The Suite Life of Zack and Cody had a successful run, eventually spawning its spin-off, The Suite Life on Deck following Zack, Cody, London, and Mr. Moseby out to the high seas. However, The Suite Life on Deck did not always match up to its predecessor. The adventures aboard the S.S. Tipton were amusing and entertaining, but it could lack the charm fans were used to seeing from the first series.
On the other hand, viewers may have enjoyed the spin-off more because it forced the main characters to grow up separated from their home. The Suite Life of Zack and Cody didn't do everything as well as The Suite Life on Deck either.
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody: London and Maddie
Depending on the episode, London and Maddie could be friends or opponents. At the same age, the girls had drastically different lives, and it could be challenging for the Heiress and Candy Counter girl to relate to each other.
London and Maddie challenged each other more than other characters, and their relationship allowed both characters to grow. London's equivalent to Maddie on the S.S. Tipton was Bailey. Bailey did have some of the qualities Maddie had, but London and Bailey's dynamic never had the same bite that came from London and Maddie.
The Suite Life on Deck: Maturing The Twins
Zack and Cody's pre-teen charm may have worked in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, but by the time they started school on the S.S. Tipton, they needed to grow up.
It needed to be believable that Zack and Cody could be trusted alone on the S.S. Tipton even if Mr. Moseby would be there anyway. By growing the twins up, they were able to give them jobs and focus around relationships with characters such as Bailey and Maya. The Suite Life Movie also had a hand in showing the twins understand each other better.
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody: Zack And Cody
Part of what worked in the original series was that Zack and Cody were often in on pranks together. Anything from trying to bring Mr. Moseby back to destroying the hotel was chaos that both twins brought to the table.
As they got older and developed into their own identities, things did change, but the twins still knew how to bring mayhem to the hotel. Although they did mature on the S.S. Tipton, it was not all positive growth. Zack and Cody's evolution took them to see each other in a negative light, insulting each other regularly for who they were as people.
The Suite Life on Deck: Mr. Moseby and London
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody made it clear that London and Mr. Moseby had known each other for nearly London's entire life. He was at every event that Mr. Tipton did not attend. However, their relationship gets a proper conclusion at the end of The Suite Life on Deck. After all the years they had spent together, the time had finally come for them to go their separate ways.
Although it seemed that they would stay in contact, this would be the first time in a long time that London and Mr. Moseby would be separated for an extended length of time. The two received an emotional good-bye worthy of their relationship.
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody: Iconic Moments
Both shows do have their entertaining moments, but the original sitcom has more that have been remembered years after the series finale. One of the most memorable scenes from The Suite Life of Zack and Cody follows Mr. Moseby and London on a driving lesson. Before they leave the parking lot, the two have issues working out the basic mechanics of mirrors, seatbelts, and gearshifts, London calling it the "PRNDL."
Years later, that joke has lasted the test of time, being remembered as one of the show's best moments. The Suite Life on Deck does not have a scene or episode that had such a lasting impression.
The Suite Life on Deck: Crossovers
Both shows included crossover events, but The Suite Life on Deck utilized the additional characters more usefully than The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. On the S.S. Tipton, Hannah and Lola are written in at the beginning of the episode, giving them more time to interact with others. Meanwhile, The Suite Life on Deck is the only show during "Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana" that featured characters from each of the three shows.
The balancing act uses the three shows to its advantage. On The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, the show mainly used Raven Baxter as a connection before introducing Hannah in the last minutes of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody's part of "That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana."
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody: "Health and Fitness"
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody took a chance to comment on eating disorders during "Health and Fitness." When London and Maddie are told that their dresses for a fashion show do not look right, they take drastic action. Told she's too fat, London avoids overeating to lose weight.
Meanwhile, Maddie, told that she was too thin, overeats food to gain more weight. The episode highlights eating disorders and the negative impacts they have on the human body. In the end, London and Maddie agree that they are perfect as they are.
The Suite Life on Deck: School
On The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Cody and Maddie were the resident academic characters. Cody was an up and coming scientist, and Maddie's intelligence was an integral part of her role. Due to the nature of the show, more time was spent in the Tipton Hotel than at school. Although the school was a relevant part of some episodes, it did not have the impact that it had on The Suite Life on Deck. On the S.S. Tipton, the ship was the school, and as such, it made school a central location on the show.
Cody and Bailey were propped up as the primary academic characters, and their teacher was a constant character on the show. Meanwhile, it also highlighted that higher education was not something meant for everybody, as shown by Zack and London.
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody: Supporting Characters
Esteban, Muriel, Arwin, and Lance are just a few of the supporting characters seen at the Tipton Hotel. Each of them is unique and entertaining in different ways and brought something fun to the show. They each held a relationship with the main characters, whether it be emotional or comic relief.
The S.S. Tipton did not keep the same fun in their supporting roles, or the same amount. The spark that came with people at the hotel did not reignite with who was on the ship. Zack, Cody, London, and Moseby did not have as many people to interact with that were written to the same quality as their supporting characters at the Tipton Hotel.
The Suite Life on Deck: Series Finale
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody used their series finale as a clip show counting down the moments until Mr. Tipton revealed which of the employees he plans to fire. Throughout the episode, each primary employee looks back on the chaos they brought to the hotel until Mr. Tipton appears.
As nostalgic as that may be, it was not an effective ending. Its successor had a finale with a more substantial conclusion. High School graduation allows all the characters to determine what they will do next. London and Mr. Moseby may know what is next for them, but Zack and Cody are left with a more ambiguous ending. Yet, there is much more finality to this conclusion than the original series.