generation is better equipped to talk about their issues and that doesn't make them "sissies".